by Jane Stain
Jaelle did so, but just before she turned to run with the helmet in her hands, all three women hugged her.
Common sense took over when Jaelle neared the top and made her slow down and go down. As she crested the hill she was on her belly, peeking through the low-lying branches of the bushes and camouflaged, she knew, by her woad. It was a much more sensible way to see what was going on down there. Who knew, if their arrows were trained this way, she might die before she put on the helmet, which she now got out again.
She inched the last of the way up on her belly, anxious to see Breth still standing.
And she gasped.
Oh, Breth was fine. He was sitting on one of the carts with Morna. Had his arm around her amid all her gatherer lady friends toasting and making merry.
But that wasn't why Jaelle gasped.
Off to the side amid his own little gang of partiers stood John, special sword strapped to his back and laughing with a load of Picts she hadn't seen before, who were obviously his entourage.
What should I do?
It got even worse, because John's new woman came over and put her arm around him and he squeezed her lasciviously, right there in front of all the rest of the people, who cheered him on.
They started to chant the name he had taken for this time.
“Drest! Drest! Drest!"
Jaelle started lowering the helmet down onto her head.
But then she saw John hand something to two of his Picts, who turned right toward her — no, toward the way to the river.
She still wanted to leave, but dread loaded her stomach. She just knew something was terribly wrong.
Chapter 15
Breth was looking around for Jaelle when Morna crept up beside him and put her hand on his. He was so taken off guard that he didn't shake her off. And anyway, what was the harm. They were all but promised to each other. No one could talk any more than they already were.
The look in Morna’s eyes was relief.
It made his heart ache. Her clan had been eliminated by the barbarians two months ago. It was no wonder she wanted all the clans united, fearing what might happen to her new clan as well.
He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug of reassurance.
"Don't worry. We're going to stay here all joined together against both sets of invaders. Drest is right. We have a huge force here. We’d be foolish to break up. There is strength in numbers after all. I thought we would be stronger apart, but I'm coming around to the idea that we’re stronger together."
Yes, he’d been right to reassure her.
She relaxed against him and put her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so glad to hear that. You know how hard it's been, losing my clan. My brother is all I have left, aside from you and Talorac and your parents. You're the closest ones to me now."
Chapter 16
Jaelle’s three woaded women warrior friends were headed toward the carts like everyone else, but John’s two Picts were going toward the river. Maybe they were getting water? But no, they didn't have anything with them to carry it, not beyond their own water skins for their personal use. Where could they be going?
Jaelle held her breath as they passed by her — and for a good few seconds afterward as well for good measure — then followed them as quietly as she could. Which didn't need to be too quiet, because the two were talking.
"That went better than I thought it would."
The other man laughed.
"You're telling me. I had no idea it would happen so quickly."
"Yeah, I thought we would be here all day."
"Did you see the looks on their faces?"
They laughed again.
"Aye, they sure were glad see us!"
"I could get used to this."
"I know. Feels good to be appreciated, doesn't it?"
"Aye, it does."
"Do you think they'll all join up?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Seeing the tables turn on them will be reward enough."
"Well I don't know if I should mention it or not, but he promised me more than just that."
"He did?"
"Yeah."
"Glad to hear it. I got offered more too, but I wasn't going to say anything in case you didn't get the same offer. You never know."
"You're right about that. I should've kept my mouth shut."
"No harm done."
They had come to the river, which they crossed in the shallow part where the women had bathed the last time Jaelle was down here. Once they were across and up the opposite bank and had started down the other side of the hill, Jaelle followed again, slowly so as not to make any splashing noises. The water was cold now, and she had to bite her teeth together so they didn't chatter.
Anywhere else, I’d be glad to be in a river in September, but here in Scotland? Bbbrrrr.
She did miss some of the conversation while she was in the river, but after she'd crept up to the top of the bank and peered over, she saw them down in the trees and made her way into the woods closer so that she could hear what was being said. She hadn't gone a dozen steps when she froze.
She heard four voices. Speaking Gaelic.
Unlike Pictish, which was a lost language in the 21st century, she knew Gaelic without the helmet, so she could hear how different it was now from the 16th century version she had learned from John's grandfather at the Renaissance Faire.
And then a branch moved and she could see four men in the woods: two wearing Pictish short trousers and two wearing Gaelic leine tunics.
Each Gael held a small drawstring pouch that clinked when he tossed it from hand to hand. Simultaneously, they each peered into their bag and counted the coins until visibly satisfied, they smiled at the two Picts.
It would all have been confusing if she hadn’t understood what they were saying to each other.
"I really like the touch where you ran in from the other field," said one of the Gaels. "Made it clear you were not part of the gathered clans but someone coming in to save them from elsewhere."
"Yes," said the other Gael, "and we appreciate that you came quickly, before too many of us fell to their swords."
One of the rebel Picts raised his head in tribute to the fallen.
"You didn't lose anyone dear, did you?"
The first Gael shook his head no.
"Nay, we always put the troublemakers on the front line. They took the brunt of your people's attack before you got here. We had some indication from which direction you’d be coming, so we put the ne'er-do-wells on that line. Rest assured our forces are still intact enough to help you fight the barbarians."
The second Pict shook forearms with both Gaels and turned back toward the river.
"Glad to hear it. See you soon."
"See you soon," both Gaels called out just before they turned and disappeared into the darkness beneath the trees.
Jaelle crept back into the trees herself just in time for the rebel Picts to pass by her on their way back to the party, whose cheers and general merrymaking could be heard even from all the way over here.
Chapter 17
The same three women warriors ran up to meet Jaelle as she got near the carts, where everyone had gathered to drink ale and generally party.
"We'll go with you, Jaelle."
“Yeah, we'll help you tell him what's what."
"He can't treat you like this."
"And you are going to marry him, not her."
Touched by their loyalty but sure it wouldn’t help, Jaelle gestured for them to follow her.
"Yeah, come with me, but I have something much more important to tell him."
"What is it?"
"I don’t have the energy to tell it more than once, so come along and I’ll tell everybody at the same time. It's a good thing they're all gathered."
But when Breth saw her coming, he jumped up out of Morna’s embrace and ran to meet Jaelle.
How weird. If he thinks I’m staying a minute longer than it takes t
o tell him Drest is John and John’s a traitor—
Not even giving Jaelle the opportunity to say anything, Breth grabbed her and kissed her passionately, putting his whole body into it and making her knees weak. They fell into one of the carts, and people heaped covers up on top of them.
"Looks like you two need to be alone."
Peals of laughter.
An angry Morna growled.
Jaelle gave herself a pep talk as she lay there in the cart with Breth, gearing up to tell him the shocking news. But he kept her mouth busy with his.
After this kiss, I'll tell him.
No, after the next kiss.
What was I going to tell him?
Before long enough though, outside hands were digging at the covers and voices were asking for their attention.
"Breth, you’re needed."
“There’s a chieftains’ meeting.”
“They say we’re all staying here and not going on to the other brochs.”
“They told us to send you right away."
Jaelle grabbed Breth’s hand as he got out of the cart.
He turned, and seeing her face, he waited for her to get out and took her along.
Good. A chieftains’ meeting would be an even better place to tell everyone what she knew. Looking down, she saw that both her and Breth's woad was smeared. And she was still naked. She didn’t care. The chieftains needed to act in unison and boot John out of their camp. Out of their lives.
They were rushing her and Breth over to the bonfire...
And then she saw John. He was the center of this meeting, holding forth like a king at court. She couldn't tell everyone in front of him. Worse, she knew that as soon as John saw her eyes, he would know that she knew he had paid the Gaels to attack in order to gain these people’s alliance. He would see her holding Breth’s hand and know where her loyalty lay.
And this was not the John she had known and loved. No. There was a hard set to his jaw, and his eyes were ruthless. What would this new John do to Breth’s clan if he saw that she knew his secret scheming ways?
She took the helmet out with her other hand while they walked and then tugged on Breth’s hand until he stopped and turned to her.
She kissed him again while she raised the helmet over her head, then backed away so Breth saw what she was doing.
"Meet me in the woods where you tripped over me as soon as you can get there."
She looked pleadingly into his eyes as she put the helmet on.
Chapter 18
Breth gave out a cry of anguish even as his feet carried him over to the chieftains’ gathering as fast as they could move, using up as much of his energy as they could so as not to leave him any with which to hurt someone.
How could she just leave like that? Didn't she… But no. How would she possibly know he meant for this to be his and her last day together? He hadn't told her.
She’d been radiant in her woad. The taste of her was still on his lips. He groaned and growled and made fists as he ran, but the distance was too short to get all that out, and he knew his face still showed pain and hurt when he arrived.
Father came over and put a hand on Breth's back. It was meant to reassure, Breth knew, but it didn’t work.
"I saw her put the helmet on. Quite a few people did. If you look around, you can see that she made an impression on us."
Breth turned back toward the carts. Back toward the revelry at the bonfire. It was high noon now, and for the midday meal, the gatherers were passing out rations that had that been meant for the children, gatherers, and elders on the journey. And yes, everyone was visibly talking about Jaelle, woaded warriors and craftsmen in those baggy Pictish shorts alike. The two types didn't usually mingle like this, but she had made such an impression that they were all gathered together in groups.
Breth was shaking when he turned back to Father.
“So I just forget her?"
Father massaged Breth’s shoulder a bit, then turned him toward Drest and the other chieftains, who were politely waiting for his attention.
"No one's asking you to forget her. We are only asking you to move on. Embrace your duty to the people."
The people? Breth questioned Father with his eyes.
But Father pointedly turned to Drest and gave the intruding chieftain his undivided attention.
Drest didn't have a very loud voice, but he had a trick for booming it out that intruded on Breth’s thoughts.
"We are all staying here, all ten clans, plus we’ll gather more. I know many of you have heard, but just to make no mistake, I wanted to tell you personally. This location is ideal for sending raids to the wall. And we must prevent that wall from being completed. I have seen the future, and I know this wall will be the end of the people's will, the end of life as we know it. The end won't come right away. It will take a few hundred years. But this wall, these invaders from Rome, they are the beginning of the end. It just gets worse from here. More southern invaders will gradually take over from the Romans, but they will all have a hatred for the people north of the wall. Eventually they will send everyone out of these lands so that they can raise sheep. Sheep! Is that what you want for the hundredth children of your children's children?"
The reaction of the chieftains was immediate. Most of them rallied to Drest, going over to pat his back and shake his forearm and declare their support.
Breth was ready to stand with Father for their clan’s independence, but Father went over to Drest as well and shook the odd little brown man’s forearm. And declared their clan's allegiance. At first, Breth looked on with puzzlement and outrage. Why had Father changed his tune so drastically after convincing Breth the clan needed their independence?
But then Breth found he just didn't care.
"I'm going to look for her. Give me until the woad wears out."
Father didn't even hear him. He was spellbound by the strange chieftain.
Fine. Breth headed off in the direction of the woods where he had tripped over Jaelle.
Talorac found him a hundred steps later.
"Go get her."
Breth gave his brother a grateful smile.
"Thank you. I tried to tell Father where I was going, but…"
"Aye, the talk of Father’s change of mind is almost as great is the talk of Jaelle disappearing."
Breth laughed a tiny bit as he climbed the hill that would take him out of the broch valley. The hill he'd seen her coming down yesterday, the vision that had filled him with joy.
Chapter 19
Jaelle saw the world spin when she put the helmet on. She would just go to the bathroom first. Oh, and while she had a mirror, she could tidy up the smeared woad a bit. Hm, and maybe wash under her arms. And then she would put the helmet back on and meet Breth in the woods.
Would he be upset with her for leaving so abruptly?
Probably, until she explained about Drest being John and paying the Gaels to attack and her not wanting Drest to see her lest he knew she was onto him. Once Breth knew all that, he would understand why she’d left.
She could still feel his lips and his body against hers, and it made her throb with the need for more of him. Soon, she promised herself, soon.
Her living room came into focus, and she turned to make her way up the hall, taking the helmet off as she did so, preparing to set it down on the bathroom counter.
But someone grabbed the helmet!
Whipping around to attack them, she saw that it was Richard. And that she would never be fast enough with her attack.
He was already putting the helmet on, and he gave her a triumphant look as he disappeared with his face still five inches from her fist.
Jaelle screamed and then cried, beating her fists against the wall.
"No! No, no, no!"
She ran back into the living room and cast about for her phone. Kelsey would know what to do.
But her friend didn't answer.
"Kelsey, where have you been? I expected you in my dreams last
night. There’s this modern druid named Richard who puts up exhibits at the museum and he had a stone from the time of Hadrian's Wall with a picture of John on it, and anyway, he stole the helmet! I need to go back and tell Breth about John paying the Gaels to attack—"
The second beep cut her off.
She called Kelsey again, and again she got voice mail.
"I can't stand just sitting here alone not talking to someone about this, so I’m going to call Amber. We'll do a conference call and try to add you every few minutes. Please answer."
Come on, Amber, you'd better answer.
Jaelle's hand shook as she found her friend in her contacts.
Come on. Come on.
But Amber didn’t answer either.
“Amber, what in the world is going on? I can’t reach Kelsey, and that’s bad enough, but I thought you would answer my call no matter what! Richard stole the helmet and John is paying Gaels to attack Breth’s clans! I didn’t get a chance to tell him! I’m so glad you updated the other MacGregor ex-girlfriends right now. I’ll try Lauren. But get Tomas to get Tavish to have Kelsey contact me as soon as possible!”
After only two rings, Lauren picked up. She’d been the girlfriend of John’s twin during their faire days, so she and Jaelle had been close, but they hadn’t spoken since Lauren got dumped seven years ago. John had insisted, and now Jaelle felt stupid for listening to him.
"Jaelle?"
"Lauren, it's awful. John is there posing as some Pictish warrior named Drest and he's organized the Gaels against the Picts and he's pretending to be on Breth’s side and he’s got them fighting each other and it's horrible."
All choked up, Jaelle had to stop for a moment.
Lauren sounded confused.
"Why are you talking to me? Go back there and stop him!"
Now Jaelle was crying. Sobbing so hard she could just barely choke out the words.
"A stupid Druid named Richard from my work stole the helmet just now right out of my hand! He put it on and he's there and I’m stuck here without it. I keep calling Kelsey and she doesn't answer. Neither does Amber. Where the heck are they?"
