stone archway for all time. The force of it sent her flying from Shalizar’s back as it knocked her unconcious. She hit the ground...hard.
Malcolm had stopped to take a piss when he heard a horrific explosion. Fear crossed the faces of his clansmen as they attempted to calm their mounts.
“What was that? In what direction, David?”
His squire stared at him wide-eyed for a moment before answering.
“T a the north I believe, m’laird. Aye...t a the north of us.”
They hurried to their horses to investigate the sound.
“Do ye ken what it was, Malcolm?” Patrick, his younger brother, queried.
“Nay...but I mean ta find out!” He led the way as they rushed toward the sound that had startled them. He didn’t need this distraction after a night at the inn drinking ale and wenching , but curiosity got the better of him. Mayhap the English had invaded with a new weapon. It had happened before. Malcolm had to make certain.
They reached the glen in less than two hours, avoiding the main roads by traveling on old deer paths through the woods. They needed to be cautious. This was Dunbar land and they frowned mightily on Macleans ’ trespassing. Malcolm sneered. What did he care if the Earl of Dunbar knew of their prescence? They have been feuding for years. One more insult would not change things.
Patrick pointed to a pile of rubble in the rock fence.
“That gate was standing when we passed by here a few days ago. Surely that could not have been heard from so great a distance!”
Malcolm scanned the horizon, settling on a black steed nuzzling something in the grass a short distance from them.
“Nay. I believe the answer lies over there.” He turned his mount toward the elegant horse and approached at a trot. Slowing as he drew near so he wouldn’t startle the animal, he glanced down at the form hidden in the tall grass. His brother sucked in his breath and crossed himself.
“Do ye think she be a witch? That is strange clothing she wears.”
Malcolm chuckled. Patrick had always been superstitious as he grew to a man but strange clothing did not make her a witch. He shook his head, dismounting to see if she lived.
“Watch out, brother!”
Shalizar’s ears were laid flat as he lashed out with his teeth. Malcolm jumped back just in time to avoid a nasty bite. The steed’s eyes hardened as he reared up, forcing the highlander to back up even more.
“Do ye still think she’s nae a witch? She rides a demon horse!” he cried.
“Nay, Patrick. She rides a well-trained horse. My destriar would do the same if it were me. We need ta distract him so I can see how badly she is hurt.” He stared at the black demon who watched his every move as he snorted in outrage. How was he to reach the lass?
For the next hour, his men attempted to lure the beast away but failed miserably. He never moved more than a yard from her before returning.
Patrick threw up his hands in defeat after nine attempts. “Let’s just shoot the bloody animal!”
“Nay!” Malcolm roared. “Tis too fine a horse for that!” He heard a moan in the grass as Arianna stirred. “Lass, can ye hear me? If ye can then call off your horse so I may tend your wounds.”
What happened? Where was she? And why does my head feel like an elephant sat on it? She moaned as the fog began to clear. Why was Shalizar dancing around her head?
“Quiet, Shalizar. You’re not helping my headache one bit,” she whispered. He lowered his nose to her face as she reached out, stroking his velvet muzzle. His head shot up as Malcolm attempted to move closer, whinnying a warning. Arianna tried to turn her head but stopped at the sudden pain that shot through her skull. That’s when she heard Malcolm’s query.
A man! No wonder Shalizar was upset! He hated men...and this one was a stranger. Normally, she would tell him to go away but she knew she needed help.
In a breathless voice she said, “Come to me , my pet.” He lowered his head once more and she
Malcolm had stopped to take a piss when he heard a horrific explosion. Fear crossed the faces of his clansmen as they attempted to calm their mounts.
“What was that? In what direction, David?”
His squire stared at him wide-eyed for a moment before answering.
“T a the north I believe, m’laird. Aye...t a the north of us.”
They hurried to their horses to investigate the sound.
“Do ye ken what it was, Malcolm?” Patrick, his younger brother, queried.
“Nay...but I mean ta find out!” He led the way as they rushed toward the sound that had startled them. He didn’t need this distraction after a night at the inn drinking ale and wenching , but curiosity got the better of him. Mayhap the English had invaded with a new weapon. It had happened before. Malcolm had to make certain.
They reached the glen in less than two hours, avoiding the main roads by traveling on old deer paths through the woods. They needed to be cautious. This was Dunbar land and they frowned mightily on Macleans ’ trespassing. Malcolm sneered. What did he care if the Earl of Dunbar knew of their prescence? They have been feuding for years. One more insult would not change things.
Patrick pointed to a pile of rubble in the rock fence.
“That gate was standing when we passed by here a few days ago. Surely that could not have been heard from so great a distance!”
Malcolm scanned the horizon, settling on a black steed nuzzling something in the grass a short distance from them.
“Nay. I believe the answer lies over there.” He turned his mount toward the elegant horse and approached at a trot. Slowing as he drew near so he wouldn’t startle the animal, he glanced down at the form hidden in the tall grass. His brother sucked in his breath and crossed himself.
“Do ye think she be a witch? That is strange clothing she wears.”
Malcolm chuckled. Patrick had always been superstitious as he grew to a man but strange clothing did not make her a witch. He shook his head, dismounting to see if she lived.
“Watch out, brother!”
Shalizar’s ears were laid flat as he lashed out with his teeth. Malcolm jumped back just in time to avoid a nasty bite. The steed’s eyes hardened as he reared up, forcing the highlander to back up even more.
“Do ye still think she’s nae a witch? She rides a demon horse!” he cried.
“Nay, Patrick. She rides a well-trained horse. My destriar would do the same if it were me. We need ta distract him so I can see how badly she is hurt.” He stared at the black demon who watched his every move as he snorted in outrage. How was he to reach the lass?
For the next hour, his men attempted to lure the beast away but failed miserably. He never moved more than a yard from her before returning.
Patrick threw up his hands in defeat after nine attempts. “Let’s just shoot the bloody animal!”
“Nay!” Malcolm roared. “Tis too fine a horse for that!” He heard a moan in the grass as Arianna stirred. “Lass, can ye hear me? If ye can then call off your horse so I may tend your wounds.”
What happened? Where was she? And why does my head feel like an elephant sat on it? She moaned as the fog began to clear. Why was Shalizar dancing around her head?
“Quiet, Shalizar. You’re not helping my headache one bit,” she whispered. He lowered his nose to her face as she reached out, stroking his velvet muzzle. His head shot up as Malcolm attempted to move closer, whinnying a warning. Arianna tried to turn her head but stopped at the sudden pain that shot through her skull. That’s when she heard Malcolm’s query.
A man! No wonder Shalizar was upset! He hated men...and this one was a stranger. Normally, she would tell him to go away but she knew she needed help.
In a breathless voice she said, “Come to me , my pet.” He lowered his head once more and she
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