by Ruth Langan
At once she looked over and, seeing him awake, hurried to kneel by his side. “How do you feel, my lord?”
“Much refreshed. But I beg your forgiveness, my lady. I’ve left you alone to do all the things I should be seeing to.”
She shook her head, sending midnight curls dancing. “You needed to rest. Besides, I’ve enjoyed testing my skill. While visiting the stream, the fish fairly jumped into my net.”
“Your net?” He looked around. “What did you use?”
Again that quick rush of color to her cheeks before she looked down, avoiding his eyes. “I used my petticoat.”
“Your…” He burst into laughter, which only had her blush deepening.
She got to her feet and started away.
Grant sat up, thinking to follow, only to discover that beneath the cloak he was naked. “Where is my plaid?”
“I’ll fetch it.” She hurried away and removed it from a low-hanging branch. As she approached she explained, “It was soaked with your blood. I had to scrub it with sand several times before I managed to get it clean.”
“That was kind of you.” He accepted it from her hands and began winding it around his waist, before standing to toss the end over his shoulder. When he saw her watching he couldn’t resist adding, “Perhaps next time you’ll allow me to undress you and wash your garments, my lady.”
For a moment she seemed startled. Then she spotted the gleam of laughter in his eyes. “Is this more of your teasing, my lord?”
He swallowed back the chuckle that threatened. “Aye, my lady. Forgive me. But I dearly love teasing you.”
“So it would seem.” She removed a stick from the fire on which had been threaded chunks of fish that were perfectly browned. “I believe you should eat something. Otherwise you’ll not have the strength to tease me further.”
“That would be most unfortunate, my lady. For I’ve begun to dearly love the color that comes to your cheeks. It’s most becoming.”
She helped herself to a second stick threaded with fish, settling herself in the grass beside the fire. Moments later Grant dropped down next to her. “I wonder why my people have always feared the Forest of Darkness. It seems not at all the inhospitable place I’ve always heard about.”
“That’s because we have a fire.” Seeing his arched brow, she explained, “The fire keeps the creatures at bay. Because they belong to the night, they fear its light. If the fire should go out, we would be at their mercy, for then we would be in their element. They can see in the darkness.”
“What sort of creatures are they?” Grant found himself glancing around uneasily at the darkness just beyond the ring of light.
“I know not, for none have faced their wrath and lived to tell of it. But it’s whispered that they’re cruel, dangerous beasts who thrive on the blood of their prey.”
He studied the meager supply of sticks and branches that Kylia had hauled from the surrounding brush. “As soon as I’ve eaten, I’ll gather more wood.”
She nodded. “But remember to stay within the circle of firelight. You mustn’t risk leaving its protection.”
In the distance they heard a scream that might have been animal or human. The sound of it scraped over their nerves.
Grant felt a chill race along his spine and wondered at it. Like all warriors, he’d known fear a time or two on the field of battle. But at least there he knew something about his opponents, for even barbarians from far-flung regions fought with sword and knife and arrow. Beasts that inhabited the Forest of Darkness would be a dangerous foe unlike anything he’d ever encountered. He had no desire to test his skill against such adversaries.
“Step back, my lady.”
Grant used the blade of his sword to hack at the gnarled branches of a tree. Sweat beaded his forehead as he and Kylia dragged the limbs across the campsite.
“Until now I hadn’t realized how small was the circle of light cast by the fire. No wonder you were able to find so little wood.”
“Aye.” She wiped her hands down her skirt. “I’ve nearly swept the ground clean to keep the fire going.”
“This should give us some time.” He tossed the branches on the fire and watched as the flames leaped high in the air, before dropping weakly to the ground.
At once Kylia was beside him. “What is it, my lord?”
“I’d hoped to take leave of this place.” He shook his head to clear it. The weakness caught him by surprise. “But here I am, feeling as helpless as a bairn.”
She gave him a gentle smile. “You were, whether you care to admit it or not, gravely wounded. It will take time to regain your strength.”
“Time.” He spat the word. “We haven’t the time to waste here in this place. I’m needed in my fortress.”
“Rest now.” Kylia shook the grass from her traveling cloak and draped it around him. “Soon enough we’ll be gone from here.”
Within minutes Grant was fast asleep.
As Kylia drew near the fire for warmth, she heard the rustling sounds just beyond the circle of light, and knew the forest creatures were watching. She glanced at the pile of firewood and shivered. Here in the Forest of Darkness there was neither day nor night. Only eternal darkness.
How soon, she wondered, before the firewood was gone?
Then would they have to face the mythical beasts that no man had ever lived to describe.
Chapter Six
Kylia fed wood to the fire and watched the flames leap, sending shadows dancing across the campsite. When Grant moaned in his sleep she hurried to kneel beside him, touching a hand to his forehead. He flinched and she realized with a shock that the fever was back. His flesh was hot to the touch. What’s more, his pain had not subsided. She could feel it, pulsing through him in waves. Her fault, she thought with a twinge of guilt. She’d known, of course, that some wounds needed much more care than others, yet she’d allowed herself to get distracted by the mundane chores of this strange new world.
Oh, if only Allegra were here. She was so much better at healing, Kylia thought.
She placed her hands on either side of Grant’s head and began to chant the ancient words that would drive the evil from his body.
Hours later, her voice hoarse, her arms throbbing from the effort to keep them outstretched, she allowed herself the luxury of sitting back on her heels, pressing a hand to the small of her back. She would ease her discomfort for only a moment, she promised herself as her lids closed and her head bobbed. Seconds later she jerked awake and struggled to focus on the firelight, but her eyes swam from the effort and she allowed the lids to flutter, then close.
She would soon have to add more branches to the fire.
It was her last coherent thought before the need for sleep dragged her down.
Kylia awoke with a start at the strange rustling sounds. Confused, disoriented, she sat up rubbing her eyes. Beside her, Grant stirred, then stared in disbelief at the shadowy figures creeping from their places of concealment in the nearby forest.
“The fire,” he shouted.
Kylia gave a hiss of self-disgust. She’d fallen asleep and allowed the fire to burn out. All that remained were gleaming coals, giving off enough light to see the outlines of the fearsome creatures. Some were foaming at the mouth, others snarling, fangs bared, as they started forward.
“Take this.” Grant pressed his dirk into her hand.
She was already shaking her head. “I couldn’t harm any creature.”
“It may be your only chance,” he whispered as he got to his feet, brandishing his sword. “For I’ve no doubt they mean us harm.”
As the last of the fire died, the night was suddenly alive with creatures, some with hair bristling, others standing upright, as tall as trees. One great shaggy beast rushed forward, and Kylia stared in horrified fascination at its two heads.
“Get behind me.” Grant stepped in front of her, holding his sword aloft.
The creature’s two vicious jaws opened, revealing razor-sharp fangs. Two pair
of gleaming red eyes were fixed on Grant with a look meant to freeze the blood in his veins.
Just then a snake more than six feet in length slithered from the forest and began weaving its way toward them. Its body was the thickness of a great hollow log, proving it would have no trouble swallowing them whole.
Joining it were more than a dozen creatures larger than a horse, some snarling, others silent as they formed an uneven ring around the two intruders.
“Now I know why my fellow Highland warriors fear this place.” Grant drew an arm around Kylia, offering her what little comfort he could. “I’ll fight to my last breath, my lady. My only regret is that I’ll not be able to save you, for I know my strength is no match for these creatures.”
He peered through the gloom. As darkness closed in around them, the forest seemed alive with every manner of beast imaginable. “These are the creatures of my worst nightmare.” He pointed with his sword at the two-headed monster creeping closer. “As a child, I used to see the likes of him in the twisted shapes and shadows of the night. I even had a name for the creature. Dubh gall.”
“Dark stranger?”
Grant shot her a look. “Is that what it means?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “You didn’t recognize the ancient words?”
He shook his head, keeping his gaze fixed on the monster. “The name came to me only in my sleep. Until now.”
Kylia nodded toward the giant snake. “Such a creature was always present in my childhood dreams whenever they were troubled. When I described it to my mum, she told me there were no snakes in our kingdom, but such creatures did exist beyond our shores.”
“That’s true. Though I’ve never seen one as big as that.” Seeing the two-headed beast creeping closer, Grant slashed out with his sword, forcing the creature back. “But such a beast as that one exists nowhere else in our land except here.”
As the circle of light grew smaller and dimmer, more and more creatures crept from their places of concealment, until the forest became a bloodcurdling chorus of high-pitched cries, savage howls and teeth-baring snarls.
Grant turned to face the worst of the creatures. “Stand with your back to mine, my lady.”
Kylia did as he ordered, and swallowed back the fear that threatened to paralyze her.
“Hold your dirk firmly, blade pointed out and slightly upward, so that the creatures know you mean them harm.”
She followed his example, though her heart was drumming so painfully in her chest, she thought he could surely hear.
“Within minutes the last of the coals will burn out, leaving us in complete darkness. When that happens, the beasts will attack.”
“If that be true, how can we defend ourselves?”
“We’ll see their eyes. It will give us something to aim for.”
“Grant.” She knew her voice was trembling. It couldn’t be helped. “I would give anything to save you from this place. But I can’t find it in my heart to harm even these creatures.”
He muttered an oath before turning his head slightly, so that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “Forgive me for even asking it, my lady, for I’ve witnessed your tender heart. As for me, I intend to fight to the death. When the battle begins, I beg you to run to where my steed is tied and flee this place of horrors.”
She shook her head. “I won’t leave you, my lord.”
“You must. Don’t you see?” He turned his back on the approaching danger and closed his hands on her upper arms in a painful grasp. “I don’t mind losing my life. But I’d die a happy man knowing my life was spent saving yours. Now promise me you’ll flee.”
Already his face was beginning to blur, and she knew the last of the coals were growing cool. “Please don’t spend our last moments on earth like this, my lord. I’ll not leave you, for I was destined to be with you. Whether in this life or the next, it matters not to me. My place is here with you. Nothing you can say or do will drive me away.”
He drew her close for one quick kiss, the merest brush of mouth to mouth, while the chorus of chilling sounds filled the forest.
“Oh, my lady. My beautiful Kylia. If only there had been time to show you my land. My people. My life.”
“I regret that more than you can know. I had truly hoped to learn the name of the one who betrayed you.”
“At a time like this, it seems less important than the fact that we must bid farewell in this dark forest before we even have time to know each other.”
She stared into his eyes and smiled. “It’s true that you know me not. But I know you, my lord. I’ve known you all my life.”
Her words stirred him. “Farewell, my lady.” He kissed her again, this time lingering over her lips. Despite the chill of the dark forest, he felt the quick rush of heat and was warmed by it.
The last spark created a burst of fiery light, blinding them before it burned out, plunging them into total darkness. Suddenly they were surrounded by gleaming feral eyes.
Grant lashed out, but his blade cut cleanly through the air, touching nothing. Keeping one arm around Kylia, he thrust his sword into the darkness. Again he felt nothing but air.
“Where are you?” he demanded of the creatures. “I can hear you breathe, can see your eyes burning in the darkness. Come closer, cowards.”
Again he parried, but his sword sang through the air, touching nothing.
Kylia felt something at the hem of her gown and let out a scream as she imagined the snake slithering around her ankles.
“Are you hurt?” Grant demanded.
“Nay.” She struggled for breath, then said louder, “Nay. Like my dreams, I thought…”
At her sudden silence he drew her close. “What is it, my lady? You’ve been harmed, haven’t you?”
“Nay. But something just occurred to me.”
He glanced around, feeling his skin crawl as the feral red eyes drew closer, until the night was alive with them. “What is it, Kylia?”
“The Forest of Darkness. The creatures. I don’t believe they exist, except in our minds.”
“What are you saying?” He pointed with the tip of his sword. “Look around you. They’re everywhere. We can both see them.”
“Aye.” She put a hand to still the pounding of her heart. “But I see my worst fear. A snake. You see the two-headed creature of your nightmares. And when the fire burns brightly, neither of us sees anything.”
He digested this while all around him the forest was filled with chilling sounds. Suddenly he caught her hand. “If you’re right in this, we can walk freely across the clearing and toss a fresh log on the coals.”
“Aye.”
“If you’re wrong, we’ll never feel the warmth of a fire again.”
Her hand trembled in his. “Then we’ll die together, my lord.”
“You’re willing to risk it?”
“I am.”
He drew her close and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Together they took a step, and then another. Though the snarls and cries intensified, causing them to halt in panic, neither of them felt a sting of pain.
“Stay with me, Kylia.” Grant took another step and began feeling around in the dark for the pile of branches. When at last he touched them, he stooped and gathered an armload. Then he moved closer until he could feel the warmth of the coals. Seconds after dropping the wood, a tiny flicker of flame appeared along one thin branch. A few moments later the flame grew, until it hissed and snapped, creating a blaze of firelight that pierced the darkness.
Grant looked around. There was no trace of the creatures that had tormented them. The night had grown ominously silent. And though he could see, just beyond the circle of light, what appeared to be red eyes watching from the cover of darkness, they remained hidden in shadow.
He drew Kylia close and pressed his lips to a tangle of hair at her temple. “My beautiful, clever Kylia. What would have happened to us if you hadn’t uncovered the mystery of this place?”
“We would have remained par
alyzed by our fears, my lord. And unable to return to your land.” She pushed a little away and looked into his eyes. “And now, while the fire holds those fears at bay, we must leave this place. Are you strong enough to ride?”
“Aye. Now that I’ve been spared a duel with monsters, I feel strong enough to tackle an entire army.” He bent and retrieved her traveling cloak, tenderly wrapping it around her. “I’ll fetch my horse.”
As he walked away, Kylia watched him and wondered at the strange stirrings deep inside. Each time he touched her, kissed her, the feelings grew and deepened.
Was this love? Or was this merely a desire to mate, as she’d seen in other creatures?
She wanted it to be more than that. She wanted to know everything about this man who so touched her heart. What he’d been like as a child. How he’d been chosen as laird over all other men.
She was eager to see his land. To meet his people. For she had no doubt he was the one she’d been fated to meet.
Of course, it might take her some time to convince him of that fact. But now that they’d solved the mystery of the Forest of Darkness, they had been given the gift of time.
Time.
She smiled as he led his steed toward her and helped her into the saddle before pulling himself up behind her. She leaned back, loving the way his arms wrapped around her as he took the reins.
Though they traversed the forest for hours, they saw no more monsters. Now that they’d conquered their fear, they were free of the darkness that had held them in its grip.
When at last they left the Forest of Darkness behind, they found themselves in a Highland meadow, abloom with heather, bathed in dazzling sunlight.
Chapter Seven
“Oh.” Kylia gave a sigh as she looked around. “This is every bit as lovely as the Mystical Kingdom. Is this your home?”
“Nay.” Grant slowed his mount to allow her to enjoy the beauty. “We have another day’s ride before we reach my fortress. But the countryside is much like this. There are meadows surrounded by glorious mountains, the peaks wreathed in clouds. And running through the land is a loch so clear you can see to the very bottom.”
