“Come now, Una,” Feargan McDonald said, standing at the door and tapping his foot impatiently, “tis’ time ye left. Callum is waitin’ for ye.”
“See, ye heard what the Laird said, hurry up now,” Amelia said, practically pushing Una from the room and throwing a traveling cloak around her shoulders.
The guards followed them downstairs and there in the courtyard was Callum, already saddled on his horse. He too was wearing a traveling cloak and a tunic of green and red. Smiling at Una, he reached out his hand to her.
“Good mornin’ Una, tis’ time we were leavin’ if we are to make Gilloch Castle by nightfall. Tis’ a good day’s ride and with two of us my horse shall go slower,” he said, helping her up behind him.
Una made no reply and Amelia tutted.
“Una, show some courtesy to yer new master now,” Feargan said, slapping the horse’s behind and causing it to whinny.
“I shall show contempt to whomsoever I choose, Feargan,” she replied, and Amelia shook her head.
“Ye cannae teach manners to a girl like that, Feargan,” she said.
“Aye, and ye cannae make a witch look pretty either,” Una replied, causing Amelia to exclaim in horror.
“We had best be leavin’ now,” Callum said, as Feargan looked angrily up at Una.
“Just ye remember, I could have cut yer throat just as I did yer father. I shall be glad to never see ye again, Una Gordon,” he said, and spat upon the ground.
Without further ado, Callum urged the horse on through the castle gates and Una faced resolutely forward, holding on to him as they rode along the path up onto the moorlands. This was the first time that Una had set foot outside the castle since her capture and it felt good to breathe the fresh air of the heathers and see the Highland landscape laid out before her.
“Tis’ a beautiful ride to Gilloch Castle,” Callum said, “and I hope ye shall find my home a happy place in which to reside. I want ye to know that I will always be true to my word and treat ye well.”
Una made no reply. What would he do if she suddenly knocked him from his horse and made a run for it? Or pulled the reins of the horse around his neck? But despite these thoughts she could not raise her anger sufficiently towards him. If it had not been Callum McNeil who had won her, then it would have been one of the others and a far more dreadful fate would have awaited her. Besides, where would she go? They were in the middle of the wilderness and she knew no place of safety to which to flee. Instead, she sighed and looked out across the moorlands to the far mountains beyond.
Above them, a hawk was circling, waiting to dive for its prey. How she longed to be a hawk and fly far off towards the misty, snow-capped peaks, or soar to freedom across the lochs and purple heathers of the moors. Instead, she resigned herself to waiting, determining to seek every opportunity to plan her escape. Could she manipulate Callum McNeil? Gain his trust and make her escape? The possibility excited her and, as they rode on, she wondered if this kind and gentle man might be used to her advantage.
“There tis’ over yonder,” Callum said, pointing, as they came to the brow of a hill and could see over the moorlands towards Gilloch Castle.
It was a beautiful sight and Una could not help but be moved by the landscape now before her. Nestled by the loch was the McNeil castle, a rambling and picturesque collection of walls and battlements with a keep at their center and banners fluttering in the breeze. To its rear were trees stretching up the mountainside and through which a waterfall cascaded down into a gushing stream below. A few crofts dotted the landscape here and there and a carpet of heather stretched down before them.
“A fine castle,” she said, and he turned to her and smiled.
“I hope ye shall be happy here, Una. I promise I shall dae my very best to look after ye,” he replied, and urging on the horse they descended to the glen below.
As they approached the castle, several of the clansmen emerged from their crofts to greet the Laird and he threw down several purses of gold coins.
“Ye are good to us, sire, ye are good to us. God bless ye,” one woman said, as Callum leaned down to shake their hands.
“Ye are loyal and good people, tis’ my duty to see that ye are all provided for,” he replied, smiling at them.
Several of the children followed the horse along the winding track towards the castle and Una found herself smiling at their curiosity.
“They were nae expectin’ me to return with a lass in tow,” he said, laughing.
“And why is that?” she asked, as they came to the castle gates.
“I have never sought such a thing. I am happy to be a good Laird to my people. The thought of marriage had never crossed my mind,” he replied.
“But now it does?” she asked, and he blushed.
“Una … I did nae mean … forgive me. I did nae bring ye here with such an intention. I am glad I won the card game, if only to ensure that ye did nae end up in the hands of one of those wicked men. I had nay idea we were to play for such a wicked prize. But since I had nay choice I am glad it was I who won,” he replied.
Una was glad too, but she had no intention of making such a thought known. Callum was kind, but his kindness could be his undoing. The kinder he was to her, the less he would watch her and if she could gain his trust, then her escape would be far easier.
The castle gates were opened, and they rode through into a courtyard lined with apple trees, from which he plucked two. One for himself and one for Una.
“Ye are free to walk in the castle wherever ye wish. There is much to explore and I hope ye will like the gardens. My dear mother planted them and though now she is bedridden, she still delights in seein’ them from her bedroom window,” he said, pointing up to a window far above in the keep.
“Yer mother still lives?” Una asked, realizing she knew next to nothing about her captor, nor the castle in which he lived.
“Aye, it was my father who died some years ago and of course I then inherited the Lairdship from him. I still have much to learn though,” he replied, looking around him.
Una nodded and clambered down from the horse. There was something very different about Gilloch Castle. It did not have the same sense of fear and foreboding which she had felt at the castle of the McDonald. The soldiers laughed and joked with one another on the battlements and the children who had followed them along the track from the crofts had now begun to play hide and seek around the trees. Callum was greeting several of the peasants, promising them food and he looked around at Una, who was watching him with curiosity.
“Dae ye always have the peasants here like this?” she asked, her curiosity overcoming her reticence to speak with him.
“Aye, the castle is open to all. I daenae believe in lordin’ it over others as so many of the nobility dae. My castle is that if my clan and all are welcome,” he said, “come now, let me show ye to yer chambers.”
She followed him inside, still struck by the atmosphere of the castle in which noble men mixed easily with the peasantry and servants went about their work with a smile upon their faces.
“The Great Hall is here,” Callum said, pointing through a pair of double doors into the large and impressive hall.
It was lined with wooden paneling and upon the walls hung any number of portraits of Callum’s ancestors. At the far end was the high table upon a dais and behind it hung the banners of the McNeil’s and above them an arched window through which could be seen the mountains beyond.
“Tis’ an impressive castle,” she said, taking in the scene.
“Aye, I am lucky to have it in my possession and I intend to dae my best for the people of this clan,” he replied, leading her on through the corridors.
“Yer mother is unwell?” she asked, as they climbed a wide spiral staircase which led towards the top of the keep.
“Just tired, or that is what she says. I fear there is more to it than that, and she stays in her bed as I have said, occasionally she will come to eat with us, but tis’ rare these day
s. I am sorry about yer faither. For what tis’ worth I played nay part in his defeat, nor did any of my men,” Callum said, as they came to a door and he drew out a set of keys.
“But ye still sided with Feargan McDonald,” she replied, as he selected one of the larger keys.
“Wouldnae ye? He has twice the soldiers I have and could sweep upon us like a plague at any moment he chooses. Yer father was a great warrior, Una and even he couldnae defeat such a host. What chance would I have? Sometimes ye must … make a deal with the devil in order to protect yer own,” he replied, shaking his head as he opened the door.
The chamber into which they now stepped was well furnished with a large canopied bed and chairs and a table at its center. The floors were lined with fur rugs and there were ornately woven hangings upon the wall. It was a far cry from her chambers at the McDonald castle and a moment later a servant entered bearing wood for the fire which he began to kindle.
“I did nae ken ye were comin’ and so this room shall have to dae for now,” he said, as though apologetically but Una smiled and nodded.
“It will dae just fine,” she replied, “thank ye.”
“I will nae lock ye in here, Una. I daenae believe in treatin’ a person in such a way. Ye are free to roam the castle and I hope I can trust ye to remain. Ye are safe here, I promise ye. Out there in the world about the glen there is much wickedness. I am only glad that ye have been spared some of it for now,” he said, offering her a weak smile.
Una nodded and was pleased for the flame now licking up the chimney, for the day was cold and suddenly she felt a great fatigue coming over her. She had not relaxed these three months past and despite her reticence and resistance she felt herself doing so now. Despite knowing she was a prisoner, Gilloch Castle felt very different to that which she had endured at the hands of Feargan McDonald.
Callum bid her rest and promised that food would be sent to her later on. The servant had now finished kindling the fire and its warm glow filled the chambers with light and warmth. The Laird was as good as his word and as he closed the door behind him, there was no sound of the familiar key turning in the lock. She waited a few moments, listening for the footsteps on the stairs before crossing the room and trying the door. It opened with a slight creak and she looked out into the empty corridor, marveling at the freedom which was now hers.
But freedom came with a price, she knew that. Any escape attempt would have to succeed on its first try, else these privileges would soon be taken away. She wondered how easy it would be to slip away. Could she simply walk through the castle gates when the time was right? Una knew she must bide her time and wait for the appropriate moment. It would come, but she must be patient.
Settling herself before the fire, Una found her eyes becoming heavy. The journey had been long, but despite her circumstances she felt grateful to Callum for his kindness. She had every intention of escaping, but at least the meantime would be bearable. She would gain his trust little by little, perhaps even flatter him too, all the while on the lookout for a means to escape.
It was not long before she was asleep by the fire and she awoke only when there came a gentle tapping at the door. The noise startled her, for Feargan had never once knocked, only burst in upon her at any time of his choosing.
“Come in,” she called, and the door was opened slowly.
“Tis’ only I,” Callum said, bearing a tray upon which was placed a steaming bowl of stew and a half loaf of freshly baked bread.
“Ye … oh, thank ye,” she said, getting up from her chair and rubbing her eyes.
“I am tired too, it was a long ride, but I just wished to bid ye goodnight and tell ye that … well, I am glad ye are here,” he said, laying down the tray before her.
Una gave him a weak smile, not wishing to let her guard down nor show him too much thanks. A jailer is still a jailer however he might come disguised.
“I am tired, and I shall eat and then rest,” she replied. “Perhaps tomorrow ye will show me more of the castle and its grounds.”
“Aye, it would be my pleasure to dae so,” he said, smiling at her, “ye will like the gardens and perhaps ye shall meet my mother too. I have told her of ye and she couldnae believe the way in which Feargan McDonald has treated ye, tis’ terrible what he has put ye through.”
“It was fate, I suppose,” she replied, taking up her spoon.
He made no answer and simply stood watching her for a few moments longer. She was hungry and began to eat with relish, ignoring his presence until she had finished.
“Well, goodnight to ye,” he said. “I trust ye shall be comfortable here. If there is anythin’ ye need then … please, call for the servants and if ye need me, tell them to rouse me.”
Una nodded, handing him the tray and bidding him goodnight. Her sleep had somewhat revived her and she crossed to the window, pulling back the drapes and looking out over the starry landscape beyond. She could see right along the loch, in which the moonlight reflected, shimmering and rippling upon the surface. There were no sounds, except for the distant hoot of an owl far away amongst the trees. The glen was so peaceful, so unlike the harshness of the McDonald castle and its village where there always seemed to be noise and commotion, even in the middle of the night. Here, for the first time since leaving her father’s castle, Una felt at peace.
She turned back into the room and lay down upon the soft quilted bed. The room was warm and cozy, the fire now burning low to embers in the grate. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. It was involuntary, but it seemed to come from the heart, as though she had somehow given herself permission to find sanctuary in this new place. It did not feel like a prison, at least not in the same way. Rather, it felt like being far away from home, the promise of return upon the horizon. Una smiled to herself and allowed sleep to drift over her. There were worse places than Gilloch Castle in which to be imprisoned and she knew that she had been lucky.
“Soon we shall go home,” she whispered to herself, “very soon.”
Chapter 3
Watching for Escape
No one disturbed Una the next morning, and when she awoke the sun was streaming around the drapes at the window and casting its rays into the room. She stretched and rolled over, rubbing her eyes, as she remembered where she was.
She got up and crossed to the window, looking down on the courtyard below. It was already a hive of activity, with peasants going to and fro through the gates, and carts of goods being loaded up for trade or unpacked for sale. There was no sign of Callum down below, but her stomach was rumbling and Una decided to test the limits of her freedom and walk alone down to the Great Hall.
Several of the clansmen eyed her with interest as she entered and took her place at one of the tables. A servant brought her porridge, steaming hot and drizzled with honey and she ate in silence, glancing around her at the comings and goings of the Great Hall. It was certainly a busy place, but what struck her most was the merriment and laughter about the place. Nobles shared jokes with the servants and women gossiped happily amongst themselves as children crawled happily about on the floor. She could never imagine the McDonald castle being anything like this, nor even her father’s own castle which, though her home, she could never imagine containing such joviality.
She had just finished her porridge and was about to return to her chambers when the sound of Callum’s voice caused her to look up. He was speaking with several of the servants and when he saw her, he excused himself and came over to greet her.
“Una, I am pleased to see ye. Did ye sleep well? I hope so,” he said, seating himself opposite her and smiling.
“Aye, I slept well,” she replied, blushing a little under the intensity of his gaze.
“I am glad and dae ye wish to see the castle today? I trust ye have had enough to eat, but please take anythin’ ye wish, a little more porridge perhaps?” he said, and Una shook her head.
“Nay … thank ye, but I shall gladly see over the castle. Ye mentioned yer mot
her’s gardens?” she said, and he nodded enthusiastically.
“Aye, the gardens are quite somethin’ and I have a library here too. The finest in all the Highlands, or so I say myself,” he replied, laughing.
Una could not help but be moved by his enthusiasm and she followed him from the Great Hall and along a wide corridor towards a great arched door. It was ornately decorated and on either side were intricate stone carvings, giving one the sense of stepping into another world.
Una was quite taken aback when he opened the door and led her inside. The library was almost the size of the Great Hall and lined with books from floor to ceiling. A gallery ran around the top and ladders stretched up here and there. At its center was a table upon which were laid all manner of rolled up manuscripts and scrolls. She did not know which way to look and she marveled at the sight of so many books, which surely held all the wisdom of the world.
“Why … nae even a great university could hold such a collection,” she said, her mouth open in awe, as she looked up at the thousands of books before her.
“My faither’s legacy,” Callum said, “he collected them from all over Europe. Ye will find books here held by saints and popes, royal men and women, the knowledge they contain … that is yet another reason why I must dae all I can to protect this castle and its people. For this to fall into the wrong hands would be a tragedy.”
Una nodded, she loved to read. Her father had taught her when she was a small girl, but she had never seen books such as this before. She marveled at the sight, as she stood next to Callum in awed silence.
“I had nae expected …” she began a moment later.
“Nae expected a barbarian like I to possess such a fine collection of books. Nay, I suppose nae,” he said, shaking his hand.
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