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Chapter Thirty-Two
Aindreas
Aindreas couldn’t see anyone in the dark as he urged his horse faster. The stars were hidden under clouds, hanging low and hiding any light offered by the room. Lightning flashed in the distance, followed by a soft rumbling. He flicked his reins harder, yet his horse was already exhausted from constant use. Aindreas didn’t care. He needed to get to Blair.
He just hoped he wasn’t too late.
Lightning flashed again, and with the minimal light, he could make out the loch. The thunder rumbled, louder this time. The storm was coming in. The rain would surely further hide Alisa and her guard. His hands trembled, thinking what they would do if he didn’t arrive on time.
Aindreas clamped his eyes closed, telling himself he couldn’t think that way. He needed to stay focused, get to the loch, find Blair. Lightning flashed once more and thunder pierced in the sky, making his horse whinny in fear and nearly buck him off.
“Easy,” he muttered to his stallion, leaning over to stroke its fur. His horse panted, yet Aindreas knew its calm would hardly last. He turned towards the loch, hearing the waves lapping softly at the shore. His heart pounded in his chest as he searched the area for his aunt and her guard, but clouds continued rolling in, covering all light. He turned his horse around, wondering if he somehow passed them, but there was no one behind him. Only the darkness greeted his gaze.
“Blair!” he shouted, fear creeping through him as he turned his mount back towards the loch. “Blair!”
What if his aunt had already prevailed? What if Blair was already sinking to the bottom of the loch? He listened for splashing but heard nothing as another flash of lightning pierced the sky. Concentrating, he tried to listen for anything that would hint at his aunt or Blair.
His eyes widened when in the next flash, he saw dark figures moving in the distance. He could hear soft rumbling, like the sounds of horses running and not the storm edging forwards. The clouds moved, and in the pale moonlight, he could see something wrapped in the MacBean tartan.
“Blair!” he shouted again.
Someone turned around, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the outline of his aunt, her shrewd brown eyes meeting his. “Alisa, halt!” he shouted.
Rain dripped slowly upon his head as he watched his aunt turn around, urging her horse faster. The guard riding at her side unsheathed his sword. The figure covered by the tartan swayed in his arms as if struggling to escape. Aindreas gasped as he saw the figure fall from the horse, landing with a thump onto the ground.
“Blair!” Aindreas shouted, urging his horse towards her, but the rain came down harder, making it difficult to see. He slowed his horse, worried he would run her over. Jumping down, he ran forwards, watching as the lightning flashed, displaying where Blair remained, struggling in her bonds
“Blair! Hold on!” he shouted while running towards her, yet the rain was coming down harder. He had no clue if she could hear him.
“Get her!” he heard his aunt shout through the rain.
“Blair!” Aindreas shouted again when he didn’t see her body move. His tartan and shirt were soaked through. The chilled air prickled his skin. His legs ran through the high grass, which had become sharp from the rain. His boots sunk into the muddy earth, slowing his step as the guard circled around with sword drawn, racing towards them.
Aindreas heart swelled as he neared Blair. Her form remained still, and he worried she had fallen too hard. Had she hit her head? What if she didn’t awaken? He wondered. His breath came out shakily while tears dripped from his eyes, worried the fall had injured Blair beyond repair. Aindreas pushed the dark thoughts from his mind. He needed to focus on getting to her before the guard. The tartan twitched, and he watched as Blair’s legs squirmed out of the fabric, trying to move into standing. Rope bound her feet together. Her head swayed from side to side, poking out of the tartan. The closer Aindreas got to the tartan, the more he heard her whimpering.
They must have gagged her, he thought, nearly upon her. “Blair, I’m almost there!” he shouted while reaching for her.
The guard shouted, swiping his sword as he rode past on his horse. Aindreas barely had enough time to unsheathe his blade and block his attack. Their swords clanged. The sound echoed around them as the rain fell harder. The thunder roared above them while lightning continued to flash. Aindreas watched the soldier circle around once more before bolting towards him, his sword held out, reading to swipe as soon as he came close enough.
Aindreas moved, stumbling through the mud attempting to root him to the earth. He forced himself forward. Nothing could stop him. He ran towards Blair, yanking the tartan away from her face. Glimmering green eyes met him, red and swollen from tears. A dark bruise swelled her cheek. Rope was tied around her mouth, keeping her from speaking.
“I have ye, Blair,” Aindreas said harshly while quickly untying the rope. “Don’t ye worry. I will get ye home safe and sound.”
Blair’s eyes widened, and she whimpered. Aindreas jumped up, grabbing his sword and whirling around, blocking an attack from the guard. “Blair, run!” Aindreas shouted while swinging his sword. “Get somewhere safe!”
The guard lunged forward, and Aindreas dodged before kicking his boot into his side. He watched the man stumble backward before quickly catching his balance. Aindreas swiped his sword but missed as the guard circled around. He stumbled while following the man. It was too dark. He was finding it difficult to find his footing in the shadows and the rain. He heard his aunt laughing maniacally through the storm raging around them. Whirling behind, his eyes widened as he saw his aunt following after Blair on her horse. Blair’s feet were still bound. She was crawling, yet she wasn’t fast enough to outrun Alisa.
“Where do ye think yer going?” he heard his aunt call sweetly while the lightning flashed.
“Blair!” Aindreas shouted, but before he could run to her aid, the guard struck again. He didn’t dodge in time, and the blade sliced his arm.
Aindreas hissed, clutching his arm to his chest while the blood dripped from his wound. The guard smirked while moving into a fighting stance.
“Ye should quit while yer ahead, my laird,” the guard spat.
Aindreas’s eyes narrowed, recognizing the scar on the man’s face. He had met this man before. They had met in the town when he had been searching for Blair. He scowled at him, taking in the MacBean tartan and the soldier attire.
“Yer no MacBean guard!” he shouted while lunging forward, swiping his sword out.
