Page 1 of A Fearless Rebel

Chapter One

Storm clouds gathered overhead, darkening the surroundings in the thickly wooded forest. The wind blew through the branches, making the leaves flutter sideways as birds called out to others, warning of the storm headed their way.

Keithen Fraser’s focus was entirely on the man he was facing. Each of his opponent’s movements caused him to make calculations of what his own would be. As furious as he was, it was important not to lose sight of his ultimate goal. To kill each of the men he’d been informed who were responsible for the vicious attack on his childhood friend, Catriona.

The slash of the man’s dagger came too close for comfort, just a hairsbreadth away from his throat. Keithen pushed the man back, glad to see him stumble and sway. His opponent bled profusely from his nose and cuts across the upper chest and arm.

The man grinned, pacing side to side, biding his time. “We passed her around, each of us taking turns with the wench. I quite enjoyed watching the men use her, over and over again. When it was my turn, she screamed because I took her from behind. I didn’t want to be like the others, ye see,” he recounted, his eyes gleaming. He spit blood on the ground. “She was given to us. We only did what came freely.”

Fury sent blood pumping against Keithen’s eardrums and he lunged forward, swinging his right hand in an attempt to plunge his dagger into the bastard’s heart. But the man was prepared for it and manage to block the strike. Still, he was able to cut the bastard’s arm and then he was forced to leap backward when the man swung with his own weapon.

The man grimaced but managed to smirk. “I left my mark on her. Next time ye bed her, ye cannot miss my bite mark on her left breast. She was quite a morsel.”

Keithen roared with anger. “Ye will pay for it with yer life.”

When the man rushed toward him, Keithen defended against the fall of the man’s blade with his own. Then with his left hand, he punched the man in the gut. Somehow, his opponent managed to stab him as he bent forward. The stab on Keithen’s side wasn’t deep. He’d been able to move just in time. But it smarted and made him even more furious.

It began to rain, the drops drumming on the tree leaves in a noisy concerto that, under most circumstances, would be nice to hear. Instead, it meant he would be able to slip away without being seen. First, he had to avenge Catriona’s lost honor.

“I will kill ye,” Keithen gritted each word out and rushed the man who’d continued bleeding, the bloodstains growing on his tunic.

They rolled over each other on the muddy forest ground. The only witnesses to the struggle were their steeds. Keithen’s warhorse reared up when they came near, the animal not liking the situation.

The man swung and hit Keithen square in the jaw, sending him reeling backward until his head collided with a tree. Keithen had to shake his head to gather himself.

“Tis too bad ye did not kill me, Fraser, because my laird will ensure every single one of ye dogs are dead by sunset tomorrow.” The man turned and ran to his horse.

Keithen was aware that if he allowed the guard to get to the Mackenzie, what the man spouted was true. So Keithen gave chase. The Mackenzie would declare war on his clan.

Fueled by desperation, Keithen caught up with the man just as he reached the mount and sunk his blade into the man’s side.

“Argh!” the man cried out and bent forward grabbing his side. Keithen sliced his blade across the man’s neck. His opponent grabbed at the injury with both hands, eyes going wide and mouth falling open. Blood seeped from in between his fingers as he finally fell forward to the ground.

Keithen walked to the man’s horse and untied it. The animal’s return without its rider would alert them to the bastard’s death and deliver a message. They’d know another of their guardsmen had been killed. The volatile Mackenzie would go crazy with fury. As Clan Mackenzie had so many enemies, they’d not be able to place blame on any clan for certain.

Even though it was gratifying to have killed another one of those responsible for attacking a woman from his clan, a part of him felt empty. Nothing he did would bring back the Catriona he’d known most of his life.

He’d gotten names from the man he’d just killed. Obviously, the guard had thought he’d kill Keithen, so he’d bragged about which of his friends had participated in the attack.

Three more. At least by his calculations, that’s how many were left. Three had died under his hand, now three more would pay for what they’d done.

Gallant, his warhorse, flew across the terrain. There was little the great horse seemed to enjoy more than being allowed free rein to gallop. Putting as much distance as he could between Mackenzie lands and his, Keithen rode to a small farm on Fraser lands.

With each fall of his horse’s hooves across the ground, his mind went over what had happened lately between the clans. His family was in peril until they agreed to terms the Mackenzie had set. But with the newly formed alliance between his clan and Clan Ross, they were not as vulnerable as before.

Months earlier, along with his father, they’d met the Mackenzie to discuss a truce. The man had suggested marriage between Keithen and his daughter, Ava. Instantly, Keithen had rebuffed the idea. The last thing he wished for was to become forever linked to the man who’d attacked his clan.

Not only had the man been responsible for the deaths of many of his clanspeople, but he’d terrorized surrounding villages, causing people to flee in fear. Too many had lost everything because of the Mackenzie’s avarice.

The last thing Clan Fraser wanted was a family alliance with a man no one respected. The Mackenzie grew in power using his large army without a care to the damage they left in their wake.

Keithen would do whatever he could to never be tied to the Mackenzie. Not only because of his lack of care, but mainly because of him throwing a defenseless Catriona to his guards to do with as they wished.

A small keep came into view. Compared to his father’s keep, this one had only one small house, a large stable, and two guards.

A large garden that called to a traveler to stop by and admire it, seemed to invite one to rest.

In a small corral were several goats and pigs. The small adjoining field was neatly plowed. Different vegetable plants formed perfect lines on the slight hill.