“Goodbye, father. Take care,” Kaitla replied, teardrops gathering at the corners of her eyes. Then without another word to anyone, she curtly turned her horse and spurred it to a gallop west for Cuchailard Keep.
Watching her ride away, Laird Caymber turned for one last word to Macvorn, “Good luck, lad. Dinna disappoint me. I know her destiny lies with ye.” He peered at Macvorn sternly, silently willing the lad to keep his daughter safe.
Watching Kaitla’s swift departure, Macvorn turned to Laird Caymber, “We shall see, my Laird,” he replied with grim humor, spurring his horse to catch up with the disappearing figure ahead.
~*~
As they neared the border of Clan Gwynedd’s lands, Kaitla noticed the terrain was becoming slightly rockier and seemed to be rising at a steeper incline. The horses soon had to pick their way carefully around the scattered rocks and crevices. The trees were much larger in this part of the realm; nearly blocking the sun completely from the moss covered ground. To the east of them, she could barely hear the gurgling of a nearby burn.
The higher the altitude, the cooler the air became and Kaitla was soon thankful that she had envisioned herself in her heavy traveling cloak. Unable to ride abreast, Macvorn had taken point to guide the horses carefully through the mountain range. Kaitla studied his back, silently wondering again what part he played in her father’s plans. Was he an active participant or merely a reluctant player such as herself?
“Quite active, lass, I can assure ye.” Macvorn’s deep honey voice replied clearly in her mind.
“Not another one!” Kaitla sighed to herself. Great! He was as bad as Jared was about intruding uninvited into her thoughts. Concentrating clearly, she thought sarcastically to Macvorn, “Since you’re so perceptive, Macvorn, I’m sure you know where my heart lies.”
“Aye, I had noticed,” Macvorn laughed to her silently. “Sometimes things change though, perhaps ye should give it some time.”
Refusing to respond to this thought, Kaitla rode on in silence, purposely maintaining a very neutral frame of mind. She concentrated on the scenery around them, hoping Macvorn would take the hint and stay out of her thoughts. He didn’t.
“Even if ye canna warm ta’ me, Kaitla, I would at least hope we could become friends,” Macvorn thought in a warm sincere voice. Reigning up at the babbling waterfall in front of them, Macvorn turned in his saddle and spoke to Kaitla aloud, “Shall we rest a bit here and continue this conversation out loud? I do so love ta’ hear the curious way ye speak.”
“Fine,” Kaitla snapped in agreement, “Just stay out of my thoughts!” Reigning her mount to a halt, she slid rather awkwardly to the ground. Still a new equestrian, her dismount was still more a matter of baling out instead of a graceful hop to the ground below. She staggered a bit upon impact, clutching at the horse and saddle until she finally regained her balance.
Watching her gracefulness with shielded amusement, Macvorn flawlessly alit from his horse. Gathering the reigns to both horses, he led them a short distance away to a calm shallow pool for a drink. Macvorn returned with the saddlebags and blanket rolls, which he dropped at the base of a nearby tree. He turned to find Kaitla kneeling beside the waterfall, splashing handfuls of the cool refreshing water on her face.
While Kaitla was still unaware of his return from the horses, he took the opportunity to study her uninterrupted. She was quite the lass; pretty with a fiery temper…and her gifts were phenomenal. Macvorn had glimpsed them briefly when his heart was beating with hers within the whirlwind of healing. The memory of the heat of her aura still left him breathless with excitement. What a match the two of them would make! The pair of them so strong in the ways…there was no end to the possibilities. The two of them could even rule the entire realm together; starting a whole new generation of gifted ones. In time, he might even grow to love her, who knows? For now, the future possibilities of power and lands were enticement enough. He had to find a way to win her over, make her forget Jared. The daughter of Laird Caymber Danann had no business joining with a cur like that. Macvorn sighed to himself, as he realized the difficulty of the task ahead. Macvorn had searched her heart and been amazed at the depth of her feeling for Jared. He didn’t have much time but he was positive he could pull this off. He had to…he’d be damned if he’d miss an opportunity such as this.
Sensing Macvorn’s eyes watching her from the edge of the woods, Kaitla rose from the spring, brushing loose leaves and grass from her breeches. She shied away from the idea of reading his mind; she didn’t want to know what he was thinking. Choosing a safer subject, she began rummaging in her saddlebags for the parcel of breakfast leftovers Etain had packed for her.
“Would you like a cold biscuit?” Kaitla asked politely, arching a questioning brow at Macvorn over the flap of the saddlebag.
“Actually, I’d prefer a warm one, lass. Bring them over and I’ll show ye a trick.” Macvorn motioned her over as he collected several large stones, placing them in a haphazard pyramid on the ground before him.
Squatting beside him with the parcel of rolls, Kaitla watched with interest. Placing his hands on either side of the pile of stones, his fingers widely spread, Macvorn concentrated; his eyes fixed on the uppermost rock. After a few seconds under his intense stare, a rosy glow could be seen emitting from the center stones, slowly growing and flickering until, soon, the entire pile was a glowing red. Taking the rolls from Kaitla, he deftly stacked them here and there on the pile of stones, then sat back on his heels to wait. After a few minutes, he plucked one of the rolls from the stones, tossing it to Kaitla. Tasting as though it had just been pulled from the oven, the warm roll melted in Kaitla’s mouth.
“How did you do that? –And why couldn’t you just warm the roll with your hands, instead of warming the rocks first?” Kaitla asked as she continued to pull layers from the steaming roll and pop them into her mouth.
Laughing at her innocence, Macvorn proudly replied, “Why that’s one of the first things I learned to do with my powers when I was but a lad. Ye merely communicate with the essence of the stones and charge them with your energy. Pick out a stone and give it a try.”
Selecting a nearby stone about the size of a large grapefruit, Kaitla positioned it in front of her. Placing both her hands on the stone as she had observed Macvorn do earlier, she stared intently at the stone, concentrating fiercely. The rock quickly glowed red then suddenly shattered to bits.
“Augh! What’d I do wrong!” Kaitla cried as she shielded herself from the flying shards of rock.
“Ye must learn control, Kaitla. Your powers are immense and ye dinna have to try so hard,” Macvorn explained as he picked bits of rock out of his hair. “Find another and try again,” he suggested patiently.
Kaitla returned to the circle with another stone, sitting cross-legged with the rock in front of her. This time she tried to relax, picturing the tiny crystals of the rock as sponges soaking up her energy. Soon the rock was glowing and Kaitla quickly removed her hands, shielding her face with her arms in case this rock decided to shatter as well. Peeping cautiously from between her fingers, Kaitla smiled with relief as she saw the rock glowing warm and still in one piece on the ground.
“Much better!” praised Macvorn. “And the reason ye canna warm the roll directly is because it isna’ in it’s natural form.”
With a look at Kaitla’s confused face, he continued, “What I mean to tell ye is a roll is made of many things that man has combined….wheat, yeast, milk, and eggs. Any of these things, in the state in which the Creator made them, can be altered by your gifts. But when they are combined by man to produce something else, they are no longer a part of nature or connected to ye in anyway. Do ye understand?”
“Maybe….” Kaitla spoke slowly as she pieced the mystery together in her mind. “Are you telling me that anything natural is somehow connected to me…or maybe to my energy?”
“Aye, lass. That’s it exactly. All natural things flow with energy. Those of us blessed with the w
ays are able to connect with that energy and control it,” he replied smugly.
Studying the roll with a frown, Kaitla glanced up at Macvorn with a mischievous glint in her eye, “If we can only control things that are natural….then how can Etain and I clothe ourselves or move items about?” she asked with a smile.
Macvorn cleared his throat uncomfortably, “That is one of the great mysteries that only the Auld Ones can answer,” he replied with a pompous air of mystery.
“In other words, you just don’t know,” Kaitla wryly observed.
Snorting in exasperation, Macvorn rose brushing the crumbs from his lap. How dare the lass challenge him! Everyone in the realm knew how gifted he was…did she not realize who she was talking to?
Unable to resist the temptation, Kaitla read Macvorn’s thoughts quite clearly and felt a small twinge of pleasure at having perturbed the prepossessing young man.
“We’d best be movin’ now, this is the mountain range of Bacchas and ‘twill be several hours of riding before we reach a place suitable to camp,” he snapped. As Macvorn sullenly stomped off to retrieve their horses, Kaitla repacked the saddlebags and tightened the blanket rolls with an air of satisfaction.
As the afternoon wore on, they continued to ascend the mountain. Kaitla noticed as they climbed higher, that the path was becoming more obscure and much more difficult for the horses to pick their way through. “Is this way not often traveled?” she called to Macvorn riding a few yards ahead of her.
“Nay, Lass, usually the range is crossed through the gap several miles to the south of here,” Macvorn replied. “I thought to bring ye this way to show ye the beauty of what lies ahead.” By this time he had managed to work through his insulted feelings, and was once again ready to attempt pleasant conversation.
As the path opened onto the plateau, Kaitla drew her horse alongside Macvorn’s. From this vantage point, she was able to see for miles; viewing the multicolored realm below. The land lay spread before her like a quilt, patches of color separated from each other by seams of rivers, forests and crags. “It’s breathtaking,” Kaitla whispered, the artist within her reveling at the sight up ahead.
Watching her reaction, Macvorn smiled. “I knew ye’d love it. It’s nearly as beautiful a sight as the one before my eyes.”
Eyes narrowing with aggravation, Kaitla turned her gaze coldly to Macvorn, “Friends, that’s all…remember?” she stated with an air of finality.
“Aye, Lass, ---friends,” Macvorn agreed with a sigh. Shrewdly deciding to change the subject, he continued, “If ye’ll look over to the left, ye can just make out the land of Cuchailard before the view disappears into the mist. ‘Tis the brilliant green patch.”
Following the direction Macvorn indicated; Kaitla eyed the patch of green wistfully. Jared was there. As far as she was concerned, she couldn’t be there soon enough. For the moment, she was trapped in this infernal ploy of her father’s, but she wasn’t going to give up or give in. “Macvorn and my father both will learn that soon enough,” she thought to herself with a sigh of resolution.
Pointing to a dark patch of land far to the north, Kaitla asked, “What land is that, Macvorn?”
“That is the land of Clan Rheged,” Macvorn answered quietly. “Ravon’s home.”
“Even his lands look sinister,” Kaitla commented with a shiver. She drew her cloak closer around her, as though shielding herself from Ravon’s evil.
“Aye, the lands fit the master well,” Macvorn observed dryly. Clucking gently to his horse, he moved once more to the front, “We should be going now. The campsite I have in mind is just a short pace from here and then we can rest properly.”
Urging her mount to follow Macvorn, Kaitla noticed something quite peculiar. As they left the summit and began their descent, the foliage and trees seemed to swallow up the open land, completely sealing off the trail behind them. Rocks and boulders seemed to be appearing from nowhere to block the way back to the flat plateau, confining them completely to the narrow trail ahead of them. Shaking her head and blinking her eyes, Kaitla wondered if the strains of the past few days were beginning to jar her sanity. Perhaps Macvorn’s mention of Ravon had stirred her imagination and kicked in some paranoia to boot. But as they continued down the trail, the vines and trees thickened to each side of them; enclosing them in a tunnel of green.
“Macvorn, what’s happening?” Kaitla called ahead, straining to keep the rising hysteria from her voice. Her heart was beginning to pound with the adrenaline the fear was shooting into her system. Her head was growing dizzy as her eyes darted at the encompassing foliage closing in around her.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it!” Macvorn shouted back, “We must hurry, Lass, before the path is completely blocked!” Spurring his horse to a gallop, Macvorn glanced back to ensure Kaitla was doing the same.
At this announcement, the ground surrounding them began to tremble and break apart as huge boulders shot from beneath the crust to rise high over their heads. In an instant, Macvorn and Kaitla were boxed in, completely surrounded by towering crags. Riding her horse the perimeter of the small canyon, Kaitla searched in vain for a way out. Rising panic filling her voice, she cried out to Macvorn, “What is this place? Why is this happening?”
Before Macvorn could answer, one of the larger boulders rolled to the center of the clearing directly in front of Kaitla. As she watched, the boulder slowly changed shape until the figure of a large bearded man stood proudly before her. “My name is Bacchas, welcome to my mountain.” The deep voice rumbled like distant thunder. Although the being in front of her was in the form of a man, his skin, hair and clothing were still the deep gray of dark limestone. Kaitla felt certain if she reached out and touched the man standing before her, that her hand would feel nothing but cold rough stone.
“I’m glad to meet you, Bacchas. I’m Kaitla,” she cordially replied to the living statue. “Would you mind telling me why we’ve been surrounded?” She struggled to keep her voice calm, hoping to be able to reason with the massive man standing in front of her.
“I mean ta keep ye here ‘til Laird Ravon arrives,” Bacchas grimly replied.
“We’ll simply change to birds and fly out of here. Come, Kaitla!” Macvorn ordered alighting quickly from his saddle.
“Fine with me, ---but I dare say ye canna carry yer fine horses with ye.” Bacchas drolly observed. “’Tis been quite awhile since I’ve tasted horsemeat, but as I recall, I liked it weel enough.”
“I will not contribute to a horse barbecue, Macvorn!” Kaitla stated flatly, patting her nervous mount with reassurance. Enraged at the idea of the torment of her animal, Kaitla’s fear was quickly replaced with anger.
Unsheathing his dhundare with a flourish, Macvorn quickly responded, “Then we’ll destroy this traitor who chooses to serve the evil one.” Macvorn raised his hand to strike Bacchas to the ground, barely holding back the attack as Kaitla rode in front of him.
“No! Wait!” Shouted Kaitla. She had been studying Bacchas closely, and sensed there was more to this situation then first appeared. Clambering down from her horse, she approached Bacchas cautiously, gazing into the gray depths of the stony eyes. “He’s suffering, Macvorn. He’s not serving Ravon willingly,” she quietly observed as she laid a gentle hand against the cold stony cheek. At her revelation, Bacchas’ gaze dropped to the ground as he raised a trembling hand to his head.
Stunned into silence, Macvorn carefully sheathed his blade, stepping protectively to Kaitla’s side. “How d’ye know, Kaitla?” he asked quietly, cocking his head with doubt at the huge living boulder before him.
Placing her hand on Bacchas’ great stony shoulder, she asked Macvorn, “Can’t you see his sorrow?” To Kaitla, Bacchas’ pain was clear…his entire being seemed to be crying out in torment.
Macvorn slowly shook his head as he studied the man before him. “I dinna have that gift,” he finally admitted reluctantly. All he saw in front of him was the defeated figure of the man, who just momen
ts ago, had been threatening their own safety.
“Why are you doing this?” Kaitla softly asked Bacchas as he wearily sat upon a nearby ledge of rock.
Without a word, Bacchas slowly raised his hand, pointing to the other side of the clearing. Gradually, two of the largest boulders shifted apart, revealing a young graceful oak tree. As Kaitla stared at the little tree, she began to make out the faint image of a child; arms raised as though begging to be picked up. The little upturned face was pitiful, eyes filled with fear and mouth open, forever frozen in a silent plea for help.
“Your child?” Kaitla gently asked Bacchas, as she approached the little tree with curiosity.
“Aye, m’lady, little Fina is naught but three years old,” Bacchas whispered as he and Macvorn joined Kaitla beside the imploring little oak. “Ravon said he willna’ free my wee bairn until he holds yer lifeless heart in the palm of his hand.”
“Macvorn, there has to be a way that we can help her,” Kaitla urged, searching Macvorn’s face for hope. If only Etain were here, she would surely know what to do. Hesitantly, Kaitla gently stroked the trunk of the small tree. Detecting no change or improvement, she embraced the little tree, concentrating on the little child within. Little Fina was still trapped but Kaitla was positive she had felt her tiny heartbeat and heard the frail voice crying pitifully for her father. Frustrated with her unsuccessful attempts, Kaitla turned to Macvorn demanding, “Help me!” The thought of the frightened child trapped within the tree was unbearable. Kaitla had to find a way to free her.
Shrugging his shoulders in hopelessness, Macvorn shook his head in defeat, “Ravon’s curses are strong, Kaitla. There are only two ways to overcome another’s curse ---satisfy the curse’s request or find the curse’s weakness. I dinna want to provide Ravon with your heart and I dinna have a clue to the weakness. The child is lost,” Macvorn stated grimly, as he turned away from the tree.
“There must be a way and I intend to find it!” Kaitla retorted, determined to save the child. She paced back and forth in front of the little tree, searching her memory for the tiniest scrap of information that might help. If only she’d been able to spend more time with Etain. There was so much she still didn’t know.
Awakening Her Soul to Destiny Page 16
