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

breath.
    The three-story stone stronghold sat on the edge of a bluff, and a steep, rocky ravine with a rushing river running through it flanked the rear of the structure. A high curtain wall protected the front and sides, and the drawbridge leading into the bailey appeared well-guarded. Sentries carrying torches paced back and forth atop the parapets in plain sight, but it was the others, those lurking in the shadows, the ones they couldn’t see that posed the greatest threat.
    “How do we get past the guards?” Logan whispered. “I thought you said getting into the keep would be easy.”
    “We are slipping in through the postern entrance, not planning to march through the front gate. Once inside, if we remain in the shadows at the rear of the keep, and wait for precisely the right moment, our chances of going unnoticed are greatly improved. Most of the laird’s men are away, but there will still be a few we might have to deal with,” Garrett replied as the group moved closer to the castle. “You dinna expect he’d leave the place unguarded?”
    “Nay, but you seem pretty confident. And you dinna answer my question,” Logan said. “How do we get past remaining sentries?”
    “Dinna fash , I have a plan,” Garrett said.
    When they reached a copse of trees at the back corner of the curtain wall, Garrett held up his arm, signaling for his men to halt.
    “Now what?” Logan whispered.
    “Torren told me the guards pass by this spot on the hour—”
    “And you trust the bugger?” Logan shook his head.
    “I dinna have much choice, but I have no reason to doubt his word. It was either take the risk or watch the bairns starve this winter. Torren told me to wait here and said he’d signal when the coast is clear. The door leading into the tunnels is about two hundred paces to the right of the gate, and he is going to leave it unlocked.”
    “It all sounds too easy,” Logan cautioned. “We still have to get passed the guards.”
    “If what Torren told me about their rounds is true, we’ll have nearly an hour to complete our task and get away before they circle around again. We will need to move swiftly and quietly, but I think it is a sound plan.”
    “The entrance to the castle stores is right beside the door leading to the dungeon,” Arya blurted. The thought of the dismal place sent a shiver of repulsion slithering down her spine. She was forbidden to play anywhere near the cells, but once, out of curiosity, she disobeyed her grandfather and had to see it for herself. Not a place she wanted to visit again.” She closed her eyes and shuddered at the thought of the dark, dank abyss, the horrible smell of rotting flesh and human excrement was something she’d never forget. “We must make sure we use the correct door.”
    Garrett nodded, then crouched beside some bushes outside the curtain wall. “We’ll wait here for Torren’s signal.”
    But they did not stand idle for long. The parapet door opened a crack, and someone peered around it. “Garrett, are you here?” the man called out.
    “Aye, Torren, but best you keep your voice low, or you’ll have the castle guards breathing down our necks.”
    Torren opened the gate wider and waved his arm. “Hurry, time is wasting,” he whispered, then stepped back and out of view.
    Garrett stood, then led his men and Arya through the postern gate.”
    “Garrett, wait! It’s a trap,” someone shouted from behind. When Garrett glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the call, he spotted someone running toward them through the mist. But the warning came too late.
    He grabbed Arya and shoved her behind him, then came face to face with a full garrison of Campbell warriors, armed and ready to do battle.
    “They have us surrounded on all sides, and even from above.” Logan pointed to several men standing atop on the parapets.
    “Torren, you traitorous bastard! I canna believe you betrayed us,” Garrett shouted.
    “I am no longer a MacDougall and have