Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)

“Aye, I can call them.” He ambled to the stairs, took a hearty gulp of his drink and bellowed, “Lads, we have us some ale and a fine lass to serve it, compliments of the captain.”


She stepped around the wonky-legged table, putting it squarely between her and the coming guards as she poured another three drinks. Across the station, something moved beyond the slots in the barred entrance door. Golden eyes glinted from under a dark hood. Colin. Drat. Arthur must have told her she was the maid.

“What is ye name, lass?” The guard leaned one shoulder against the grimy wall nearest her.

“Lizzie,” she uttered, choosing the most common name amongst the staff. “Is there just the four of you then?”

“Aye, is that nay enough for you?” Suggestive words, ones that made her shiver with revulsion. Oh goodness, what had she gotten herself into?

Footsteps pounded down the stairs and two chainmail-clad warriors strode in. The walls of the guards’ station encroached in on her as it filled with large men. Swiftly, she handed each of the warriors a drink and waited as they bumped their tankards together and drank.

“Thank the captain for us, lass,” one of the warrior’s grunted as he wiped his top lip, his gaze on her.

“I will.”

“We’ll take these drinks upstairs. We’ve our duties to attend to.” The two disappeared the way they’d come.

Alone again with the first warrior, she said, “There’s still one guardsman I’ve no’ served.”

“He’ll be busy, otherwise he would’ve come.” The guard plopped down on an overturned crate and yawned. He kicked out his legs and the keys looped around his belt clinked.

She itched to grab them, to toss them through the bars to Colin so he’d have no issue getting inside. Instead, she held her place. “Could you open the door then? The kitchens are busy with the ball in full swing and I’ll be needed in the great hall.”

“Aye, in a moment.” Groggily, he lifted his head.

“Please, open the door. I dinnae wish to get in trouble.” She stepped up to the door.

“I—I—” He staggered to his feet and swayed. “I’m com—” He tripped and toppled into her, squishing her between him and the hard wall. He mumbled as he tried to push himself upright. “I cannae keep my…” His eyes slid shut and he fell in a crashing heap to the floor.

“Annie,” Colin rasped. “Get. Here. Now.”

“I’ll find the key.” She shoved against the hefty warrior’s side and rolled him from his front onto his back to free the chained keys from underneath him. The man was like a rock.

“Hurry.” Colin fisted the bars. “I’m going to kill Arthur for allowing you in here.”

“Nay, he told me to get in and out quickly. This isnae his fault when ’twas I who stayed.”

“I still intend to kill him.”

“Duly noted,” Arthur groaned as he stepped in beside Colin and glared at her. “You dinnae listen to instructions. Get those keys and do it fast. If aught had happened to you, I’d never have forgiven myself.”

“Where are your other men?” she asked Colin as she unhooked the keys from the warrior’s belt.

“Keeping watch outside. Ian will take you back to your chamber, and once there, you will lock yourself inside until the morn when your MacLeod guardsman is due to arrive. Do. You. Understand. Me?”

“Perfectly.” She removed her mask as she hurried to the door so she could see better. “There’s one guard who never took any of the ale.” She tried the first key in the lock, but it didn’t turn.

“Give them here.” Colin snuck them from her hand and through the bars worked each key in turn until the lock popped open. The door swung wide then he clamped her against his chest, so tight she lost her breath with a whoosh. To Arthur, he bit out, “Upstairs with you, and dinnae let any of the guards kill you. That’s my job.”

“Aye, Captain.” Arthur dashed past them in a whirl of black, his sword in hand as he vanished up the stairwell.

Colin tipped up her chin and looked into her eyes. “Go straight to Ian, and keep to the shadows. I’ll see you at Dunvegan.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

He released her and bolted upstairs, gone before she could whisper another word.





Chapter 6


Without a lantern to light his way, Colin negotiated the cramped stairwell in the dark of night, his sword at the ready. Somewhere up ahead, a snore broke the quiet, and as he stepped onto the landing, he found one of the guards who’d drunken the ale lying slumped across the floor. Two down, two to go. He tapped Arthur’s arm with his sword. “How much potion did you give them?”

“I poured the entire vial into the pitcher instead of only a few drops. I didnae want to take the chance they only napped. We need some light in here.” Arthur wedged his dirk under one of the thin boards across the narrow window and popped it free. A trace of moonlight shone in and beamed over a third warrior lying prone halfway up the next flight of stairs.