Chapter 4

"Miss Donaghue, how are you fairing over there?" Duncan called back, bemused as Lara swatted away another moth that was flapping around her head.

"Fine Major" she said with little confidence. The sun was at its highest point and bearing down on them. The great adventure that Marie had been crying over was an uncomfortable ride through uneven narrow roads and involved lots of ducking from branches that reached out like spindly arms.

"Perhaps we can stop soon?" Cora asked.

"Of course" Duncan pulled on his horse to ride up ahead to catch up with the Mohawk scout. "Magua, we will stop just up ahead, the women need to rest."

"Not here" Magua barked without breaking his stride, one hand wrapped around his tomahawk that was strapped to his side.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" Duncan said incredulously and Lara could see the English superiority emerge at full force as he eyeballed the guide like some sort of insect that must be squashed quickly. Magua stopped, turning his head slowly as his dark eyes penetrated Duncan's disapproving stare. He was not intimidated in the slightest Lara realized as he started to approach Duncan's horse with purposeful steps.

"Magua said we do not stop here. River two leagues from here. That is where we stop."

"Are you hearing this?" Duncan scoffed as he looked back at the dozen soldiers that were marching with the party to the Fort. "A Savage! Giving an English Officer orders! And this is why we must make the world England!"

Magua's eye twitched, his grip tightening around his tomahawk in anger, the muscles pulsating in the proud Mohawks jaw as he stared down those that were laughing at his expense. Lara did not care for the scout but seeing him humiliated like this did not sit right with her.

"We stop in the glade ahead Scout" Duncan said, deliberately not using his name to humiliate the man even more. Magua raised his head catching Cora's gaze for a few seconds as he turned sharply and walked on ahead again. "Unbelievable" Duncan half-laughed as he glanced at Cora failing to read her body language.

"That wasn't kind" she said in low tones and the Major eyeballed her just as a shot rang out nearby, startling the horses. Magua stopped in his tracks, bearing arms as he pointed his rifle towards the trees as Duncan's horse trotted around in circles as the Major tried to regain control.

"What was that?" Alice called out as Cora drew up beside her.

"Nothing to worry about. It was probably a hunter. There are subjects of the crown scattered across this Frontier - " Duncan said catching Alice's frightened gaze and something changed inside him. "- but we will stop further ahead to be on the side of caution. Magua lead the way to the river."

"You're awfully quiet Miss Donaghue" Duncan said as he fanned the air with his tricorn hat in an attempt to clear the midges that congregated around the rivers edge.

"This heat is unbearable at times. The climate - "

"Yes, yes. Pray tell me, has Cora said anything to you about me?" the Major cut her off mid sentence catching Lara completely off guard. "Anything at all?"

"... n- no."

"Even it seemed insignificant at the time?"

"I'm sorry, she hasn't said anything to me."

"I see" he said as he fixed his hat in place and Lara suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "Please do me this kindness and don't repeat this exchange to Cora -" Lara watched as he became distracted by something behind her and she turned just to see Magua as he slapped the back of her horse and it bolted.

Feral sounds cried out at once from the trees. The sounds got louder as the seconds ticked by and everyone looked around in a state of total confusion. Then came the dark shadow that flew from the trees like a flock of birds. Duncan slammed Lara to the ground using his body to shield her as a rifle went off behind them. Her breath came in sharp and short bursts as arrows reigned overhead, followed by other sounds. Screams. Guttural sounds. Duncan's hat lay beside her head on the grass as he retrieved his pistol from his coat and rolled onto his front taking aim at the figures that moved between the trees. Then they emerged, clubs and axes swinging from their hands, red paint smeared over their copper chests and shaved heads. The look of no mercy in their black eyes. Duncan fired off a shot hitting one of the assailants in the chest. He groaned and buckled forward as Duncan rose to his feet and pulled out his sword. Lara half crawled, half ran in the other direction, the adrenaline the only thing keeping her moving at that very moment. Blind panic & fear consumed her. It was then she slammed straight into someone. Her nose bashed with a shoulder or a chin. Blood seeped from both nostrils as she stumbled back a few steps, dazed as Nathaniel stared at her in somewhat shock. The sounds of screaming reached their ears and he took off towards the noise, rifle in hand. Lara pinched her nose with two fingers as her face throbbed painfully and she took wide uneven steps towards the treeline. Her vision went dark for a moment and she stopped, her eyes half closed as she started to feel lightheaded and nauseous.

Alice lay flat on the riverbank, her eyes glazed over as the body of a dead soldier lay a few feet away. Arrows protruded from his chest and his legs. She was frozen. Frightened out of her wits. She couldn't even process the noises around her. Everything was muffled. Copper arms with gold bracelets grabbed both shoulders and pulled her up into a sitting position. A man with long dark hair and dark eyes looked right at her. Alice started to scream.

"Alice! Alice, it's alright! Let go of her man for god-sake!" Duncan rushed over, breaking Uncas hold and pulled Alice onto her feet. She buried her face into his coat and Duncan wrapped a protective arm around her. Uncas rose, peeved at the Officers reaction. He had just helped save their lives.

"They took her, they - they took Cora" Alice wept and Duncan's head turned sharply, his stomach dropping like a stone.

"You should leave now, Albany's 'bout half days walk from here" Nathaniel called out as he rifled around in the pockets of a dead soldier for powder.

"No, you have to help us - " Duncan strode forward. " - they've taken one of the women. We need to go after them!"

"There's a girl that ran into me further down the bank. Dark hair?" Nathaniel asked and Duncan nodded frantically. "I suppose she's hid herself in the bushes now but she ain't been taken by anyone - " he stopped talking as Duncan took off running weaving a path around the bodies.

"Cora! Cora! Co - " Duncan's shouts disappeared as his eyes settled on Lara slumped against a tree, blood crusted around her nose and mouth and her hair had come undone from its bun. "Damn you!" he cursed. "Why did it have to be you?" the words came out before he could stop himself. Duncan heard someone behind him and turned to see Nathaniel looking at him with an edge of coldness and realized he had heard what he said, his cheeks flushing with humiliation. "I didn't mean - " Duncan felt remorse as the man approached Lara and crouched down. " - listen to me - they've taken Colonel's Munro's eldest daughter - " he clenched his teeth as Nathaniel ignored him and brushed back Lara's hair with his fingers. Something tugged at his subconscious. "Scout! I am - "

"I ain't your Scout" Nathaniel seethed as he snapped at the Major. "You ain't my problem."

"You know what those savages will do to her!" Duncan shouted in anger, saliva spitting from his mouth. A flock of birds that had nestled in the tree above flew off disturbed by the ruckus. Nathaniel hesitated, something unsaid and known passing between the two men as Lara mumbled something incoherent.

"Take them to the Cameron's farm and wait for us" Nathaniel transferred Lara over to Uncas' arms and the younger man frowned as her head lolled against his shoulder as she slipped in and out of consciousness.

"It's the girl that was with Jack Winthrop" Uncas said quietly and he locked eyes with his brother as it dawned on him where he had seen her before.

"We should go" Chingachgook called from further up ahead and Nathaniel squeezed Uncas' shoulder, glancing down quickly at Lara before leaving.

"You must be strong. I'm promise you I will bring your sister back with the help of these men" Duncan brushed his lips against Alice's forehead. She was trembling a little as she watched Duncan leave and turned with wide eyes as the man carrying Lara offered her a warm closed mouth smile.

"We should go too Miss" he said.

As they walked through the forest, Uncas found himself stealing glances at Alice. Sometimes their eyes would meet and one would look away immediantley. The silence was comfortable. She seemed more at ease though she flinched everytime a bird would break through the trees or a branch would break under their feet. Lara had started to regain consciousness when they reached the perimeter fence to the Cameron's farm and Alice rushed over as Uncas carefully laid her down.

"Lara - can you hear me?" Alice urged as she crouched down.

" - my head. It's throbbing something awful" Lara mumbled, still disoriented.

Uncas rose to his feet as a chill ran through the length of his body. There was no smoke coming from the cabin. It didn't matter if it was during day or late at night, there was always the sight of a smoking chimney that would greet them whenever they visited.

"What's wrong?" Alice said quietly as Uncas unstrapped his rifle, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge as the same fear returned.

"Stay here. Don't try to follow me."