Blessing The Highlander (25 page)

 
           She hugged him close as her throat constricted. “I ken that Garrick. I am just being childish. I will be fine. Mary can keep me company. I will go get you some food for your trip.” She turned and almost ran back to the keep as she fought the foolish tears straining for release.

 
           Garrick sensed her grief in his heart as she had rambled at him with her scattered thoughts. At most he would be away two nights. He knew, though, that in her heart she felt like it would be two years...or forever. He shook his head. That was nonsense! After giving it much thought, he smiled to himself.
It must be the bairn playing with her emotions. Hagar had warned him of it.
She would be fine, he decided. He headed off toward his waiting men.

 
           Seonaid met him there and handed him a bundle containing bread, cheese and apples plus a bladder of ale.

 
           “Thank ye, wife.” He put them on his horse. He turned back and looked deeply into her eyes. Brushing the back of his fingers over her cheek, his hand reached round her neck and brought her close for a long kiss. “Ye will be fine, Seonaid. Listen ta Angus and stay in the inner bailey. I will return before ye ken I am gone.”

 
           Her throat constricted once more. “Aye, I ken it,” she whispered. He gave her a tight hug then mounted his steed.

 
           As an afterthought, he leaned over and said, “Perhaps your father will grace ye with a visit.” He winked, turned his mount and rode out of the castle with twenty-five of his men.

 
           Seonaid ran to the top of the castle wall and watched until she could no longer see them. She knew that he would not look back...but she had hoped. Liam had looked and waved which she returned. But for Garrick to do it would look like weakness to his men. She understood it but she did not like it.

 
           She glanced sadly at her shadows, William and Angus, then turned to return to the keep. What will she do while he is gone? She did not know. She finally decided to work on a tunic she was stitching for Garrick, but the longer she sewed on it the more she missed him. She sighed.

 
           Seonaid drifted from room to room until she decided to do some gardening. That always soothed her mind. Smiling, she set off to her wee garden.

 
           “M’lady, do ye mind me asking where we be going now?” Angus grinned at her as she turned to look at him.

 
           “I am sorry Angus...Will. I forgot that ye have to follow me far and wide. Tis silly really. There has been nae danger. I go to the garden to try to calm my restlessness. You need nae come.”

 
           Will shook his head slowly. “Nay, mistress, ye can nae be out of our sight. Laird Brodie commanded it so. He would have our heads if anything happened to ye!”

 
           She sighed. “You could sit in the kitchen and still see me in the garden. Nae one can reach me there anyway. Tis surrounded by high walls.” She looked back and forth between the two burly highlanders, hands on her hips. “Are your skills with a sword so lacking that you think you could nae reach me in time? If so, then, mayhap Garrick should assign new guards for me.”

 
           Angus straightened his spine at the insult. “Ye ken better than that, m’lady!” He looked around the garden space meticulously then nodded agreement. “Very well, mistress, but stay where we can see ye.”

 
           Seonaid beamed at him. Twas the first argument she had won over her guards and it was exhilarating to outsmart them! It may be a wee victory but it was a victory just the same.

 
           She spent the rest of the day digging in the rich soil pulling out weeds from between her tender herbs. A cool breeze wafted over her brow as the day grew late. She shivered. Soon would be the harvest. Garrick would oversee that. She should plan a feast for the clan once the crops were gathered. She would ask Mary for assistance with it. As she rose to her feet a wave of dizziness struck her. Blood drained swiftly from her face as black dots appeared before her eyes.

 
           “Angus!” she cried out as she fainted into oblivion. The men flew to her side in a panic. A brief exam showed no injury so Angus presumed she had fainted. As he picked her up, his skean dubh’s hilt snagged on the fragile chain about her throat. It broke so effortlessly that he never even noticed the slight pull on his belt nor saw it fall to the earth. They hurried her back to her chambers as Angus bellowed for Mary.

 
           Seonaid felt a cool cloth on her brow as she came awake. It felt good. She opened her eyes to find six eyes staring back at her. “What?” She asked a little annoyed.

 
           “Ye swooned, lass.” Angus frowned.

 
           She shook her head. “I do nae swoon.”

 
           “Aye, ye did! Ye should have told us ye grew tired.” He scolded her as his brow furrowed.

 
           “I did nae grow tired! All I did was stand up to come back inside.”

 
           Angus’ eyes met Mary’s then a wide grin split across both faces.

 
           “Ye be breeding!”

 
           “Aye. I thought you kenned that.” She raised her brow in question. “Garrick did nae tell ye?”

 
           “In spite of the fact that the laird is me cousin...he does nae tell me all. I am flattered that ye would think so though.”

 
           Just then, Seonaid sniffed the air. “Is that stew I smell?”

 
           “Aye, m’lady.” Mary grabbed the bowl and brought it to her bedside. “I thought ye might be hungry.”

 
           “It smells del-.” Her eyes bulged wide as her hand clamped over her mouth. As her stomach rolled she made a mad dash to the chamber pot…reaching it just in time. As Mary helped her back to bed, she replied shakily, “I think I will eat at another time, Mary. Thank you just the same.”

 
           “Aye. Twould probably be best.” She shooed the guards out the door quickly. “I think I will keep m’lady company this eve, Angus. Just ta be assured all is well.” She glanced at Seonaid over her shoulder. She was not really worried about her but did it as a precaution.

 
           He grunted. “Very well, love. I will be close by if ye need me.” He gave her a squeeze then left for the hall as Robbie and Henry showed up to take over guard duty.

 
           Mary turned to say something to Seonaid when she saw that she had fallen asleep. “Och! Tis just as well,” she muttered to herself as she picked up her sewing and settled before the hearth.

            Seonaid woke to the smell of smoke. Is there a fire? She clambered from her bed and tried seeing down through the arrow slit but she did not have the height. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she noticed a glow just out of her sight. Then she heard Majesty’s scream of terror! “Majesty!” She grabbed Garrick’s plaid running from her room in a panic, almost tripping over Robbie.

 
           “My lady! Where are ye going?” He reached for her but missed as she flew toward the stairs. They had almost caught her at the door, which she flung wide just missing Henry, when they heard the alarm in the bailey. One look told Seonaid that her mare’s stable was on fire.

 
           She picked up her pace, not perceiving the cold of the air or the sting of her feet as the cobblestone cut them.

 
           “M’lady!” Robbie called after her as he lost her in the dark mass of people scrambling for buckets of water. “Do ye see her, Henry?”

 
           He shook his head. “Nay but I would say she is headed for her mare.” They took off in the direction of the fire at a run.

 
           Seonaid raced across the grass in the dark. Her red-gold hair flying behind her. She saw Majesty gallop into the paddock away from the burning building kicking her heels in the air. She slowed as she grasped that the mare was unharmed, grabbing the stitch in her side as she bent over gasping. She felt someone grab her hair jerking her head back painfully. A meaty fist slamming into her jaw was the last thing she remembered.

 
           As she crumpled to the earth a malicious leer crossed Malcolm’s face.
Now she is mine! Oh what fun we are going to have together Princess. But first, I must hide you.
He swathed her still form in the plaid until she appeared to be a carpet then carried her out of the postern gate. He tossed her over his horse, mounted, and rode off into the dark with no one the wiser.

 
           It was pre-dawn when Malcolm attained the abandoned keep. The only part still standing was the hall. The outer walls were collapsing with age. He stopped before the doors, dismounted and swept Seonaid from the saddle. She groaned in pain.

 
           Her stomach and head throbbed from the jostling she endured riding the horse in that position. He dragged her into the hall without unwrapping her. She cried out as her heels hit each stone step painfully. She was terrified! Who had her? What did he want? She shuddered as the possibilities raced through her mind.

 
           The smell of moldy rushes permeated her senses as her stomach began to roil. He dropped her on the floor and gave the plaid a sharp yank. She rolled out of the end as it unwound and rose to her hands and knees, immediately spewing the contents of her stomach. Her eyes rounded in terror as she raised her head and saw Malcolm standing over her with a smirk on his face. “You!”

 
           His eyes glowed maliciously. “Aye.”

 
           “What do you want? Why have you taken me?”

 
           He leered at her. “What I want should be obvious. You will be mine.” She trembled with revulsion as his fingers traced her discolored jaw. “The why of it I will divulge when I have more time.”

 
           “Never! I belong to Garrick! Nae other!”

 
           Malcolm grabbed a fistful of hair jerking her up against him. Tears of pain filled her eyes. He clutched her jaw with his free hand forcing her mouth open as he gave her a brutal kiss. She struggled with all her strength, gouging his cheek deeply with her nails. He pulled back… laughing in her face.

 
           “Ah, so you do like it painful. I have chosen wisely. But, alas, I do not have time to play right now, Princess.” He stroked her cheek with his finger. She spat in his face!

 
           “You need to learn some courtly manners, wench.” His eyes glowered in fury as he struck her repeatedly until he had beaten her senseless. Once she was unconscious he lost interest. He threw the plaid over her and carried her over his shoulder down to the dungeon below.

 
           Tossing her onto the cold stone floor, he left the cell, locking her away in the obscure dankness.
She will learn...or die in the process. I care not which. Now to help with the search.
He smirked in delight. This will be entertaining.

 
           Garrick was jolted awake as Seonaid’s terror ripped through him. For a moment he was stunned…wondering if it had been a dream.
Nay! Twas nae dream. I feel it in me soul. Something is amiss.

 
           He calmed his trembling body as he searched for her with his mind. He could not get an answer…he could not even sense her presence. This was wrong! He always sensed her existence no matter the distance. All he detected now was an empty void. Panic seized him as he leapt from his pallet.

 
           Garrick dressed swiftly then ran from his tent barking orders to his clan…rousing them from their slumber.

 
           “What is amiss, m’laird?” Liam queried as he stumbled toward Garrick half awake.

 
           “Me lady is in grave danger! Break camp and prepare the mounts! We ride immediately!”

 
           Liam stood immobile…stunned.
How does he ken this?
A chill slithered down his spine.

            As he left his hideaway, he cast Fae magic to make it imperceptible to mortal or Fae alike. Then he appeared inside the bailey with his horse unsaddled and a rope about its neck. It had been too dangerous to use his magic when he abducted Seonaid. It would have been detected by the Fae that had infiltrated the castle. Returning with magic was not so conspicuous. Still…it had taken longer than Malcolm would have preferred. He had wanted to sample his prize. He scowled. He began walking toward the stables when he remembered the scratch and hastily healed it.

 
           Lokai’s senses went on alert! Someone had just used Fae magic. His eyes penetrated the shadows looking for something to give them away. He saw nothing. He noticed Malcolm emerging from the darkness he searched but he could not swear it was him. Something was wrong. He sensed it. The guards were searching all of the buildings.