Chapter 2
Caitlin had everything prepared and to avoid detection, she had wrapped her flaxen locks underneath a plain scarf of her own making. She did not want to be questioned by the sentry that most likely would be in the area. If this was really going to happen, then whoever was coming from the west was going to walk into a trap. It was primarily an ambush and she did not think that it was fair or just. A fair fight was one on one and to do otherwise would be dishonorable.
“I stand here and look over the countryside. I know that I am in the presence of what god built. I am insignificant. Anything that happens here today is a small ripple. It means absolutely nothing in the long run, but to me it means more than I can ever say to anybody. Kelvin may have a basic idea of how important this is to me, but I don’t think that he truly grasps the concept of a woman fighting alongside a man. It was not like I was stepping into new territory. Women from other clans had taken a step in the right direction.” Caitlin wore her family’s colors with a green and black tartan that covered the important parts. She wore that kilt with the pride of a highland warrior. She did not have anything underneath and one wrong move would make her subterfuge well known to those in the area.
Caitlin was hiding and she could see that some of her brethren were scattered about. They had no idea that she was there and she wanted to make sure that they never found out. Caitlin wasn’t even sure of what she was going to do, until the man in a yellow and black tartan rode by on his horse. Once he moved in between the trees her brothers would easily be able to jump him. From everything that she had heard, this had something to do with jealousy. Apparently, Ian Mackenzie was supposed to join in wedded bliss with a rival chief’s daughter. He was on his way there now.
Ian felt there was a shift in the air. He instinctively knew that the hairs on the back of his neck predicted danger. He saw nothing to warrant that feeling, but he had learned never to dispel what his body was trying to tell him. It was one of the rare gifts that he had gotten from his father. That particular gift had to be honed. There were times that he didn’t understand what was going on. He needed his father to help him with a guiding hand.
“I’m afraid that is, as far as you go, Ian.” He stopped, pulling on the reins of the horse and looking around to see that he was no longer alone. He swallowed hard, and narrowed his eyes on the enemy and feeling that it was time to let loose the beast from within. “This is nothing personal, but the union of you and the chief’s daughter cannot happen. I’ve been tasked to make sure that you never make it to your final destination. This may seem unfair, but we know of your prowess with a sword. To go one on one against you would be playing right into your hand.”
Caitlin had heard stories, but she never believed what they were saying. It seemed impossible and those times that Ian had survived were by sheer luck alone. “I know that you are only following orders, but that’s not gonna stop me from finishing what I started. Stand down or face the wrath of the Mackenzie Clan.” He knew that he was outnumbered, but he couldn’t have cared less. He had been in tough situations before and had walked away unscathed. He didn’t think that he was going to do that this time, but bloodshed was the byproduct of any war. “You all know that this doesn’t have to happen. You can walk away, before this escalates even further. I will have no ill will and you will not fear retaliation.” His best weapon was speaking the truth. Those that knew him had always been well aware that his word was his bond
“We would really like to do that, but that’s not an option. This is going to happen and you may as well deal with the reality. Stand down from your horse and let’s get this ugly business out of the way.” Finn knew that this was wrong, but his leader Colin was adamant that Ian be taken care of in the most extreme way possible. He was to be a message to those that wanted to stand against the clan of MacDougall.
“I think that we can all agree that today is a good day to die. The sun is shining and the birds are singing in the trees. If this is where we meet our maker, then I know that I will die with a smile on my face. This is not the end and it is only the beginning of our journey.” He landed heavily, carrying his sword over to the five men that had decided to send a message. “I’m going to give you one more chance to walk away, while you still can. You know how good I am, which is the reason why you brought along your friends. My exploits are legendary and there isn’t anybody in any clan that doesn’t know my name. Women fall at my feet and men cower in fear of having my blade stuck in their chest.” His attempt to use psychological warfare was working on a couple of them.
Ian’s hair was down past his shoulders, unruly and unkempt like that of a warrior should be. He had recently bathed in a stream nearby, but for the most part he still looked like he was ready to fight to the death. His eyes watched all of them, never taking a moment for granted.
Caitlin was impressed that Ian was willing to take on five men. He could’ve easily turned tail and made the horse race by them. That was not the type of man that they were dealing with. Caitlin had to admit that this man really was a cut above the rest.
“I know that these are my brothers and, but for some reason I am rooting for the underdog. Everyone knows that Ian Mackenzie can take care of himself. People have sung songs about him and there were even rumors that he had been born with a sword in his hand.” Caitlin watched what was going to happen and felt the need to do something to even the odds. The battle began and from the moment that it started, she knew that they eventually the numbers would catch up to Ian.
First blood was had by Finn. He was able to catch Ian off his game and concentrating on two others. His blade sliced across Ian’s left forearm, but thankfully it was not his primary fighting hand. It hurt like hell, but he showed no semblance of any kind of pain. He whirled around and decided to make a statement of his own. He ran through one man and watched the life drain from his eyes. The blade got stuck underneath his ribs, as he fell to the ground with his two hands holding onto the blade for some kind of support. That only cut his hands, but that was only a part of the story.
Seeing one of his own fall, Finn made an ungodly scream to the heavens above. He surged forward; consciously aware that he was putting his life on the line for something that he didn’t even believe in. It did not matter and his duty to his chief was clear. There were four of them left and that still gave Finn the confidence to take the fight to Ian.
Ian noticed that they were surrounding him, giving him very little options and not a lot to strike back at. When one came forward, the other sliced a part of his anatomy. He was bleeding like a stuck pig, but he was not going to allow that to deter him from his destiny. He fought valiantly, putting on a show that was worthy of spectators. He killed one more by slicing his jugular and letting the blood spray into the air, as a reminder of just how good he really was.
This petrified one that didn’t seem to have the experience underneath his belt for battle such as this. He fell gurgling on his own blood and waiting for the death shroud to cover him once and for all. He would drown in his own fluids, painfully and quite aware that his life was coming to an end.
The blood loss was causing Ian to lose focus and to fall back a step. He stumbled and looked like he was going to faint. By sheer will alone, he forced himself to stand, even though it was by swaying on his 2 feet. He lifted the arm without the sword and motioned with four fingers for the other two to come and receive the same treatment.
He felt like he was on the precipice of a victorious comeback, but then something happened. He heard the rumbling and looked in time to see that an avalanche of rocks was converging on the battle that was ensuing.
“We need to finish this right now and right here.” Those words echoed in his ears, as Finn had decided that not even an avalanche was going to keep them from doing what needed to be done. A rock slammed into his shoulder and he was knocked off balance. His broadsword struck into the shoulder of Ian. It was meant to go into his heart with one long stroke, but his aim was a little skewed by the rock hitting his shoulder. Had it not been for that, Ian would have been laid to rest to join his ancestors in the afterlife.
Finn watched, as a huge boulder landed on his friend and comrade in arms. It crushed him beyond recognition.