Enchanted Lover Read Online Free Page A

the trail ahead.
    There it was—a tiny flicker of movement on the ridge
above. His legs tightened around Ailleagian in preparation for their escape.
They were almost at the critical point. Jared wrapped his arm securely around
Asilinn's waist hearing her moan of protest. A brief smile flickered across his
face when he kneed his mount into a little used side trail.
    ***
    High above them he perched on a rocky ledge. Turning
his mount, he headed back to his master's encampment. He rode swiftly, fearful
of the punishment that would follow if he failed to get the message back in
time.
    When he finally looked into the black eyes of his
lord, he dropped his gaze to regain his wits. "Laird Jared approaches with
the Innes girl," he reported, never lifting his head to the searching eyes
of death staring at him.
    "You've done well," his master's voice
purred. The dark lord rose from his seat and gathered them all around him.
"It must look like thievery. The girl must die but dinna kill Laird Jared.
I have other plans for him and the time is not yet ripe. Keep your faces well
hidden. I wilna have our plot discovered."
    The lookout shivered involuntarily when he watched
each of his comrades’ nods of assent. There was no turning back now. He joined
them when they ran to their horses.
    ***
    The clatter of hooves behind them echoed through the
moors. A group of hooded riders swept after them in a cascade of thundering
hoof beats. Jared turned in the saddle to get a brief view of what he was up
against. He cursed when he saw their number. His cousins had begged to
accompany him but he had insisted on completing his mission alone. Now it
appeared he had miscalculated.
    At his command, the horse bolted to a flat out run
along the rough earth. Seven cloaked figures pursued them with a vengeance and
he was hampered by the burden of his future wife clutched tightly to his chest.
    Spurring Ailleagian forward he rounded a sharp bend
in the twisting trail. He pulled the horse up short and dumped Asilinn on the
ground. "To the rocks," he shouted, turning to challenge the oncoming
riders.
    Asilinn scrambled to her feet and ran to the rocks,
picking her way up the embankment. From her vantage point, she could see the
trail below. Jared MacLean drew his sword from the scabbard and rode fearlessly
into the throng of faceless riders outnumbering him seven to one.
    One assailant was knocked from his mount with Jared's
first swing. Two others wheeled their horses and fled in terror. Jared wielded
the two-handed sword expertly, unseating the rider in front of him, but one of
the others came at him from behind. The man struck him in the side of the head
with the blunt end of a battle-ax. Asilinn let out a strangled gasp as her
protector fell to the ground and lay motionless.
    The riders re-grouped and headed straight toward her
position. Terrified, she sought to conceal herself in the maze of rocks and
boulders littering the side of the trail. The men drew up in close proximity to
her location and dismounted, fanning out to search for her.
    The tallest man gave the orders. "Find
her." His cry was muffled by the mask hiding his features from view.
    How could they possibly know she was there? Perhaps
her father sent them.
    Asilinn bit her lip in indecision. Should she reveal
herself? No, her father's men would not conceal themselves behind masks. They
would ride proudly after her, confront her captor in the open, and demand her
release. These vermin must be robbers or else villains bent on some treachery
to the MacLean's plan to take her for his wife.
    She heard a yelp of delight as the men spotted her.
She tried to scramble away but her makeshift boots would not allow her the
speed she needed. Two men caught her and dragged her to the tall man who had
remained mounted.
    With a quick tug, one of the men tore her wrap off
her shoulders until it hung in a lump around her waist. She stood before them
in the raggedy clothes Jared MacLean had given her. Her colors