Aidan (13 page)

“Ye say thet again,” Ian warned him,
“and I’ll show ye how I can toss the sheaf, but it’ll be ye I’m tossin’ instead.”

“That, I’d like to see,”
said Madoc, lounging in the background, with his head on a rock and his feet sprawled out in front of him. Aidan’s squirrel was on his chest. Effie and Kyla sat beside him.

“All right, I’m ready.” Aid
an took a deep breath, and with Onyx and Ian’s help, hoisted the heavy pole into position, making sure Effie was watching. And he’d just taken a step forward when Reid scampered over and climbed upon his shoulder and then started making its way directly up the pole.

“Nay, get off o’ there, ye doitit squirrel,” said Aidan, moving back and forth with the pole teetering almost out of control. There was no way he could actually throw it with his squirrel now perched at the very top.

“Toss it,” shouted Ian.

“Nay,” cried Effie, “ye’ll kill the squirrel.”

“Reid, get down from there,” yelled Aidan, his muscles burning from holding up so much weight.

The squirrel moved down slowly, and finally scampered back t
o the ground. And with another step, and his muscles twitching, Aidan tossed the caber, end over end. It was an amazingly straight throw, and it settled much further than Ian’s caber toss.

“Ye did it,” cried Effie, running to him and throwing herself into his arms. “Ye were wonderful, Aidan.” She reached up and kissed him and he picked her up and spun her in a circle before putting her back on her feet.

“Well, I was right,” said Onyx. “Aidan is the strongest when it comes to lifting weight. Too bad I didna place coin on the bet.”

“Thank you for everything,” said
Madoc, coming and clasping arms with Aidan. “But I need to be on my way before the day gets any later. Thanks again for the use of your horse.”

“Would ye mind if I travelled with ye?” asked Onyx. “I am goin’
te stop in Northumberland to see me sister Amethyst and her husband, Marcus fer a bit afore I head on home te check on me bairned wife.”

“I’d be honored,” said
Madoc.

“Ian, did ye want te come fer a visit as well?” aske
d Onyx. “I hear Marcus’s cousin, Matilda is visitin’, and she is a sight fer sore eyes, I assure ye.”

“
Aye, I do,” he said anxiously, raising his eyebrows. “But I need te pick up some things at Hermitage Castle on the way if ye dinna mind. I’ll get me things,” said Ian, heading for the cottage. Hermitage Castle was the MacKeefes’ border castle that their chieftain, Storm, captured years ago. It was a place where they stayed when they weren’t in the Highlands.

“I’ll go too,” said Kyla, following him.

“Nay, ye’ll stay here with Effie and yer brathair and stop pesterin’ me,” growled Ian.

“Aidan, will ye and the lassies be
alright here alone guardin’ the stone, or should one o’ us stay?” asked Onyx.

“I’ll be fine,” said Aidan with a wave of his hand. “The rest o’ the clan should be back any day, and the stone hasna been in danger in the last six months, so I’m sure it’ll stay secure fer another day or two.
Besides, no one even kens it’s here.”

“So the t
hree o’ us will be the only ones here te guard the stone?” asked Effie.

“Aye,” said Aidan. “Why do ye ask?”

“No reason,” she said, her face suddenly changing from laughter to one that seemed to Aidan a look of fear.

“I will protect ye me angel,
as well as the stone, dinna worry.” He put his arm around her. “After all,” he whispered so only she could hear. “I would give me life if I had te no’ only te keep the stone from gettin’ inte the hands o’ the English, but also te protect ye and me sister. The lassies thet I love.”

Chapter 12

It was early the next morning, and Effie awoke in Aidan’s arms, after having spent the most wonderful day of her life with him yesterday.
It was by far the most anyone had ever done to celebrate her birthday. Sure, her sister Coira had brought her bouquets of wildfires and cooked her meals as well, but Aidan gave her a present that by far surpassed that. He gave her not only his body but also his heart. And that meant the world to her.

The sun was just rising, and she slipped away from him silently and dressed, wanting to go prepare a meal for him and bring it back and serve him in bed the way he’d done for her yesterday.
Then, she planned on telling him about her sister. She couldn’t keep this secret to herself any longer. She knew he couldn’t do anything crazy today, because there was only one horse in the camp at the moment, and it was lame. Besides, he would never leave the Stone of Destiny unguarded.

That would give her a few days
until the rest of the clan returned, to try to explain to him what she’d planned on doing, and telling him that she no longer wanted to lie and deceive people. Especially him. And by the time the chieftain and the rest of the clan returned from the fair, she hoped she’d be able to talk to him sensibly and try to think of a plan to save her sister that wouldn’t get any of them killed. With a whole clan to back him up, mayhap Aidan could do something to save Coira after all.

She finished dressing, and looked down at herself donned in
her new clothes. She liked the way it felt, and wanted more than anything to be a part of this clan. She hoped they could get Coira and bring her back to be part of the clan as well.

Then she spied her brooch on the table and picked it up, wanting more than anything to wear it. Mayhap after she’d had her conversation with Aidan today, if things went well, she’d feel differently. But for now, she couldn’t bring herself to pin it on her clothes. She didn’t even want to look at it right now, so she reached down and slipped it under the pallet, and out of sight.

She looked over to Aidan, sleeping soundly on the pallet, his long, blond hair sprawled across the Stone of Destiny as he used it as his pillow. The stark contrast of his light hair and the black stone made her think how different the two of them were as well. Like day and night, in a way.

Aidan had said he’d give his life
to protect the stone, but she was willing to give up the destiny of Scotland in order to save the life of her sister. He was so honest with her, but she’d been nothing but untruthful to him. He’d told her he loved her, but yet, she didn’t return the sentiment. And while he was planning their future together, she was only trying to get through another day, not knowing if she or her sister would live to see the morrow.

She kisse
d him softly on the forehead, then headed out the door, closing it quietly behind her.

“Guid mornin’,” said Kyla from behind her, scaring Effie and making her jump.
She held her hands over her heart.

“Ye frightened me, Kyla. I did
na ken ye were there.”

“I’m sorry,
Effie. I jest wanted te say thank ye fer getting’ Ian te dance with me yesterday, before I head down te the loch te bathe. I really wish I could o’ gone with them when they left.”

“It’s the least I could do,” she said. “After all, ye welcomed me here with open arms and even gave me yer clothes.
And jest give Ian some room te breathe, as men dinna like lassies hangin’ on them.”

“
I guess ye’re right. So where are ye goin’?” she asked.

“I am
sneakin’ out te make a guid meal fer yer brathair and surprise him by bringin’ it te him in bed.”

“Did he tell ye he loves ye
, yet?”

“What makes ye say thet?”
Effie’s voice raised in surprise. Then she walked across the camp toward the center firepit that was used for cooking, and Kyla followed.

“Becooz I could see it in his eyes.
It’s the same look he gets when he finds a new lassie thet he thinks is special, but it ne’er lasts.”

“So
ye’re sayin’ thet Aidan has told lassies before thet he loves them?”

“He’s always sayin’ thet. Usually when he brings them
te his bed. And by the next mornin’, the lassie leaves and he fergets all aboot her.”

“Well, then it’s a gu
id thing he didna try thet on me,” she said, feeling her heart drop inside her chest. She’d thought Aidan had really cared for her, but now after hearing this, she knew it was nothing more to him than a reaction when he’d gotten a good bedding.

“Effie, I can see it in yer eyes,” said Kyla with a
smile. “He said he loved ye, didna he?”

“
Aye,” she admitted shyly, then felt filled with anger. “Thet bastard,” she spat. “He even told me he wanted me te stay here with the MacKeefes. I guess he’d say anythin’ te get me in his bed.”

“
He asked ye te stay? Well I’ve ne’er heard him say thet te any lassie afore.” Kyla bent down and started collecting kindling for the fire. “But it would be nice if ye stayed. Ye are like the sister I ne’er had,” she said. “I like ye.” She stood up and put her arm around Effie’s shoulder, but Effie knew she couldn’t go on with this lie any longer. And neither did she want to stay and hear Aidan’s lies if he really didn’t mean what he’d said.

She removed the girl’s arm from around her shoulder. “Kyla
, I dinna think I’m goin’ te be stayin’. Matter o’ fact, I plan on leavin’ really soon.”

“What do ye mean?
Does Aidan ken aboot this?”

Effie couldn’t have the girl telling Aidan she planned on l
eaving. She didn’t want to alert him to her plan. She had to say something to keep her quiet. “I mean, I really miss me sister and worry aboot her,” she said, which wasn’t a lie. “But Aidan disna need te ken thet I’m no’ goin’ te stay. Especially since he willna care anyway, if he tells all the lassies he loves them.”

“I can understand the
t.”

“So dinna say anythin’
te him jest yet. I mean . . . I’ll tell him later, all right?”

“If ye say so,” she said.
“But I will miss ye.”

Effie almost cried out when
she looked over Kyla’s shoulder and spied Tasgall peering out at her from behind a clump of trees. He was motioning with his hand for her to join him.

“So what shall we make te break the fast?
” asked Kyla, her back toward the man, so she didn’t see him.

“Dinna fash
yerself, I’ll make the food,” she said, getting to her feet. “Why dinna ye go and bathe in the loch now afore yer brathair awakes?”

“He’s usually awake by now,” she said, standing and straightenin
g her skirts. “I’ll go wake him if thet lazy galoot is still sleepin’.”

“Nay, go get yer things and head out to the loch now.” She turned the girl and headed he
r in the opposite direction than she’d seen Tasgall. “I’ll awaken Aidan.”

“Are ye sure?”

“Aye,” she said, picking up the bow and arrows that she’d left there yesterday. “I’m jest goin’ te go hunt fer a rabbit real quick, and then I’ll awake him as soon as I’m back. Jest let him sleep fer now.”

“Well, all right, but jest dinna shoot Ian’s squirrel or
Aidan will have yer heid.”

“I’ll be careful,” she said, glad that Onyx had taken his pet wildcat with him on his journey, as that animal made her a little uncomfortable. She picked up the bow and arrows and hurried toward the woods.

“What took ye so long?” growled Tasgall, once she’d joined him in the woods.

“What are ye doin’ here?” she snapped.

“Dinna be a fool. I brought the English soldiers like ye said.” With a wave of his hand, a half-dozen English soldiers rode through the woods, one of them with a horse and cart.

Her heart beat rapidly, and she was no longer sure she really wanted to do this. Even if Aidan had lured
her to his bed with the words he probably used on whores, she still didn’t want to see him ending up dead. And if they went for the stone right now, she knew he’d fight to the death to try to protect it.

“How did ye
get te the castle and back so fast?” she asked the man.

“
I dinna have to. The soldiers came lookin’ fer us, sent by Lord Ralston. It seems he is in a hurry to get the stone, and will be sending a missive for King Edward to join him, right there at Liddel Castle soon. Lord Ralston wants te present the stone to King Edward personally, as a surprise.”

“Surprise indeed,” she sniffed. “He wants to be the one to take all the credit for its return and pr
obably thinks it’ll earn him a seat at court or a new title when this is all o’er.”

“
Whate’er his reason, I dinna care.”

“What’s yer reason,
Tasgall fer helping do this?” She eyed him curiously. “What did Lord Ralston promise ye when this is all o’er?”

“What makes ye think he offered me anythin’?” he asked, raising his chin when he spoke.

“I find it odd thet besides me and me sister who were the only true MacDuffs, they spared yer life when they attacked and killed the rest o’ the gypsies.”

“
Thet’s becooz I had information on the stone,” he told her. “Now, enough o’ this clishmaclaver, we have a job te do. Is it safe te get the stone, or no’? We saw the rest o’ the MacKeefes still at the fair, and we hid when three men left this camp yesterday, so there canna be many left. How many are there?”

“Plenty,”
she lied, wanting them gone. “At least a dozen or so men, so ye’d better turn around and leave if ye dinna want te be slaughtered. Highlanders are barbaric and will take all yer lives.”

“That many
?” Tasgall peered over her shoulder toward the camp. “Then how come I dinna see a single soul?”

She was relieved
Tasgall hadn’t mentioned seeing Kyla in front of all the soldiers.

“They’re – all inside. Sleeping.”

“Ye’re lyin’,” Tasgall growled. Then he looked over his shoulder to the rest of the guards. “She’s obviously changed her mind about helping us, so we’ll jest have to do it ourselves.”

“Aye,” said the soldier named
Dempster from atop his horse. “We’ll get the stone and kill anyone who gets in our way.” He motioned with his hand for the others to follow and the entourage started to move toward the camp.

“Nay!” She said, wanting to stop them, because if she didn’t
, she knew both Aidan and his sister would be slaughtered. “Stop!” she called out, but they didn’t listen. Then she raised her bow, nocked an arrow, and let it fly. She’d only meant to get their attention, but the arrow embedded itself in Dempster’s shoulder. He winced in pain and turned around in fury.

“You bitch!” he called out, breaking of
f the arrow and throwing the stub to the ground. “Kill her,” he said, but Tasgall pulled the bow from her hand and pushed her to the ground.

“Wait!” he said. “We may need her if we get in a bind on the way back with the stone. We’ll need another Scot along besides me
self if we’re goin’ te pull this off. Unless ye want te chance it. But a bunch o’ English with a wagon travelling in the Highlands without a Scot te back up their story is goin’ te raise some suspicion.”

“I’m going
back,” said Dempster, “as I’ll be no use to you now, and my wound will only cause more suspicion if we come across any Scots.” He ripped off part of his tunic and held it up to his wound to stop the flow of blood. “Get the stone and bring it directly to Lord Ralston. Don’t waste any time. And once you make it through the Highlands, kill her as we’ll have no use for her.”

“What aboot me
sister?” she cried out. “Is Coira still alive?”

“She is,” sneered
Dempster. “But as soon as I tell Lord Ralston you shot me with an arrow, he’ll kill her for sure. If not, I’ll do the damn job myself to make you pay for this.”

“Nay, dinna touch Coira
.”

“Tie her up,” said
Dempster, throwing a skein of rope to Tasgall.

Effie knew if she was going to save Aidan and Kyla’s lives she needed to
do something fast, and it wasn’t looking good.

“I’ll help ye
get the stone,” she said quickly. “Let me tie up the Highlander so he disna give ye trouble.”

“How many are there?” growled another guard.

“Jest the one,” she said, not wanting to tell them about Kyla, and hoping the girl didn’t come back from bathing any time soon. If the guards found her, especially naked, they’d defile her, and Effie couldn’t have that. She looked over to Tasgall, hoping he wasn’t going to say anything, and thankfully, he didn’t. “The Highlander trusts me, so I’ll sneak in and tie him up and then give ye the signal,” she added.

“I don’t believe her,” said one of the guards
. “She just told us there was a dozen, now she changes her tune. This is a trap.”

“It’s no’,” she said. “Ye need
te believe me.”

“Why should we
?” asked the guard. “You haven’t proved yourself to us.”

“
Then let me do this te prove te ye thet me sister’s life means more te me then this stone. Besides, ye dinna ken where the stone is, and I willna tell ye unless ye let me help.”

She knew if she
was able to tie up Aidan, it might just save his life. If not, he’d fight to the death, and she’d never forgive herself for losing the only man who ever cared for her in her life.

“All right, just let he
r do it, but keep an eye on her,” Dempster agreed, gritting his teeth in pain. “I’m heading back to the castle, as if I don’t do something about this wound soon, I’ll be dead.”

“We’ll
collect the stone and bring it back,” said a guard. “Go on, we’ll catch up to you.”

“All right,
then,” said Tasgall, pushing the rope into Effie’s hands. “Go tie up the Highlander, though it’s beyond me how ye think ye’re goin’ te do it.”

Chapter 13

Aidan was
having that dream again. He was reclining on the pallet, and saw Effie coming into the room. The sun shone around her like a halo, and though her smile was bright, he noticed this time that something troubled her.

He tried to talk
, to ask her what was the matter, but couldn’t seem to find the words. Then he tried to reach out and take her in his arms, but once again he couldn’t move. And then she turned back toward the door and her tail swished him in the face. And when he looked up, the English were storming into his cottage.

His eyes popped open, and he jerked
backward when he saw Effie leaning over him for real. He felt weight on his chest, and realized his squirrel was sleeping on him again. Reid scooted off when he tried to sit up, and ran up the leg of the table. Aidan realized he truly couldn’t move, and looked down to see his hands tied together with rope and his feet tied as well. He was naked, having made love to Effie during the night.

“What are ye doin’
to me, angel?” he asked in surprise.

“I’m . . . tying y
ou up,” she said, looking away from him quickly, but not before he saw a tear in her eye.

“I dinna understand.”

“I didna think ye would.”

“Och, lassie,” he said with a chuckle and lay his head back down on the stone. “Ye want
te make love te me tied up, dinna ye? I tried this once with a hoor and it was verra excitin’.”

“Nay, Aidan. Thet’s no’ it, and I’m sorry but I haveta gag ye too
, so ye dinna call out fer Kyla.” She stuffed a rag in his mouth and tied it around the back of his head.

He tried to tell her that his angel was being a little devil and it excited him, but the words didn’t come out since his mouth was gagged. He figured he’d let her do what she wanted with him
, as he was always up for something new when it came to games involving coupling.

“I’m sorry
, Aidan, and I only wish this coulda been different. But I’m sure ye will jest find another lassie te say ye love on the morrow. Me sister needs me and I have no choice.”

“Yer
sither?” he said through the gag, wondering what she meant, since she’d told him her sister was dead. He felt a knot in his stomach and a sickening sense suddenly overtake him that she’d been lying. Aye, he had the awful feeling something was horribly wrong, and that this was not a love game after all.

The door to the room burst open, and like in his dream, the English soldiers marched in.

“Where is it?” Aidan recognized the Scottish man leading the soldiers into the room. He was the man that Effie said was a gypsy in her clan. The one they’d left back in Glasgow. He pushed his way forward, knocking over a chair in the process. “Where is the Stone o’ Destiny?”

Stone of Destiny?
This couldn’t be happening. Aidan shook his head, willing this vision to leave, hoping it was still part of his dream. Effie couldn’t really be a traitor, could she? And after he’d brought her straight to the stone. He prayed he was mistaken, but when he looked back toward her again, and saw the tears streaming down her face, he knew that he’d misjudged her.

He should have listened to his friends from the very beginning, and never had trusted her. Now he knew what his dream meant. S
he wasn’t his dream angel after all. The tail she had in his dream should have made it obvious, but he was so infatuated with her that he didn’t want to believe it. She was a traitor, his enemy. Someone who’d only used him to get to the stone. Aye, his dream was turning into a nightmare of the worst kind.

“
Naaaaaay!” came Aidan’s muffled cry as he struggled to sit up. He rolled over on the pallet, reaching his tied hands for his sword that was lying on the chair. Effie rushed over and picked it up before he could get it. She turned it around with the heavy hilt of the sword facing him, and for a split second, he thought she was handing it to him or going to help. But then his angel did something he never expected. She raised the hilt of the sword up high and brought it crashing down against his skull.

The last thing he heard was Reid scolding her from somewhere in the room, and then
he saw stars as his eyes closed and his world blackened in front of him.

Effie’s heart broke at what she’d just done to Aidan, and she threw down his sword and fell to her knees crying.