It was late afternoon by the time Dominik stumbled his way into the glade they’d designated as their rendezvous point.
“Captain,” Graeme nearly shouted, crossing the distance between them in three great strides. After clasping his arm in greeting, he asked, “Are ye alright?” Dominik’s companion looked him up and down with concern in his eyes.
Dominik looked down at himself and realized he must look a fright. Sweat had soaked through his linen shirt, and his leathers were pin cushioned with thorns and bits of vines from his escape through the dense woodland.
“Aye, I’m fine,” he replied honestly. “Banged me shoulder up a little bit jumping from that black beauty of a horse, but I’m unhurt otherwise.” He flexed and rubbed his shoulder at the thought, feeling a tender bruise forming from where he hit the ground when he rolled.
“I take it ye lost that steed too, then?” Caelan stood up from a crouching position by the small campfire, brushing the dirt from his hands off on his kilt. He flashed a smile at his brother, and the two met in an embrace. “All for the best,” Caelan continued, releasing Dominik. “I was going to suggest ye set him loose anyway.”
“Och?” Dominik asked. He looked to the side of a clearing and saw three horses tethered to the tree—his brother had brought a replacement for Dominik.
“Aye. When we saw whose mount was taken, it was verra hard to keep from laughing, Dominik. Did ye have any idea whose horse that was?” Caelan asked.
“Nay, I just grabbed the one with the most style.”
“Well, Steffen had an absolute fit.”
Graeme gasped. “Nay, he dinnae!”
“Aye. That horse was Steffen’s. Ye should have seen his face when he realized ye’d taken him. If the local Nareen guards weren’t there, he might have had that poor stable boy beaten within a finger’s width of his life. Which, to be fair, was not the funny part of the whole situation.” Caelan ran a hand through his short dark hair. “Regardless, the bounty on yer life has doubled, now that Steffen has put together that it was ye who made the attempt on Ru’s life.”
“He has nae proof of that,” Dominik protested.
“He donnae need it to raise a bounty,” Caelan countered.
“Fine, that be true.” Dominik plopped himself next to the fire and began to shuck off his boots, massaging his feet. “Tell me either of ye has some food to eat? I’m starving,” he said, changing the subject.
Graeme reached down into a satchel near his bedroll, pulling out an apple. He tossed it to Dominik, who caught it in the air one-handed. He was ravenous and tore into the apple with more zeal than he expected. He ate through to the core, tossing the remains of the seeds and stem into the flames of the fire. He turned back to Graeme, and without needing to ask, the big man had handed him cheese and bread to satisfy the rest of his hunger. This he picked at more slowly, his mind turning with possibilities.
“Now what?” Caelan asked after giving Dominik a moment to eat his fill.
“Now we get a few hours' sleep.” Dominik dusted the remains of the bread from his pants and lay back in the grass, grabbing Graeme’s pack to use as a pillow. “Then we get the Iron Wolves. Then we get help from Connor.”
Under cover of darkness, the three mercenaries rode through the night and into the early morning, driving their horses hard over the roads while they could. It was normally a two days’ ride to Loch Mora and the McArthur Keep from Nareen, but Graeme decided to stretch things to three days, taking the side routes and cutting through fields in order to avoid any possible patrols. As much as Dominik agreed with the intention, it still made for a hard, long ride with little sleep in between. They didn’t dare stay in any inns on the off chance a bounty hunter was on the lookout for them. Instead, they stayed in the woods, getting only handfuls of sleep before riding again.
By the evening of the third day, the trio was nearly falling asleep in their saddles as they rode up to the keep. The gatekeeper recognized them for who they were and quickly ushered them inside the outer walls, stable hands taking their horses as one of the minor guardsmen rushed ahead to let the laird know of their return.
Dominik looked around, noticing the hustle and bustle around him. The keep was abuzz with activity, and the stables were more full than usual. He was about to ask one of the stable boys what was happening about the keep when a familiar voice called out from behind him.
“Any good news for the friar?” Aiden asked, his arm outstretched in greeting. He was holding a mug of what Dominik guessed was wine and not water in his opposite hand. As the two clasped arms in greeting, Aiden passed the drink over to him as well. Dominik gratefully took a large swig.
“We found where she is, but I would nae call it good news.” Dominik went to pass the wineskin back to the man, but he waved it off, inviting him to finish the rest.
“Well, ye donnae have a dead body on one of those horses, at least.” Aiden had a habit of cutting to the quick with his words.
Dominik wondered if he came off as annoying as he did to others when he made his own pithy retorts. “Nay. As far as we ken she’s alive, for now. But the rest I’ll share with yer brother.”
Aiden nodded. The setting sun caught on the highlights in his hair. He shared the same tall, broad-shouldered build and hair color as his older brother, but there was something in the eyes that differentiated the younger sibling from Connor McArthur. It was a similar look to what Dominik saw in the mirror, and he didn’t quite know how to feel about that. Aiden had guile, whereas Connor was as open and honest as they come.
“Where is the mighty laird, anyway?” Graeme asked, returning from getting the horses settled.
“Och, there will be a feast in the great hall. Craig is marrying that lass Aileen, the one with the beautiful—”
“Thank ye, Aiden, we ken the lass.” Graeme interrupted, stopping the man from saying something untoward about the soon-to-be bride of one of his brother’s men.
“There is a feast then?” Dominik asked, his devious eyes hopeful.
“’Tis what I came to tell ye, before getting distracted.” Aiden slapped Dominik on the shoulder and started to lead the three men back to the keep. “Come on now. Ye all must be hungry, and ye ken Elsa’s food is worth the journey.”
Dominik and Graeme exchanged glances, looking down at their attire. Neither of them were dressed for an engagement celebration, but neither were sure they cared after such a long journey either. They dusted themselves off and shrugged at one another, simultaneously deciding they looked good enough. Caelan caught the exchange, and an appalled expression came over his face.
“I’m going to visit me room and change. I’ll see the rest of ye ruffians in a bit,” he said, eyeing them with mock judgment.
Graeme and Dominik laughed as the boy took off to the barracks, where he maintained a shared room with a few other young members of the Iron Wolves.
“Suit yerself,” Dominik called after him, eliciting a shake of Caelan’s head.
Aiden laughed and led the remaining two men to the great hall. Long tables were laden with food and drink, and the matching long benches were filled with Connor’s men and members of the Iron Wolves side by side. The laird and his wife, Caitlin, sat in their own large seats at the head of one of the tables, presiding over the activities with a sociable air. Unlike some leaders, Connor was like Dominik. He was as much one of the many as he was in charge, and he cared for and respected his men—especially those that stood with him when he’d lost his lands and title for a time. It was the Iron Wolves that were hired to help oust Connor and the Iron Wolves who would later help him take his lands back. How strange it was to see his men enjoying the comfort of a keep like this after so many years on the road, sleeping in camps as they traveled from contract to contract. Idly, he wondered if it was something good for them now or if it would make them soft, unaccustomed to the hard lives they led.
He guessed he could find out soon.
As Connor saw Dominik enter the great hall, he stood to greet him and Graeme. The rest of the guests stood as well, following suit, and Dominik, noticing the attention, gave his audience a sweeping bow. His men cheered, happy to see the return of their leader.
Dominik and Connor clasped hands, and Caitlin nodded, her eyes warm and welcoming. The three hadn’t known each other long, but in many ways, they felt like old friends. Friar Gaufried looked up from the table and stood as well, his eyes questioning.
“No time for pleasantries,” Dominik said with an apologetic smile. “Be there a place we can talk?”
A serious expression washed over Connor’s face as he nodded. He exchanged a look with Caitlin.
“Go. I’ll watch over things here,” she said, laying an assuring hand on his arm.
Connor waved the friar over, and the four men made their way out of the great hall and into a side room. As the door shut behind them, Dominik spoke.
“I’ll cut to the case.” Dominik met Friar Gaufried’s eyes, his gaze intense. “Jenna is alive, at least was three days ago.”
The friar let out a long breath and whispered a quiet prayer. “Where is she?” he asked.
“That’s the matter of it.” Dominik took a deep breath and muttered, “Where’s the wine when ye need it?”
Connor raised an eyebrow.
“Never mind. Jenna is being held captive by one of the northern lairds. A laird with whom I have a particular... history with.”
“Are there any lairds in the highlands ye dinnae have a history with?” Connor asked, only half-joking.
“Those are professional,” Dominik’s smirk soured. “This is personal.”
“I see.” Connor nodded. He wasn’t one to pry.
“I’ll leave it at this, Ruairi McCormack is nae a good man, and his actions toward the lassies in his care prove as much.”
“Lassies?”
“Aye. Jenna is nae the only girl that has gone missing, and on top of that, he is keeping his betrothed against her will.” Dominik paused, letting his usual carefree front fall completely as his eyes met with Connor’s. His entire demeanor turned intense. “He is a cruel man with cruel intentions. We must save them. And I’m going to need the help of the Iron Wolves to do it.”
Connor considered this, then reached out and put a comforting hand on Dominik’s shoulder. “The Wolves are yer men, Dominik. Of course, I release them from their contract to assist in this.”
“As well as anyone else ye think would be useful,” Caitlin’s voice carried through the doorway. Aiden was at her side, and she stepped forward, concern in her eyes. “If these women are in trouble. If this man is doing harm...” she shook her head. “I was blessed not to fall in the hands of a man that would have hurt me.” She smiled lovingly at her husband. “Not all are so lucky.”
Dominik took Caitlin’s hand in his, kissing the back. “Thank ye, milady.”
Aiden stepped forward. “I could use a change of scenery,” he offered.
Caitlin gave him a wry smile. “Ye just want a chance to save a damsel in distress.”
“It obviously worked for me brother,” he replied with a crooked smile.
“Just donnae treat her like ye treated me when we first met,” she warned playfully.
To Dominik’s surprise, Aiden’s tough exterior seemed to fade for a moment, and his cheeks reddened slightly. “Nay, I’ve learned me lesson.”
The mercenary knew there must be a story there, but it was certainly for another time. “I’d welcome yer company, Aiden, as well as any other men who wish to join us,” he said instead, thankful for the help.
Dominik and Aiden shook on it, and he turned back to Connor. “We’ll need a day or two to prepare for the assault. Then we’ll travel north. We should make it just in time for the wedding.” Dominik was thoughtful for a moment, remembering the powder he left with Mairi. “I think I have a plan.”