Legend of the Fae: A Highland Fantasy (The Dark Fae Saga Book 1)

by April Holthaus

  The cold wind blew hard as snowflakes stuck to the plaid. Placing her gently in the cart, he draped another blanket around her.

  “That should keep ye plenty warm,” he said as he placed a bag Evelyn had given him next to her before mounting his horse.

  Ella peeked inside the bag that Galen had set down next to her. There was a blue-colored gown and a white shift, as well as a few more bandages that matched the ones Evelyn had wrapped around her ankle. Ella took another apprehensive look back to Evelyn as Alex mounted his horse. Soon, they were off toward Dunquest. Her thoughts turned to the daunting castle, wondering where Galen was taking her. Was it a grand fortress like the one she lived in, or was it a small dwelling filled with a mass of ignorant, overbearing, foul-smelling men like this Galen fellow? After what she had experienced already, she assumed the worst.

  The cold wind howled like a banshee as it bit her frozen cheeks. Lying back against a pallet of hay, she held the blanket close under her chin, thankful she had donned both gowns. The blanket offered little protection from the cold. As Galen rode toward Dunquest, Ella took note of every distinctive landmark they passed so she was better equipped to map her escape. The direction Galen led them brought them inside a dense forest. Taking several turns, Ella was jerked around inside the cart. She wondered if he was intentionally riding over roots and the uneven ground to spite her for resisting him.

  After taking a meandering, weather-beaten path, the tree cover lessened and she could see a clearing ahead. Within the woods, the trees offered sufficient protection from the falling snow, but now, out in the open air; snow fell like a heavy rain, wet and thick.

  Her hair, wet and frozen from the snowfall, was now like icicles that hung off a tree branch, and snowflakes covered her like a white blanket of prickly thorns.

  As they reached the edge of the woods, they were surrounded by rolling hills and shadowy groves. In the far distance, stone peaks of three circular towers emerged like guardians rising into the sky, keeping a watchful eye on the land below.

  The winding, beaten path weaved around the low valleys of the rocky hills. Relief came when the castle fully came into view.

  “T’will no’ be long now,” he called out, though she could have sworn he’d said the same nearly twenty minutes ago.

  The sight of the castle inflamed her imagination. It was not at all what she had expected. Larger than any fortress she had ever seen, its domineering presence high above the hill gave an alarming yet powerful impression. Surrounded by steep mountains and deep valleys, the castle rested atop a craggy summit. Its soaring towers seemed to reach for the heavens as the turret and crown touched the clouds wisping by.

  As they drew closer, Ella noticed a tall stone wall that protected those within. Following alongside the wall, they came to a large wooden door big enough for ten horses to ride through side by side when it was opened. As they approached, the door lowered. Heavy metal chains creaked as the door moved closer and closer to the earth, creating a surface they could travel across. Continuing forward, they passed underneath a wide archway that led them to an open courtyard.

  Once inside, the door lifted off the ground and began to close behind them. Ella felt her hand tingle, but this time it was not from the cold. Behind the surrounding stone wall, at first glance it did not appear that escaping was going to be as easy as she had hoped.

  With wide eyes, Ella absorbed the scene around her. Drawing no attention to herself, she watched as people moved about the open areas, busy with their tasks. Their commotion was loud. Chickens clucked in distress as three women walked by, holding the fowl by their skinny yellow feet, their heads dangling below. She couldn’t help but wonder how the birds could make so much noise while hanging upside down.

  Her thoughts came back to her situation. As the sound of hammering rung in her ears, she turned and saw a man banging on a piece of metal with a hammer and young children with wooden swords ran about laughing and playing.

  Where were the prisoners she had expected to find shackled with iron? Where was the decay of food left out to rot, or the horde of malicious men openly defiling women? Ella glanced around at the faces of the people, and instead of finding the place of wickedness she had been taught to believe these humans were capable of, she found only a sea of cheerful chaos.

  “Welcome to Castle Dunquest, my lady. If ye will allow me to help ye out of the cart, I will carry ye up to yer room. I know the thought of being carried like a wee bairn may no’ be ideal, but I dinna see how ye can walk up three flights to the guest room at the top of the tower. It’s a bit of a walk, but has a most pleasing view.”

  He was right on both counts. She cringed at the thought of walking up any stairs, much less three flights! And she would rather let him carry her in those strong arms of his than stay out in this bloody cold any longer. Pushing the blanket down, she scooted to the edge of the cart and wrapped her arms around Galen’s thick, warm neck. Putting one arm under the back of her legs and the other behind her back, he gently lifted her and headed for the door to the large keep.

  As soon as he called out to one of the guards to assist the entry, the door opened and they stepped inside. The front room was as large as Evelyn’s cottage. Tapestries adorned the stone walls and a roaring fire kept the room warm as an early spring. As Galen continued on his way up the three flights of stairs, Ella could not help but notice the lustful way he looked at her. She did everything she could to ignore him.

  Following behind them was a hearty-looking woman trying to catch up with Galen’s long strides. By the time she reached the top floor, the woman was completely out of breath and started to pant.

  Catching her breath, she said, “Oh, these old bones are no’ what they used to be. This is the wee lassie ye spoke of?”

  “Aye.”

  “Well, bring her in here. The room has already been prepared for her arrival.”

  The old woman opened the door, and Galen followed her in. The room was circular with stone walls and dim light. The only window in the room was a small vertical slit that choked the light. With a small bed and small fire pit, it was still more than what she was used to. Galen set her on top of the bed, and Ella immediately took the covers and wrapped them around her shoulders, to protect her from the cold.

  “Oh my, ye must be freezing, lass,” the woman said, her eyes filled with pity. “I will go fetch ye something warm to eat.”

  The woman quickly vanished out the door, leaving Ella alone with Galen. Awkward tension filled the room as he restlessly paced the floor.

  “Well, my Lady, if ye need anything,” he spit out.

  Gracefully bowing, he turned and quit the room. Ella couldn’t imagine wanting anything from him. Sitting alone in the quiet room, she waited for her body to warm. The old women returned shortly after with a bowl of broth, but left immediately to allow her to rest. Ella hoped her ankle would heal soon.

  ~ Chapter 10 ~

  “We followed them bastards all the way to Hollow’s Point. They are on MacPherson land now, heading home,” Warrick explained to Galen, as Alex stepped into the room to join them.

  “Good. I penned a letter to Laird Campbell keeping him apprised of the situation. If war is what Arthur McGregor wants, then bloody hell, a war he will get.” Turning his attention to Alex, he continued, “We have a guest in the upstairs tower room. See what Moira can find out about the lass. She’s a mute, but perhaps there is some clue as to who she is. In the meantime, we will continue our training in the fields to keep the men’s skills in top form.”

  In an area where part of the courtyard had been cleared of snow, several of Galen’s men practiced with unsharpened blades while others took to the hills to practice their archery. They were surrounded by packed snow as high as their calves, but the warm sun made it tolerable enough to train outdoors. After joining many skirmishes, he stood back and watched, looking for areas of improvement. They continued to train well into the night.

  ~ ♥ ~

  From her
room in the tower, Ella’s view of the vista of snow-capped mountain peaks and wooded landscape was beautiful. Though snow still covered the ground, the weather felt much warmer than it had the past two days. Ella looked through the arrow slit in the wall that served as a window to the busy bailey below. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the shine of metal beyond the gates of the castle. In an open field, she saw a group of warriors clashing their swords together.

  A prominent figure stood apart from the others, watching with the intense gaze of a hawk sighting his prey. His long reddish hair waved in the wind. A deep scowl came to Ella’s face when she recognized him. Interrupting her thoughts, a soft knock sounded on the door before slowly opening. A young lass poked her head inside and smiled.

  “Hello, my lady. My name is Jenny. I thought ye would like something to drink,” she said, as she placed a mug onto the table. “I am also the seamstress. I have been ordered to fit ye with a proper wardrobe while ye will be staying wit’ us.”

  Ella turned her head away from the lass and glanced back out the window. She had no need for another dress; she was not planning to stay here much longer. Brushing against her, the maid briefly stood next to Ella and peeked out the window.

  “Awe that be Laird Graham and his men. Train every morning they do,” the maid explained.

  Ella felt the briefest of touches from the woman who laid a hand upon her shoulder before beginning to braid her hair. The touch was as uncomfortable as a hawk digging its talons into her shoulder. With a swift movement, Ella grabbed the woman’s hand and twisted it, removing it from her shoulder while digging her nails into the maid’s flesh. The maid yelped in pain, and Ella’s grip intensified. She did not like being touched. It was anything but comforting. When Ella released the hand, the maid quickly brought her arm to her chest and held it firmly. With tears in her eyes she ran out the door.

  Ella had not intentionally meant to harm the young woman. But after what had happened in the woods with the strange men, unwanted touch had come to feel as unnerving as if the woman was peeling her skin off with the sharp end of a blade. She did not want comfort or kindness from these people. Kindness would indicate she was a guest and not a prisoner. She wished they would just leave her be.

  Ella watched the warriors for a moment longer. She never imagined that arrogant bastard was Laird of this keep. As it was his responsibility to provide her care, she feared she would never get home. Whether they were training for battle, or simply honing their skills, they reminded her of her fellow warriors, and the war they were about to wage against the Kingdom of Greylyn.

  If an image could tell a story or spark a memory, it was the image of these warriors that filled Ella with guilt. Had she not been so selfish, she would have been half way to Greylyn by now, leading her people to victory. Her choice to come here might have very well destroyed their only chance to defeat Talara once and for all.

  From her chair, Ella placed her hands on the arm rests to pull herself up. With a deep breath, she took one step forward, trying to keep the weight off her ankle. As she shifted her weight from one side to the other, attempting to put the slightest possible pressure on her sprained ankle, Ella lost her balance and fell. Her rump hit the wooden floor, and her elbow slammed into the boards, bringing her descent to a halt. With a yelp, she cried out. Frustrated, vulnerable, and weak, Ella sat upright on the floor and wept.

  Balling her fist, she hit her hand upon the wooden floor. The impact caused her hand to throb. Determined to try walking again, Ella tied the wrap on her ankle so tight her toes began to tingle. Slowly letting out a deep breath, she rose to her knees. Turning carefully on her knees to the chair behind her, she grasped the edge of it and pulled herself up to a standing position. If it took her all day, she was determined to walk.

  Sliding her foot forward, she slowly added a little more pressure at a time. Soon, she was across the room and back again. Sitting back on the bed to allow her swollen ankle to rest, she unraveled the bandage and smiled, feeling satisfied with her accomplishment. Now all she needed was time.

  ~ Chapter 11 ~

  The next morning, Galen gathered with his clan in the great hall for the morning meal. Platters of scrambled eggs, dried fruit and freshly baked bread were scattered across the table. The chatter this morning had been quite lively amongst his men and even the dogs hiding beneath the table seemed to be in high spirits as they impatiently waited for scraps to fall onto the floor.

  Across the room, Galen caught a glimpse of three of the maids whispering together. Within moments, Moira angrily hurried them back into the kitchen. Something was surely amiss. Grabbing onto a slice of bread, Galen broke a small piece and popped it in his mouth as he sat back and observed the women’s odd behavior. He was not accustomed to seeing them acting so suspiciously. It seemed they all shared some secret, and at first Galen did not want to impose.

  He thought perhaps one of the young lassies had caught the eye of one of his men. Lord knew women gossiped all the time about such foolish things. But still, that did not explain Moira’s behavior. He had known Moira his whole life. Long enough to know when something was the matter.

  Finishing his meal, he stood to start his day. He had plans to visit the market in Stonehaven. A new shipment of foreign goods should have arrived in port yesterday, and he was eager to check out the latest weaponry. As Galen was about to leave the hall Moira stopped him.

  “My Laird, may I have a word. I do no’ mean to bother ye about this but I am havin’ a bit of trouble with the lassie upstairs. None of the staff is willing to go in and check on her. Just yesterday she attacked our wee Jenny, and this morning she tossed her tray of food at young Aishla. The lass is like a wild animal. If ye ask me, the lass needs a firm hand and a good whipping.”

  “I will no’ argue with ye there. I will deal wit’ the matter. From now on, bring her meals to the guards. If she does no’ prefer the company of a woman tending to her needs perhaps she will feel differently when a mon tries to assist her.”

  “Aye, my Laird.”

  “For now, I will speak to her. I will just need to adjust my schedule. By the end of the week I suspect she will be healed. If I can figure out where she belongs, I will send her on her way as soon as the weather improves.

  “Thank ye, my Laird.”

  From what Moira had told him, this lass was coming to be a problem. It was obvious the lass was frightened, but he had no idea why. His staff had shown her nothing but the utmost care, and no one here had tried to lay a hand on her. Galen had to think that whatever happened to her was the cause of her skittish, defensive behavior. But like all things, the only way to calm a beast was to let them know you meant no harm. That was exactly what he was going to do.

  Grabbing a platter of food, he headed up the stairs. Too busy training with his men and preparing for the winter, he’d had little time to worry about her. He left that responsibility to Moira. But now that the lass had scared all of the female servants in the castle, he had little choice but to be involved.

  The lass had only been there two days, and already had caused this much chaos. What next? Galen thought perhaps her clan may very well tolerate her unruly behavior, but he did not. Once and for all, he would inform her of the expectations of his guests. The laws of highland hospitality were firmly established.

  He walked down the long corridor to the staircase that led to the upper rooms. Led by impulse, Galen marched his way to the tower, taking the steps two at a time. He had no time to waste on such frivolous things as an ignorant, ungrateful lassie. Still, he was baffled by how she could strike fear into others. After all, who would be afraid of a mouse?

  By the time he reached the third floor, he paused outside the tower room door, trying to cool his anger. His decision to take charge of the lass’s wellbeing caused his stomach to twist with apprehension. Attempting to care for her was beyond his knowledge and understanding of women. He knew nothing of the needs of a woman other than their desires beneath the sheets. This is r
idiculous! I have led a hundred men into battle, wrestled a boar with my bear hands, and even dived off the cliffs at Tarbat Ness without breaking a sweat; surely I can manage a wee lass.

  Taking a deep but firm breath, he swung the door open and stepped inside, expecting to find her lying in bed. But as he rushed into the room to give the lass a piece of his mind, he immediately collided with her. With instinctive, rapid movement, he quickly reached out and pulled her into his arms before they both lost their balance and tumbled to the ground. Why the hell is she standing in front of the door? She should be in bed healing.

  As Galen peered down at the small lass in his arms, ready to scold her, he momentarily felt as if he had been turned to stone; motionless and speechless. The night he had come upon her, it was too dark to really get a good look at the lass, but now that she was face to face with him, he realized she was breathtakingly beautiful. How could such a wee creature cause so much chaos, as she had? Her dark green eyes sparkled like emeralds, and her pale blond hair curled around her soft pink cheek. Galen felt his anger beginning to slip away. He was never one to become easily moved or taken with a lass, but this one was beyond comparison. He gently released her but kept firm.

  “Lassie, I have invited ye into my home and offer ye protection, and ye show nay gratitude when ye treat my staff the way ye have. If ye cannae accept help from the women, ye’ll have to settle wit’ dealing wit’ me.” Suddenly, the thought didn’t sound as bad as he’d imagined. He found her feistiness captivating.