Highland Barbarian Part 33

"What if Meredith MacAlpin refuses to be wed?"

"She will be given no chance to refuse. And I will see to it that this time she is not s.n.a.t.c.hed from my clutches at the altar."

Meredith took a step forward, then froze at Gareth's next words to his men.

"Without her clan here to give witness, I will personally see to the woman. I want Meredith MacAlpin wed and then dead. We will take her body back to the MacAlpins for viewing."

"Why are the MacAlpins not here with you? It is, after all, their leader you fight for." Brice's voice was low with fury.

"They feared that their mistress would be harmed in battle. They favored bartering with you for her safe return."

"Then who are all these men who fight alongside you?"

Gareth gave an evil leer.

"I have an unending supply of warriors. It seems the Highland Barbarian has incurred the wrath of many Scotsmen." With a low, mirthless laugh he added,

"Now, if viewing the body of Meredith MacAlpin is not enough to secure the loyalty of the MacAlpin clan, the rest of my plan will be more than enough." He studied the bloodied foe who faced five of the MacKenzie's most skilled swordsmen.

"I intend to place your sword through the heart of Meredith MacAlpin for all to see."

The men surrounding Brice burst into words of encouragement and taunting laughter.

"Every man on the Border will swear allegiance to me in our fight to rid the land of all Campbells."

"So you admit that it was you who killed the helpless and laid the blame on me."

"Aye."

"Then hand me my sword and fight one who is not helpless. I seek to clear my good name."

"Who would believe the word of a barbarian?" Gareth laughed and lifted his sword until the blade was pressing against Brice's flesh.

"Especially a dead barbarian." To his men Gareth shouted,

"I will strike the first blow."

Meredith saw the flash of blade as Gareth plunged his sword. Then, as the others attacked she leaped back into her place of concealment just as Gareth strode from the room. She pressed her hand to her lips to keep from crying out. And while Gareth seemed to take forever to descend the stairs, she was forced to listen to the sound of his men's crude laughter as they continued to thrust their blades into the already fallen Highlander.

When at last Gareth was out of sight, the battle was over. Five bloodied swordsmen strode from Brice's chambers and made their way to join their leader in the dungeons. One of them carried Brice's b.l.o.o.d.y sword, which he laughingly declared to his comrades would be used by Gareth to plunge into Meredith's heart.

On trembling legs Meredith crept from the alcove and made her way to Brice's sitting room. The fur throws that lined the walls and floor were stained crimson. Against a far corner of the room lay a crumpled form.

With tears streaming down her cheeks Meredith stood over Brice's body.

Blood oozed from so many different wounds, she could not count them.

And when she knelt and placed a hand to his throat, he did not move. In her overwhelming grief she could not detect a pulse beat

At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, Meredith looked up. From the rumble of voices, there were several men. Brice's men? Or Gareth's?

Her heart nearly stopped when she heard the deep, familiar voice.

Gareth. But why was he returning? What more could he do to the man who lay dead upon the floor?

Racing to Brice's bedchamber, she grabbed a dirk from the mantel. She watched as a shadow fell across the entrance to Brice's sitting chamber. The sound of footsteps ended.

With the blood pounding in her temples, Meredith crawled beneath the bed. She heard the sound of booted feet scuffling about the other room.

"Campbell is dead."

"As I knew he would be. Did I not pierce him with my sword?" The sound of Gareth MacKenzie's voice sent tremors racing along her spine.

"What of the woman?"

"Search every room."

"We have already done so."

"There was no sign other?"

"Nay, my lord. All of the women and children were below."

There was silence. Gareth swore.

"The witch must have escaped into the forest during the battle. We must find her before she makes her way back to her people."

"Surely you do not think that one lone female can survive the Highland forests?"

"We will see to it that she does not. Come. Let us fetch our dead and wounded and be done with this place."

"What will we tell the MacAlpin clan? They trusted you to return their leader to them."

Gareth paused, considering this new obstacle.

"We will tell them that she has been spirited away by one of Camp- bell's men. I will order them to remain in the safety of their homes until my men and I can rescue her."

"But then you will not be able to blame her death on Brice Campbell."

"Even if Campbell's sword does not pierce her heart, I can still convince her people that it was his fault that their leader died. Was she not attempting to elude his grasp when she fled into the forest?"

One of the men nodded in agreement.

"Will we burn the castle, my lord?"

Meredith's heart stopped. She forgot to breathe.

"Aye." Gareth's chilling words rang through the hall.

"We have killed their leader. Now we will destroy his stronghold and scatter his clan. But work quickly. Let us waste no time in finding the woman."