Highlander The Demon Lord

by Donna Fletcher

  Warrick had made no mention of her staying put before he left and she had not expected him to. He was not a man to repeat his warnings and she was not foolish enough to make the same mistake again. Though, she had noticed that wherever she went a guard seemed to be in close proximity. At first, she had worried that he did not trust her and that would be her own fault for what she had done. However, the more thought she had given it the more she had realized he was protecting her should Maia and her crew attempt to harm her.

  The only order he had left her with was for her to think on her time with Maia and see what stories she could recall. She had pulled as many as she could from memory and thought on them, eager to share them with her husband upon his return.

  She also had found her thoughts occupied with what Maia had said about Adara’s frequent moves. She still could not fathom what the woman had tried to imply. No one wanted her, so she was given to someone else. She remembered crying when she had first been given to another family. And Aubrey did as well, the young lass she had believed was her sister. To find out she had not been, that she had had no family, hurt even now after all this time. Having thought it had been something she had done that had caused her to be given away, she had worked extra hard at the next home. But it had never been a home and she had not been there long. So she had gone from place to place, no one wanting her.

  She smiled and placed her hand on her stomach. Now she had a home and soon a family.

  He killed his first wife.

  A shiver ran through her and her smile faded. She did not want to believe Maia or the tales, but she also did not want to be foolish. Somehow she could not fathom Warrick doing such a thing. Though, what if he had? Could there be good reason for it? She wanted to find out what she could about Warrick’s wife’s death. But if no one spoke of it as Espy had said, then how could she learn anything about it? She debated asking Warrick, but fear held her tongue. Whether it was fear of what she would learn or how he would react, she was not certain, but it was enough for her to say nothing.

  Something did happen during Warrick’s absence that she had not expected. She found that solitude did not hold the appeal it once did. She preferred being with others, talking with them, learning more things about the running of the keep, and even digging in the kitchen garden’s soil and discussing future plantings with Emona the cook.

  She had discovered that being with others, two or three people at the most, kept her fear at a distance. Any more would trigger her fear, not that it still did not rush over her unexpectedly at times, but somehow she had gained the courage to force it to retreat.

  Her growing ease had an added benefit. The clan greeted her with more smiles and the women stopped to speak with her, ask her how she was feeling and how the bairn was doing. And they shared encouraging stories of delivering their own bairns.

  She had been pleased when Langdon once again joined her on her walks through the village, just before dusk. He shared funny stories of when he was young and a hardy lad and often had her laughing. She found herself sharing a few stories of her own and he brought tears to her eyes when after learning of her rock collection being taken away from her, he gave her a rock with a design, given by nature, on it one day. They were not easy to find and that he had purposely searched for it for her had warmed her heart. She had hugged him and it had brought tears to his eyes.

  For the first time since her arrival here, she felt it truly was her home, that she truly had a family, and she was more determined than ever to see to her duties and well-being of the clan.

  A strong chill in the air made it feel more like winter than autumn and with that chill holding the last few days, Adara had made sure to take stock of the food supplies. She had been happy to see how well Emona had stocked the keep for the coming winter. The storage sheds also overflowed with salted and dried meats as well as various root plants.

  She smiled on her way back to the keep. With the sheds and the keep stocked so well, it could mean only one thing… Warrick planned on remaining here throughout the winter. She was glad of that, since she would have no other but Espy deliver her bairn.

  Adara went straight to the fire burning in the large fireplace, in the Great Hall, to warm herself, holding her hands out to the heat before rubbing them together.

  Warrick would warm her.

  Memories of their night at Cyra’s brought heat to her cheeks. That was the other thing she missed, making love with her husband. Truth be told, she wondered if she liked it more than she should. What was it that Maia had said to her one day? She did not recall the manner in how the subject had come up only the words that had stuck with her.

  Do not be prudish with your husband in bed. Enjoy it as much as he does and you will know pleasure. The women of my birth home are just as strong as the men.

  She had not been prudish with Warrick, to her astonishment. She had allowed herself to enjoy him and she had known indescribable pleasure. One thing Maia had been right about.

  Adara dropped her arms to her sides and stared at the flames as if they had suddenly revealed something to her as Maia’s words repeated in her head.

  The women of my birth home.

  Scotland was not Maia’s native home. Where had she been born?

  Adara tucked the information away, reminding herself to tell Warrick about it.

  “A hot brew to warm you, my lady.”

  Adara jumped with a start, her hand going to her chest as she turned to Wynn.

  “Forgive me, my lady. I did not mean to startle you,” Wynn said.

  “Busy thoughts keep my mind far too occupied,” Adara said and gratefully accepted the tankard Wynn handed to her.

  “Your mum was often lost in her thoughts.”

  “You knew my mum?” Adara asked, wondering why this was the first she had heard of it. But would it have been different had she not kept so much to herself? She had barely spoken to anyone upon her arrival here and she certainly had not encouraged anyone to speak with her. And look what locking herself away had done to her.

  A sadness filled Wynn’s aged eyes. “Your mum spent three weeks here before taking her leave.”

  “I did not know that. Uncle Owen made no mention of the length of her stay here.”

  “Your uncle did everything he could to discourage her from taking you to the wilds of the far north. He believed it no place for a young bairn, which was why he begged your mum to leave you with him. At least until she got settled and could see for herself you would be safe.” Wynn gave a slight shake of her head. “Your mum would not be parted from you. She was courageous and fierce in protecting you.”

  Like I am with my bairn, Adara thought, her hand patting her stomach.

  “Uncle Owen spoke about my mum, his sister, who he loved dearly, but he did not say much about my da. Can you tell me anything about him?” Adara asked, curious about the father she had never met.

  “He was a quiet man, a crofter, and protective of your mum.”

  “Why would a crofter go so far north in the Highlands?” Adara asked, like her uncle Owen, she never truly understood why her parents had chosen to settle there. A crofter would know it was not good farming land and there was an emptiness to the area that only the hardy could endure. She also could not help but wonder how different life would have been if her parents had not made that choice.

  “I would not know, my lady,” Wynn said, “but it is good you have come home and have a husband who will look after you as your da did with your mum. I will get you more brew.” She turned and walked off.

  Adara wondered over her rushed words and her hasty departure. It was as if she was reluctant to discuss it any further. She gave a slight shake of her head. Why had she never considered that the servants would know more about her mum and da, then her uncle Owen did? She knew from experience that most believed servants had no ears or eyes and certainly no tongue, but often they knew more about the family than the family itself. Adara had a feeling that Wynn might know more than she was say
ing.

  Her suspicions were confirmed when a servant returned with the brew and not Wynn. Did Wynn think Adara would ask more questions about her parents and so she avoided returning to the Great Hall? Why, though, would Wynn be reluctant to speak about Adara’s parents?

  Could Wynn know a secret about her parents?

  She would discuss this with Warrick when he returned. Or should she? Warrick would demand Wynn tell him all she knew of Adara’s parents. What if Adara was wrong as she had been with Maia? Her suspicions could cause Wynn harm. She would hold her tongue on this until she learned more.

  The bairn moved inside her and she smiled as she patted her stomach. “We have not walked enough?” As if he heard her, he moved again. “We will go see how the kitchen garden comes along, then we rest.” The bairn moved again as if agreeing and Adara laughed softly.

  Another week passed and Adara was beginning to wonder if Warrick would ever return. In that time, she had questioned Wynn now and again about her mum. Simple questions, ones that would not frighten her off. What color eyes did her mum have? Was she petite like me?

  Those questions were always answered with a smile. “You are a mirror image of your mum. One look and your uncle Owen knew you were his sister’s daughter.”

  Wynn was, however, brief in her response when Adara asked, “Was my mum fearful like me?”

  “We all fear something.”

  If that was so, what had her mum feared and why?

  Adara kept herself busy and made a point of talking to people. She was pleasantly surprised to know that the clan did think well of her and was concerned for her well-being. The one question she was repeatedly asked was if Warrick would take up permanent residence here at MacVarish keep. She was honest with them and told them she did not know, that he had made no mention of it. The question itself always raised fear in her. The thought of returning to Warrick’s castle and the dungeons beneath where she had suffered frightened her beyond belief. She would much rather remain at MacVarish keep and close to her friend Espy.

  “My lady.”

  Adara turned to see Langdon approach her. He was smiling and held something in his hand.

  “Burchard and I found this while we cleared the earth to extend the kitchen garden as you requested.” He held a stone out to her.

  Adara took it. It was a triangle shape, cleaned of all dirt and imprinted on it was what looked like an insect of sorts. “This is wonderful, Langdon. I am going to have to dig with you and Burchard one day.”

  “We can dig. You can watch, my lady.”

  “I will not be deprived of the fun of finding more stones to add to the two you have generously found for me,” she said with a smile.

  “It is fun. I find myself looking more closely at stones now, in hopes of finding ones with designs on them.”

  “Then I will join you in the hunt,” Adara said with a sense of excitement.

  “As you wish, my lady,” Langdon said with a nod. “A sharp chill fills the air. You should seek the warmth of the keep.”

  “My thoughts exactly and thank you for the gift,” she said and tucked it in the cuff of her sleeve for safe keeping. She gave Langdon a smile and a wave as they parted ways and she kept a tempered pace to the keep.

  She was not alarmed when the bell tolled once, announcing an expected arrival. She had learned from wagging tongues that a troop from one of the warring clans would arrive here and camp on the outskirts of the village. Why they did so, no one knew, but all assumed it had something to do with an agreement between the two opposing clans.

  She stopped and watched their slow approach, Warrick’s men keeping close watch on them. The air having chilled considerably and tired from a busy day, Adara continued her pace to the keep, intending to rest when suddenly a battle cry ripped through the air.

  The clan was under attack.

  Chapter 21

  Warrick’s men were quick to defend against the marauding warriors, but it grew more difficult when another troop came pouring out of the woods on horse and headed for the village. They entered with force, some of them letting loose with their arrows as they did, taking down some of Warrick’s men.

  The MacVarish clan were quick to take up arms in defense. Women gathered the children and Adara went to help them. Two of Warrick’s warriors rushed at Adara insisting she get to the safety of the keep.

  She refused, wanting to help get the children to safety along with her. There was no time to argue with her. The two warriors helped herd the children along with a few of the mums while the other mums went to take up arms alongside their husbands.

  The children ran quickly, running ahead of Adara to her relief. The two warriors remained by Adara, their task… to keep her safe. It was not long before one fell from an arrow to his leg while the other rushed behind Adara to shield her, urging her to run and not look back, to get to the keep.

  She hoisted her garments, so the hems would not trip her, and ran so hard and fast she thought her increasingly pounding heartbeat would burst from her chest. The children were at the steps and she needed to get there and see them and her unborn bairn kept safe.

  It was not long before she heard the warrior drop behind her, but she did not stop, she kept running. She caught flashes of dark shrouds as other warriors took their place doing their best to protect her, but it was up to her to get to the keep no matter what, and she kept running.

  She cursed the rain that had fallen last night, the path to the keep heavy with mud in spots and she tried to avoid them, not wanting her feet to get mired in mud or for it to slow her down.

  She was not far from the keep. Soon, very soon, she would reach the steps.

  The sound of horses’ hooves grew ever closer and she was terrified that at any moment an arrow would take her down. Two more of Warrick’s men were suddenly behind her, keeping close on her footsteps. It was not long before both were hit, but this time when they went down, one fell into her, knocking her off her feet.

  Instinct had her turning as she fell, so the bairn would not suffer the impact of the fall and she hit the ground with a hard bounce to her back. The rider was nearly on top of her and his bow was raised, an arrow ready to fly when one of Warrick’s warriors launched himself at the man, knocking him off the horse and tumbling to the ground with him. The horse raised his hooves in protest and Adara rolled to avoid him, but his one hoof glanced the edge of her hand.

  Pain shot up her arm and she wasted no time in scrambling to her feet. She was suddenly hoisted up off the ground, rushed into the keep, and deposited on a bench.

  “Stay here, we will not let them breech the keep doors,” the warrior said, “though it would not hurt to barricade the doors.”

  “Your name?” Adara asked as he turned to leave.

  “Gavin, my lady.”

  “I know a warrior has probably already been sent to alert Warrick of the attack, but also send word to MacCara keep. It is closer and Craven will bring his warriors.”

  The young warrior smiled. “You think like Lord Warrick, my lady. His orders were the same if it should ever prove necessary. Word should have reached Lord Craven by now.” He gave her a respectful nod and hurried off.

  Wynn was at her side along with another servant while the remaining servants helped the mums settle the children. Both women gasped when they looked upon her hand.

  Adara feared what she would see, pain radiating up her arm. She winced when she glanced at it. Her two crooked fingers and down along her hand to her wrist was swelling and bruising before her eyes, and she feared her two crooked fingers had suffered even more damage.

  Adara did the only thing she could think of, she ordered them not to touch her injury. Espy would come with Craven or follow quickly behind him if he refused to bring her. She would wait and trust Espy to tend it.

  She quickly instructed the servants to do as Gavin had suggested and barricade the doors in the Great Hall and sent a servant to have the cook barricade the kitchen doors there as well. She had
confidence that Warrick’s warriors would be victorious, but it was wise not to take any chances. The servants, mums, and children were only too eager to do so and tables were pushed against the door and benches piled on top.

  Adara sat with her right arm cradled in her left, the pain not as intense as it had been, though the bruising had grown worse.

  Clashing swords could be heard outside along with screams of the injured and dying.

  The children clung tightly to each other, the smaller ones gripping the mums’ legs, some hiding beneath their tunics. It seemed like forever before a heavy pounding sounded at the doors and eyes, wide with fright, looked to Adara.

  She did not hesitate, she got up and went to the door.

  “Adara!”

  Her legs grew weak with relief, recognizing the voice. “Craven!” she called out, then summoned everyone to move the barricade.

  Craven and a few of Warrick’s warriors entered the Great Hall.

  “You are injured,” Craven said as soon as he saw her hand. He looked to Gavin. “Go fetch my wife.”

  Adara silently thanked the heavens and her relief must have shown on her face.

  “Did you think I would be able to keep Espy away?” Craven said with a shake of his head.

  “How many will be in need of her skill? And how many will need burial?” Adara asked, worried for her clan and Warrick’s warriors.

  “Warrick’s warriors are well trained in tending their own wounds as well of each other’s wounds, though my wife will see if she approves of their skills. They are also trained to protect any and all belonging to Warrick. No one in your clan died. Some were injured but not badly. Warrick’s warriors suffered many injuries and four of his warriors lost their lives, far less than the enemy did. God help those who attacked here today, for he will rain hell down on them.”

  Espy came rushing into the Great Hall as Adara gave orders for the children to be fed and looked after so the mums could go and see to their husbands. Only after the carnage was cleared would the children return home. Craven was quick to take his leave to assist Warrick’s warriors in getting all done as soon as possible.