Tavis watched the scene below and, slowly, the bitter taste of defeat left his stomach. Sir Hugh was good, but Lord Eldon was better, his skill gained from years of fighting. When so many of Sir Hugh's force rushed to join their liege lord it was more or less a coup de grace. Defeat now faced Sir Hugh and had from the moment Eldon had swooped into the bailey. The desertion of so many men simply ensured that the defeat would come more quickly.
He and the other two men raced from the tower room, eager to rejoin the battle. It did not surprise Tavis to find the men who had managed to reach the security of the keep milling about in some confusion. Not only was Eldon supposed to be dead, but it was hard for many to comprehend that he would do anything to help them.
"I cannae see clearly," Colin said as he reached Tavis's side. " 'Tis truly Eldon?"
"Aye. 'Tis Eldon. The man has not only risen from the dead, he has come to our rescue." Tavis laughed with enjoyment and relief. "Tell all the men to strike no man wearing a blue tie upon his arm."
When Tavis reached the bailey he smiled with grim pleasure. Already a number of Sir Hugh's men were yielding. He caught sight of Sir Hugh and raced toward the man. Although he could see that Eldon struggled to get to the man as well, Tavis did not hesitate. It would be courteous to allow Lord Eldon the pleasure of slaying Sir Hugh, but Tavis held too strong an urge for vengeance to be courteous.
Sir Hugh read his death in Tavis MacLagan's eyes. The knowledge that he had lost, especially when he had been so close to victory, enraged Sir Hugh. With a scream of fury, he lunged for Tavis.
The fight was fierce but brief. Tavis's fury was cold, allowing for clear thought and smooth action. Hugh's rage was mindless, lessening his usual skill with a sword. All too soon, as far as their grim-faced audience was concerned, Hugh gave Tavis an opening. In the blinking of an eye, Tavis pondered toying with the sweating, ranting man for a while longer and discarded the idea. He struck, cleanly piercing the man's heart and killing him instantly.
For a moment Tavis simply studied the corpse of the man who had nearly brought about the total destruction of his clan. He felt almost disappointed that it had been so easy to kill him. Then he sensed someone at his side and turned to face Lord Eldon. One look into the man's eyes told Tavis that Lord Eldon knew everything. He saw the man raise his sword and tensed for yet another battle, one he had no wish to fight, but it never came.
"Papa! Papa!" Storm raced through the quieting battle and flung herself into her father's arms. "Oh, Papa, she said you had all died. All of you. I thought my poor heart would shatter."
Holding his daughter close to his heart, Eldon said, "I caught the murderers before they could do what she had hired them to do. One lived, and we learned of all that has gone on."
Haig, pushing a furious Lady Mary toward her husband, was briefly diverted as he watched the reunion between Storm and Lord Eldon. Lady Mary glanced at Sir Hugh's body, then glared at her husband and his daughter. She knew she would be lucky if all Eldon did to her was banish her to some remote nunnery. The realization of how completely wrong all her plans had gone made her hiss with rage. She pulled her dagger out and raised it, a cold smile curving her full mouth as she thought of how she was going to bury it deep into Eldon's broad back. There would be a loss she was certain would dim the glee they all felt.
Sholto saw the glint of steel in the woman's hand and guessed what she was about to do. There was no time to cry out a warning. Even as he moved to ensure a more accurate aim, he pulled out his dagger and hurled it. It troubled him as he watched his dagger bury itself deep into her chest, for she was, after all, a woman. He forced himself to remember all she had done and all she had intended to do.
Lady Mary felt a searing pain, and her dagger fell from her suddenly lifeless fingers. She stared dumbly at the hilt of the dagger protruding from her chest. Even as she sank to the dirt, she could not believe she was dying. A curse against Eldon formed on her tongue, but her life slipped from her grasp before she could utter it.
Eldon, his arm still draped around Storm's shoulders, looked down at Mary, then at Sholto, who had arrived to collect his knife. "God's toenails, I grow weary of owing you MacLagans a life."
"Take comfort, Eldon," drawled Colin as he joined the group. "We owe ye ours."
"Aye, you do. Where have all your men gone? Has Sir Hugh killed so many? Or is it true that he struck when you were at but half your strength?"
"At least half our men rode to Athdara. Now, about that ransom," he drawled.
Staring at the man, Eldon wondered a little wildly how a battle-scarred, dark-visaged Scot could look impish. A low chuckle started deep within him and quickly built to roaring laughter, which Colin shared. It soon spread to all around, save for the prisoners, who felt this hilarity in the face
