Highland Hellion (Blades of Honor #1) Read Online Free PDF

the truth, she held her tongue.
    “Safe journey.” Isla waved. “And give that new babe a kiss from me. Dinna fash over your mam. I’ll take good care of her while you are away.”
    “Thank you. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. The Lord willing,” Arya mumbled the final words beneath her breath.

Chapter 4
    Arya led her horse into the clearing where the men prepared to leave for the Campbell stronghold. “I’m here. When do we ride?”
    Garrett shook his head. “About time you arrived. Any later and we’d have left without you. Not a bad idea if you ask me.”
    “No one asked,” Arya said, frowning. “We’ve already been through this. I am going with you and nothing you can say will change my mind.” She climbed on her horse’s back, then fisted the reins. “I’ve my weapons, provisions, and I’m ready to go. How about you?”
    Garrett grunted, mounted his destrier, then rallied the men. “We are about to leave, so if any of you have changed your mind about going, no one will think any less of you.” He looked Arya in the eye, their gazes locked. “There is no shame in staying behind.”
    Arya nodded and squared her shoulders. “I agree. Let’s go.” She turned her horse and kicked it into a swift trot.
    Garrett and the others followed in her wake.
    They rode in silence, the miles and hours passing quickly. Not long after they’d rounded Loch Awe, Garrett slowed the pace. The Castle of the Campbell came into view on the horizon, a stone giant set against a star-spattered sky. The sight of it caused a knot of anger and hatred to form in Arya’s belly. She knew every corner and corridor of the structure, built by her great-grandfather and given to the new Lord of Argyll after the war with England ended. Her ancestors would turn over in their graves if they knew her clan was being forced to steal what was rightfully theirs.
    “We’ll leave the horses here and walk the rest of the way,” Garrett said as he dismounted and handed his reins to one of his men. “Kevin, I want you and Hamish to wait here with the mounts. Have them ready when we return. Seamus, take two of our best archers and position them on the rocks above the burn.”
    Seamus nodded. “That would be William and Arya.”
    “I’ll not be staying back here while you go on without me.” Arya glared at Garrett. “No one knows the tunnels beneath the castle better than I do. I spent many a day playing in those very caverns when I was a wee lass visiting my grandfather.”
    “She has a point,” Logan said.
    “She’ll be safer here, and I can concentrate better if I know she is out of harm’s way. Your role as an archer is equally as important to the mission, Arya. You’ll stay here with Seamus and William,” Garrett replied. “We have a man on the inside who will show us the way if need be.”
    “And what if he doesna turn up, or leaves you once you’ve gained entry? There is more than one corridor beneath the castle. What happens if you get lost and take the wrong one? It could cost you valuable time. Or even worse, you might get caught.”
    “Again, she has a point, cousin. I say we let her show us the way,” Logan said.
    “Fine. But if anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible, Logan. Allowing her to accompany us is against my better judgment.” Garrett blew out a heavy sigh, then turned to Arya. “You stay close to Logan and me. If anything goes awry, I want your word that you’ll get yourself out of there as quickly as possible. Dinna take any unnecessary chances. And you must heed my commands. The minute you dinna listen, you will return to the horses immediately. Is that clear?”
    Arya nodded in agreement. Garrett was looking out for her safety, and she had no intention of doing anything to jeopardize herself or the others. “I understand and will obey your commands.” The words left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she knew it was for the best. “But only this once,” she muttered under her