- Not that one! - I grunted when I got to the cell where Oliver was supposed to be and found it empty. - Damn it!
A man moaned and I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
- Where's the man who was in this cell?
- They... They took him!
- Where to?
- Towards the forest to the north.
I let the man go, and I came out of the tent. I looked around and found that everyone was shouting a sign of victory. I frowned and searched for horses in the nearest trees, and the whinnying of one made me turn around.
- Alec! - Keilan screamed at me. - Bree was taken by some men on horseback.
- What's that? What's that? How's that?
- She was disagreed.
I took a deep breath. Looking from one side to the other, I saw my horse.
- Keilan, which way did they go?
- East, towards the forest.
Without blinking, I shouted for some men to follow me as I ran towards the horse. I rode the animal and, with Keilan, left towards the place indicated by him. We walk through the forest towards the fortress until we find traces. If Oliver were with them, may God help me, for I would kill him that time.
The forest in which they took shelter was very dense. Dawn was very cold and I knew they wouldn't go very far. It's been a while since we've been on the trail of the men Keilan mentioned. It was only a matter of time before we could reach them.
- Alec? - Keilan whispered. I got close to where he was and looked where he was pointing. - They're footprints.
- Yeah. - He said, looking down to a clearing. - Can you believe they stopped here?
- It's raining a lot. Probably will.
I signalled some men to go in the opposite direction and asked Keilan to come with me. In this way, we would surround them and there would be no possibility of escape. Sneakily, we followed through the trees. I held my breath when I heard voices. Looking through the foliage, I recognized Oliver. He had his back to me with a dagger in his hand. Four other men were around him discussing how they would do the surveillance. That meant they intended to camp there.
- I don't see Bree. - said Keilan whispering.
- Me neither. - I gave it back, whispering too.
- Look! - Keilan pointed.
As if he had heard the voice of hell, a horse whinnyed and caught our attention. That's when I saw Bree hanging over the horse's back. She was tied up and struggling when Oliver approached her.
- Well, well. Look at that beautiful ghost! - he said, grabbing her hair. - I thought she was dead, Your Highness!
- How do you know who I am? - Bree asked in a confused voice.
Oliver had a laugh.
- I know a lot more than you know. - he answered. - I know you and your family a lot more than you can imagine.
- So Alec was right. - she concluded with a laugh. - It's very valuable to MacGregor. That's why he risked some of his men.
- Yeah. I didn't expect Sinclair to be in front of the hunting party. The ambush was to catch the woman who was killing most of our men. - he explained in a cold voice and pulled Bree's hair even harder. - I never imagined being face to face with the famous Aila MacBride. The lord talks a lot about you and how you almost ended his life.
I heard Bree's cold laugh, and I knew she wasn't afraid of Oliver. That gesture caused him to grunt and pull her off the horse causing her to fall into the muddy ground anyway. Bree didn't let himself be intimidated and kept laughing.
- Stop it! Stop it! - Oliver ordered it. - You shouldn't be laughing. You should be afraid. Why aren't you afraid? If you don't know, it's not long before I find my master. He'll love to see you after so long.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - Bree said sitting on the floor. - That is, if there's any man standing to tell any story.
Oliver laughed.
- Princess, I'm well aware of your fame! That's why I tied her up very well. I was still very careful to make sure I didn't have any more of your daggers. - he paused and stared at Bree. - There's not a chance you'll get away with it.
- I'm not talking about me. - she returned it. - If you have not paid attention, you are in a clearing which, I have no doubt, is very well surrounded now.
Bree's smile widened and his face was filled with disdain. Oliver kept staring at her. I signalled to the men at the other end and they set up the bow. It was then that I heard something that made me paralyze for a few moments.
- Ah! I know that! - he said standing up. - I know very well that Alec's men are surrounding the clearing, but he will not kill me until I give him what he desires most. So I'm pretty sure.
I saw Bree's expression turn into curiosity, but she kept that cold look and that smile full of debauchery on her lips.
