This was no time to let his emotions get the better of him. He was too close to finding Bridget.
He rose to his feet and wiped his hands on his plaid before taking a moment to stroke the neck of his massive black horse. They’d ridden through the night with little break for the past three days. Both he and the animal were wearing down.
“Good Beli. Soon enough we’ll find her, and then I’ll give you your rest, old man.”
Hall lifted himself up onto the animal’s back and once again tipped his head to listen.
There! The sound he’d heard before was louder in that direction. A rustling, busy sound of men waking. No better time to drop in unannounced than when your prey was still slow-witted from their time in Nott’s world.
Urging his mount forward, he followed the sound, feeling more confident of his direction as the noises grew more discernible. Four men, by the sounds.
He briefly considered returning to pick up his original course. Men were of no interest to him, and Bridget would avoid encounters with any other than her intended prey.
If shecouldavoid them.
A darker possibility kept him moving forward, more quietly than before.
The warriors from Tordenet he’d encountered before had traveled in such a number. If these were the other group of Fenrir’s soldiers, they searched for the same prey that Bridget sought. Meaning they were as likely to find Bridget as they were to find Mathew and Dobbie.
He quickened his pace, intent upon all the sounds from the camp. Four men conversing as they prepared to break camp. Four men moving about, readying their mounts.
Four men. But five horses.
He stilled, bringing his mount to a halt to allow him to better concentrate on what awaited him ahead. He filtered out the noises of the forest around him and listened.
Five horses and five human hearts beating, just beyond those trees.
Hall guided Beli forward, the horse’s training allowing them to silently move close enough that Hall’s eyes might confirm the fear his ears had already predicted.
Bridget!
She sat on the ground, her legs drawn up with her forehead resting on her knees. Her arms had been pulled back and bound behind her on either side of a small tree.
If these men had harmed her in any way, they would beg for the mercies of Hela before he was finished flaying the skin from their bones.
Like a berserker in full rage, he charged forward, swinging his sword in an arc over his head. His battle cry pierced the air, echoing throughout the land, louder than any thunder overhead could ever manage.
The men in the clearing scattered. The two already mounted beat a hasty retreat into the woods; he’d worry over their fate once he’d freed Bridget.
One of the men ran toward him, sword drawn, bellowing his own war cry.
Big mistake on his part.
A downward arc of Hall’s weapon, and the warrior’s head took flight from his body. The torso teetered on lifeless feet for a moment before toppling over forward.
Bridget screamed his name and Hall reined his horse around to find her on her feet, the fourth man’s blade at her throat.
By Thor!What had the beasts done to her face?
IT WAS BEYONDfoolish of her to have called out Hall’s name. Brie berated herself for having given Hamish the momentary upper hand by acknowledging her recognition. But seeing Hall here, full of life and obviously recovered, had taken her by surprise.
“Is this man the master from whom you escaped?” Hamish hissed the question into her ear as he forced her in front of him like a living shield. “Hold where you are, stranger! If it’s yer property yer after, I’m willing to strike a bargain.”
“Myproperty?” Hall’s voice sounded strained as if he strangled on the question. “She is no man’s property. Take your hands from her and move away while you still can.”
Hamish tightened his hold and the cold metal of his knife pressed against Brie’s throat. This wasn’t playing out at all as she would have chosen.
“I ken who you are now,” Hamish called out. “I remember you, O’Donar. I remember how you ran away the day of the great fire. Ran away with that brother of yers to save yer own cowardly lives. I remained to battle the inferno, and our laird rewarded me well for it. I’m an officer in Tordenet’s guard while yer still naught but a penniless mercenary. Hunting some other man’s woman for him, are you?”