Page 18 of The Guardian

Chapter Seven

Mounted in front of the entire Ross army, flanked by the other leads and just behind their laird, Hendry couldn’t keep from admiring the perfectly lined up warriors, archers, and guardsmen.

Every face was taut with expectation. Across their backs and on their hips, weapons capable of bringing death to the enemy. There was little doubt that the cowards they sought would be captured.

From where he was, to the laird’s left, he caught sight of Alexander’s set jaw as his keen gaze traveled over his men.

He’d known Alexander and his brothers since they were all lads. They’d played in the forest whilst their mothers traveled between their homes visiting. It seemed now those peaceful happy times as a child where he’d mostly known safety were fleeting. He also now understood that the reason he’d felt secure was because of the sacrifices of men like him. Warriors.

“Remain vigilant,” Alexander called out upon finishing his speech. As always, he spoke in a way that made the men sit straighter, shoulders squared, knowing they make their laird proud.

The warriors broke apart into ten teams. Each team consisting of twenty warriors, six archers, and two scouts.

Hendry guided his horse forward planning to go to his team but stopped at Alexander holding an arm out to stop him.

The laird’s emerald green gaze was direct, no hint of what the man was to say. “It will be upon ye to decide their punishment. Ye have time to consider it as ye go with yer men.”

Usually punishment was dealt by the laird, but Hendry understood that after being close to death, Alexander would grant him this. Despite all they’d done, and having taken lives in battle, deciding a man’s final fate beforehand was not easy task.

However did Alexander do it, when required? Making such a decision weighed heavily on a man.

Hendry nodded. “Thank ye Laird.”

“Dinnae thank me. The decision could be a burden.”

“I am aware,” Hendry replied, leaning over to place his hand on Alexander’s shoulder. “Nonetheless, I do appreciate yer confidence in me.”

At midday, Hendry and his men dismounted near a babbling creek, the sound of the water moving through the rocks too tempting to pass by. They led their thirsty horses to the water’s edge, and the men drank alongside their mounts.

Some men sat on the ground, others lay flat resting their backs, still others wandered the forest intent on finding any sign of those they sought.

Hendry and his men were about to mount when the unmistakable sounds of horses approaching got everyone’s attention. It was Liam and a few of his men, riding toward them at a leisurely pace.

It wasn’t like his friend to break away from his group and even rarer still for his approach to be so casual.

Upon arriving, Liam and his companions dismounted. Like Hendry and his men they took their mounts to the creek’s edge. One of them took Liam’s horse as the archer walked to Hendry, pulling him aside.

“We’ve got yer men. I am sure of it. They are just as ye described. One of them still has yer leather purse, the one with yer initials on it.” Liam blew air through his nose. “The bastards had the nerve to say we could nae prove it. They believe ye dead.”

It took effort to force a smile as Hendry patted his friend’s shoulder. “Yer men are to be commended.”

Liam’s shoulder lifted and lowered. “’Tis the scouts who do most of the work. The rest of us do the battling and the killing.”

At the statement, Hendry had to laugh. “True, vera true.” He looked toward the road. “Where are they?”

“Being brought. We rode ahead to find ye. Already one of my men has turned back to tell them ye and yers are here.”

Despite the fact that everyone, including Ailith, would be safer, Hendry didn’t look forward to dealing out their sentence.

If it was the right ones Liam’s men had captured, and he was sure they had, then he’d have to make a very hard decision. Not only give sentence but be witness to his orders being followed.

“Something weighs heavy on yer mind?” Liam asked, his keen gaze meeting Hendry’s. “What is it?”

He had to swallow past the dryness in his throat. “Alexander has decreed that I am to decide on the punishment for them.”

Liam’s eyes widened and shook his head seeming to understand how Hendry must feel. “Have ye thought on it?”

“I have thought of little else,” Hendry replied. “Their death will make the families of their victims feel vindicated, for that I am glad.”