“Pirates! Pirate ships in the harbor!” Then the boom of cannons.
I hoped the bishop had finished and made it legal, because the captain pushed men aside as he ran for the door. Lady Anne stared after him, her heart in her eyes.
Jeremiah didn’t spare a word to me, just ran after him. The rest of his men surged toward the door, clearing out the chapel except for the party from the MacDonald castle.
“What should we do?” Fiona looked excited, like we’d arranged this for her entertainment.
“Come inside the castle where you will be safe.” Valdez began urging us toward the door. “We can protect you there.”
“Go with him, my dear.” Robert MacDonald was surrounded by his men. “I’m going to see how I can help with this. I don’t want to have to worry about you.” He kissed her cheek. “Stay safe.”
“What if I could help? You know I’m an excellent shot.” Fiona touched his face. “Be careful, darling. Don’t be surprised if you see me on the battlements.”
“Now Fiona…” He grinned at her. “Don’t shoot anyone in a kilt. Remember that.” He stopped by me and kissed my cheek. “Gloriana, you are radiant. I heard you were hurt by a pirate that Campbell let inside the gates. Incompetent turd. If you get tired of him, you’ll always have a home with us, won’t she, Fiona?”
“I don’t know, Robert. Not if you keep looking down her bosom. It might be best if we help her set up somewhere close by.” Fiona tugged on his plaid. “Go kill some pirates. Jamie would love a report that you did that for Campbell.”
“No, for Scotland, my love. I fight pirates for the king and for Scotland.” He winked then led his men out of the chapel.
I heard more cannon fire in the distance. Were the ships shooting at each other? Or had the pirates found our ships unmanned and taken advantage of that fact to severely damage them? I was sure Jeremiah was on his way to the beach to check on it now.
“Valdez, make sure there are guards on the hill. At the entrance to the secret passageway.” I couldn’t help reliving that attack inside our walls. I didn’t blame Jeremiah. He had defended us as well as he knew how. I saw guards everywhere, but the drawbridge was still down. I stopped in front of it. Fergus was talking to a group of men there.
“Surely you are going to raise the drawbridge.” I ignored Valdez, who was trying to push us into the castle. The bishop hurried inside on his own, murmuring prayers.
“I gave the order as soon as Jeremiah and the captain left here.” Fergus stalked over to one side of it and pointed at the chain that made it rise and fall. “See here. Damaged beyond a quick repair. Someone knew what they were doing.” He kicked the pulley in frustration.
“I’m sorry, Gloriana. They had to open the drawbridge to let our carriage through. And our escorts on their horses, as well.” Fiona took my hand. “But there were guards then. Why didn’t they stop this mischief?”
“A good question.” I was afraid I knew the answer. “Lady Anne, why don’t you take your mother to your bedchamber? I think she needs to rest.” That lady was still upset. Had she received another message from Clyne? I didn’t have time to deal with that now.
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Come, Mama.” Anne nodded. “I will order a bedchamber prepared for our guests. One or two, Countess?”
“Robert and I do not like to be apart. One will do.” Fiona released me to approach Anne. “Felicitations on your marriage, Lady Anne. We met once before, in Edinburgh. And I know Lady Rose from card parties. I’m sorry you seem upset, my dear.” She patted Lady Rose on the shoulder. “It is certainly a fine night for your daughter. Captain Burnett’s family is a distinguished one. This alliance should make you happy.”
“Yes, I am happy for her.” Lady Rose smiled through her tears. “I am being foolish.” She gazed around the courtyard, full of armed guards. “I am perfectly safe here, I know it. Thank you, Gloriana, for taking such good care of us. Now I think I will lie down for a bit.”
The two ladies disappeared into the castle while Valdez and Fergus studied the ruined pulley and chains.
“Are you sure it won’t go up?” Valdez walked over to look at the chains more closely. He had women to deal with and he knew we were not going to meekly sit in our bedchambers with a war going on outside. He looked harried.
“You think we haven’t tried? Someone was very thorough when he broke it this time. Broke both of them. Clearly we have a pirate working in our midst.” Fergus ground his teeth.
“What about the guards on the drawbridge?” I was afraid of his answer. The last time the drawbridge had been tampered with, the guards had met a bad end.
“We’d doubled the guard since the last problem. This night word got out that Colin MacLean was getting married. There was a bit of free ale passed around in celebration.” Fergus gazed around the courtyard. No one was making merry now. Every man was holding a weapon and intent on the road to the castle or the forest surrounding it.
“Two who were supposed to stand guard couldn’t resist the chance for a pint and left their posts. That left two at the bridge.”
“They’ll be punished, I’m sure, the ones who left,” Valdez said then exchanged a look with Fergus. “And the others? I hope one of them didn’t end up with his throat slit in the stables. Did the other disappear like last time and join the pirates in the harbor?”
Fergus nodded. “The one on the run? Can you guess his name?”
“Didn’t you go through the alphabet? You said the letter ‘M’ was no help.” My trip to the witch’s hut had done nothing but leave me with a lingering feeling that I wasn’t quite right. I’d washed away the evil, but still felt unclean. And my taste! If only I could down some of Colin’s ale to rinse that out of my mouth. It had started to be foul when I’d been shot. Now it was even worse.
“True. But what do you have if you turn that bowl around, Gloriana?” Fergus slapped his thigh.
“’W!’ What was the man’s name, Fergus?” I couldn’t believe we hadn’t thought of that. The fact that the witch hadn’t mentioned the possibility made me wonder if she could be in league with the pirates after all.
“Wylie. Jon Wylie. He called himself that anyway. Bastard. Murderer. Or tried to be. Didn’t slit the man’s throat this time but sneaked up behind him and knocked MacLeod clean out. He’ll be all right except for an aching head. We can be grateful for that.”
“But we’re stuck with an open drawbridge.” I knew what I wanted to do and exchanged a look with Flo. “You’ll need more guards there. Ready to fight. I have a feeling Jeremiah and his troops will be busy at the beach.”
“Gloriana, you are not going to join the fight.” Valdez blocked the steps.
“Not in this dress.” I started back up the steps, ignoring his growls of displeasure.
“You’re going to fight?” Fiona sounded excited. “I would love to help defeat the pirates. You heard me. I am an excellent shot. My pistols are in the carriage. I never travel without them.”
“Then we should send for them.” I ignored Valdez who had muttered something about MacDonald not liking that. “We have britches that will make it much easier to move.”
“Like the men wear?” Fiona looked down at her skirt, so full that it brushed the walls on both sides of the stairs when she walked. “How did you manage that?”
“I have a very talented housekeeper.” I exchanged a grin with Flo when we stopped in front of my bedchamber. “I think you are closer in size to Florence. Flo, will you let Fiona try on one of your pairs of britches?”
“Certainly. You may not like them. They are strange to feel in your canale dell’amore , if you know what I mean. Too close.”
“I cannot wait to find out.” Fiona laughed and followed Flo up the steps to her room.
“You are mad if you think I will allow you to go to war. Certainly not dressed as a man.” Valdez fumed and then cursed when I stepped inside then slammed my bedchamber door in his face.
Would he open the door and try to s
top me from changing clothes? I waited a few moments then realized I had no hope of changing anything. Not with the tight bodice that closed in the back of the dress. Mercy had helped me into it. I needed someone to open the fastenings to get me out of it. I tried to reach behind me. No luck. I did succeed in pulling off my petticoats, but trying to get out of the rest of the dress was hopeless. Unless. . .
I concentrated, seeing Flo’s bedchamber clearly in my mind. Tingles started and then. . . I was there, standing amid a pile of lace. Fiona screamed when she saw me. Flo laughed. It was just the reaction I was hoping for.
“How did you do that?” Flo touched me to see if I was really there.
I didn’t blame her. I was wondering that myself. “I discovered a new skill. I can’t do your kind of shifting. You know that. But I can shift from place to place. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Fiona stared at my feet. “You are standing on my dress. Get off! I don’t love it as much as I do your red one, but I must wear it home tomorrow night.” She had a dazed look. “Is there anything you vampires cannot do?”
“Oh, sorry!” I hopped off of the massive lace confection and then picked it up and draped it over a chair. “Yes, Fiona, we cannot eat, see daylight or have babies.” I knew she had been teasing Robert to be turned. “Don’t be in a hurry to leave your mortality behind.”
“Like you did?” She smirked. “Robert told me your story, Gloriana. You didn’t take long to make your choice.”
Flo clapped her hands. “Ladies, I hear cannon fire. We must hurry.”
I heard it too. I looked at Fiona. “Did the britches fit?”
“They are a little tight.” Fiona turned around so I could see the way they hugged her bottom. Oh, but they showed the curve of a shapely ass. Robert would love to see her now, I was sure. “Florence is right, they are tickling my love canal. I want to find my man and have him finish the job, if you know what I mean.” She winked. “The waist is so tight I am cut in half. But I can live with that.”
I was glad my britches weren’t that tight. I wanted to fight in mine, use my bow, not worry about being strangled by my clothing.
“Why are you not wearing yours, Glory?” Flo had hers on and looked ready for battle. She had added her sword and picked up a knife to wear at her waist.
“I can’t get my dress open in the back. I’m stuck in it.” I smiled. “I wasn’t about to ask Valdez to help me. He wouldn’t. He is against this entire thing—britches and joining the guards.”
“I know. Men!” Flo got behind me and quickly opened the back of the dress. “There you are. But where are your other clothes? You should have brought them.”
“I forgot.” I held my loose bodice to my breasts. “I’ll just focus and go back to my room. I’ll meet you both in my bedchamber. Fiona, I have extra swords and knives there. We’ll outnumber Valdez so he’ll have no choice but to follow us and allow us to fight where we’re needed.”
“Right.” Fiona opened the door. “We’ll be there.” She studied me. “You just focus on the place you want to be? Do you think any other vampire could do it? Florence, have you tried it?”
“Not yet. This is the first I’ve heard about it.” Flo flushed. “I will certainly try it. Right now. It is a wonderful skill, Glory. Use it when we fight. It will drive the pirates crazy, capisci ?” She made a stabbing motion with a knife in her hand.
“Yes, you’re right. I could vanish in front of them then reappear at their backs.” I was excited at the thought. “I must go now. See if you can go to my bedchamber with me, Flo.” I waited.
Flo closed her eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes and cursed in a burst of Italian.
“I cannot do it, Glory. Go! We will meet you in your bedchamber.”
“Fine. I’m sorry, Flo.” I shook my head then closed my eyes and focused on my bedchamber. It wasn’t easy because I kept seeing all the possibilities for battle strategies. I could totally confuse the enemy. I felt the tingle then opened my eyes.
I had shifted all right. I was standing with my bodice clutched to my breasts but what I saw was definitely not my bedchamber.
22
I was in the forest, outside the castle walls. And I wasn’t alone.
“What have we here?” The man facing me was familiar. I knew him but not the expression on his face. The short man with the long beard had been talkative and friendly when we’d first met. Now he was leering at me and reaching for my loose bodice.
I had no choice but to show him my vampire. I let go of that bodice and snarled, letting my fangs down as I’d seen Jeremiah do when confronting an enemy. I expected the man to be horrified. He did back up a step, his eyes wide.
“That’s quite a sight.” He licked his lips. “You gonna drink my blood, pretty thing?” He swept his eyes over me, lingering on my breasts held up by my corset.
“McFee. I remember you. You killed the man who loved the pirate queen. That was deliberate, wasn’t it?” I felt a slight chill but knew I was covered enough by my corset despite the way he was staring at me.
“Yes, it was. He was a mere tool I used to end you. He failed, didn’t he?”
“How did you hide your thoughts? Or your true nature? We were sure you were harmless.” I snarled again.
He laughed, my snarl obviously not impressing him. “I am more powerful than a mere vampire mind-reader or a shape-shifter trying to see into my powers. You only thought you could see what I was thinking. My cloaking spell worked so well, you had no idea what you saw wasn’t true.” He seemed to grow before my eyes from that small man to a larger, more dangerous being with glowing eyes and an aura of evil that made me want to run from him.
“Who are you, really?” I couldn’t run. I needed to end this if I could.
“One of Zarah’s family, descended from the great Grace O’Malley, but with powers the pirate only dreamed of. I trained her to fight for our cause.” His dark gaze drifted over me. “What did you think of my dark magic, vampire? How did it feel when you almost died?”
“So, it was you who poisoned the arrow.” I let the dress fall all the way to the ground and pulled my knife from the garter on my right leg. “I knew there was a witch at work for the Irish.”
“Aye. What did you do to make Zarah give up and throw herself off that tower?” He waved his hand and a nearby tree began to burn. “What spell did you weave?”
“No spell. Zarah realized she was beaten and couldn’t live with that fact. She died in despair, McFee.” I stepped out of my dress and kicked it aside.
“Don’t call me that vile Scot’s name again.” He seemed to grow even taller, his eyes burning with an evil fire. “I am Janus, a great wizard. More powerful than you can imagine. I command the flying creatures that have been coming here for years. Have you seen one, vampire?”
“No, I don’t believe you.” I knew he might be powerful and dangerous, but he was also mad. I could see it in his eyes and the way he claimed powers no man could possibly have.
“And I don’t believe you . My Zarah would never lose heart. You bewitched her. Admit it.” He lifted a short staff and a small dragon-like thing flew at me, plucking at my hair. I stabbed it with my knife and it vanished in a puff of smoke.
Gods, he was powerful. I had to stop him before he sent more of those creatures at me. I had one advantage. He couldn’t take his eyes off of my breasts, spilling from that corset. I leaned over and grabbed my dress, throwing the skirt at him. It caught his staff and I jerked it toward me then broke it over my knee.
“You bitch! You’ll pay for that. And for Zarah!” He waved his hands and seemed frustrated when only sparks flew from his fingertips. That did make me jump back.
“Perhaps she was tired of you making her do things she hated. You took a decent person and made her into a tool for your evil. I could see that it weighed down her spirit.” I moved closer to a tree, using it as a shield. “Ask the poor fellow you killed to keep him from talking. He loved Zarah. His own soul came
calling from Hell looking for her. Did he finally find Zarah there? Or did she manage to break free of you and find a better afterlife?”
“Clever, aren’t you?” He muttered a spell and thunder boomed. Lightning hit a tree close by and it too burst into flames. “Zarah loved me like a father. She followed me willingly. She hated the Scots as much as I do and she fought like a demon. You think she didn’t belong in Hell? It is where we all will meet again. Gladly.” He laughed in a way that made my spine tingle. I wanted to run but was afraid he’d only catch me and draw me back with one of his spells.
He reached out and one of the broken pieces of his wand moved toward his hand. He gripped it with a smile and a dozen flying dragons flew at me, chittering and snapping at me. I stabbed them one by one until the last one fell to my feet in a puff of that noxious smoke. My eyes ran from the horrid odor and my hand shook.
Was he playing with me? Why hadn’t he set the tree next to me on fire? Or had he tried and found me protected? I glanced upwards and a shiver of awareness touched me.
“You know I didn’t kill Zarah. She chose to end her own life.” I had to say it again.
“Zarah gladly did what I told her to do. We weren’t finished when she came here that night. The Scots and English owe us. We Irish have been robbed of our land and our livelihood. This is the only way to get back what we have lost.”
“I don’t know what your plan is and I don’t care. My plan is to kill you. I don’t think I’ll drink your blood. It is bound to be tainted.” I held my knife as Valdez had taught me. I knew this man had to have used some kind of protection spell. Witches. I might not hesitate to use them, but I also feared them. I said a prayer to whatever gods I believed in and lunged at him.
“Ho!” He leaped back. “You are a brave one. I could turn you into a rock where you stand. Though that would be a waste of a pretty woman.”
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 27
