“We will be quite comfortable, thank ye,” she replied, blushing a little under his gaze.
“I daenae know how long we shall be away for. The ride north will take several days, and then we shall see what happens next. Tis’ the MacDonalds who have asked for peace, we must see what they have to say,” Finlay said.
“And I wish ye well for all that lies ahead. My father has had dealin’ with the MacDonalds in the past, be careful among them,” Elaine said, and Finlay nodded.
“Daenae worry, I shall be. I have Dougal and the others with me. We shall be careful, and I shall be back very soon,” Finlay replied, their eyes lingering together for a moment, as he smiled at her.
“And we shall be waitin’ for ye when ye return,” Elaine replied, smiling at him.
“I shall take good care of my mistress while ye are gone, Laird,” Carys said, and Finlay laughed.
“Aye, ye have always done so, lass, or so it seems. A faithful companion to the end,” he replied, and with a final nod, he returned to the horses.
“God go with ye,” Elaine whispered, slipping her hand into Carys’ as they watched the final preparations.
“And now men,” Finlay called out, “we ride north to seek peace with the MacDonalds. Let it never be said that the men of our clan were nae brave and willin’ to play their part for peace. God speed to us.”
“God speed!” the men replied, raising their swords up and calling out as one.
Elaine watched as Finlay rode out through the gates of Kilchurn, followed by Dougal and the other men. He appeared so confident in himself riding out into the unknown, but Elaine wondered if that was merely a mask. Was he doing this because he wanted to or because he knew that his uncle demanded it?
The sight of him leaving stirred a strange set of feelings within her. She had not expected to feel like this, her mind filled with thoughts of Finlay and of how she would miss his company now that he was gone. She had come to enjoy his friendship and to look forward to being in his presence. He was handsome, a man who would make a fine husband, a fine lover. Elaine had never been in love, she had never even felt the first stirrings of it in her heart, and now she felt caught up in her feelings for Finlay. It was most confusing, and she wondered where such thoughts might lead.
She found herself lost in thought just as Allan MacCallum strode across the courtyard, smiling as he glanced through the gates at the disappearing figure of Finlay along the path north. He had a swagger to him, looking as though he had achieved precisely what he wished, and he came to stand before Elaine and Carys, laughing now and shaking his head.
“Well now, the puppy has charged off for the hunt,” he said, “and we shall see what bones he brings back for us.”
Elaine had no desire to speak with him. His attitude towards her had become ever more odious as the weeks had passed. It was the way he looked at her, which most disturbed her. He had a way about him, which was unpleasant, though she could not entirely find a reason for it. It seemed that he was watching her, waiting for her to make a mistake or say something on which he could challenge her. She had no intention of giving him satisfaction, and the thought of the two of them now alone at the castle gave her cause for concern. What was it that he wanted of her?
“Peace, I hope,” she replied, and Allan shook his head.
“Finlay knows nothin’ of such things. He will nae bring back anythin’ except for failure,” he replied.
“Why dae ye always speak so badly of him? Tis’ as though ye wish for him to fail and for the clan to know of their Laird’s weakness,” Elaine said.
“He needs to learn how best to be a Laird. His father was nay example to him, and he still has much to understand,” Allan replied, shaking his head.
“And I suppose ye are the one to teach him these things, are ye?” Elaine said, her anger beginning to rise against him.
“He would be wise to heed my advice, aye, lass. As would ye,” Allan said.
“Oh, aye? And what advice would that be?” Elaine asked, as Carys caught her by the arm and tried to pull her away.
“What is yer business in remainin’ here at Kilchurn? Dae ye think that because ye couldnae have one Laird, then ye shall have the next?” Allan asked.
Elaine was shocked by his words; they were cruel and hurtful. But she would not be cowed by him, nor was she afraid of him.
“My business is to see to it that Finlay has a friend in all of this. I was fond of his father, yer brother. He was a good man, and he treated me well for the short time that we knew one another. I see it as my duty to remain here at Finlay’s side,” Elaine replied, turning her back on Allan in disgust.
“How very touchin’ that it, lass. I cannae force ye to leave, nor shall I. Yer company is pleasant, and I am sure the two of us shall become quite used to one another in these days to come as we await Finlay’s return,” Allan said.
Elaine made no reply, taking Carys’ arm and leading her into the castle.
“He is the most odious of men,” Carys whispered as they made their way up to the chambers.
“But sadly, we must find some way with him in these days to come,” Elaine replied, shaking her head sadly.
“He is an odious man, mistress. I daenae trust him one bit,” Carys said, as she began to arrange Elaine’s clothes for the coming day.
“And neither dae I. But until Finlay returns, it seems we must be the ones to keep an eye on this castle and see to it that his uncle’s ambitions are kept at bay,” Elaine replied.
It was a worrying situation, for Elaine knew nothing of Finlay’s uncle, though she suspected much. He was a man who kept his intentions close, and she worried as to what he would do in the absence of his nephew. What wicked schemes had he in his heart? What plans did he possess?
“Then all we can dae is wait and see mistress,” Carys said, and Elaine nodded.
“Aye, tis’ all we can dae,” she replied, crossing to the window and looking out over the vast moorlands beyond.
There was no sign of Finlay now, no sign of him nor of his men. She suddenly felt very much alone, remaining at Kilchurn under the mercies of Allan MacCallum and his men. What would the next few days bring? She was not afraid of him, but she knew that he could make her life difficult, dangerous even if he so chose to.
“At least we have each other, mistress. That has always been our strength,” Carys said, and Elaine smiled.
“Aye, so long as I have ye here, Carys, all shall be well,” she said, casting a final glance across the moorland and thinking again of Finlay, her feelings for him entirely confused.
Chapter Eight
“We shall make camp here for the night,” Finlay said, pointing to a patch of ground by a waterfall flowing into a stream by the wayside.
Trees grew there, providing natural shade from the sun, which was still warm, despite the late evening. They had ridden for much of the day, pausing only to take a little refreshment as they went, and Finlay was growing tired.
“Tis’ sheltered enough, we shall nae be easily seen from the path,” Dougal said, dismounting from his horse, as the others did so too.
“We shall place a watch north and south. I have nay intention of fallin’ victim to robbers or bandits. This road is a lawless one. We passed the limits of my father’s … of my lands some miles back. This now is the territory of nay one until we ride further north. These are wildlands, and who knows what danger lurks in these parts,” Finlay said, glancing around him as though he expected a band of robbers to appear from the trees ahead.
But there was nothing, save a gentle breeze in the trees and the babbling of the water in the stream. It was a peaceful scene, the moorlands stretching out all around them, the sky a vast sea of blue over the purple heathers.
“We have made a good ride this day,” Dougal said, as they began to set up camp.
“Aye, and we shall rise early in the mornin’ to continue. I daenae wish to be away long from the Kilchurn,” Finlay said, tethering up his horse and beginnin
g to unpack his saddlebags.
“Is it Elaine ye be wantin’ to get back to?” Dougal asked, smiling at Finlay, who paused and shook his head.
“Why would ye say that, Dougal,” he asked, and his friend laughed.
“I have seen the way ye have been watchin’ her these past weeks. The two of ye are growin’ close. There is nay harm in it, of course,” he said.
“Ye have been watchin’, have ye? And what is it that ye think?” Finlay asked, annoyed that his personal affairs were being openly discussed at the castle.
“Ye are Laird now, Finlay. There is much that ye must think on. There is talk of ye and Elaine about Kilchurn. Tis’ known that ye are fond of her,” Dougal replied.
“Of course, I am fond of her. She has been good to our clan and to me ever since my father’s death. But more than that, nay,” Finlay said, unrolling his cloak and settling himself down on it beneath the trees.
“Ye have never sought the affections of a woman, Finlay. Why nae? Many at Kilchurn would gladly allow ye into their beds,” Dougal replied, and Finlay rolled his eyes.
“I have nay need for such things as that, Dougal. Ye may keep yer thoughts a secret. Come now, we need water from the stream and wood for a fire. Let the men get it, and then we shall eat. There is still a long ride ahead of us,” Finlay said, as Dougal laughed at him.
“Elaine McRob is a good woman, Finlay. She would make ye a good wife, as she would have done yer father. Tis’ nay shame in it. If ye want her, then take her,” Dougal said, unrolling his own cloak next to Finlay’s.
“I daenae just take what I cannae have, Dougal. Elaine is a good woman; that much is true. But I wouldnae force her to stay if she didnae choose to. As for marriage, she has nae interest in me,” Finlay said.
Of that, he was certain. Elaine was a fine woman, and she had chosen to do her duty to her clan by marrying his father, but it was clear she had no real love for Kilchurn or the MacCallums. He wondered if he would even find her there when he returned from this expedition. Surely, she would soon grow tired of life in the castle, wishing instead to return to Carrick and her own people there.
“Daenae be so sure, Finlay. The two of ye have become close in these weeks gone by. I have seen the way she has looked at ye and the way she seems protective of ye. Daenae doubt her loyalty, nor her likin’ for ye, Laird,” Dougal said, as the two of them began collecting wood for the fire.
The sun was sinking low over the moorlands now, and they soon had water collected from the stream and a fire lit on which to cook. A watch was set on the way north and south, for Finlay would not allow himself to be taken unawares. He thought of the sad fate which had so nearly taken Elaine from him even before he knew her. What tragic fortune it would be to find himself victim to a similar attack.
“Tis’ good to be on the trail,” Finlay said, as they finished a simple supper of fish caught from the street and cakes of flour mixed with water and wild garlic leaves baked in the embers of the fire.
“Yer father would have been tellin’ stories of the old days by now,” Dougal remarked, pulling out a vial of whiskey and raising it in a toast.
“My tales are still to be written, Dougal. I have none to tell except those ye would already have known,” Finlay replied, as Dougal passed him the flask to drink.
“There are many years ahead for that, Laird, many tales still to be told,” Dougal replied.
It was dark now, a thousand stars appearing in the sky above and the moon full overhead. The moorlands were bathed in the milky light above, and there was not a sound of a soul anywhere, save for the other men now rolled up in their blankets around the campfire, snoring gently.
“Then let this be the first of them,” Finlay replied, wrapping his blanket around him, “though I shall be glad to return to Kilchurn.”
“And I am sure that Elaine shall be glad to see ye,” Dougal replied, to which Finlay made no reply.
* * *
It was the first rays of the sun that woke him the next morning. It had crept over the trees, coming suddenly upon him as he lay by the smoldering remnants of the campfire. Finlay opened his eyes, forgetting for a moment where he was, the hard ground becoming an unwelcome reminder that he was not in his warm bed at Kilchurn with breakfast ready in the great hall below.
He stretched out, sitting up and looking around him. Several of the other men had already risen, taking their turn on the watch through the night, but Dougal was still fast asleep, and Finlay leaned over and shook him, causing him to cry out with a start.
“What? Who is … oh, Finlay? I was havin’ the strangest dream. The two of us were fighitn’ off a whole army of roundheads from the south, and Cromwell himself was there,” Dougal said, shaking his head and laughing.
“Tis’ nae Cromwell ye should be worried about,” Finlay said, laughing and standing up, “get up, or ye shall have me to fight off.”
He got up and nodded to the other men, who had begun to build a fire, water having been collected from the stream, and the horses fed their breakfast. They would be on the trail soon enough, riding north towards the territory of the MacDonalds. Finlay observed the scene, looking out across the moorlands for any signs of danger. But all seemed quiet. There was no sign of anyone to the north or to the south, and he breathed a deep sigh, hoping that their journey north would be an uneventful one. He was determined to make peace with the MacDonalds and to prove himself worthy of his father’s legacy. Finlay could be Laird in place of his father, and he would prove to his uncle that he could lead the clan better than any other.
“Dae ye really think that the MacDonalds want peace after all this time?” Dougal asked as they rode off across the moorlands a little later after having breakfast.
The sun was already growing warm, and it seemed that the day would once again be hot and sultry across the heathers. Finlay took a swig of water from his flask and wiped his mouth, turning to Dougal with a smile.
“Dae ye nae like the MacDonalds, Dougal? Some old grudge ye bear, is it?” he asked, and Dougal shook his head.
“Nay, but I am just nae as trustin’ as ye are, Finlay. I daenae know if the MacDonalds can truly be said to have changed their ways. What is their reason for seekin’ peace? Perhaps their ploy was to capture yer father and see him held prisoner. What dae we even know of them?” Dougal asked.
“We know that it was they who wished for peace, Dougal. They who sent word to my father, and he believed their words to be sincere. The old ways are comin’ to an end now, and who knows what we shall find when we reach their lands. The clans are weakened now; soon, there will be nay more power in them. Look at England and her civil war; are we to have the same here in Scotland too? Tis’ my belief that the likes of the MacDonalds realize that they must seek peace or find themselves at an end,” Finlay replied.
“I hope ye are right, Finlay. We daenae need another enemy or trouble on our northern border,” Dougal replied.
“We shall soon have nay border or land to call our own, if we daenae make peace with those around us, Dougal. This is what is best for our clan, but we shall keep our wits about us and be on our guard. I daenae trust the MacDonalds either, but we come in peace at their request. Word must surely now have spread as to my father’s death, but we shall see how these northern clansmen receive us,” Finlay said, glancing ahead for any signs of welcome on the road.
But still, all was quiet. The moorlands stretched endlessly on, rising into distant hills. A little later, they paused for refreshment at a stream which gushed across the path, a roughly made ford showing that this was inhabited territory, even if its inhabitants remained hidden from sight.
“Dae ye think we are being watched?” Dougal asked, splashing water onto his face.
“If our presence is known, then tis’ certain,” Finlay replied, glancing around him.
The other men had dismounted their horses and were drinking from the stream. The heat of the day had made them thirsty, and they were glad of the refreshment.
&
nbsp; “And here is the answer,” Dougal said, pointing along the trail ahead.
A solitary rider was making their progress along the path. They were clad in tunic, armor, and helmet, a banner fluttering from the pole they carried at one side. It seemed strange to see such a person, solitary and alone. Finlay stepped forward, holding up his hand and calling out for the stranger to identify themselves.
“Hail there, rider. We are makin’ for the castle of the MacDonalds, is it far from here?” he asked, and the rider paused.
Highlander’s Forbidden Desire: Wanting her was forbidden, having her was his ruin... Page 9
