Awakening Her Soul to Destiny (14 page)

“
I’m verra sorry, Mistress Healer. But I canna remain silent any longer.” The mare craned her head to the side to eye Kaitla as she spoke. “My name is Epona, Goddess of the horses. I would be most honored to bear ye to Cuchailard Keep.” Slightly inclining her head in a nod, the horse gently continued, “Ye must try and relax, m’lady…I assure ye….ye willna’ fall.”

Mouth agape with surprise, Kaitla stared stupidly at the talking mare with memories of a famous talking horse on television in the earth realm, running quickly through her head. “You mean…you’re n-not r-really a horse?” she stammered in shock.

“
This is the form I prefer, for I love the beauty and grace of my beloved horses,” Epona explained patiently. “But I am also capable of maintaining other forms, just as you are so able.”

“
Epona, ‘tis a great honor ye bestow upon us. We are most grateful to ye,” Jared replied gallantly, his greeting attempting to cover Kaitla’s loss for words. Etain and Hobart nodded in silent respect to the Goddess.

“
Epona, I’m truly grateful. Please forgive my manners. This realm has held so many surprises for me since I came through the passage.” Kaitla could feel her cheeks grow hot as they slowly began to redden. Kaitla felt guilty for her lack of perception and her slight lapse of composure.

“
There is nothing to forgive, Mistress. But ye must beware, not all of the surprises of this realm may be pleasant ones.” Picking her way carefully through the trees and bushes, Epona hesitantly explained, “There is word that Ravon has returned…even angrier then when he left. Somehow, he was injured in the earth realm and this has not improved his mood in the least.”

“
Aye, Brave Tobias nearly finished the evil vermin!” Hobart interjected proudly. The group of travelers had emerged from the woods onto a sweeping grassy meadow. Now able to ride four abreast, conversation was much easier.

“
Ach, we were hoping ta’ beat the vile one back ta’ the realm,” Etain cried in dismay. “Now, he’ll surely be planning something wretched for us.”

“
He was last heard to be heading for Cuchailard Keep,” murmured Epona quietly.

“
What would he do there?” Kaitla asked as a sick feeling of apprehension settled in the pit of her stomach. They were five days away. What might happen before they got there?

“
There is no way of knowing what lies in the evil one’s heart. He may only seem to go there to trap ye and lead ye astray….or he may try to harm the Laird. That would give him much pleasure,” Epona replied solemnly.

Epona’s words struck dread into Kaitla’s heart. Thoughts of the pending danger dampening their mood, the small band rode on in silence…each traveler turning Epona’s words over in his mind.

Inhaling deeply to cleanse her worried mind, Kaitla watched with interest the awakening of the land as they made their way through the meadow. The deeper they rode into the realm, the greener and more vibrant everything seemed to become. New leaves unfurled. Flowers budded, then bloomed. The land warmed and awakened as though it was springtime, fresh growth and life appearing everywhere. A gentle breeze wafted the delicious sweet scents of new grasses and opening buds across their path, silently welcoming the long awaited healer to the realm.

With dusk finally approaching, Jared suggested they find a place to rest for the night. After all, the night before had been spent traveling between the realms. Tired and edgy, Kaitla was anxious to reach the Keep, worried about what evil Ravon might be planning. “I’m NOT tired,” she stated, sounding like a petulant child, “We need to keep going as long as possible,” she snapped, as she spurred Epona to a cantor.

“
Kaitla! Ye must be reasonable. Ye’re fair exhausted, as are the rest of us. What good will ye be to the Laird or the land, if ye take foolish risks?” scolded Jared severely. Catching up with Kaitla, he reached over to claim the reins and bring Epona to an abrupt halt.

“
See yon mists up ahead?” interrupted Epona, tossing her head in the direction she had in mind.

“
I see them, why?” Kaitla wriggled uncomfortably in the saddle, silently wondering if she’d be able to walk once they did stop.

“
The mists shroud the hot springs of Iona. Healing waters that will relax ye, enabling ye to find the rest ye seek,” Epona explained quietly. The gentle horse goddess had been quite shrewd in reading Kaitla’s slightly strained physical condition.

“
Fine,” Kaitla retorted. “We’ll spend the night there and get an early start in the morning,” she sighed in resignation. There was no sense fighting reason. Jared was right. She wouldn’t admit that to him, but from the expression on his face, he was reading her mind again and already knew what she was thinking, damn him!

Arriving at the spring, they reigned up in a secluded clearing and prepared to make camp. Carefully, handing Tobias down first, Kaitla swung one leg over Epona’s back and proceeded to slide off the horse, landing flat on her rump with a thud on the soft ground below. “Oof!” the impact knocking the wind from her, she rolled to one side gasping.

Running to her side, Jared and Etain helped Kaitla sit upright, patiently waiting for her to catch her breath. “Are ye all right, lass?” Jared asked, the concerned gray eyes searching her face. “What happened to ye? I took the wee cat, then the next thing I know, ye’ve landed flat on yer arse!”

“
I thought I could dismount by myself, but when my legs hit the ground they wouldn’t work!” Kaitla gasped, struggling to breathe normally.

Helping her up, Etain and Jared held her arms tightly, as Kaitla stiffly tried to reacquaint herself with her legs. “For God’s sake, help me over to that rock.” She begged, rubbing her aching behind and numb legs in a vain attempt to restore their mobility.

Eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter, Etain and Jared exchanged glances then quickly looked away to keep from giggling aloud. Hobart coughed, turning to remove the saddle from his horse, his shoulders shaking with mirth.

Seating Kaitla beside a secluded steaming spring, they left her with her dignity to undress and soak away her aches and pains. Struggling and cursing her way out of the snug clothing and tall leather boots, Kaitla finally sank wearily into the steaming hot pool. Closing her eyes, she leaned back, floating in the sulfur scented warmth. Inhaling the healing steam, she felt each taut muscle slowly relax; each strained tendon gradually resuming its natural position, and each aching joint warming and becoming fluid once more.

“
Might I join ye, my own?” a soft deep voice murmured in her ear with that lovely Scot’s burr.

Not even opening her eyes, Kaitla smiled, “Mmmmhmm.”

Floating behind her body, Jared rested his chin on her shoulder and gently nibbled her ear. The strong gentle hands slowly massaged the length of her back beneath the water, tickling and leaving a trail of tingling flesh in their wake.

“
I thought you were tired?” she whispered, turning to nip at Jared’s cheek.

“
I’m never that tired,” Jared calmly replied, returning the nip with a deep, thorough kiss. “After watching ye all day, I couldna’ wait any longer to touch ye.” The delightful hands now at her breasts, he circled and kneaded them firm with excitement. Backing up against him in the steamy hot water, Kaitla wrapped her legs back around his to keep from floating away. Pressing her back against his hairy chest and snuggling her behind tight against him, Kaitla reached behind her head, and leaned back to search his mouth with hers. Strong arms encircled her, crushing her to his chest, he kissed her deeply as his thumbs idly teased her nipples. The hot rush of water entering her as he did took her breath away with spasms of pleasure. The buoyancy of the water and the tantalizing fluid thrusts brought Kaitla to her peak quickly. Slowly floating them to a shallow rock shelf barely beneath the water, Jared gently laid Kaitla back upon the shelf. Standing in the waist deep water between her silky thighs, strong hands circling her waist, he slowly flowed into her once more. Arching her back in pleasure, the water rushing around her, Kaitla moaned with ecstasy. Pulling her hard against him, Jared finally groaned in release.

Completely spent, they crawled to a nearby slope of moss, collapsing into each other’s arms. Hugging Kaitla tightly, Jared pushed the wild strands of wet hair away from her face, “Kaitla, there’s…um, something we must talk about.” He spoke in tones so serious; she was immediately leery of the words he was about to say.

Warily turning to read the deep gray eyes, Kaitla remained silent, waiting.

“
What if ye should get with child?” He asked unsteadily, “I know it may already be too late to worry about it now, but, um, well…” Jared was obviously struggling.

Sitting up to hug her knees, Kaitla peered deeply into the concerned face, “What would
you
do?” she asked bluntly, watching his face closely for signs of potential betrayal.

Immediately grasping her point, he quickly pulled her into his arms, “I would protect ye and the bairn until I ceased to exist. Ye would be my wife and child. Ye canna think I’d abandon ye?” He was shocked that she could think him capable of such a thing. “What
I
meant to say earlier, is that this is a dangerous time. It’s definitely not the best time to bring a wee bairn into this world.” His hand to her chin, he gently turned her face imploring her deep amber eyes. “Ye do understand me now?”

“
Yes,” Kaitla smiled, relieved at his response. “And you don’t have to worry about my becoming pregnant. At least not for awhile, anyway.”

“
Aye? And would ye care to tell me how ye can be so sure?” He asked, arching his brows in question.

“
In the earth realm, there are certain drugs available to prevent a woman from conceiving. I took my last pill right before we passed through the portal….as long as I’ve been taking them….and at my age…there’s no telling how long it would take me to become pregnant.” she explained.

“
Oh! I see. I thought perhaps ye were going to tell me ye were barren,” he exhaled with relief. His eyes narrowing as a thought occurred to him, “But ye were a virgin…the night we first made love….why would ye be taking such a pill when ye hadn’t even known a man?”

Sighing heavily, Kaitla rolled away from him, “There are many reasons women take birth control pills for other then contraception….do we really have to discuss this right now? And besides, Weren’t you just telling me this was the wrong time to have a child?”

Pulling her to the ground beneath him, he kissed her hard, “Yes,
now
is the wrong time to have a child! But once Ravon is dead and your father has blessed our joining, it would give me great pleasure to watch my child grow within ye.”

Pushing his mouth away from hers, Kaitla once again quizzed him, “Our joining?” she asked innocently.

Brows raised in exasperation, he answered, “Aye, our joining. I mean to wed ye Kaitla Danann, to have ye as my own. Now stop talking and let me love ye properly!”

Chapter VII

Awakening to the twittering of birds reveling in the morning sun, Kaitla slowly rolled to her back, yawning and stretching lazily. A spongy bed of moss covered with a blanket had provided quite a good night’s sleep but the urge to reach Cuchailard Keep was once again nudging her to get moving. Her growling stomach loudly reminded her that she had chosen lovemaking over food last night. But as far as it was concerned, this morning, there would be no other choice besides food. Joining Hobart and Etain at the fire in the center of the encampment, Kaitla gratefully accepted a hot cup of tea.

“
Did ye sleep well last night, lass?” Etain asked, sipping at her own cup of tea. Using the blade of her dhundare, she deftly flipped several pones of bread, slowly frying on the heated iron propped over the fire.

“
Much better then I expected. I thought I’d be so stiff I wouldn’t be able to move this morning.” Kaitla sniffed at the frying bread hungrily, her mouth beginning to water.

“
Aye, ‘tis the healing waters of the springs and the lands cradling ye at night,” Hobart explained. Adding more batter to the hot iron, the new pones sizzled and quickly began to brown and rise. Handing her a plate already laden with fresh berries, Etain quickly deposited several hot pones of bread beside them, while Hobart added dollops of butter that immediately melted and ran drizzling down the sides.

“
This is wonderful. I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” Kaitla mumbled through a mouthful of berries and bread.

“
Well, ye did miss yer supper last night,” chuckled Hobart with a twinkle in his eye. He made no attempt to disguise his pride over his godson’s relationship with Kaitla.

Blushing slightly, Kaitla ducked her head and concentrated on scooping more berries and buttery bread into her mouth. As Etain and Hobart set to filling their own plates, her eyes slowly circled the camp in search of Jared. Answering her unspoken thoughts, Etain volunteered, “He’s gone to fill the water bags.” As she stacked the plates beside the wash bucket, she added, “He’s also looking around for any signs of unwanted visitors.”

At Kaitla’s frown, Hobart explained, “The lands we’re nearing belong to clans that are nay always friendly to those of Cuchailard. We must go carefully on our way.”

Absorbing this information with a renewed sense of wariness, Kaitla turned to Etain, “I don’t understand why we have to travel so slowly by horseback. With our powers, why don’t we transport ourselves quickly to the Keep?” Mopping up the berry juice with the last bite of bread, she popped it into her mouth.