Dragon's Mate [Cairgorm Dragons 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) (6 page)

“He must be younger,”
Eilidh thought.

“I am, Eilidh.”
A chuckle in her mind confirmed it and confused her.

“
I can hear other dragons
?” she wondered in amazement. 

Feasgar was old gold in color, with amber tints, but the tips of his scales were orange. He glowed in the sun. His sister, Maddain, in contrast, was pink, the deep pink of the morning sky. Her scales were tipped with aqua fading to lavender. She, too, was younger than Solus and Feasgar. Both dragons welcomed Eilidh. Solus explained what had happened. They were worried.

“If he’d succeeded in killing Eilidh, you would have died, too. We must take care that she isn’t harmed. She must live with us from now on,”
Feasgar said.

“What about her family?”
Maddain asked.

“You have a good point. Oidhche could take them and hold them to ransom. Feasgar, go and collect them now and bring them here. Maddain, go with him. Go,now.” 

“Please do. It had never occurred to me that they would be in danger because of me.”
 

Eilidh was really upset. Solus was angry for her. Feasgar and Maddain leaped into the air and were gone in a flurry of powerful wings.

Solus flew with Eilidh to her new home. The large, square, stone-built structure was set into the hillside overlooking Boat of Garten. There was only one road up to it, so it was easily defended. There was a flat area in front of the house where the two dragons landed in a flurry of wings and small pebbles. They changed to their human-form and entered the house. The entrance hall was large and furnished with richly polished, old furniture. Straight opposite the front door was a wide, ornately carved staircase leading to the upper floor. Braemuir led her to a door on the left. The room they entered was furnished with comfortable chairs, a huge sofa, low tables and a couple of footstools. A log fire burned in the large, stone, inglenook fireplace, giving light and warmth. Eilidh walked over to it to warm her hands. She noticed the shelves of books, stretching from floor to ceiling. Many of them were very old, with tooled-leather spines. The rugs on the polished floorboards were dyed sheepskins. She knelt by the fire and absorbed its heat through every pore, sighing in contentment. She still felt chilled after her near-drowning. Braemuir pulled on an ornate rope, hanging by the side of the fireplace and, within a few minutes, a pleasant, motherly woman appeared.

“Something hot to drink for my mate and myself, please,” he said.

“Certainly, sir. Welcome to the Caisteal, my lady.”

“This is Seonag. She has been with us since she was a girl. She will take you to our room and make you comfortable. Go with her and come back in ten minutes for your hot drink.” 

Eilidh followed Seonag up the stairs to a large, pleasant room at the front of the Caisteal. There was a four-poster bed in pride of place. It had dark-blue velvet curtains, matching the ones at the windows. The floorboards were bare and polished to a deep, rich shine. The chests of drawers and wardrobes shone, and the room smelled of herbs and beeswax. There was a small fireplace, where a fire was laid, ready to be lit. Off the bedroom was a bathing chamber, to which Seonag led Eilidh. Hot water was waiting in a ewer. Seonag indicated the water, the soap, scented with the wild flowers that grew in abundance on the hills, and drying cloths. All had been set out for her convenience. She wondered how Seonag had known. 

“Braemuir sent a message, my lady,” Seonag said, smiling.

She left then, and Eilidh washed herself. She was still covered in salt from the seawater, and she looked longingly at the bath. She hoped there would be time later for a long soak in the huge tub.

When she was washed, and had dried herself, she went back downstairs, to what she presumed was the library. Braemuir was there. On one of the low tables was a tray with a pot, two cups, and saucers and a plate of oatcakes with good Caboc cheese, coated in pinhead oatmeal. She lifted the pot, at his invitation, and poured out a dark brown liquid. It was thick and rich and smelled slightly spicy but very good.

“
That’s chocolate,”
he said.

Eilidh smelled it then tasted it. She had never tasted anything so very rich and delicious. She finished one cup and, at his indication, poured herself another. This time she sipped slowly, savouring not only the taste, but the aroma, and the warmth the cup transmitted to her hands.
This is so good. It slips down my throat like rich liquid velvet.
She’d once had a velvet scarf her father had bought her, from a foreign pedlar, as a special birthday gift. She’d not worn it often as it was far too good for ordinary days but she’d loved to stroke it and feel the softness. That was the feeling the chocolate created as she swirled it around her mouth letting the sweet, spicy taste linger on her tongue then the thick liquid slide down her throat. It was heaven and one cup was never going to be enough for her. Sighing contentedly, she sat back in her chair. 

“We have to choose a dragon name for you,” he said. “I would like to call you ‘Ceanag,’ meaning little, fair one.”

“As you wish, my lord. It’s a pretty name,”
she agreed.

As they were sipping their chocolate, the sound of wings was heard, and the two dragons came back. Her parents were with them, which was a relief to all of them. Her parents were overawed by the journey on the back of a dragon, by the Caisteal and Braemuir. They were amazed by the sight of their daughter, at home amidst the splendour of the Caisteal.

“Welcome to the Caisteal,” Braemuir said. “You’re here because someone is trying to harm me through Eilidh. If she dies, now she’s my mate, I shall die, too. We don’t know who it is yet, and we think he may try to get to Eilidh through you. You’ll be safe here until we find the man. Eilidh is my mate now, and she will live here with me. This is her home. Please, sit down and have some of the chocolate your daughter is drinking before she drinks it all.”

Eildih spluttered as she drank, when she heard what he said. It was true
. S
he was on her third cup. Never had she tasted anything so rich and so good. Seonag had brought in four more cups. Eilidh served her parents and Braemuir
’
s brother and sister. Her mother and father were glad of the warm drink and the oatcakes and cheese. They’d had no time to do more than throw a few essentials into a sack. Then the two dragons had flown here with them.

“This is my sister, Muireall, and my brother Lachlann. Those are their human names.”

Elidh could see it was very taxing for her parents. Like all those in the settlement, they were used to dragons. They knew they had human-forms. Most people didn’t come into such close contact with the shape-shifters, however. Eilidh looked at Braemuir, not that she needed to, as he had picked up her thoughts and was asking Seonag to come to him. Within minutes she was there and escorting Eilidh’s parents to their room.

“The Clan will gather now. It’s almost the
s
ummer
s
olstice and they await my choice of mate. There will be a dragon mating
,
and you will experience such pleasure as you’ve never known before.”

Eilidh found it difficult to believe that she could feel anything better than he’d shown her already. He laughed and said, “What you feel as a human pales into insignificance when you mate as a dragon,
mo run
. You will see. Now come upstairs with me, and you shall rest a while. You will need all your strength in the coming months. You must eat well and often. The chocolate you are so fond of, and consumed so much of, is good for you. You must learn to read the signs, like this.”

He showed her what the baby needed. He had shown her before how to monitor the child’s life signs. Now he showed her more, how to read from those signs what the child needed for his nourishment and consequently what it was necessary to eat, for her child’s well-being and proper development. She thought she caught a glimpse of something he’d not seen, because he wasn’t looking for it, but she wasn’t sure. If he hadn’t seen it, maybe she was mistaken. She kept silent and thought no more about it.

Upstairs in her room he encouraged her to lie down on the soft mattress. He took the woven, woollen rugs, and covered her.

“Rest now,
mo run
. I’ll be below
,
and if you should need me, I will hear your call. My mind is never far from yours.”

“Before you go will you tell me what this hoard of Medina
Sidonia is?”

“Many years ago, the Spaniards sent an
a
rmada against England’s queen. It was defeated
,
and the
g
alleons scattered. Many foundered on these shores. One such, was a ship carrying Medin
a
Sidonia’s plate and coins. One sailor survived. He was helped by our Clan and, in his delirium, spoke of the treasure. Eventually he died of his injuries. Braemuir of that time searched until he found the hoard. The ship was still on the rocks, on a remote island. He concealed the gold in a cave, and there it still lies. In times of famine
,
we are able to use some of it to purchase food for our people. The secret of its location is a passed from one Braemuir to the next. Oidhche would take the gold and use it for his own pleasure. He mustn’t be allowed to deprive the Clan of their security.”

“But if you die, how will he find the treasure?”

Braemuir took a key on a long chain from under his shirt. It was a large, old, and very ornate key.

“This key unlocks a strong
-
box hidden in the Caisteal foundations. The secret of the location of the gold is in that box. If I die
,
he will take the key. Seonag knows where the box is, and she will have to show him. It’s her duty to Braemuir. Now you know all you need to know
. S
leep now,
mo run.
”

He left her and descended the staircase. He had to be there to greet the new arrivals. Oidhche would be amongst them He wouldn’t be able to absent himself for two reasons. His absence would be noted
,
and so his identity would be revealed. Also, it was his last chance to seize control, and to do that, he had to kill Braemuir. In a fair fight, Braemuir didn’t fear him. What he did fear was an attack upon his mate or her parents. If Oidhche could get to them, he could exert pressure on her. He sent a thought to her,
“Rest,
mo run
, you will need all your strength for tomorrow.”
He received no reply, and was pleased that she was sleeping
.

Downstairs, the sounds of arrivals filled the air. People were approaching the Caisteal. It was the custom that they could land at the bottom of the hill in dragon-form, but had to approach the Caisteal in man shape. Braemuir looked from one to the other and wondered,
“
Is it him?
”
whenever he looked at a man who was close to him by blood. The mind that created the black dragon was powerful, and so far had managed to shield itself, even from him. He hoped that, when he was face to face with the man, he would be able to recognise him. Then he moved forward to greet the guests.

Seonag and her helpers were directing people to rooms, offering refreshment, and finding space to accommodate those who came with more children than expected. Braemuir was pleased to see that there was no lack of babies and children of all ages. That was the sign of a healthy people. He glowed with pride as they all asked after his mate. He greeted them with cordiality but searching looks.

* * * *

Oidhche stood in the waiting line in the wine-dark shadows. He watched Braemuir, as he greeted his guests. He saw the searching looks and wondered if his own, carefully
constructed shield would hold when it was his turn to step forward into the light, to greet Braemuir. He hadn’t permitted Ciarda to attend. She was a female and weak-minded. Braemuir would be able to extract all he needed from her, especially as she’d had a previous connection with Braemuir. He’d timed his arrival to coincide with that of one other who wasn’t expected. He would see if that served to conceal his purpose and the identity of the black one.

* * * *

Braemuir looked at the long line of people waiting to be greeted. The shadows in the main entrance hall meant he could only see the first few in the line. He heard the collective gasp of astonishment from those assembled there, as two large men stepped forward and into the light, streaming in from the high windows. They approached the front of the line. One was, tall black haired, with deep blue eyes. He was well-muscled and carried a broadsword. Evidently he was a warrior. It appeared he wasn’t known to many of those present, which was causing alarm. The other was Braemuir’s twin brother.

“Ceud mile failte
!
Brother, Cousin, welcome to the Gathering of the Clan.”

Braemuir turned to to his assembled people and held up his hand for silence.

“We are doubly honoured today. Not only has my twin brother
, Riaghan,
come back, but my cousin, from Loch Ness, whom I haven’t seen since I was a child, has joined us. Please make them welcome. The customs of our two Clans are different, but we are related by blood. My twin
, Riaghan,
was raised elsewhere, as is the custom in our Clan. I haven’t seen him since childhood either. Now I have taken a mate, he can return to his homeland. Ness is a water dragon
.
T
o what do we owe the honour of this visit, Ness?”