Disclaimer: same as always….
Thank you kris89 (glad to hear from you again, it's been a minute, I always enjoy your reviews!), x XRoweenaJAugustineX x (hang in there broken hearts can be mended), and Azure83 for your reviews and to all the emails, hits and Fav marks this story has gotten!
As always Katie thanks for the best pair of awesome eyes any girl could have when writing…. Hurry up and post your next chapter!….
This chapter is intense… I know that the last few chapters have been on the dark side….but so necessary for the storyline. Trust me when I say you will see the purpose of it all.
Thank you for all your support in this and all the other stories!
Chapter 10: A Reckoning
The earth shook like thunder beneath the traveling band of Woads headed for Fiona's cottage. His hair flowed behind him, his fist clenched tightly on the reigns in his hand while his other fist pounded his right leg. His nostrils flared as he took in the air rushing toward him in a fury. His eyes were dark and menacing, even more so than normal. Hatred and betrayal loomed within his body. He would not tolerate being betrayed and she had done that very thing.
Sèitheach dismounted his black stallion; his head slowly turned as his eyes glared everywhere. He was on the hunt, and his senses keenly in tuned to everything around him. His four companions dismounted, tethering their horses. Sèitheach motioned with his hand for them to spread out. Two headed toward the stream while the others made their way to the stable.
Standing just outside the cottage, Sèitheach turned to face the woods. His head tilted backwards as he inhaled a deep breath. Something was not right, he could feel it.
She had lied to him.
Midir, his scout had found tracks heading back to the Roman post. Tracks made by a single man on foot. She had aided Arthur's scout, the very man they had been hunting. She would pay, and dearly.
His eyes clenched till they were nearly shut, his black brows knitted and his nose crinkled. He growled, than spat on the ground.
Turning he lifted his right leg and kicked open the door. As the door was flung open it smack into the wall, causing a few items to fall from a shelf, hitting the ground and smashing. He stepped inside and grunted. His eyes scoured the surroundings.
He stomped around the cottage, knocking things off the shelves as his anger intensified. He flipped the table over causing everything on it to crash and break. His mood was darkening by the second. He let out several snorts as he pulled the covers off her bed. Taking the covers to his nose he inhaled, he was looking for the scent of that Sarmatian bastard in her bed. He tossed the blankets down to the ground and turned. His eyes cast to the pallet. His brows creased. His head turned back and forth as it tiled just ever slightly. Something caught his eye; it was protruding out from the bottom of the pallet. He stormed over and jerked the bedding up, it was s shirt. It was a man's shirt.
His teeth gritted tightly as he lifted it to his nose. Sèitheach clinched the material his fist, raising it to the heavens, his scream echoed throughout the woodlands. His rage was fierce; he would kill her for her betrayal.
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She ran faster than she had ever run in her life. She had to make it back and pack her provisions. She had to find Rowan.
Just as Fiona came out of the woodland and turned the corner of the cottage she ran into Midir, who was Sèitheach's main scout. Midir was just as ruthless and cunning as Sèitheach. His hands gripped Fiona's arms. His face was close to hers as he growled in her ear.
"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time witch," he groaned with pleasure. "You have finally made the mistake I have longed for. Now you will feel his wrath."
Her heart raced as a sick feeling over took her body.
"Sèitheach, the witch has returned," he called out with a wicked evil smile across his lips. His hands squeezing her arm tighter.
Fiona tried to break free of his hold but it was useless. Tears filled her eyes, she knew death was near. She was thankful at least that Rowan was not here. She closed her eyes and prayed to the gods that she would make it to the Wall, make it to Tristan.
Within seconds Sèitheach was standing behind her. She was pressed between the two large men. She could not avoid the involuntary trembling of her body as she felt Sèitheach's fingers lace around her neck.
"Fiona, Fiona," he murmured gruffly. "You disappoint me woman."
She could hear his teeth grinding they were clenched tightly as he spoke, his breath the heat of hell's furnace. Midir stood holding her as an evil twisted laugh rumbled from deep within the bowls of his empty soul.
"You lied to me, you whore, and you know how angry I get when I am lied to," he growled as he took her by the left arm, leading her into the cottage. Her body was nearly lifted off the ground by his strength.
He tossed her into the opened door. Her body flew through the air and she fell to the ground like a rag doll. Her head hit the turned over chair. Two strides and he towered over her.
By this time the rest of his band was standing inside watching with great pleasure.
She felt his hand grip her again as he pulled her up by the roots of her hair. His face pressed against hers.
His eyes were cold and dark as they glared into hers. Everything disappeared in her world, every sound, every thought, and every memory, gone.
It surely was only a moment or two but to Fiona it was a life time that passed before he spoke again.
"Now you die," he snarled.
With that he grabbed the overturned chair and threw her in it.
"Rope," he groaned.
Within seconds her arms were held to the side as her upper body was bound to the chair.
"Foolish woman," he yelled as he led his party out of the cottage.
Fiona's head spun in a million directions, her heart pounded so hard she thought for a second it would burst from within her body. Never before had she been truly afraid.
The last thing she remembered hearing was Sèitheach's voice as he yelled "BURN it to the ground, with her in it!"
The smell of smoke slowly seeped into the cottage descending from the roof and sides. Fiona began to choke as she struggled to free herself from the ties that bound her. Frantically she looked around for something to cut the ropes. She bounced the chair sideways when suddenly she spotted the broken plates and cups near the overturned table. If only she could get to them she could escape through the hatch.
Calm, you must remain calm and think Fiona. She told herself. Rowan, you have to make it Rowan before Sèitheach finds her.
She took a deep breath as she reminded herself of her purpose in life, Rowan. Carefully she rocked the chair back and forth all the while coughing and choking as the smoke intensified within. Shortly the chair tipped on its back and she steadied herself for the impact, titling her head forward so she would not bang it on the floor.
She screamed aloud as her body hit bits of broken pottery. This was a good thing as the sounds of pain masked her attempted escape to those who waited outside for her demise.
After a few moments of struggling she grasped a large piece from a broken pitcher. The fall had loosened the bindings slight enough for her wiggle her arms to her front.
She masked her endeavor with screams of torture. She had to make Sèitheach believe she was going to burn as he desired her to. Finally she was free of the bindings.
She coughed, she choked, she begged as she made her way to the deer rug that covered the hatch. The cottage was engulfed in an inferno now. The thatched roof was caving in with huge chucks. It was now or never if she was to escape. Crawling to the hatch she lifted it, dropped down into the cellar and lowered it behind her. Just as she did she heard a loud crash as the majority of the roof fell in.
Fiona sunk to the ground of the cellar, coughing as she gasped for fresh air to fill her lungs. Carefully she reached over her shoulders trying to pull the bits of pottery stuck in her back from the fall.
Sparks filtered from above her she could not hesitate any longer; she had to make her way through the tunnel she had dug. She crawled through spider webs and muck on her hands and knees, thankful that she had the fortitude to chisel this tunnel. When she reached the end of the passage, Fiona bent upward pushing the covered hatch up. She had ensured that the opening was hidden behind a bush incase Rowan had to ever use the escape tunnel. She crawled out and crouched down next to the tree and hid behind the bush.
As she looked up, her stomach sickened as she watched their cottage burn to the ground. She saw Sèitheach, Midir and the rest of the Woads sitting in their saddles watching her burn within the cottage. She dared cast her eyes upon him. His face was filled with pleasure at the thought of her dying body burning into ashes. She was filled with hate for the first time in her life. Pure hatred.
Now she had to wait. Wait until she was sure they were gone. Once she was certain they were gone, she would go to the Wall. She prayed fervently that Rowan was safe and would find Tristan.
To be continued….