“Nay. I want her,” Nolan said, his eyes gleaming like those of a madman. That didn’t faze Haldane. Several of his men verged on madness.
“Have her then, but make sure you kill her when you’re done with her. I don’t want any of Dirk’s spawn running around.”
Nolan grinned.
“But you’ll have to help McMurdo kill Dirk first. Isobel is in the same tent.”
“My pleasure.”
“I don’t need his help,” McMurdo grumbled, glaring at Nolan. “I can kill that whoreson with my bare hands.”
“I know you can,” Haldane said. “But use your dirk. I always thought it would be fitting that Dirk be killed with the weapon he’s named after.” Haldane snickered.
A half hour later, Haldane, Finlay and Gil slipped closer to the camp. Gil was the best archer he’d ever seen.
“Take out that guard, the one closest to us,” Haldane whispered to him.
Gil hesitated. “I cannot do that. He’s my cousin.”
“Do you think I give a damn? Dirk is my brother and I’d kill him if I had half a chance.” Haldane narrowed his eyes, observing the tent Lady Seona, her aunt, and their maids had disappeared intoearlier. Keegan stood in front of it, then paced back and forth. “Looks like I’m going to have to kill my cousin, as well.”
“But you hate Keegan. I’ve never had a quarrel with my cousin. We got on good last time I saw him.”
“If you can’t do the job I’m paying you for, I’m kicking you out.”
Gil had been Haldane’s friend for years, but he was an annoying whiner at times. He needed a fierce kick in the arse.
“You’ve never paid me,” Gil said.
“I didn’t let you starve this winter, did I?” Haldane demanded in a harsh whisper.
Gil shook his head.
“Besides, I will pay you and everyone who’s helped me when I’m chief and wealthy. I’ll make you my sword-bearer. You’ll have a generous income.”
Gil’s eyes widened. Even in the near darkness Haldane could tell he was mulling that over. “Come. Let’s move closer. Once you kill one of the guards, the others may be alerted. I want to be able to make it to Seona’s tent.”
Haldane hunched low and crept through the bushes, Gil and Finlay behind him. McMurdo, Nolan and another man were stealing into the camp from the other side. The rest were entering from the east.
Haldane crouched again and peered from behind the bush. “There now, the guard closest to us is Balfour. No kin of yours, is he?”
“Nay.”
“When I give the signal, you shoot him.”
“Aye.” Gil knelt, nocked the arrow and drew back his bow string.
“After you kill him, shoot Keegan next.”
Chapter Five
Seona awoke to men yelling, a shock of alarm ringing through her. At first, she didn’t know where she was, then she remembered being inside a tent. She sat up, listening to the running footsteps, curses and swords clanging outside. Cold fear slid through her. What on earth? Had Haldane attacked? She fingered the knife hidden on her forearm, wondering if she should pull it out.
Beside her, Aunt Patience bolted upright. “What’s happening?”
“I know not. I think ’tis an attack.” Seona crawled forward to peer through the tent flap.
Two blades clashed nearby, sparks popping off them in the near darkness. She could only see the outline of two shadowy figures.
