Awakening Her Soul to Destiny

by Deborah R Stigall

  Ignoring the battle within the room, Etain perched nervously on the window seat, eyeing the growing storm outside with concern. The window faced the mountains Macvorn and Kaitla would be crossing. From the look of the sky, that’s where the storm seemed to be originating. An oppressive feeling hung in the air like a damp blanket, Etain was positive this storm was Kaitla’s raging emotions.

  Shrugging her shoulders in defeat, Mistress Frann motioned for the nervous Hobart to join her on the settee facing Laird Caymber. Glancing at Etain with uncertainty, Mistress Frann took a deep breath, and plunged in head first, “Jared is aware of the marriage contract ye have negotiated ta’ join Macvorn and Kaitla.”

  Eyes narrowing with a wry look at Etain, Laird Caymber merely nodded for Mistress Frann to continue. He should’ve guessed Etain would warn the boy, she’d always had a soft spot where he was concerned.

  Wringing her pudgy hands nervously in the apron in her lap, Mistress Frann decided to just be out with it, “Jared loves Kaitla and means ta’ wed her…marriage contract or no. We’re not sure, but Hobart and I think he’s gone in search of the lass. He left early this mornin’, a tearin’ out o’here somethin’ fierce. He probably was afraid for the lass ta’ be caught out in such a storm.”

  Rising from the window seat, Etain shook her head sadly, “No. The lad knows this storm is Kaitla’s emotions. She willna’ be harmed by it. I dinna ken what has happened but the lass is in a terrible rage.” She watched the lightening explode to the ground, the land shaking with the ferocity of the impact.

  Frowning as he wearily stroked his beard, Laird Caymber turned to peer out the window. “Ye must find out what’s happened Etain. If my Kaitla is this upset, I fear what may have come to pass.”

  Nodding in submission to her Laird, Etain spoke quickly to Mistress Frann, “Frannie have one of your maids fetch my reflecting glass.” Turning to Laird Caymber, Etain gently admonished, “The lass may have learned of the marriage contract, my Laird.” Peering at him intently with her disturbing gaze, she continued, “I tried ta’ warn ye of her temper, Caymber…the lass is more like ye then ye realize.”

  Pacing to the window, hands behind his back, Laird Caymber watched the furious storm. Lightening seemed to be pouring from the mountainside, the land shaking with each ear-splitting crash of thunder. “How could she be so powerful?” he whispered in amazement to himself. Turning uneasily to Etain, he was interrupted by the entrance of the maidservant bearing Etain’s reflecting glass.

  Etain balanced the large ebony disk on the table in front of her. She gently stroked the cool smooth surface with the palm of her hand until the disk grew warm. Warmed by the friction of her touch, the disk slowly revealed a vision of Kaitla within a cave. As Etain watched closely, the vision cleared enough for her to make out the scene within the fire. As the vision of Kaitla grew more agitated, the stone disk began to vibrate. As the disk revealed Kaitla standing outside the cave vowing to destroy Ravon, the reflecting glass shattered into pieces, scattering all over the room.

  Jumping back from the table with amazement, Etain slowly bent to retrieve the largest pieces of the stone disk from the floor. “Never have I seen such anger, Laird Caymber,” she whispered as she turned to face the astonished Laird. “I hope the realm can survive her rage.”

  “She’s gone to destroy Ravon,” Laird Caymber murmured under his breath. “Etain, is she truly powerful enough to do it alone?” He feared for his daughter, yet he was awestruck by the powers of his child. Never in all his years had he seen such powers in one person, not even the Auld Ones were so blessed…yet, that’s what the prophecy had foretold.

  Etain solemnly turned to Caymber, “Kaitla has the power to destroy Ravon…I only fear her inexperience will endanger her.” Mouth set in a grim line of determination; Etain motioned for the maidservant to bring her cloak. “I must go to her, Caymber. I must find a way ta’ help the lass.”

  Heading for the door, Laird Caymber nodded to Mistress Frann, “We go to help the lass, Frannie. Mind the Keep as ye always do.”

  Hands on her wide hips, Mistress Frann watched as Laird Caymber and Etain slowly faded and disappeared. Shaking her head with aggravation, Frann turned to Hobart shaking a plump finger in his face, “Mind the Keep! Mind the Keep! They leave me here ta’ worry m’self to a frazzle with only the words…Mind the Keep!” Still grumbling to herself, Mistress Frann ambled down the hall toward the kitchen; Hobart silently trailing behind.

  Chapter XII

  Soaked to the skin from the driving rain, Jared urged his horse forward through the stinging wind. Vainly attempting to wipe the water from his eyes, Jared finally gave up and merely ducked his head to the flood. He’d been riding for hours, pushing his mount to the limits through the thunder and lightening. As soon as the sky began to darken with the oncoming storm, Jared’s heart had filled with dread. Somehow, Kaitla knew…she had found out about his night with Elsbet. Only it wasn’t Elsbet at all, it had been Ravon entrapping him. He still didn’t understand why. But he did understand that it would be used to drive Kaitla away from him, it didn’t matter who was using it against him. He had to find her and convince her it was all an evil trick.

  He eyed the surrounding landscape with uncertainty. The wind roared in his ears as the pounding rain blinded him. The salty taste of his lips attested to the tears mixed with the rain upon his cheeks. Detecting a slight movement up ahead, Jared directed his horse toward the brief flash of color appearing with the next display of lightening. Finally drawing near enough to recognize the cloaked figure, Jared’s heart fell as he rode alongside Macvorn.

  Grabbing the cloaked Macvorn by the shoulder, Jared shouted to make himself heard over the wailing storm, “Where’s Kaitla?”

  The hazel green eyes leered from beneath the hood, “Grown tired of Elsbet so soon, Jared?” Macvorn sneered over the roaring wind.

  Barely resisting the urge to yank him from his saddle, Jared shook Macvorn and repeated his original question through clenched teeth, “Where…is…Kaitla!”

  Pushing back the hood to glare malevolently at Jared, Macvorn reigned his mount to a stand still. “I have no idea. When the lass saw ye with yer lover, she ran into the woods and I havena’ been able ta’ find her since.”

  Jared’s face grew pale as he slowly released Macvorn’s shoulder. Hand dropping to his side, he hoarsely shouted once more, “How did she find out, Macvorn?”

  Eyeing Jared’s weary face with disdain, Macvorn slowly dismounted from his horse. Motioning for Jared to follow him, he plowed through the slashing rain to finally crawl beneath a stony overhang sheltered from the wind. Wiping the water from his face, he crouched beneath the ledge, warming a large stone with his hands. Jared crouched beside him, imploring once more, “Tell me how she found out.”

  “She saw ye in the flames,” Macvorn replied, rocking back on his heels to sit on the damp ground. Beneath the ledge, they escaped the rain but the dampness still hung in the air thick as a curtain.

  Closing his eyes and swallowing hard, Jared’s face reflected such torment that Macvorn felt a fleeting stab of remorse. Pushing his conscience aside, Macvorn reminded himself of just what was at stake by thinking of Kaitla and all that a relationship with her entailed. Positive now that he loved her, Macvorn was determined that nothing would keep him away from joining with Kaitla.

  “I must find her,” Jared lamented. “I must convince her of the truth.” He stared bleakly out into the woods; the rain soaked trees standing as blackened sentries.

  “She is to be m’wife, Jared,” Macvorn stated coldly, “I’ll thank ye ta’ stay away from her.” He had envisioned Etain and Laird Caymber at the signing of the contract. As he witnessed Caymber sign the bottom of the parchment, he’d felt jubilant at the prospects almost within his grasp.

  Glaring through his rain soaked hair, Jared whispered barely loud enough for Macvorn to hear, “I’ll stay away from my Kaitla when she bids me to…not you.” Abandoning the shelter of the ledge, J
ared mounted his horse. Looking back at Macvorn, he shouted through the wind, “Ye shan’t have her, Macvorn...Never.”

  Returning to his own horse, Macvorn quickly settled himself in the saddle, “We’ll see, Jared. The lass has seen ye in the arms of another...what other proof does she need ta’ know ye canna love her alone?” Spurring his horse to a gallop, Macvorn disappeared out of the woods heading across the soggy meadow. Urging his own mount forward, Jared doggedly followed Macvorn. Peering through the driving rain, he soon realized they were heading directly for the border of Ravon’s lands.

  Finally pulling his mount up alongside Macvorn, Jared glanced at the expressionless face, attempting to read Macvorn’s mind. Concentrating, all Jared could glean was a cold feeling of disdain and vague jealousy. Macvorn was totally unreadable to him. His face now reflecting a smug look of superiority, Macvorn laughed, “Did ye actually think ye were powerful enough ta’ read me, Jared?”

  Refraining from knocking Macvorn from his horse, Jared barely restrained the urge to strangle him for fear of hindering the search for Kaitla. Even though he couldn’t stand the sight of the man, Macvorn was quite gifted and definitely more capable of locating the lass then Jared. Jaw clenched with hatred, he strained his words through tightly clenched teeth, “Ye canna blame me for tryin’, now can ye?” Jared reflected coldly at the smug Macvorn.

  “Hmpf! I suppose I can’t at that,” Macvorn replied honestly. They rode on in silence, each speculating in their own mind about what might lie ahead.

  Interrupting the sound of the pouring rain and rumbling thunder with his shouts, “Why are ye so sure she’s gone to Ravon’s lands?” Jared asked the haughty figure beside him. The ground was growing soft, saturated from the steadily pounding rain. The horses’ cantor slowied to a steady plodding as each step suctioned into the muddy ground.

  Eyeing Jared warily, Macvorn hesitated to reply. Too much conversation might somehow reveal to Jared the agreement between Ravon and Macvorn. Jared might not be able to read his mind, but he was no fool to be taken for granted.

  “I heard her oath across the wind. She swore she was going after Ravon,” Macvorn stated simply, choosing his words with care. He wondered how much Jared really knew. Jared might not be quite as gifted as himself, but the bond between him and the lass was amazing. What if Kaitla had somehow communicated to him across the land? His face etched in a scowl, Macvorn watched Jared even closer.

  Suspicion growing in his mind, Jared’s eyes narrowed, “Why would the lass suddenly decide to go after Ravon, when it was me she supposedly envisioned?” he asked Macvorn through the rain, arching his brows in curiosity. Macvorn shifted uneasily in the saddle, Jared was coming dangerously close to reasoning out the situation. “Who can say why Kaitla does anything…the lass is probably bereft of her senses since ye hurt her so,” snorted Macvorn attempting to plunge Jared back into an abyss of guilt.

  A small glimmer of hope began to creep into Jared’s heart as a thought suddenly occurred to him. If Kaitla had seen a vision of him in Elsbet’s arms, then why hadn’t she come after Elsbet or himself? Instead, she had chosen to go after Ravon…the one truly responsible for the deception. She knew the truth already! That had to be it! Her vision must’ve shown her the truth and not just the deception. Jared felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest as his heart pounded with excitement. Kaitla could still be his; they could still have a life together. “I love ye my own,” he thought to himself, positive that somehow his thoughts would reach her no matter where she was.

  Reading Jared’s mind, Macvorn strangled the reins with agitation. If Kaitla had looked again into the fire, she very well could’ve seen the truth of Elsbet and Jared. Stealing a glance at Jared’s beaming face, another disturbing thought occurred to Macvorn. If Kaitla knew the truth about the vision, how much of the truth did she know? Could she possibly have discerned Macvorn’s part in the deception? Did she know of his bargain with Ravon? Raising his chin in determination, Macvorn urged his horse to plod through the soggy ground even faster. If necessary, he’d force her to wed him in accordance with the marriage contract. She’d either wed him or be banished permanently from the realm! Setting his jaw firmly, he made up his mind to hold her to the contract. She’d learn to love him in time. After all, they would have hundreds of years together.

  ~*~

  Appearing just outside the castle’s main wall, Etain and Laird Caymber quickly crouched in a nearby thicket of brush overgrown with vines. The pouring rain and blackened sky helped to shield the two, but the occasional flashes of lightening threatened to reveal their presence to Ravon’s circling sentries. At the heart of Clan Rheged’s lands, they would have no allies to help them if they were discovered lurking this close to the castle. The cold stone walls rose black and forbidding from the muddy ground, torch lit slits from the towers doing nothing to dispel the sense of evil surrounding the fortress. The roaring wind echoed through the twin towers, creating a low moan as though the castle was in constant pain.

  Pulling his hooded cloak closer about his shoulders, Caymber leaned in close to Etain, “D’ye think ye can make yer way inside without being discovered?” he whispered with concern.

  Etain bit her lip, as she scanned the forbidding walls with doubtful eyes, “I dinna ken, my Laird.” Shaking her head doubtfully, she frowned at Laird Caymber, “Since Ravon is expecting Kaitla, perhaps, he willna’ sense my presence…Or it could go the other way, since he fears for his life, he may already sense we are here.”

  “Can ye tell if Kaitla is here yet?” Laird Caymber whispered worriedly. “If the lass is inside and in danger, I shallna’ waste time in stealth. I’ll break down the front door if I must!”

  Inching close enough to reach the castle wall, Etain reached out and spread her hand upon the cold slimy stones. Bowing her head in concentration, she mentally searched the castle for Kaitla’s presence. Smiling briefly at Laird Caymber, she whispered reassuringly, “The lass is not within, I’m sure of it.”

  Gathering her cloak around her, she held an outstretched hand to Laird Caymber, “Come with me, Laird. We’ll retreat into the woods and watch for the lass. When she appears, we’ll join her to destroy Ravon.”

  Reaching for Etain’s hand, Laird Caymber suddenly froze. Mouth slightly open, a dazed look of bewilderment slowly spread across his face. Turning to look for his hand, Etain barely had time to utter the words, “What’s wrong?” As she watched in horror, Laird Caymber’s eyes slowly rolled back into his head as it fell cleanly from his shoulders and landed with a sickening thud at Etain’s feet. In what seemed like slow motion, the headless body slowly listed sideways then fell gushing to the ground beside the detached head. Falling to her knees beside the still body of the Laird, Etain peered through pelting rain mixed with blinding teardrops into the sneering face of her son, Laird Ravon.

  Standing over Laird Caymber’s body, Ravon slowly squeezed the still warm heart he had cleanly rent from Caymber’s chest. Laughing as he watched the drops of blood dapple dark swirls in the mud, he paused to glance into Etain’s shocked face. “Why hello, Mother. I’m so glad ye’ve finally come for a visit…and I canna’ thank ye enough for the gift!” Shoving the bloody heart into her face, Ravon’s snarling laughter rumbled from his chest, “’An how did ye know that Caymber’s heart was just the thing ta’ bring me!”

  Speechless from shock, Etain sat in a crumpled pile in the mud. All she could do was watch as Ravon instructed his guards to impale Caymber’s body on the spiked iron posts standing in front of the castle gate. The body on one post and the head on the other, the grisly scene was illuminated with each flash of lightening. Laird Caymber’s heart was slowly divided into pieces and passed out among the sentries to gorge upon their enemy; Ravon delicately licking the remaining blood from his fingers once the heart was completely gone. Turning to his dumbstruck mother, Ravon crouched on his heels in front of her; bringing his face to within inches of her own, “Ye should be quite proud of me, mother.
After all, ye were always one ta’ tell me I shouldna’ cause suffering!” Sneering and winking with his one good eye, “The bastard never knew what hit him!” Ravon solemnly observed.

  Covering her face with her hands, Etain tried to turn away from the revolting figure in front of her. Grasping her wrists with his powerful hands, Ravon slowly squeezed until he felt the fragile bones crush with a sickening snap. Biting her lip to keep from crying out, Etain’s face grew white as her stomach lurched with the pain and she nearly lost consciousness.

  “Why, Mother. Ye act as though ye’re not glad ta’ see yer darlin’ lad!” Ravon released her wrists to grab her face, forcing her to meet his eyes.

  “I wish I’d never looked into yer evil face…ye shouldha’ never been allowed to be born!” Etain weakly whispered through her bleeding lips, glaring into the evil depths of Ravon’s one gleaming eye.

  “And how could ye say such a thing t’me?” Shaking his head slowly as his grip on her jaw tightened, “I canna tell ye how much it pains me ta’ hear ye speak in such a way,” Ravon said with mock sadness. Releasing her face and grabbing a handful of the long silvery hair, Ravon slowly drug her to the nearby brazier beside the castle gate. Nearly unconscious from the pain of her broken wrists and the shock of her Laird’s death, Etain barely struggled as he dragged her body over rocks and across the muddy ground.

  Brandishing a set of tongs toward the glowing coals of the brazier, Ravon pulled Etain’s body in front of him, forcing her to kneel. Nodding to the nearby guards, Ravon selected an egg-sized ember and held it glowing in front of Etain’s face. “Well, lads, never let it be said that I dinna try to keep my own mother happy.” Grinning maliciously at the watching guards, Ravon pushed the hot coal even closer to Etain’s face. “She wishes she’d never looked into m’charming face? Well now, she’ll not have to worry about ever seeing it again.”