Blood of the Highlands

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

　

“are you Persais MacGuin?”

 

Oh bloody hell…..

　

“Chief!! Chief!”

Snapping Persais out of her shock, they both looked to the door.

Tormand grimaced and opened it, “WHAT!”

Standing in the doorway was a man Persais guessed to be about her age. Seeming suddenly uncomfortable he looked between Persais and Tormand, his gaze remaining on Persais a moment longer than appropriate causing both of them to blush.

“Liam what is it?”

Returning his gaze to Tor he replied hastily, “A large group of MacGuin men were just spotted scowering the land.”

Oh no…. William.

Tormand was instantly alert, “an attack?”

“T’would seem so m’laird,” Liam said, “at least 30 men.”

Persais tried to calm her racing heart, they were looking for her!

“ready the men,” she heard Tor say.

No…. No! they were going to attack her brother.

Stopping Tormand as he went to head out the door she yelled, “No! please don’t go!”

Narrowing his eyes, he looked down at her hand holding his arm back. Persais released her hold but did not dare step away afraid he would shut the door and she wouldn’t be able to stop them.

He raised his gaze to hers, he was angry; furious.

“I’ll take that as the answer to my question,” he said. His voice low with anger.

“please,” she whispered. “they mean you no harm.”

Raising a brow he said sarcastically, “ is that so?”

Before she could answer he pushed her back into the room, “have a good day m’lady,” he sneered before slamming and barring the door.

Persais sank to her knees covering her eyes.

Please let her brother be alright.

William….. I’m so sorry

.

　

　

Persais had been watching out the window for him to return for hours now.

Was William dead? How many men did they lose?

Maybe Tormand wouldn’t return at all, perhaps the MacGuins won the day.

　

　

Hearing sudden activity throughout the keep, Persais jumped to her feet. Staring out the window she seen as the men made their way into the bailey. He took note that there was less than before. She spotted Tormand instantly, the way he carried himself and the strong set of his shoulders was impossible to miss. So he’d returned. Persais closed her eyes and breathed. Was her brother alive? Feeling eyes on her she looked down. He was staring at her! She couldn’t deny she was happy he was safe, but at the cost of her family? Her men?

She felt like a traitor for feeling the way she did. Turning away she went to lay on the bed. She doubted he would interrogate her more tonight.

Tormand dismounted trying to calm himself. His blood always boiled after a battle. Sensing eyes on him he looked up to the tower window. He sucked in his breath, she was beautiful. He watched her turn from the window, he ignored the stab of disappointment in his chest.

“your worried for the lass,” his cousin Ian stated. Tor nodded his head.

“what do you plan to do with the lass-now that you know who she is?”

“Ransom her,” he said.

He swore he could hear Ian’s mouth drop open.

The annoying pinch in his chest nipped harder.

They’d just had a fierce battle with her clan killing 11 of William MacGuins men and only losing 4 in the process. If it wasn’t for the MacGuin heir getting in a lucky shot to his sword arm he would have finished him too.

Persais didn’t know that though as far as she knew her brother could be dead. He hated the MacGuin heir but hurting her didn’t settle well with him.

God damn it!

he cursed and strode angrily into the keep.

　

Tormand slammed open her door with a crash, causing her to jump up from the bed. She began studying his body, noting the blood from the battle that covered his clothes. Hardly any of it was his. He didn’t like this dark feeling inside him . A feeing that made him want to slam his fist into the wall for no reason. Persais began breathing hard, “What have you done!” she screamed, coming at him with her fists balled at her sides.

Tormand narrowed his eyes, “ what do you think I done? I defended my clan!- did you not think we would retaliate for what you’ve done?!” he yelled.

She stopped suddenly, and Tor braced himself.

The emotion was heavy in her voice when she stated, “They were my men….. My family.”

“What did you expect when they cross our land?” he asked lowering his voice. His fists were still clenched. He didn’t know why but he felt like he needed to defend his actions to this woman. Why was she making him feel this way?

“My brother, was my brother with them?” she asked. Seeming to be losing control of her temper with each passing second.

“Aye.”

Persais nodded. Tough her face was turned away he knew her eyes were filled with tears. “Is he alive,” she asked emotion still thick in her voice. Tormand remained silent. That could be a way to punish her for what she’d done, lead her to believe her brother was dead. He felt that annoying pinch in his chest again. If he thought he was capable of it, he would think it was guilt. But he didn’t waste his time beating himself up over it.

Persais gave him a quick glance, her eyes still watery with emotion. The pinch in his chest nipped harder.

“I’m sorry,” he said angrily, not knowing what the hell he was doing. “ perhaps you should have thought what the repercussions would be when you drew your sword at the trading post.”

Persais clenched her jaw and her mouth tightened. She was staring at him with pure loathing.

Being loathed was nothing new, so why was it bothering him now?

She studied his face. Even though he knew his expression betrayed nothing, it still made him uncomfortable, damned uncomfortable.

She gasped, her eyes widening a little as his words struck with pointed precision.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!” she screamed before she attacked.