Heart's Captive

Chapter 2

The boy glared at the two men with open hatred and shook his head. Logan glared back and nodded his head in return.

"Be smart boy, this lot'll kill ya. With us ya jus' migh' live." he said and yanked on the tunic making the boy stumble.

The slaver came over and looked hard at the younger man before holding out a pair of chainmail gloves. Scott looked at him with a questioning expression.

"Ya gotta use 'em. These an' the cuffs on the demon. They're made from 'holy metal'." His bloodshot eyes widened in an effort to make himself seem sincere.

"If ya donna use the blessed metal t'other one will vanish inna puff o'smoke an' this one will burn yer long house down." He handed over the gloves and a set of keys. Scott took them eyeing the items and the man skeptically.

He reached into his shoulder drape on his kilt and withdrew a leather sack. He counted out the coins and handed them over. He put the keys in the pouch and put it back before handing the gloves to Logan. The shorter lord scowled at being saddle with the rebellious boy. He snatched the metal gloves and turned to the slender young man.

"Donna give me no trouble, boy. This'll go better fer ya if ya behave." he growled and turned the boy around so he could put the gloves on his hands.

There was a scuffling as the beast was drawn from his cage on a chain latched to the collar around his neck. He was muttering in a strangely calm voice. Logan snickered as he caught the tone of the words.

~"I'll come calmly, stop pulling."~ he was saying as the handlers yanked him over to the lord's men. The smaller slave was yanked out of his cage so roughly it caused the poor soul to cry out. Scott snapped his fingers at one of their men who moved instantly to intercept.

The young blond man grasped the handler's wrist as he raised it to strike the slave.

"I wouldn'a do that." he said as the scraggly man looked up at him in surprise. The young man's hand was somehow frigidly cold. His crystalline blue eyes flashed cooly at the man and he relented immediately.

"This slave belongs ta Lord Summerlind now, anna he donna like scum touchin his prop'ty." The handler backed away not liking that the air seemed to cool down around the young man. The blonde nodded his head and held out a hand to the slumped slave.

The frightened young man, for that's what he was the blonde could see now, blinked yellow eyes and hesitantly reached out to take the offered hand. The three digits grasped the young man's hand and the slave slowly got to his feet.

"Danka." he said and began to hobble next the the young man. They made a slow progress to the horses. Scott approached with the beast. He had insisted the handlers take the chain off him, much to their dismay. The seemingly docile creature followed Scott. There was some more scuffling with the last slave until Logan gave a grunt and slung the wiggling boy over his shoulder.

A streak of expletives issued from the boy's lips, some of it making Logan chuckle. He reached the others and dumped the boy on the ground.

"Gypsy." he said and shook his head. "Gallic if i get t'accent right." he grunted and caught the boy by his muddy hair when he made a whippet fast movement to flee. "I toll ya boy, ya dunna wanna take 'em on."

"Remy take care of heez zelf." the boy said speaking for the first time. Scott's brows raised in interest.

"Bonny, Roe'll be happy fer that." he said and looked the filthy boy over. "Glad he isn't ridin with me." he taunted Logan as he turned to help the beast, who had identified himself as Henry, up on the horse. It was a large animal and could handle the added weight with no problem.

"Robert ya take the wee one with ya." he said to the blond man.

"Aye, Scott. But I need the keys, he canna ride with his feet bound." He explained looking worriedly at the handlers in case they detected anything unusual. Slaves were not normally unshackled in public. Scott nodded his understanding. He motioned the small slave over to him.

"Logan, tell 'em we'll feed an protect him but he has't abide this for now. Tell em no' to run." Scott instructed and reached to get the keys. Logan, still holding Remy by the hair spoke to the little man and explained. The slave quickly agreed his obedience and supplied that his name was Kurt.

Robert smiled at him when Scott tossed him the keys. He bent to unlock the cuffs.

"I'm Robert." he said once the heavy metal was removed and Kurt gave an anguished sigh of relief. "We'll have ta look at 'em when we get back." he said wincing at the rawness of the man's ankles. Kurt couldn't understand the young man but got the gist of his intent. He smiled shyly and clambered up behind Robert on the horse.

Logan turned to the cursing boy in his grasp and gave him a hard look.

"If I'm gonna have t'get dirty cuza ya, best no' vex me." he threatened the boy who looked back in defiance. "Oh, yer gonna be hard t'break in, I ken see." he said and cuffed the boy across the jaw, knocking him out.

Scott looked at Logan in annoyance. Logan shrugged and hefted the limp boy over his saddle.

"He was gonna fight t'whole way an' ya know it." he said climbing up and securing the boy across his lap. Shaking his head at his companion, Scott clicked his tongue and they headed off.

The ride was hard and swift, they wanted to make it across the Darkholme lands before night fell. Lady Darkholme and her consort were not overly friendly with the Summerland and Howlett clan. They needed to get their new additions into their hold's gates and assess their skills as soon as possible.

When they finally reached the edges of their lands the sun was just setting over the mountains. They galloped up the rise into their hill fortress. The tall piked wooden wall around the hilltop was open as the lords returned and clattered into the stable yard.

Squires came out and took the reigns as the men got down. Logan pulled the boy off the horse and shifted him over one massive shoulder. Scott led the party toward the massive long house and the door opened to greet them. Two women stood at the entrance waiting for the men.

The first was Lady Jean, a tall red haired celtic beauty with her long tresses braided down her back and bright green eyes. The tartan dress she wore was functional as well as pretty. Next to her stood an unusual sight in the midlands of Scotland. A dark skinned woman with platinum hair and bright blue eyes. She too wore the Summerland colors but only as a sash over her somber dark dress. On her forehead was a blue tattoo of a crescent moon.

Looking at the pretty and tidy women, Logan paused on the first step of the stairs. He shook his head and diverted his trek to the massive wooden barrel next to the long house's porch. He unceremoniously dumped the boy into the rain barrel.

The boy came up sputtering and cursing in many languages. Logan chuckled heartily and splashed the boy with more water.

"Medb's tits!." he cursed, grasping the boy's wet hair. "Yer copper." he said and glanced back at the others staring in both surprise and amusement. The boy struggled to keep his footing with his hands still tied.

"Free Remy or he zink!" he gasped to Logan. The dark haired man nodded his head and untied the wet rope before pulling the sopping boy from the barrel.

"Yer gonna learn yer place boy." he looked up at Scott and gave a serious glare. "I ken see I'm gonna have't train this one." he said and Scott stepped next to his wife giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Aye, Logan, that one is yers. I used yer coin to pay for em." he joked and then turned to enter their home.

The dark skinned woman came down the steps and studied the boy as Logan gripped his elbow. Her keen eyes caught the gloves and she looked at Logan in question.

"S'posed to control his magik." he explained to her. She stepped a little closer and her sculpted lips parted.

"He ez Bohemian." she said and Logan nodded with a soft smile for her.

"Though ya'd like that." he said and then shook the boy. "Bow yer head to Lady Roe, boy!" he snapped. The young man gave Logan a nasty look before returning his spectacular eyes to the lovely woman.

"You choviar?" he asked speaking in a low voice to her that showed more respect then Logan thought him capable. Lady Roe nodded her head and smiled gently.

"In a manner of zbeaking." she said and Logan frowned at her.

"He called ya witch dinna he?" He asked and Roe held out her hand.

"Iz alright Logan, the way he zay it iz different then you tink." she nodded to them both and then motioned for them to follow.

"Come, let uz find the boy dry garmentz." she said and walked regally up the stairs. Logan watched the boy watch Roe and he was curious at the obviously awed expression but no lechery at all. Most men either feared or lusted after the exotic beauty.

More for the lord to think over. He pushed the boy roughly and grunted.

"Move it."