“You need only worry about yourself, because if you get hurt, even one scratch, I willnae be happy.”
“I’ll be careful. I promise you that.” He swiped his black padded cotun from his bag and flew out the door, his voice whispering through her mind, “You are the reason my heart beats. Be here when I return.”
Finlay didn’t care to be parted from Arabel, not so soon after they’d been reunited, but he and his brothers had traveled through time for this very reason, to save the fae village and their future line from extinction, to give hope to their people, both in the future and in the past.
He wouldn’t fail Arabel, her kin or his.
Taking the steps two at a time, he raced downstairs and whisked outside into the swirling rush of wind. A mass of black cloud whirled and seethed overhead. Ahead, Iain and Kirk ran through the front gate and he chased after them and caught them up at the stables. “What have you heard?” he yelled to Iain over the gale.
“A guardsman has confirmed two galleys are sailing toward us and on course for the village.” Iain grasped his shoulder. “We’ll need to ride there with all speed. The battle is about to begin.”
Kirk hauled on a black war coat then slid a second sword into a baldric across his back and tossed Finlay a bow and satchel of arrows. Finlay slung it across his shoulders as shouts boomed all around and more men swarmed into the area. A good twenty warriors mounted their horses while an equal number raced down the trail to the sea-gate. Out at sea, two galleys with their massive square sails caught the strong wind and barreled toward the village. Their bows rose in the heavy swell and dumped down hard. So many lives to save. He wouldn’t fail Arabel’s people.
Kenneth, Gilleoin’s eldest son, raced out the front gate as lightning speared the skies. He sprinted down to the stone landing and leapt onto one of the waiting birlinns. “All to oars,” he bellowed as he gripped the center mast. “There can be no delay. We’ll head the MacKenzies off.”
“Let’s go.” Iain bounded onto a war horse, as did Kirk.
Finlay snagged a destrier from its tethered post, mounted and knees thrust into the animal’s flanks, slapped the reins against its neck and tore along the trail leading along the curve of the bay. They rode with a score of warriors, leaving a plume of dust the rushing wind whipped around in their wake.
He urged his mount faster along the narrow path that wound upward along the ocean’s cliff-top. Massive pine trees swayed on his left and branches grazed his arm, while on his right, the sea roared and his horse scattered stones on the verge that clacked down the rock face before disappearing into the churning, watery depths below.
The two MacKenzie galleys approached fast, and Kenneth sailed directly toward them. It was so close, no telling yet who would win the race to the village first, Kenneth or the MacKenzies.
“We have to hurry,” he bellowed to his brothers over the fury of the storm. He rode hard, as they all did, desperate to the reach the village in time.
“Julia!” Arabel raced into her sister’s chamber but found Isla instead gripping the windowsill with white knuckles as she peered out over the inner courtyard and the loch beyond.
“She’s not here and this battle has arrived two days too soon.” Isla rushed across to her, her golden shifter gaze swirling with turmoil. “I can’t shift while I’m expecting and I can’t compel when I’m not where I need to be. Iain demanded I wait with you and Julia, but the villagers are my people just as much as those in this castle are.”
“Finlay asked me to find you, to remain with you.” Fear sent cold-fire racing through her and she called forth her skill and directed a blast of hot fire to warm her through. Too much, too fast. It singed her and she clutched her chest and fell to her knees.
“Arabel?” Isla dropped down beside her.
“I’ll be fine.” Gasping for breath, she thrust up a hand. “Just dinnae touch me.”
“Where are you hurt?”
“Too much hot fire. I should have taken more care.” One thoughtless loss of control could kill her. Shakily, she shoved to her feet, at least grateful her fast action had warmed her through. “I’ll recover.”
“My lady.” Effie rushed into the room in her white aproned skirts. “Lady Julia left the chief’s solar no’ long after you and told me she wished to visit your parents’ memorial stone afore she no longer could.”
“My parents’ stone lies at the edge of the village.” She raced for the door. “Isla, I have to go. I cannae leave my sister out there with the battle about to rage.”