Free Ashlyn (The Highland Clan Book 5) by Keira Montclair

surprised to find the guards talking with Uncle Logan. “Greetings, lass. You took a fist in the face, I see.”
    Ashlyn reached up to touch her face, amazed to feel the swelling there. “Aye, I’m sorry. I’ll get my things together. My face is of no concern.” She glanced at Magnus in time to catch him assessing her injury, his usual smile replaced with a look of fury he hid a moment later. She pivoted to return to the back of the cave for her belongings but was stopped by her uncle. “Ashlyn, you feel confident they were MacNiven’s men?”
    “Aye. There was something about them, not the man who captured me, but one of them was familiar. ‘Twas as if I’d heard his voice before.” She paused as something fell into place in her mind. “In fact, I recall something from when I was face down on his horse. I didn’t remember until just now. There was a trail off the path we followed.”
    Uncle Logan’s face lit up. “A trail? And no one else noticed it? Who else was near you?”
    “Myself, Jamie, and Braden,” Magnus said. “I did not notice aught.” He glanced at Jamie for his response.
    “Nay, I saw naught. Where exactly, Ashlyn?”
    “At the beginning. The leaves were spread out unnaturally, the way you showed me. It was like someone had covered something up. Our other lads were gathered by that spot.”
    The rest of the warriors exchanged looks before giving their attention to Logan. There was a chorus of nays and naughts—no one remembered seeing signs of a trail.
    “I rode back to see if any of you had found a lead,” Logan said. “If you think there was something there, Ashlyn, we’ll go check.”
    “If no one else noticed it, it must be naught,” Osgar growled, his color high. “She was face down on a horse. Saints above, if ‘twas real, we would have all noticed it.”
    Uncle Logan’s gaze narrowed on Osgar. “You are quick to discount a fellow warrior. Ashlyn, Magnus, and I will go check, and anyone else who wishes to follow along.”
    “I’ll follow,” Tormod said, nodding. “She has good sense.”
    “Aye,” Coll agreed. “I shall come.”
    Art grumbled, “I’ll wait here with Osgar.”
    Once they had their things together, everyone except Art and Osgar mounted up and rode back the way they had come. They didn’t go back far before Ashlyn stopped her horse and held her hand up for the rest to stop. She dismounted and searched the area, a grin creeping across her face at the realization that it was just as she remembered. She pointed. “Here, Uncle Logan.” She moved the leaves aside and found signs of horses.
    Uncle Logan dismounted and made his way toward her. “Well done.” He continued on foot, then announced, “Probably at least six horses. I’ll lead the way.”
    They traveled single file until they came upon a cave. Uncle Logan dismounted, grabbing his sword and moving toward the mouth of the cave. Jamie and Braden followed directly behind him. He pointed to an area off to one side for Ashlyn and Magnus to go, and a place on the other side for the remaining men. Jake had told her it was good practice to have archers hidden and always ready to shoot.
    A few moments later, the first group emerged from the cave. Uncle Logan was carrying a plaid. “They’ve gone,” he said. “The fire is still warm. I think they were scared off after losing so many men. I cannot tell for certes if MacNiven was with them, but my hunch is that he was here. He may be moving south, just as we are. We’ll find him. Search outside to see if you find aught before we take our leave.”
    As they spread out, an awful sound rent the air. An arrow flew past Ashlyn’s head, missing by a hair, and bounced off the stones behind her. Uncle Logan returned fire faster than Ashlyn could nock an arrow. He shot three arrows before they heard the strangled scream of pain.
    Magnus took off into the woods in the direction Uncle Logan had been shooting. They followed him, and Ashlyn stopped dead in her