Highland Archer by Hildie McQueen

Author:Hildie McQueen [McQueen, Hildie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Door Publishing
Published: 2016-05-29T04:00:00+00:00

It was late when Steaphan finally went to his chamber. He lay in the bed and thought of Fiona. Did she think of him? Had she packed and prepared to come live with him in Gladdaugh? He turned to his side and stilled at hearing footsteps outside his door. With a dirk in hand he waited in the dark for whoever came.

“Laird?” It was Niven. “The McLeods are moving this way and will be on our lands at daybreak.”

* * *

The morning fog barely lifted over the glen, enough to make out the lines of McLeods. Atop his horse, Steaphan looked to see that a McLeod who resembled his prisoner rode to the front of his men.

Ceardac McLeod, the second born son. He’d seen him once at the games, competed in a timber toss, which he’d won. Although Steaphan had never been close enough to the man to speak to him, he seemed to be very different than the other brothers by the way he interacted with the guards. Almost as an equal. If not for this clash, he would have considered getting to know the man better.

As things were, it would be years before the clans would ever consider charting into any kind of friendliness.

Steaphan scanned the lines of McLeod archers behind the two ranks of warriors, but at the distance it was impossible to see if his brother was amongst them.

He lifted his sword, signaling for his men to hold steady and wait. The horses pawed at the ground and nickered, the only sounds as both sides studied the other. “McLeod!” Steaphan shouted and moved a few feet forward and the McLeod did the same. “Your men killed my men. We avenged. If you want to fight, we will fight. But if you withdraw, then we shall as well.”

“You killed my eldest brother,” Ceardac yelled back scanning his face. “Where is the other?”

Steaphan looked over his shoulder to where the young McLeod was held by two men. His head flopped forward, as he’d been beaten and not fed so he barely had the strength to even stand. “He is here. Alive. But not for long.”

“Allow him to come forth. Let him go!” Ceardac called out. “We withdraw when he gets to me safely.”

“Is that your only offer? I decline,” Steaphan replied. “However, I will exchange him for my brother.”

“You do not have a brother with us.”

Steaphan moved back to where his first line stood and motioned for the men to release the prisoner. The man stumbled until he was alongside Steaphan’s horse. By the dazed look, the man would barely be able to walk a few more steps. Steaphan felt no sympathy for him.

With a swift swipe of Niven’s sword, his first beheaded Beathan McLeod.

Ceardac released a battle cry and the McLeods rushed towards them.

“Hold!” Steaphan called, forcing his men to wait until they came closer. “Hold!”

When the McLeods were at ten feet he signaled his men forward.

The first lines clashed. The sounds of grunts and swords filled the air.

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