Faelan: A Highland Warrior Brief Read online

  Together they carried Ian to Nandor. Faelan whistled, and the young stallion straightened his forelegs and leaned down. They laid Ian across the horse’s back, and Faelan jumped on behind him, adjusting Ian so that he leaned back in Faelan’s arms. Tavis mounted, and they hurried toward home. The storm pelted them with rain, making it hard to see. Faelan gripped his brother’s lanky body as he urged Nandor on.

  Ian roused in sight of the house, and he tried to move, but Faelan held him still. “Hold on. We’re almost home.”

  His father ran across the field toward them, his face black as the sky and just as wet. “What happened?” he yelled as they lifted a grumbling Ian off the horse.

  “We were racing,” Faelan said. “He was supposed to be behind us, but he didn’t show up. We went back to find him.”

  “In this storm? You should’ve come for me. Why do you try to do everything yourself?”

  “I’m the oldest. It was my fault for not noticing he wasn’t behind us.” And he hadn’t wanted his father to know they’d gone past the castle grounds. Da was uneasy of late, and had told them to stay close.

  “There’s no shame in asking for help, Faelan. You’re not God. All we need is for your mother to lose another son.”

  Subdued, Faelan helped his father carry Ian into the house. They took him into the library and laid him down near the roaring fire.

  Footsteps sounded behind them and Ma came in. “Faelan, you’re dripping wet—” Then she caught sight of Ian and her face blanched as she ran to him. “What happened?”

  “He’ll be all right, Lena,” Da said. “He just took a tumble.”

  “I’ll get my medicine bag.”

  While she went for her bag, Tavis leaned over Ian and poked his chest. “You’d best get up or Ma will pour elderberry potion down your throat.”

  Ian sat up quick as an arrow and yelled so loud that Tavis jumped back and tripped over a chair. Ian hated Ma’s elderberry potion and had often swore that he’d rather die than take it. He looked around the room, his eyes wide. “Did you see it?”

  Tavis righted himself, scowling. “See what?”

  “The demon.”

  All the air left the room. No one moved. “Demon?” Ma said from the doorway, her bag clutched to her chest. She looked as cold and pale as a marble statue, just like she had nine years ago when they’d carried Liam home to her.

  Da looked even worse. “A demon on castle grounds?”

  The brothers twitched with guilt. Ian looked down at his fingers and shrugged. “Must have imagined it when I got konked on the head.”

  But Faelan had seen his face before he hid it. Ian hadn’t imagined it.

  They didn’t have time to question him or to admit that they’d left the castle grounds. There was a knock on the door. Still staring at Ian, Da frowned and went to answer it. Kieran stood outside. The warrior was a familiar face, often staying in one of the cottages while he helped with training or guarding the castle.

  “Some men from the village are here to see you,” Kieran said. “They need your help.” A look passed from Kieran to Da. Faelan knew his father trusted Kieran. Everyone trusted Kieran. He was a mighty warrior. He’d killed a hundred demons his first two years of battle. If Kieran thought the men had good reason to be here, Da would accept his word. Cautiously, the men were ushered in. Faelan recognized Hamish Lester, a furniture maker who lived in Beauly. It was Hamish’s daughter Agnes who had been making Faelan’s life hell. Faelan spent more time trying to avoid her than getting anything else done. Agnes had decided she was in love with him, and nothing short of murder seemed capable of dissuading her from her ambition to become Mrs. Faelan Connor.

  “It’s my lass, Agnes,” Hamish said. “She’s missing. Said she was going out for a walk and didn’t come home for supper.” He glanced at Faelan. “I thought your lad might have seen her.” Hamish looked tired and scared. Faelan reckoned he’d be relieved if his daughter had come for a lover’s tryst. Which she most definitely had not.

  Da glanced at Faelan. “Have you seen the lass?”

  He shook his head. “No. Last time I saw her was two days ago.” She’d followed him into the apothecary shop when he went to pick up a potion for his mother.

  The younger man with Hamish was Alasdair. He was two years older than Faelan, and he’d been sweet on Agnes for months now. It had caused considerable friction between Faelan and Alasdair, who knew how Agnes felt, and the situation hadn’t improved when Faelan recently bested Alasdair in a wrestling match. Da had raked Faelan over the coals, since a warrior’s superior strength and training gave him an unfair advantage.

  “Her mother must be out of her mind with worry,” Ma said, her face drawn.

  “Aye. She’s threatening to go after her herself if we don’t find her. We’ve looked everywhere.” Again, Hamish and Alasdair glanced at Faelan, and he felt his neck warm.

  Tavis came up beside him. “You didn’t do anything daft did you?” he whispered.

  Faelan gouged Tavis lightly in the ribs. “’Course I didn’t.”

  Tavis shrugged. “Well, she’s after you like maggots on dung. And last night you were moaning...”

  Faelan glared at him, but Tavis didn’t stop.

  “Sounded like you were wresting with someone in your bed.” Tavis grinned. “I reckoned you were dreaming of a girl. Maybe Agnes.”

  “I was not dreaming of Agnes,” he whispered harshly. An image of a girl with dark hair and green eyes popped in his head. He didn’t know who she was, the image wasn’t clear, but he was mortified that Tavis had heard. He’d have to give him the bloody rock that was still in his sporran to keep his mouth shut. If Ian found out...he’d never hear the end of it.

  It was times like this that Faelan wished he had his own bedroom. But with so many warriors traveling through, they needed the extra rooms for guests. And for the most part, he liked having his brothers near. It was easier to keep an eye on them.

  Faelan looked at Ian now, and the fear in his eyes made Faelan cold despite the fire blazing in the hearth. If Ian had seen a demon and Agnes had come here looking for Faelan, she could be dead...like Liam.

  Faelan still remembered his brother’s wee limp body dripping water when they finally pulled him out. Da had climbed into the well after him without even a rope, but it was too late. Liam hadn’t drowned, the doctor said. He’d hit his head on one of the rocks when he fell. Faelan still didn’t know why the demon wanted to hurt a bairn. And there’d been no way to find out. The demon had vanished.

  As soon as the funeral was over, Da put them all on a ship to America, claiming they were visiting kin. As far as Faelan could fathom, it was the first time his father had told him a lie. They had no kin in Philadelphia. He’d heard him and Ma whispering one night. Da believed the demon had killed Liam out of revenge against him. Da had killed a female demon when he was active, and her mate had sworn that one day he’d have vengeance. Da feared the demon would come back to kill the rest of his children. They’d only stayed a year, and when they came home, it was another year before the worry left Da’s face.

  “I’ll gather some men,” his father said. “We have several...cousins visiting.” His father put his hand on Hamish’s shoulder. “I know what your wife and you must be feeling.” His face tightened. “You go on home and comfort her. We’ll find Agnes and bring her home. She probably got caught in the storm and took shelter until it passed.”

  Hamish nodded. “I thank you.”

  His father whispered something to Kieran before the warrior escorted Hamish and Alasdair out. Faelan and Tavis volunteered to help search for her, but their father told them to get dry and stay with their mother. While he arranged a search party, Faelan’s mother checked Ian over to make sure he was okay. He was quiet, which was odd for Ian. It wasn’t until they were in the bedroom changing into dry clothing that they got the truth out of Ian.

  “It was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” Ian said. “Pale yellow eyes and gray skin.”
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br />   Faelan remembered another demon with yellow eyes and gray skin dangling Liam over the well. “How did you see it and not us?”

  “It poked its head out after you and Tavis passed. It was watching from the trees.”

  “Are you sure you’re not pulling one over on us?” Tavis asked.

  “I’m not lying,” Ian said. “It spooked my horse.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell Da the truth?” Faelan asked.

  “Did you see Ma’s face? You know she was thinking about Liam. I couldn’t have her worry.”

  “If there’s a demon that close to Connor land we need to worry,” Faelan said. “We have to tell Da. They’re expecting to find a daft lass, not a demon.”

  “Pish,” Tavis said. “If Agnes ran into a demon, she’s probably dead.”

  Ian nodded, his face still pale, and started to get up.

  “No. I’ll go tell him,” Tavis said. “You’re liable to fall off your horse and break your neck this time. Then Ma will have something to grieve over.”

  “You’ll both stay here and protect Ma and the castle,” Faelan ordered. “I’ll tell Da.”

  “You’re doing it again,” Tavis said. “Ordering us around.”

  “Both of you shut up. My head aches,” Ian said. “Besides, Da and Kieran left already. You’ll never catch them.”

  “I’ll catch them.” Faelan slipped his dirk into his boot and went onto the balcony outside their room. The storm had blown past, but night had brought a cold chill. In the distance, he heard the search party calling for Agnes. The castle sat on five hundred acres, much of it wooded. She could be anywhere, if she was here, although he didn’t know why in tarnation she would come. He’d made it clear that he had no intention of marrying her. He couldn’t marry her even if he wanted to. Agnes wasn’t from one of the clans, and warriors couldn’t take a mate from outsiders. It was against the rules.

  He checked to be sure no one was watching and climbed over the edge of the balcony, as he and his brothers had done dozens of times before. After jumping down, he hurried to get Nandor. Even before he reached the stables, he heard the stallion’s welcome snort. Once inside, he grabbed a soft blanket and threw it over the horse’s back. “I’m sorry you have to go out again, but I need to find my father. Ian says he saw a demon outside the fence. I hope he did just get konked on the head. But I’ve a bad feeling.” He grabbed a lantern and sprang onto the stallion. The warriors’ tracks were easy to pick up. There were at least eight of them, but they were moving quickly. He would have to hurry to catch up.

  When he passed by the area near the broken fence, it occurred to him that if Agnes had come looking for him, she would have taken the path where he and his brothers had been racing. No one else knew about the fence, so his father and the others wouldn’t look there. He should have told his father about the broken fence. Anyone could come through, not just a silly lass. And the nearest warrior would be several hundred yards away in one of the cottages.

  He approached the opening in the fence and saw something move in the shadows on the other side. He went through the fence, calling her name. “Agnes, are you here? Your father is mad with worry.” A branch snapped behind him. He paused, listening, and heard it again. He was being followed. The girl was just daft enough to come looking for him, but these sounds were too stealthy to be made by Agnes. She wasn’t a graceful lass.

  Remembering Ian’s revelation, he extinguished the lantern and reached into his boot. Dirk in hand, he nudged Nandor and guided him into a thick clump of bushes before quietly circling back around. It was black as Hades out here, but he could see his pursuer now. Scowling, Faelan slipped down from Nandor’s back and set the lantern aside. He whispered for Nandor to stay and crept toward the figure. When he was close, he lunged and grabbed his pursuer, dragging him from his horse. Straddling him, he put his dirk to his throat. “Bloody fool. Are you trying to frighten me?” Tavis was always trying to make him yell.

  “No.” Tavis punched Faelan in the ribs and shoved him aside. Tavis was about as strong as he was now.

  Faelan rolled to his feet. “Then why are you sneaking up on me in the dark?”

  “Didn’t need a lantern. You had one.” Tavis stood and brushed the dirt from his kilt.

  “You should have stayed inside like I told you.”

  “I don’t take orders from you.”

  “What about protecting the castle? You know as well as I do that Ian didn’t imagine that demon.”

  “Why do you think I’m here? If a demon comes through that fence onto Connor land, Da and the warriors wouldn’t reach you in time to do more than pick up your bones.”

  “So you’ve come to save me?” Faelan frowned, but he felt a rush of admiration. Tavis was no coward. There was no one he trusted more than his brothers.

  “Someone has to watch your bloody back. You’re too busy protecting everyone else.” Tavis gathered his spooked horse, a big grey stallion. It snorted and Nandor answered. Both of them stomped, nostrils flared. The horses didn’t get along as well as their masters.

  “We’d better find Da and tell him about the demon—” Faelan hadn’t finished his sentence when he heard a whimper in the trees. “Did you hear that?”

  “Aye. It came from over there.”

  Faelan retrieved his lantern and lit it. He lifted it towards the woods. “Agnes?”

  “Look here,” Tavis said, pointing at the ground. “Footprints. A lass’s.”

  They followed her tracks into the trees and found her lying on her back with a basket beside her. “What the bloody hell’s she doing here?”

  “Looking for you,” Tavis suggested as they crouched beside her. “She probably followed us from the village.”

  The girl was unconscious. They checked her over as well as they could, and found nothing wrong, other than a lump on her head. “Must have fallen. We have to get her home,” Faelan said.

  “Aye.” Tavis looked at Faelan but made no move to pick up Agnes.

  They stared at each other over her unconscious body for several long seconds. “Well are you gonna pick her up?” Faelan finally asked.

  “No. You’re the one she’s sweet on.”

  “Why do you think I’m not doing it? If she wakes up and sees that I’ve rescued her...God Almighty. That’s what set her sights on me in the first place.” He’d pulled her out of the path of a runaway team of horses. There’d been times since when he very nearly regretted it.

  Tavis grinned. “I don’t want her waking up in my arms.”

  Grumbling, Faelan picked Agnes up. Her head fell against his chest and she moaned.

  “I think she’s coming around,” Tavis said.

  “Blimey. I can’t let her see me.”

  “I’m not—”

  “I’ll give you the stone,” Faelan said.

  “It’s mine anyway. I won it fair and square.”

  “Only because I got hit by a branch.” Agnes moaned again. “Damnation, take her.” He shoved his bundle at Tavis and stepped back, knowing Tavis wouldn’t let her fall.

  “Bastard.” Tavis’ dark head came up. “What was that?”

  “Sounded like a growl.” The horses pawed and snorted in the trees, but that wasn’t the sound they’d heard. The hair on Faelan’s neck raised. “Do you have your dirk?”

  “Aye,” Tavis whispered, holding Agnes awkwardly in his arms. “In my boot. For all the good it’ll do.”

  There was a movement in the trees and the horses went crazy. “I think you’d better put Agnes down—” Faelan hadn’t finished speaking when a dark shape flew at them. Faelan and Tavis jumped clear, his brother stumbling with Agnes. The lantern fell and a small fire flared before being extinguished in the wet leaves. Faelan’s arm stung and he knew he’d been hit.

  Tavis scrambled out from under Agnes and jumped to his feet. “What was it?”

  Faelan’s first thought was that Alasdair had followed them, that he’d seen Agnes lying on the ground and assumed the worst. Then he s
melled the stench of sulfur, and a moment later he saw their attacker’s face. “Shite.” Ian hadn’t been imagining things.

  The demon advanced toward them, its snake-like gaze traveling from one brother to the other. Just as Ian had said, it was a grotesque-looking thing with long arms and claws, and the ugliest face Faelan had seen. Even uglier than the demon who’d killed Liam.

  “We’re done for,” Tavis said.

  “There’s only one of him, but two of us,” Faelan said, sounding braver than he felt.

  “I’ll kill you both,” the demon said. He snarled, revealing half a dozen pointed teeth.

  Faelan had been prepared from birth to one day fight the creatures, but he hadn’t entered formal training yet, and this was only the second one he’d encountered. Seeing a demon up close wasn’t fun. “Pretend we’re wresting with Da, just like a game.” Except this wasn’t a game. “Now,” Faelan yelled.

  Tavis went low, diving for the demon’s feet. Faelan went for his shoulders, driving his dirk into the demon’s chest. It howled and came at Faelan with the dirk still lodged in its thick flesh.

  Tavis jumped to his feet, raised his dirk and rushed the demon. The demon turned and swiped at Tavis, flinging him aside. He hit the ground and didn’t move. Faelan considered yelling out for help, but no one was close enough to save them. The demon bent over Tavis and ran a long claw down his chest as if deciding where to slice him first. Faelan grabbed a stick and smacked the demon in the head. The demon screeched and turned, knocking Faelan down. His head struck a rock, and he lay there addled, thinking they were going to die. The demon moved over him, snarling.

  Another scream sounded behind him and Nandor appeared. The stallion reared up on his hind legs, driving the demon away from Faelan. Faelan struggled to his feet in time to see the creature move back toward Tavis. Faelan was trembling inside, but he felt sometime come over him, a calmness. His trembling stopped and time seemed to slow. He felt powerful. He was distantly aware of shouts and the sound of thundering hooves, but he focused on the demon, who had reached Tavis.