“Callum MacDonald is nae such a bad man, in fact, there is much good in him, or so I think,” she said.
“Will he help us?” Finlay asked, and Elaine sighed.
“That much remains to be seen. He understands the risk he takes to dae so, but the dangers he faces if does nae help us and yer uncle continues to consolidate his power,” Elaine replied.
“Then we must wait until mornin’ and discover his will. I was worried, lass, I thought perhaps…” Finlay said, his words trailing off.
“That I would be placed in a difficult position?” she replied, and he nodded.
“That is why I can tell ye with confidence that he is an honorable man, at least his behavior suggests as much,” she replied.
He smiled at her, taking her by the hand and leaning in to kiss her. She let out a sigh, his hands caressing her, his lips now upon her neck, as they lay back upon the bed, arms around one another.
“We have all night,” he whispered, and she smiled at him, letting out a sigh, as that same shiver of delight ran through her.
She held him now, pulling him close, no longer unsure of how she felt or what she must do. She knew that she wanted him to feel his touch and the delight of the union. His hands were upon her breasts, his lips pressed against hers. Once more, she felt the thrust of his body against her, wincing at the sensation and letting out a cry of delight.
“Finlay,” she murmured, his hands pulling her close to him, pushing his whole body into hers as he rose over her, uttering a cry of pleasure.
She could feel the sensation building within her, their bodies as one as he held her, kissing her neck until each let out a cry of delight, and with a shudder, he fell back, breathless and panting onto the bed. Elaine’s whole body was tingling, the rush of that final sensation sending her into fresh ecstasy, as she breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction.
“I didnae hurt ye, did I?” he asked, taking her in his arms and kissing her once again.
“Nay, Finlay, of course, ye didnae, it was perfect,” she replied, her arms around his neck, as they lay together upon the bed.
They talked a while longer, the candle burning low and guttering in the draught which came from above. Eventually, Elaine began to yawn, and she leaned herself against Finlay, his cloak wrapped over them both as sleep overcame.
“Dae ye think we shall prevail?” Finlay whispered as he snuffed out the candle.
“We have every hope of doing so,” she replied, “we have each other.”
* * *
It was a wave crashing on the rocks outside the window, which awoke Elaine. A dull, grey light was coming into the room, the guttered candle melted to the floor, and a cold draught blowing around her. She shivered, drawing Finlay’s cloak up around them as he stirred and opened his eyes.
“I thought I was dreamin’ for a moment,” he said, and Elaine shook her head.
“Tis’ very real, but nae for much longer,” she replied, sitting up as the key turned in the lock.
“Ah, I see ye are awake,” Murdoch MacDonald said, advancing into the room, followed by a guard bearing a tray with steaming bowls of porridge, a freshly baked loaf of bread, and a pat of butter.
It was laid in front of them, and they both tucked in hungrily, watched by Murdoch, who began to laugh.
“Have ye never seen two people eat before?” Elaine asked, and he shook his head.
“Nae with such ravenous appetites. Tis’ as though ye have nae eaten for days,” he said, and Elaine looked up at him and smiled.
“We have nae, and until last night we had only eaten the barest of supplies. We are hungry, and if yer Laird is to release us, then we must be ready for the march south,” she said.
“We shall see about that. The Laird would speak with ye both. Come along now, finish yer breakfast and then follow me,” he said.
A few moments later, they were following Murdoch along the corridor toward the great hall where they found Callum and his nobles concluding their breakfast. As they entered, he looked up and smiled at them, beckoning them forward and offering them further refreshment.
“I trust ye slept well,” he said, and Finlay laughed.
“In a draughty tower room on a hard bed with nay blanket?. Aye, we slept as ye must have done on yer chambers,” he said, and Callum began to laugh too.
“It was there or the dungeon. I could hardly trust ye anywhere else,” he said, taking a bite of bread and chewing it ponderously as he looked them both up and down.
“And what now? What dae ye intend to dae with us?” Finlay asked.
“To talk with ye, Finlay. That is what I intend to dae,” he said, rising from his place, “ye and I shall take a walk alone, and ye shall see this castle and all that I am master of.”
“I will nae leave Elaine,” Finlay said, and Callum beckoned Murdoch to his side.
“See to it that Elaine is taken care of, have some of the women take her into their circle,” he said, and Murdoch nodded.
“It will only be for a short time, but ye and I have much to discuss,” Callum said, and beckoning Finlay to follow him, the two men left Elaine alone in the great hall.
Chapter Twenty
A wave crashed over the cliffs below, sending spray flying into the air, the smell of salt and sea invigorating after the stuffiness of the tower room. Finlay and Callum had walked in silence up onto the battlements and now commanded a view across the churning ocean below, its waters stretching endlessly out to the horizon, punctuated at times by islands and rocky outcrops, such that no man had ever set foot upon.
“All that ye can see from here is mine,” Callum said, extending his arm and sweeping it around to encompass the moorlands behind the castle and the coast running southwards beyond.
“And a fine place this is to view them from,” Finlay replied, looking out over the battlements and up to the tower rising above and the courtyard below.
“Built ten generations ago, home to this clan ever since and a mighty stronghold against our enemies,” Callum said.
“But even the greatest of castles may one day find itself taken, its Laird defeated, and the enemy’s banner unfurled upon its battlements,” Finlay replied.
“Which is why I know that peace between our clans is of the utmost importance,” Callum replied.
“So ye will help us?” Finlay asked, and Callum nodded.
“Tis’ better the devil ye know than the devil ye know nothin’ of,” he replied.
“Ye mean my uncle?” Finlay asked.
“I had to question my own actions if this situation were reversed. Ye did a brave thing comin’ to me, Finlay, a brave thing. How did ye know that I wouldnae throw ye in the dungeon and demand a ransom from yer uncle?” Callum asked.
“Because ye know that even the strongest of walls can be breached and that my uncle wouldnae allow ye and yer clan to live in peace as the years go by. Soon he would have come to claim what he believed is his by rights. Ye have nay choice but to help me,” Finlay said, turning to Callum and fixing him with a grim and determined look.
“I dae have a choice, Finlay, there is always a choice. But there is more to it than the simple sense of preservin’ peace between our clans. Ye and I have both lost our fathers, and we each carry with us a grave responsibility, one which cannae be understood by others who daenae bear it. I know the difficulties ye face, and I hope that ye know them of I, too,” he said, and Finlay nodded.
“Ye are right, my friend, for that is what I shall call ye if ye will help us. When my clansmen see that I am nae dead, then they shall rally once more to my side, and my uncle will be defeated without bloodshed, of that I am certain,” he said, and Callum nodded.
“That remains to be seen, but I shall offer ye a detachment of my men to accompany ye south. Murdoch will ride with ye, alongside horses and arms enough to show yer strength. Ride to Kilchurn and take back what is rightfully yers. But hear this, Finlay, if there is any sign of treachery on yer part, then know that tis’ ye who have ended our fr
iendship and nae me,” he said.
Finlay nodded, and, in a sign of his gratitude, he knelt before the Laird and bowed his head to ask for his blessing.
“Our bond is forged this day, and peace is made between our clans,” he said, looking up at Callum, who drew his sword and held it out on the palm of his hand on the flat.
“Then swear upon this sword, and then ye shall be on yer way,” he said, and Finlay reached up, placing his hand in Callum’s, the sword hilt clasped between them.
“To peace,” he said.
“To peace,” Callum replied, and Finlay rose to embrace him, knowing that his father would have been proud of what the two of them had now achieved.
Together, they hurried down the steps from the battlements and into the courtyard. Callum called out orders to Murdoch and the other men, urging them to gather their weapons and saddle the horses.
“I will be forever grateful to ye, Callum,” Finlay said as they made their way back toward the great hall.
“And I shall nae forget that ye owe me a great deal when I have cause to call upon ye,” Callum said.
“Together, we shall be stronger,” Finlay replied.
Elaine looked up in surprise as they entered the great hall. She was sat with several of the women by the fire, and she rushed to Finlay’s side, a questioning look upon her face.
“What is to happen to us, Finlay?” she asked, and he put his arm around her, comforted by her touch.
“We are to return to Kilchurn with a detachment of Callum’s men. They are to help us in returnin’ what is rightfully ours. My uncle believes I am dead, or at least far from where I can prove a threat to him. The rest of the clan have been told of my death, but when they discover I am alive, they will soon rally to our cause, of that I am certain,” Finlay replied.
“Then it seems we were right to judge ye kindly, Callum,” she said, as the Laird came to stand before them.
“Yer words last night moved me, lass,” he said, smiling at them both, “but now, ye must take refreshment and then ride out, Ye have a long journey ahead of ye, and the road will be arduous. But ye go with my blessin’ and a detachment of my best men, but I can dae nay more than that and tis’ up to ye both to see to it that ye prevail against yer enemy,” Callum said.
“We will nae fail; I am certain of it,” Finlay replied.
“And may God go with ye on the side of righteousness,” Callum replied.
A short while later, after they had eaten again and prepared their saddlebags, they were ready to depart. Callum had ordered that their own horse be made ready and given a new saddle; he had given them weapons and enough food to last for several days and onward if necessary. Now, they stood in the courtyard, Murdoch and the other soldiers mounted on their horses and ready to depart.
“May our next meetin’ be a favorable one. Send word from Kilchurn when ye have good news to share with me, and we shall drink a toast here to ye and ride swiftly to join the fray. There is much lawlessness in these parts, and together, we shall put a stop to it, of that I am certain. A new era of peace is upon us. God speed to ye all,” Callum said, drawing his sword and raising it over his head.
Finlay thanked him once again, climbing onto his horse and pulling Elaine up behind him. She familiarly clung to him, and he turned to her with a smile.
“Are ye ready for another adventure, lass?” he asked, and she nodded.
“But let this be the last, let us ride to Kilchurn and see to it that what is rightfully yers is now returned,” she said.
“My uncle will receive such a shock when he sees us,” Finlay said.
“Aye, and nay doubt draw his sword as soon as look at ye,” Elaine replied.
“But we go with the cause of righteousness at our side, and soon he will see the error of his ways,” Finlay said.
“Are ye ready, Laird?” Murdoch called out, and Finlay nodded
“Aye, and Callum, I thank ye for yer hospitality and for trustin’ me. Let it never be forgotten that our clans found peace this day, a peace which will last through the generations,” he called out, and urging the horse on, he rode through the gates, followed by Murdoch and the other soldiers.
It was a bright day, though clouds hung upon the horizon, black and menacing. It was as though some far-off enemy lay in wait, the storm about to rage down upon them, and Finlay could not help but feel an impending sense of dread as to what was to come.
Could he really return to Kilchurn so easily and order his uncle to surrender? He wondered if his clansmen were really as loyal as he believed them to be and if they would rally to his banner as readily as he hoped. It was all a great risk, and Finlay knew that there was much which could go wrong with his plan.
“Tis’ a wild country,” Elaine said, as they took to the track which led up to the moorlands and the forest where they had taken refuge just the day before.
“And it only grows wilder the further north ye go,” Murdoch said, coming to ride alongside them.
“Have ye always lived in these parts?” Finlay asked, the two of them having quite put their arguments aside, the capture of yesterday forgotten now that they were allies.
“All my life, I am a MacDonald through and through, six generations back. The castle has always been my home, even as a child, and the Lairds my masters. I wouldnae have it any other way,” Murdoch said, his voice sounding proud and resolute.
“Ye are a credit to the name MacDonald,” Finlay replied, nodding to the soldier, who smiled.
“And ye to yer own, Laird. It takes much bravery to dae as ye did. To come as one man against all odds in the hopes of securin’ peace with a clan who ye know little of. Tis’ only a brave or foolhardy man that does that alone,” Murdoch said, shaking his head and laughing.
“But I was nae alone, I had Elaine with me, and she is just as brave, and I knew that my cause was right, whether Callum MacDonald had me killed or nae. But I had a hunch he wouldnae, for tis’ he who sent the message to my father and called for peace between our clans. He is wise enough to know the sense in what we have done, and if that means helpin’ me to retake Kilchurn, then tis’ only right that he did so,” Finlay replied.
“Ye are both still young and with much to learn, but ye have both proved yerselves, worthy successors of yer fathers,” Murdoch replied, and Finlay smiled.
“It was nae so long ago I thought myself entirely unworthy,” he replied.
It was true; that was just how he had felt. But in the days that had passed, Finlay had discovered within himself a new resolve and a determination which was not there before, the acceptance of the responsibility which was his. Far from being out of his depth, he now knew that he and he alone was the rightful heir of his father and that being Laird was what he was born to do.
No one would take that away from him, and he was resolved to fight to the death to see his honor restored, and the noble clan of the MacCallums returned to its good name. He was worthy of taking his father’s place, and he would continue to prove that, not only to himself but to those around him. And it was thanks to Elaine that he had come to this realization of his own strength, she had believed in him even when he had not believed in himself, and now he wished only to return her safely home and see to it that their relationship might flourish.
“Tis’ clear that ye are worthy, Laird. Any fool can see that, but now tis’ the time to prove that and show yer uncle what revenge looks like,” Murdoch said, and he rode on to scout ahead, encouraging the other soldiers as he went.
Finlay had not thought about what he would do with his uncle once Kilchurn and the clan were returned into rightful hands. Would he make a public spectacle of him? Have him executed? Or perhaps he would send him into exile, far away where no one would ever see him again. There were dungeons at Kilchurn, deep and dark, a fitting place to end the days of one who had committed such treachery.
He was pondering these thoughts as they came to the brow of a hill, looking out over a vast forest down below. The mist was hangin
g amidst the trees, and a river wound its way through the valley, disappearing far off where the ocean crashed against the shore. From that vantage point, vast swathes of land were visible, and Finlay fancied he recognized several landmarks far off in the distance.
“Is that Sullivan’s Peak,” he said, pointing out toward a towering mountain wreathed in cloud that lay many miles to the south.
“Aye, and ye shall know of course that it marks the borders of MacCallum land,” Murdoch said, and Finlay nodded.
He had long been told to fear the mountain known as Sullivan’s Peak, its passage almost impossible except in the height of summer. Even then, snow could still lie on its flanks, and the pass through the rocks be treacherous with ice.
Highlander’s Forbidden Desire: Wanting her was forbidden, having her was his ruin... Page 22
