Page 12 of A Fearless Rebel

The man stopped to relieve himself, giving Keithen a clear look. It was one of the men he sought, distinctive because of the long hair that was kept in a plait down his back. The man hesitated as if he sensed he was being watched and looked around.

Keithen moved a foot back and forth, creating a sound like that of an animal foraging.

It was better to do something that would make a person reassured than to stay quiet and invite closer examination. Finally, the man turned away and Keithen emerged from behind a tree, short sword at the ready. Just as he was about to plunge his blade into the man’s side, two more men appeared from the hut.

It was a trap.

Chapter Four

Ava stood with her back against the wall. After overhearing plans to trap a man who’d killed several guards, she had to go and ensure it was not the person she suspected. Pausing for a long moment, she listened intently for any sounds of ground patrols. But with all the night noises, it was hard to hear anything past the thudding of her heart.

Bent at the waist, she rushed into the woods and past several huts. Behind one, she crawled under a short shelter and grabbed a bag of clothing. The old woman who lived there had never asked why she kept clothes there. She was probably too scared to ask the laird’s daughter and be thrown out.

She lifted a hood to conceal herself and pulled a scarf that she wore around her neck to cover the bottom of her face. Then she bent and pulled a dark cloak over her shoulders and tied it around her neck. The tie would keep the mouth cover and hood in place.

Once she was fully covered from head to toe, she hurried into the forest. Having lived in this place all her life, often spending long days walking and exploring as a child, every area was familiar to her.

Despite the fact the land surrounding the keep was heavily guarded, this portion of the forest rarely was. There was no need, the land leading to it was open, and the only people who lived there were somehow related to the laird.

However, Ava had once caught sight of a man skulking about. He’d not seen her, but she had gotten a clear view of him. When she’d seen Keithen Fraser, it became clear that he was the man she’d spied in the forest. Now, he was to become her betrothed and if he was killing guards, the man would not live long enough to marry her.

She wasn’t keen on marriage but was less than enthusiastic for another war between her clan and one that did not deserve it.

It was only moments later that she heard the grunts and clashing of metal, a sure sign of a fight. Slowly, she made her way past low growing brush until she was able to catch sight of who was fighting.

The scene was mesmerizing, three men surrounded one, each one moving with a mixture of care and fury. One would reach forward with a blade, while another would retreat to keep from being cut.

The one in the middle, who was masked, was undoubtedly Keithen Fraser. Not that she could make out much, but his body and the way he moved was very much like the man she’d seen before.

When two men grappled with Keithen, Ava came up behind the third and hit him on the head with a thick branch. The man fell unconscious to the ground just as she hid behind some bushes.

One of the men fighting Keithen stopped and turned to see what had happened but was tripped by the other two fighting. He scrambled away and moved closer to where Ava was hiding. She waited until he came closer and quickly came from behind the tree, swinging the branch and knocking him out as well. She dropped to the ground with him to keep from being seen.

The other two continued to fight until the lone Mackenzie guard realized his comrades were missing.

The man turned in a circle, calling out their names. Before he caught sight of her, she half-crawled to hide behind a different tree. Keithen had backed away, seeming unsure of what had happened. He did not wish to be out in the open. Ava took advantage and hit him, knocking him to the ground.

At this point, noting he was alone, the last guard yelped and said some sort of prayer before turning and running away.

Rumors of the forest being haunted at night during a full moon helped her that night.

“Who are ye?” Keithen asked, pushing to his feet. He swayed just a bit as she backed away.

“Whoever ye are, I will return and finish what I started.”

Ava purposely deepened her voice, although she doubted it was deep enough to fool him. “Then ye are a fool.”

He didn’t reply but, instead, began walking away. Upon nearing the first man on the ground, he lowered and stabbed him in the chest. Then did the same with the second.

Without looking back, he continued walking away.

It had not been a good idea to interfere. But it was better to have done so than to allow the arrogant man to start a war.

Not wishing to be found there if the guard who’d raced away returned with others, Ava dashed away, running as fast as she could through the forest.

Once she arrived at the widow’s hut, she quickly removed her disguise and tucked it neatly into the bag.

Moments later, she slipped in through the kitchen doorway at the keep.