Highlander’s Flaming Secret (Scottish Medieval Historical Romance)

by Adamina Young

  “I have ten men with me. I am willing tae lend them tae ye tae help ye, and tae stand guard. Bandits have been attacking the area and I would nae want any place tae be left undefended. I have seen what they can dae, and ye are vulnerable out here. Dae ye accept my help?”

  Iona glanced behind her and swallowed a lump in her throat. She knew she should seek out Brice and allow him to make the decision since Ciaran was unable to, but Broden had an unsettling effect on her, tempting her into making an agreement she knew she shouldn’t. But, for whatever reason, she found she couldn’t resist. She nodded, and Broden seemed satisfied.

  2

  Broden stood in front of Iona, quelling his thoughts that she was the prettiest lass he had ever seen. He had never seen anyone like her. With her silvery-blonde hair and flawless skin she looked like something from a dream, yet she was flesh and blood, standing before him. But he met her words with suspicion. Something didn’t sit quite right with him. The fact that she had seemed surprised at the mention of bandits caught his attention. The bandits had plagued the area for a while now, and even if this place hadn’t been attacked they should have been placed on alert. That, coupled with the fact that her father was wounded the night after the bandit attack, made Broden suspicious. He was sure she was holding something back when she talked about the accident, so he was going to stay around and try to find out the truth.

  After speaking with her, he returned to his men. He nodded to Connor, who got down from his horse, and another man called Niall.

  “Ye two are gaeing tae stay with me,” Broden said. “Jamie, get back to Da and guard the castle from more attacks.”

  “Shouldn’t ye be in the castle? Ye are Laird now,” Jamie said.

  “Only until Da recovers,” Broden replied. “A laird must defend his home, and that’s what I’m daeing. Da would nae have stopped until he found the bandits, and I shall nae either. There is something amiss here…and I would like tae find out why they dinnae seem tae be worried about the bandits when everyone else is. Connor, Niall, get ye supplies and we’ll enjoy the hospitality of this place.”

  They gathered a few packs from the horses and walked back into the courtyard, where Iona waited to show them where they could stay. She smiled sweetly, and Broden returned the smile.

  Connor leaned in. “Aye, I dinnae think ye suspicion is the only reason why ye want tae stay here.”

  Broden smirked, but didn’t say anything in reply.

  “How long will ye be staying for?” Iona asked.

  “I dinnae ken. Perhaps a few nights. I wish tae speak with ye da when he has recovered. Dae ye have any kin?” Broden asked.

  “I have a brother and a sister,” Iona replied. “I shall try and find them.” Meanwhile, she showed them to a small room where they could bed down and leave their things. Then they were shown to a hall where they were provided with food and ale. They sat on chairs and leaned against wooden tables, eating their bread, meat, and cheese. Iona disappeared, but Broden found the image of her lingered on his mind. She was a lovely creature and filled him with desire, although he had to remain focused. He was not there looking for a lover, he was looking for bandits.

  “Dae ye really think these people could have anything tae dae with the bandits?” Niall asked in a low voice.

  “I dinnae ken, but they would nae be the first people tae pay the bandits instead of risking their supplies being stolen. They might have a contact at least, or some information.”

  “We should have chased after them,” Connor growled.

  “Intae Crow Forest?” Niall asked, eyes wide with horror. Connor rolled his eyes and Broden laughed.

  “Are ye really gaeing tae give in tae superstition?” Broden said.

  “I would rather nae take the chance,” Niall said.

  “If the bandits could gae intae the forest, then sae could we,” Connor said.

  “We have tae take care of Da,” Broden said, “and we would likely have gotten lost anyway. The bandits got lucky, that’s all. They are nae gaeing tae be as fortunate twice. We’ll all see tae that.”

  Broden spoke with authority, and when he uttered that promise it might as well have been a command from God. His heart seethed with rage at the bandits who had stolen from them and wounded his father. Justice had been long coming, and Broden’s warrior heart beat for blood and vengeance.

  Their lunch was interrupted by the soft patter of feet. Broden looked up, expecting it to be the fair-haired Iona, but it was not. A coquettish expression appeared on her face when she saw the three men, and she sauntered into the room, swaying her hips as she did so.

  “Naebody told me we have such fine and mighty guests. I’m Malie, daughter tae Laird Hendrickson,” she said, bowing her head. Her gaze passed across the three men and then settled on Broden, evidently discerning that he was the one in charge. Broden nodded to her and told her the situation. When he explained that Iona had agreed they would stay for a few nights to help with the running of the estate in Laird Hendrickson’s current condition, a flicker of unease passed across Malie’s eyes, although she hid it well with a polite smile. Here was a woman who knew how to play the game, and Broden became instantly wary of her.

  “I’m sure we’ll be quite glad of your presence,” Malie said, and then she left the hall, bumping into Iona outside. Broden saw the outline of the pretty lass and let his gaze linger on her before he took it away and focused on the task at hand.

  “Listen for anything suspicious. I dinnae ken if we’ll find anything here, but if there is something tae find, we have tae be ready,” Broden said.

  “What dae we dae if there are bandits here? Dae we take them on, just the three of us?” Connor asked.

  “Depends how many there are,” Broden replied with a wicked smile. The other two Highlanders laughed heartily, confident in their ability to hold their own in a fight, especially against such low-class rogues as bandits.

  His thoughts turned to the previous night. The air had been charged with electricity as they had ridden from the castle after the alarm had been sounded. There were a dozen bandits, but the number hadn’t seemed important when compared to the might of the MacCrae clan. Broden had been sure that the fight would have been swift and simple, but misfortune had struck and his father had been wounded. At the moment he was bedridden while his festering wound was bandaged and treated with ointment made from herbs and other natural sources. The arrow had punctured a hole right through his body, and it was a wonder he had managed to hold onto consciousness for as long as he did.

  Battles were always a matter of chaos. No matter the prowess of the warrior, there was always a chance that one errant arrow or one lucky stroke of the sword would find its way past the defenses and end a life. Broden was Laird for the time being, but he knew that one day he would inherit the title from his father properly, and then it would be his job to lead the clan forward, bringing together a family of his own, another link in the chain that would stretch out for eternity and hold the castle, the home. But the weight of his ancestry bore down on his shoulders. It was a lot of responsibility, and in the depths of his mind Broden wasn’t sure he was ready for such a task. It seemed as though everything was rushing ahead so suddenly, as though he was being carried along by a current in a raging sea and the water was trying to drag him down.

  The bandits would pay for what they had done. Broden wasn’t going to let any offense against his family or his home pass without punishment, and if the Hendrickson family knew anything, he would root out the truth. Something wasn’t quite right. His instinct told him that someone in the Hendrickson household was hiding something, so he was going to stay until he found out what that was.

  3

  After leaving the Highlanders in the main hall with some food, Iona had left to try and find Brice so she could tell him what happened, but it appeared as though he had gone hunting again. She couldn’t believe he would leave when their father was so ill, and got the feeling that Brice didn’t want to be there at all
. There was no telling when he would be back. She hated to trouble her father with this matter given his condition, but she had to tell somebody. She was only seventeen; it wasn’t right that so much responsibility fell on her shoulders.

  With a rapidly beating heart, Iona made her way to her father’s chambers and gently pushed the door. It opened with a creak and she saw her mother sitting beside the bed, clasping her father’s hand. Ciaran looked pale, although he did look better from being out of his tattered clothes. The bruises and scrapes on his body made him appear as though he had been injured in a brutal fight, and the appearance made her think about mortality. Her father wouldn’t be around forever, and neither would her mother. She wondered what would happen to her when they had passed on to the afterlife, for she didn’t have confidence that Brice and Malie would look after her.

  “Iona,” Freya said, looking up with a weak smile. Her eyes were rimmed red from where she had been crying. She looked pale too, but was still beautiful. Iona rushed across the room to embrace her then looked down at her father and placed a hand on his forehead.

  “How is he?” Iona asked.

  “He is getting better. I must just stay by his bedside until he recovers properly. He drifts in and out of consciousness,” Freya said.

  “Iona, is that you?” Ciaran said. His voice was croaking and weak. His eyes were two slits that barely fluttered open. A crisscross of red rivers lined his eyeballs and his breathing was haggard. Iona placed her hand on his chest.

  “Yes Da, it is me,” Iona said. Ciaran smiled and relaxed in his bed. She told him quickly of what had happened and how Broden was going to help the estate in his absence, since Brice had gone away again.

  “The MacCraes…” he whispered. “Be kind to them Iona. Remember what I told you about hospitality. Brice…Brice will not—” He sputtered and coughed violently. Iona looked afraid, for her father almost doubled over, but then he settled back onto the bed. “Be kind Iona. The MacCraes are a powerful clan. Very influential.”

  “He can’t speak for very long,” Freya gently reminded Iona, and indeed Ciaran’s eyes closed and his head sank into the pillow. His head lolled to the side as he drifted off into a deep sleep.

  “He is going to recover, isn’t he? I don’t know what I would do if—”

  Freya put her finger to Iona’s mouth. “Do not tempt fate my child,” Freya said. She still retained the lilting accent of her native land. Sometimes, especially when impassioned, Iona drifted into this accent as well, but for the most part she had the Scottish way of speaking, as she had been surrounded by it while growing up. “But yes, as long as he gets his rest. His body has been through a great ordeal and it needs time to heal. The only thing that can help him now is rest and prayer.”

  A conflicted look came upon Iona’s face.

  “But which gods will listen?” she asked, referring to the different belief systems shared by her parents. Freya smiled.

  “I hope that all of them will, but I am praying to Odin’s grace. I hope the tree of life will still give its energy to Ciaran. He is too young to die, and especially in such an ignoble manner. I told him not to go hunting, but he is too stubborn.” Freya sighed. “Although I cannot fault his intention; he wanted to spend time with Brice.”

  Iona scowled at her brother’s name. Brice made it impossible to love him.

  “Why do they hate me Ma?”

  Freya looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

  “They are your family Iona. They cannot hate you.”

  “They certainly do not like me.”

  “I know sometimes it is hard”—Freya took her hand from Ciaran’s body and placed it on Iona’s arm—“but deep down they do think of you as a sister. I know because I have spoken to them, as has your father. Brice is struggling at the moment. Over the past few years he has changed…disappeared into himself. It is as though he has erected walls around himself and will not let anyone in. Your father and I have both tried to speak to him, but to no avail. Ciaran hoped that by joining him in a hunt Brice would be more willing to open up, but clearly that wasn’t the case. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ciaran tried to keep up with Brice.” She took a breath. “Sometimes I fear that life is a game for the young.” She looked into the distance for a moment, and then regained her composure.

  “Now Iona, tell me about this man who has come to aid our estate.” Iona told her how Broden had arrived, trying to stop her cheeks from flushing when she spoke about him, although she felt the heat burn her insides.

  “You have done well to greet him and treat him as an honored guest. Your father will be proud. You should show him around the estate and learn more about him. It would do you good to speak to a man whose clan has such influence and history,” Freya suggested. Iona wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that idea. The thought of being alone with him filled her with fear as she wasn’t sure she could handle how her body was reacting.

  “Do you really think that’s necessary Ma? I don’t know if it’s my place. Perhaps Malie—”

  As soon as Iona mentioned her sister’s name, Freya dipped her head and held her hand up.

  “Iona, you must start planning for the future. You are reaching the age when you must think about the life you want to have for yourself. Men are starting to pay attention to you, and one will eventually want you for his wife.” She glanced down at Ciaran and rolled her bottom lip under her teeth. “There are things we need to discuss. Now is not the time, but please just be kind and polite to this man. I will find you later and we shall talk about life and the hope for the future.”

  “As you wish,” Iona said, not entirely sure what her mother meant, but it sounded serious. She embraced her mother once again and softly kissed her father’s head before departing.

  Iona scurried back to the hall, feeling a burning sensation inside when she thought of seeing Broden again, but just as she was about to enter, Malie came out, looking ferocious.

  “What dae ye think ye are daeing, welcoming these strangers tae our home without Da’s permission!” Malie thundered.

  “I couldnae get Da’s permission because ye would nae let me in, and Brice is off hunting again, sae it was up tae me! Was I supposed tae refuse the offer of help from a MacCrae?” she shot back. Malie’s face twisted in an ugly expression.

  “Ye can be the one tae tell Da, and Brice,” she said, before huffing and striding away.

  “I just told Da,” Iona said weakly, although Malie didn’t seem to care. Her shoulders dropped and she wished that she could have faith in her mother’s promise that her siblings loved her.

  Iona closed her eyes and groaned. It seemed as though no matter what she tried she would have done the wrong thing. No doubt if she had turned Broden away Malie would have been displeased with her as well. Hopefully her father would see that she had done the right thing, but it was the first time she had tasted responsibility and she didn’t want to make a mess of it.

  After composing herself, she walked into the hall and addressed Broden, still finding it difficult to stop her voice from trembling, or to quell the fluttering in her stomach.

  “Connor and Niall here will guard the walls and keep a lookout for bandits. What would you like me tae help ye with?” Broden offered. Iona considered the moment for a matter, not entirely sure what she should say. She felt out of her depth, and wondered what each of her family members would do. Brice would likely have refused the offer out of pride, Malie would have made some sly comment, and only Ciaran would have been practical.

  “I suppose just organizing the workers. I dinnae ken if they’ll listen tae me,” Iona said. Broden nodded.

  “Then that’s just what we’ll dae,” he said. He pushed his chair and wiped a few crumbs from his lips. There was nothing left on his plate and he thanked her for the food. He fell into step behind her. Iona was taller than the average Highland woman, which was another gift of her heritage, but even so Broden towered above her. He might well have been descended from giants for his presence w
as so powerful.

  Iona took him through the estate to Ally’s chamber, which doubled as his office, where he took responsibility for managing the finances of the estate and organizing the workers. Broden seemed surprised at this arrangement.

  “Is that nae the way ye dae it at ye castle?” Iona asked.

  Broden shook his head. “Everyone works for everyone else. We share everything, and it works out for us.” Iona knocked lightly on the door, and when there was no answer Broden tried. His huge fists beat so hard that she was afraid the door was going to come off its hinges. A wild-haired Ally flung the door open and glared, although his aggressive expression faded when he saw the mountain that was Broden standing in front of him.

  Iona made the introductions and told Ally that Broden was there to help.

  “I suppose that’s helpful given Brice has gone off again,” Ally muttered. “There’s only sae much one man can do, and I’m afraid that when Brice is away and Laird Hendrickson is wounded the workers can lack in motivation.”

  “I’ll have a word with them for ye,” Broden said. “But before I dae, have ye heard any word about bandits in the area?”

  “Oh, bandits wouldn’t attack here,” Ally said dismissively. Iona was surprised by his confidence; it seemed Ally was too as he quickly corrected himself. “I mean because we are well-guarded and indeed we are a humble place. An attack on us would nae offer the same bragging rights as an attack on something as impressive as the MacCrae castle.”

  Broden pursed his lips.

  “I see. Well, I shall stay here for a short while just in case. Ye never know when a bandit will get the urge tae strike,” Broden said. Iona felt a flutter of fear, wondering if they were really in danger of being attacked by bandits. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be among a war, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.