- Where's the girl? - I asked myself, approaching.
- I don't know. - the voice came out dragged. - All I know is that she knocked down four of my men and ran that way.
He pointed the trail back north. I looked at the ground, which was very wet, but had several marks of horse's legs. One of them caught my eye. I recognized the horseshoe mark as one of the lord's horses.
- You're a Scotsman. - said coming back to evaluate the man's features. - Why are you dressed like an English soldier?
- Kill me! From my mouth you won't hear anything. - he whispered.
- Not at all! - said approaching him again. - I will not dirty my sword with the blood of traitors. Slowly die!
The man laughed.
- Hypocrite! You've been dirtying her with our blood for a long time. - he took a break. - I'd just be one more, Captain.
I looked at the man who was laughing. His voice pissed me off, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was not sorry for what I did in the past, but I knew I would burn in hell because of the cruelty and coldness of my actions.
Taking a deep breath, I went back to my horse leaving the man at the mercy of slow death. Riding, I followed the footprints in the direction he had shown me. They ended up on the edge of a not too steep hill. I noticed I was still in Inverness and had only bypassed the castle. If Annabel was riding that horse, she was trying to throw off the riders walking in circles. That was risky, because she could die of hypothermia. The temperature dropped considerably every instant, although the sun rays appear weak behind dense, black clouds. It would soon rain again, so I would have to be as brief as possible. I looked around, but the footprints disappeared right at that point. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. The wind was blowing in my direction. Maybe that's what had led her there. The trail that appeared just below the hill, bordered the lake. I knew she'd take the road to Dunhill.
Why would she choose to go that way? There were other trails much less dangerous and shorter than that one. Annabel would take days to reach her destination.
- And they even said she had a great sense of direction! - I whispered.
I came down the hill on a fast canter, but I need to. Esperanza had never failed in the longest races or most arduous pursuits. Then I got to the base and put her in trot. When we arrived at the fork that would take the road, I stopped to rest and give the horse water. The river was cold, but the temperature was comforting. I took off the cape I was wearing and took the opportunity to get my head wet. When I bent down again, I felt the air being cut off and a buzzing sound passed close to my head. Raising myself, I drew the sword.
- Who's coming? - I screamed.
The silence hovered again and I kept looking to see if I saw any movement. I got close to the horse and caught the beast I was carrying with me.
- Come out, you coward! - I screamed again.
The silence hovered again, but then another arrow cut the air. It wasn't the arrow of a beast, it was the arrow of a bow. I couldn't see where she came from and I kept my beast pointed. I've been walking off the shore.
- Stay where you are!
A melodious voice warned me and made me stop.
- Annabel MacBride? - I screamed a step ahead.
Another arrow cut the air and hit the ground in front of my left foot.
- I said don't come any closer! - she screamed again. - I don't know who Annabel is. I'm just a walker.
- Then come out! Maybe it'll help me find her.
There was a new moment of silence when she seemed to consider it.
- I have coins to trade. - ...said shaking off the skin he was wearing on his waist... He tinkled because of the various silver coins I was carrying.
A movement in one of the bushes made me stay alert and I held my hand to the beast's trigger. A woman wrapped in a red cape came towards me. The hair was black and braided. Even though she was young, she had some bruises on her face. They were thin and resembled cuts made with a knife or dagger. Although the clothes were very voluminous, she didn't seem to be fat, because her arms and face didn't match her size. That made me weird and I was on alert.
- I don't want your coins. - she said approaching. - They're no good here, but you can keep me company. Do you have anything to eat?
- No, but it would be too dangerous to stay here. - said by lowering the beast.
- Don't worry. Don't worry. The soldiers have been here a long time.
She approached the river and shot an arrow. Pulling a fish, the woman turned to me.
- I'll clean the fish, but you light the fire!
I smiled and settled down and kept the beast. After some time she had gotten a dozen fish, we sat around the fire and ate. I took advantage of the silence to evaluate it. The woman had braided her hair, starting to turn grey at the root. It was long and almost touched
