“That is what I fret about.” What if she shouldn’t have let Ethan leave with Gavin on his own at all? Aye, if she’d gone with Ethan, Gavin and his men would certainly have been suspicious of her decision to join them, particularly when ’twas well known she sought peace over any blood being shed. “I cannae help but second-guess my decision in allowing Ethan to leave without me.”
“He’s your brother. We’re all overprotective of our loved ones.”
“Even as strong as he is with the battle skill, mistakes can still happen.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “I’m also leading you and your men into danger.” That danger growing by the minute as they traversed the waterways closer toward the MacDonald’s stronghold.
“There isnae a day that passes when danger does no’ follow me around.” He scanned the seas ahead, the choppy waves slapping into the bow as they rode the ever-rising swell toward the thin channel.
“This storm has no’ passed at all.”
“Aye, the squall grows stronger.”
The wind rushed all around and battered the sail. Waves crashed over the side of the galley, waters sloshing across the deck and making it dangerously slick. Several men grabbed pails and scooped the wash back over the side.
“We’re also about to hit the crosswinds at the eastern tip of Skye.” He shoved to his feet, set her back on the bench. “Stay right here while I navigate our way around the headland.”
“Be careful.” She squeezed his hand. “If you get hurt, I willnae be happy.”
“Duly noted, my grumpy one.” He tightened the ties of her brown rawhide coat then marched up the aisle. With the sail’s ropes in hand, he kept one and tossed the other to Hamish. The two of them bounded up onto the side of the boat and braced their feet wide, the ropes twined around their arms and their gazes narrowed on the heaving swell and fierce gale.
The crosswind slammed into them, so hefty and fast, the massive square sail pulled agonizingly taut. The gale sent the galley shooting off like an arrow and she careened along the bench and banged into the side.
Another howling blast hit hard on the heels of the first and their galley rose half out of the water on Duncan and Hamish’s side. Both countered the move, leaning farther back, the two men half out over the water while Duncan’s warriors heaved closer to them and balanced the weight.
They picked up even more speed and skimmed the high waves, while up ahead the high cliffs of Skye rose and the rocky shoreline swelled out into the sea. Waves crashed over black boulders and sprayed high. She needed to find something to secure herself to this seat with, and before they entered the kyle.
Duncan heaved on the ropes and thunder boomed.
Torrential rain slashed at her, stung her nose and cheeks and drenched her through. She heaved to her feet then tumbled over and clawed for a hold on the slick boards of the hull.
“Ella!” Duncan’s biceps bulged as he held the ropes firm and controlled the power of the wind he’d harnessed in the sail. “Slide under the seat. Now.” His voice got half-whipped away on the wind.
The last thing she wished to do was lose sight of him, but get under the seat she would. She scuttled toward the bench but the galley crested a massive wave and she skidded away.
“I’ve got you, my lady.” Ivor plucked her from the planks, his arms firm around her as he kept her from sliding any further, his legs as thick as tree trunks and his body immovable.
“Thank—watch out.” A huge wave loomed and they sailed toward the peak, the bow pitching sharply upward then slamming back down as they soared over it. The sheer force of it tore her from Ivor’s arms and she went flying, right over the side and into the waves.
She hit hard and went down.
Her head shattered with pain, the turbulent waters surging and dragging her ever deeper. The rushing current tossed her about, so deep within the cloying dark and she kicked with all her might and tried to fight the fierce underwater rip. She got churned all about, couldn’t tell which way was up or down anymore. Nay, she had to keep a clear head before she ran out of air. Never would she allow the sea to take her, not now she’d finally found her chosen one and he’d claimed her, and certainly not when Ethan needed her so desperately. Mama too would never survive her death. Papa’s had been hard enough on them all.
She brushed against something and lurched around. Ivor appeared within the murky dark, cinched an arm around her waist and firmed his hold on her. Such piercing green eyes, his pale hair swishing about his face.
He pointed upward and kicked, heaved them both through the twisting current and in a burst of bubbles, they broke the surface as gushing waves slapped over them. “Are you all right?” he yelled over the might of the storm.
“I am now you’re here.” More waves dumped over them and she struggled to stay afloat. Gulping great drafts of chilly, foggy air, she searched through the pelting rain and fog. “I can barely see a few feet in front of me. Where’s the galley?”
“Well gone now. I’ll get us to land.” Ivor stuck one hand in the air, caught the position of the wind. “This way.”
“Ella!” Duncan’s shout blasted from somewhere up ahead.
“Duncan!” She screamed his name as waves tumbled them about. He had to have jumped overboard.
“We’re here,” Ivor yelled.
“I’m coming.” His shout was closer, and then he was there, emerging through the sleet and rain, bobbing overtop of the high swell. Growling low and deadly, he snatched her from Ivor and hauled her fully up against him. “You were supposed to slide under the bench. That damn rogue wave sent you flying.”
“Ivor found me when I couldnae kick back to the surface.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“My laird.” Ivor jabbed a hand in the direction they needed to go. “I can just make out the cliffs of Skye and a bay.”
“Aye, we’ll head there.” Duncan held her tight and heaving deep breaths, propelled them both through the whitecaps. A bird squawked as it soared somewhere overhead and the surf rolled them into shore.
As her feet scraped the sandy seafloor, she tried to stand, only her legs wobbled and—
“I’ll carry you.” Duncan swept her up in his arms, slogged up onto the beach then collapsed onto his back with her sprawled over top of him, the sand wet and mushy underneath them and the rain pelting endlessly down.
Ivor stumbled in after them, his leather pants plastered to his legs and his war coat drenched. He flopped down onto his back next to them, his exhaustion clearly as complete as theirs.
“I owe you my thanks.” Duncan eyed Ivor. “For saving my wife. I’ll ensure you’re well rewarded for what you’ve done this day.”
“Nay, my laird, there’s no need for a reward.” Ivor heaved up into a sitting position, water dripping from his hair. Such torment flashed in his eyes as he slid his gaze to her. “I apologize, my lady.”
“For what exactly?”
“I have a confession. I first believed you to be our enemy, couldnae understand why my laird would bring you on board following the fires at Inverarish. You hold the skill to compel, commanded us during the battle at Dunscaith and sent us fleeing. Even though you claimed to have no voice, I still feared you’d use your ability against us. At any time, you could have sent us all to our deaths, and with naught but a single word. I ask for your forgiveness. I was the one who tossed you overboard, and never have I regretted a decision more.”
“I would never harm anyone, Ivor.”
“Aye, I’m aware of that now.”
“You’re the one who tried to kill my woman?” Duncan gritted his teeth and pinned her behind him as he shoved to his feet, his low and deadly tone sending shards of ice skittering down Ella’s spine.
“I am, and acted wrongly, very wrongly.” Ivor stood, withdrew his sword and handed it hilt first to Duncan. “Seek the punishment you please.” He slowly lowered to one knee, head bent.
“Nay.” She pushed past Duncan and gripped Ivor’s hands. “You just saved my lif
e and I willnae see it lost right here on this beach. So many fear my skill, Ivor. You arenae alone in that regard, but once people come to know me, they soon learn I would never bring any harm down upon another’s head, no’ even that of my enemy. I forgive you, Ivor.” Holding her breath, she snuck a look at Duncan over her shoulder. Fury slashed his face, his hand fisted around the sword hilt. He wanted to kill Ivor, but she couldn’t allow it. She faced the man who’d made a bad decision and had no need to pay with it with his very life. “You made a deadly mistake that night, but from this moment forth you will never judge another so unwisely. I want your word that you’ll never attempt to harm me again.”
“Aye, my lady, I would never lay a hand upon you, no’ now, no’ ever again. My laird has taken you to wife and my service extends to you, but more than that, I’ve seen your true nature and will gladly do all you’ve asked of me. Unfortunately, though, my punishment is still necessary.”
“Since ’tis me you harmed, then it should be me who decides your punishment.” She needed to show Duncan how very much she needed Ivor to remain alive, which meant she had only one choice. “I will hear your oath of protection. I wish for you to be my personal guard during this mission.”
“Pardon?” Something flickered within his green eyes—hope? He glanced over her head at Duncan and that hope flickered straight away.
“Ivor, I shall no’ be an easy mistress to protect. I can be feisty and stubborn, and at times I can act without thought for my own welfare. You’ll be hard-pressed to keep me out of trouble, but I believe you’re the most suitable for the position.”
“I would be honored to give you my oath.” He dipped his head toward her. “My lady, I give you my vow of protection. Never will I allow another to set a hand upon you with the intention of doing you harm. I will be your servant, from now until the end of my days. Will you accept my oath?”
“I will.” She squeezed his fingers. “Rise, Ivor. I already have a request of you.”
“Speak and ’twill be done.” He stood, firm resolution in his gaze.
“I am freezing cold and have no wish to remain this way.” She held out her hand to Duncan for Ivor’s sword. “My guardsman will require that.”
“I would rather still have his head.” Through gritted teeth, Duncan snarled at her as he handed it across.
“Thank you.” She handed Ivor his sword, shivered and rubbed her chilled arms. A hundred-foot high cliff curved around the bay, the odd clump of scrub protruding from the cracks. A cliff that appeared very familiar. “Oh my. I know this place.”
“You do?” Duncan wrapped his arms around her from behind and tried to buffer her from the fierce wind and rain. “How exactly?”
“My grandpa brought my brother and I here to scale this cliff. Three and ten I was at the time, Ethan eight. Grandpa harnessed a rope around my waist then secured it to the lone pine tree towering at the top. Both Ethan and I descended then climbed back up. ’Twas such fun.”
Duncan frowned at her.
“Of course that had been on a fine day, the cliff’s hand and footholds easy to find and no’ slick with the rain as the sheer rock is this day. As far as I can recall though, this cliff is the only way in and out of this secluded cove.”
“There is no need for us to leave this place. Hamish will return and we’ll hail him when he does.”
“Might we explore this bay and see what we can discover until then? When Grandpa brought Ethan and I here, he told us of a cave which sat somewhere along this bay, one that held a pool of hot water, only we never did find the entrance to it that day. We should look for it now. A warm pool would be heavenly to discover right about now.”
“If there is a hidden cave nearby with such a pool of hot water, then I’ll find it.” Ivor sheathed his blade and eyed the massive rocks jutting out either side of the thin stretch of sand. He stalked toward the cliff face and began his search. Sweeping methodically along the rock wall, he patted and pulled out tuffs of scrub as he searched for the hidden entrance.
“When I saw you flying over the side of the galley”—Duncan turned her by the shoulders to face him—“my heart nearly catapulted from my chest. I barely had time to toss the ropes to one of my men afore I dove in after you and Ivor.”
“I couldnae allow you to punish him, no’ when he had just saved my life.”
“He is fortunate to have received your forgiveness. I can accept your request for him to be your personal guard since he dived in after you, found you and kept you safe until I arrived, but I’ll be watching over you as well.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him, his strong embrace soothing her deep within.
“Let’s aid Ivor in finding this cave, if there is one.”
“Grandpa never speaks a mistruth. ’Tis just a matter of us finding the entrance.” She walked across to the cliff face, palmed the slick, craggy stone wall and surveyed the surface rising high. Several hand and footholds lay within easy reach and offered a variety of paths leading upward that one could scale. At the halfway point, a short ledge ran in a diagonal line all the way to the top, so once one made it that far they could safely shuffle up the ledge then over the top lip. A far safer option that slogging back into the storm-tossed sea and swimming to the next cove, that’s if Hamish didn’t find them soon.
“I believe I’ve found the entrance.” Ivor heaved a thick clump of bush away from the wall. Dirt and stones poured down on him from a crack in the rock above his head, although he continued on.
“I’ll aid you.” Duncan marched across and cleared the scrub from one side until the two of them had unplugged half of the crevice.
“Aye, this is most definitely an entrance to a cave.” She scrambled in between them and clawed at the dirt and brushwood still wedged within the parting in the rock wall.
“Nay, out of the way, my lady. There’s no need for you to dirty your hands.” Ivor lifted her up and swung her in behind him.
“I want to help.” She tried to wriggle back in but with one extremely stern expression from Ivor, she huffed and instead stayed right where she was. “You’re so mean.”
With a chuckle, Duncan slapped Ivor on the back. “You and I are going to get along rather well if you continue to master that look on her. I could use the aid in ensuring her protection.”
“Excuse me, but you two can just stop acting so very chummy right now.” Yet she couldn’t help but smile at the return of their camaraderie. As they cleared the last of the scrub and dirt away, they revealed an entrance that deepened into the rocks through a long passageway and she jiggled about as the rain thankfully began to ease into a drizzle. Wonderful. Nature was now granting them some leeway. “I cannae wait to tell Grandpa and Grandma about this cave. They’ll both wish to visit this place too.”
“Where do your grandparents live?”
“Here on Skye. They have ever since I was a wee bairn, nearer to Kinloch harbor, only a day’s ride from Dunscaith.”
“Not at your village on the mainland?”
“Nay, but they are only a few hours’ sail away.” She grinned wide. “I cannae wait for you to meet them, Mama too. She resides at the village with Ethan and I.”
“Then let’s pray there’s a pool of hot water within as your grandpa told you, so we might share that news with them all when I meet them.”
“There’ll be a pool. I’ve no doubt of that.”
“I’ll go in first, ensure all is well.” Ivor wedged himself sideways and scraped through the narrow opening. Over his shoulder, he called back, “I willnae be long.”
He disappeared into the darkened recesses of the passageway while behind her, the surf crashed in and the rain eased even further, although the fog remained thick and heavy, appeared set to stay for quite some time.
Ivor returned, emerging out of the darkened recesses with his green eyes bright. “All is clear and there is indeed a pool of hot water. Steam plumes from it.” He dipped his head in reverence to her. “I wish for my lady to warm herself we
ll. I’ll wait outside for Hamish’s return. I cannae have him sail right by and miss us.”
“Thank you, Ivor.” She reached up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Stand where you willnae get a chill though, and that’s an order.”
“Aye, my lady.” Red suffused his cheeks and he ducked his head as he shuffled past her and took his position outside at the entrance.
“Come with me.” Duncan steered her down the gloomy tunnel and halted at the end.
Within the cavern that opened up before them, water lapped onto a small curved beach of grainy white sand, the pool surrounded by massive black rocks. Steam swirled and drifted out a thin vent in the craggy ceiling high above while a trickle of light streamed through and speckled over the pool’s glassy surface.
“This place is so beautiful.” No waiting. Beyond eager to get into the hot water, she kicked off her riding boots and draped her brown leather coat over the closest rock.
“Here, let me aid you.” Duncan loosened the ties of her breeches, tugged the cloying, wet fabric down her legs and laid them over top of her coat. “Leave your shirt on.”
“Are you coming in with me?”
“Of course.” He toed off his boots, removed his weapons and jerkin then in his leather pants and tunic, scooped her up and walked into the pool with her. Deliciously warm water washed over her as he surged through to chest depth. Gently, he set her down on her feet on the sandy base and nodded. “Go down. Warm yourself through.”
“This is glorious.” Eyes closed, she sank and blessedly warm water closed in over her head. Heat washed through her, eased the chill from her skin and once she thrust back to the surface, she pushed her wet hair from her face and grinned. “Your turn.”
“Only with you.” He caught her hands, draped them around his neck and dived with her. Down they went, the water swishing all about, his arms banded tight around her waist and their bodies locked together.
Such relief burst through her and she captured her chosen one’s face in her hands while they swam deep within the pool’s depths. A more peaceful moment she’d never known.
Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2) Page 12
