by Sky Winters
My father and mother were standing on either side of me, their faces stern and emotionless. I couldn't stand it anymore and turned to face them.
“How do you know they will keep their word? They are nothing but dirty heathens! What if they just take me to double cross you? Do you not care about my safety? My happiness?”
My furious pleas fell on deaf ears, and I was silenced by the dreaded footfalls of horses outside the door.
“Please don't make me go,” I begged my mother, clinging to her dress. Her face didn't waver, and I turned to my father. “Please, don't! I want to stay with you. I want to stay in the lowlands!”
“Silence,” my father commanded. A rapping sound fell upon my ears and soon I was hit with a gust of cold wind as the escort entered. He was unkempt and had a long beard, and glowered at me from the doorway.
“That the girl?” he asked in a low, gruff voice.
My father nodded.
“How 'bout her dowry then?” he demanded, his grubby hands extended toward my face, as if to touch me. I flinched and had to do everything I could not to spit on him.
“It will be as we discussed with Lord Lachlan. See to it that she is safe for the next year and the dowry is all his. He is free to come and collect it himself, barring proof that Lady Bethia is all right.”
So, my father did intend to secure my well-being. I sighed silently, my shoulders slumping forward. It was a small comfort considering my fate. I glared at the man in our doorway. He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking and leered at me. It sent another spike of nausea through my body.
My parents bantered with the man briefly and saw me off. I was led to the man's carriage. He took his seat near the horses and we left unceremoniously, my parents standing firmly in front of the door. The terror on my face had to have been obvious, but they made no sign that they recognized it. I glared at them until they were out of sight, feeling as if they had betrayed me in the deepest, worst respect.
I watched as the familiar landscape around me passed before my eyes. The familiar haunts of my childhood were all left behind me as I was moved past the limits of our kingdom. The landscape turned more and more unrecognizable, and all I could do was look off into the distance, mourning the land where I had grown up and dreading my venture into the highlands.
Chapter 3
We rode for all of daylight without stopping. At dark, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the unkempt driver jumped out of his seat. I watched him curiously, suddenly afraid. There was nothing around for miles.
“I 'ave to piss. Don't move.”
I stared at him, horrified by his lack of propriety. He seemed to sense this, and a big ugly grin spread across his face.
“You're a pretty little thing,” he said, eyeing me up and down. I clenched my teeth, unsure of how to respond. “If I wasn't to deliver you to Lord Lachlan safe n' sound, virginity intact, you bet I'd 'aver my hands all over ye. Ah well.”
“I'll be sure to let him know you said so,” I said, lifting my chin with the same regal air I had learned from my mother. This sobered him, and he backed away, scurrying off into the darkened woods. I shuddered as I heard his stream of urine hitting the dried leaves of the forest floor, wishing I was anywhere but there.
Suddenly, I heard commotion in the forest. A strangled cry reached my ears, and I looked around, terrified. It was too dark to see anything, so I gripped my bag tightly, straining my eyes and ears. I stifled a scream when a huge black figure approached me.
“Look what I found,” he said in a deep voice. “A pretty little princess.” As he came closer, I saw that the man was huge and beastly. He was missing teeth, and had wild hair. His mouth was twisted into a cruel smile, and I squirmed into the furthest corner of the carriage as he reached his hand out to me. It was wrapped in a bandage. My night could not have gotten any worse.
“Stay away from me,” I growled, kicking at him. He didn't flinch. Instead, he laughed.
“Feisty,” he said approvingly, grabbing my ankle and sliding me down the seat, until our bodies were touching.
“Let go of me!” I shrieked, hitting him with all my strength. His eyes were evil and glared down at me, and I was sure that I was doomed. If this man had his way with me, it would be my fault that the peace treaty between the highlands and the lowlands was broken. I would be a defective bride, and more men like Kain were sure to die.
The ugly sneer on the man's face grew closer. Before I could tell what was happening, a blinding white streak flew between us. It was large and snarling, and I watched in a daze as the man was torn away from me, his advances intercepted by a majestic white wolf. Soon, the large beast's perfect mane was stained red with blood, and the cruel man lay on the ground, shrieking in a womanly a voice.
“Princess, help me!” he cried, reaching his bandaged hand to me once again.
My heart grew hard and suddenly I was incapable of pity.
“Save yourself,” I growled. His wide eyes lost all light of hope, and the white wolf finished the job, tearing out the man's throat. The huge creature took a glance at me trembling in the carriage and then disappeared, bounding deep into the woods.
***
I don't know how long it was that I sat amongst the carnage, in shock and terrified to move lest the wolf see me and change its mind about attacking. I whispered for help, wishing that the escort might hear me. The bandit had surely slit his throat, and I gazed into the full, round moon, wishing more than anything that I could return home to the lowlands.
Suddenly, I heard a twig snap and gasped involuntarily. Another man was coming toward me. I squinted into the darkness, sure that I was about to encounter another enemy. As the man entered my view, I was taken aback. I had never seen a creature like this before. He glanced in concern from me to the corpse of the man lying on the ground.
“Are you, all right?” he asked, in a low, rumbling voice. Somehow, I was instantly comforted.
“I want to go home,” I said, purposely avoiding the question. I didn't know if I was all right or not. I just knew I was tired.
A gentle grin creased his broad, handsome face. I stared at him, unable to take my eyes away. He approached me cautiously, stepping over the brute's body.
“And where is that, love?” he asked.
“The lowlands,” I said, my eyes brimming with tears.
He glided into the seat beside me and wrapped his muscular arm comfortingly around me.
“You're a long way from home, love,” he said softly, pressing me close against his firm chest. He laid his cheek against me, and although I had never been so near a man like this before, I didn't feel threatened. I could feel his stubble against my skin, and the friction sent a small thrill through me. “But I can take you to the closest settlement to here. You're going to be all right. I'll see to it.”
He squeezed my shoulder and abruptly stood, climbing into the driver's seat of the carriage. I felt suddenly cold without the warmth of his body near me, and the absurd thought crossed my mind then that I had never felt so lonely. I considered telling him that Lord Lachlan was expecting me, but I felt reluctant to unveil the importance of my rank, just in case the man was untrustworthy.
I heard a whinny and the carriage jolted forward. I sighed, staring at the man's golden hair as it swayed against his shoulders. It was long, thick and curly, braided on one side. I gazed at him, my eyes growing heavier and heavier until I was lulled into a deep sleep by the gentle rocking of the carriage.
Chapter 4
When I awoke, I was in a cot. The chill in my bones was unbelievable. I sat up quickly, disoriented and looked about me. I was in a small tent. There was rustling outside, and I groaned, wishing I could remove my corset. It was bound far too tightly for my comfort.
“Good morning, miss,” a shrill woman's voice said to me. Somehow, I had missed her sitting in the corner of the tent. She stood, offering me a dirty cup full of milk. I was tempted to resist it, but suddenly felt overwhelmed with thirst.
&n
bsp; I drank deeply and handed the empty cup back to her.
“Thank you,” I said, looking down at the ground. It embarrassed me to look at her, dressed as strangely as she was. It appeared she wore no corset at all, and had a simple dress of white plaid, bound with a brass buckle over her breasts. She saw me looking and quirked an eyebrow. Suddenly I realized that she could help me. “I was wondering...can you help me out of my corset? I can hardly breathe.”
A pink blush colored her cheeks and she nodded.
“D'you want the flap drawn then?” she asked, gesturing to the opening in the tent. I nodded, and she closed it quickly. Her fingers worked nimbly on the strings of my corset and I was suddenly exposed in the cool morning air.
“I'm afraid none of my clothes will be warm enough,” I mumbled, digging through my bag. The woman quirked a smile.
“I suppose we could get you a spare tartan,” she said thoughtfully. “You got a lowlander's constitution.”
I couldn't help but feel offended as she disappeared out of the tent. She appeared a few moments later with bulky fabric in her arms.
“I'll show you how,” she said. “My name's Winny, by the way.”
“Thank you,” I said. “My name is Bethia. Do you know where I am?”
“You're right where you're supposed to be,” Winny said.
I pursed my lips. That wasn't the answer I'd been hoping for.
“Well there you are,” she said, studying her handiwork. “Let's get you out to breakfast before they start asking questions.”
I followed Winny out of the tent and toward a large camp fire. The smell of meat cooking brought rumbles of hunger to my stomach, and she gestured for me to take my place on a felled tree. There were several people sitting around us, and many of the men stared at me as I gazed around the circle. Their inappropriate interest made me uncomfortable. I could tell what most of them were thinking. It was no different from what other men and boys had always thought of me. Fortunately, I'd had Kain to protect me most of our lives. Now I was alone.
Finally, Winny returned to my side. She brought me a bowl full of porridge and I ate ravenously. I heard a chuckle from across the fire and looked up to meet the eyes of the man who had saved me the night before.
“Easy, love, you don't want to choke.”
The grin on his face brought a blush to my own, and the men around him laughed quietly.
“Welcome to my clan, Lady Bethia,” he said with a low bow.
I froze, realization suddenly dawning on me.
“Lord Lachlan?” I asked, nearly choking on the bite of porridge I had in my mouth.
The men surrounding us cackled. Lord Lachlan's eyes danced behind the firelight. Suddenly I no longer felt hungry. I stood and glared at him.
“I'll have you know I didn't agree to this union. If it were up to me, I'd still be back home, where it's warm. Not out here with you and your band of heathens. Did you see how they were looking at me? But what do you care – you have what you want. Yes, you may be able to marry me, but I'd like you to do me a favor and leave me alone.”
I turned my back on him and headed back to the safety of the tent where I had woken up. I could feel his eyes burning into my back, but I didn't turn around. The men were in a clamor now.
“You should put that whelp in her place,” one man exclaimed. “She shouldn't be talking to you like that, Lord Lachlan.”
“No,” I heard his low voice murmur. “She's been through a lot. Let her be.”
Chapter 5
As the week went by, I slowly realized that living in the camp with none of the civil luxuries of the lowlands was going to be my life. It was very cold, but nobody seemed to care or suggest we take shelter in a more heated abode. The men were all larger and more broad and muscular than any other people I had ever seen, and even the women were thick and sturdy, beautiful in their own fierce way. One of them, Jeila, had her eyes on Lord Lachlan, and seethed at me any chance she could.
“I hear you two are going to tie the knot,” she said, sitting a little too close to me one evening at the fire, her dark eyes narrowed.
“I hear the same thing,” I said, not looking up from the plate of fish and cheese on my plate.
“He's not going to be happy with you for long,” she laughed. “You're too small. Most times the little ones like you don't get any husbands. You make poor, weak stock. Not cut out for the mountains.”
“Great, maybe I'll get to go home then,” I said, glaring at Lord Lachlan from across the fire. He stopped chewing and stared levelly at me. He hadn't approached me since my outburst the week before, though I knew that wedding plans were in the works whether I was involved in them or not.
Lord Lachlan looked away from me, distracted by a question from the man beside him.
“Did you hear the ghosts talking last night?” the man asked. “They've been restless since Lady Bethia arrived. Maybe they think the lowlanders are bad luck.”
I glowered down at my food. It wasn't bad enough that I didn't want to be there. If nobody else wanted me to be there either, I had a hard time seeing the point of staying. It was generally terrible for everybody involved. But the peace treaty had been signed, and as decreed, my life was now in the mountains.
“I did,” Lord Lachlan answered, to my surprise. The strange superstitions of the highlanders were peculiar, but they all seemed to believe in the ghosts in the hills. Even with all their might, the ghosts held power over their conduct. And they were certainly mighty. I had seen the men training a few days beforehand. Their rippling muscles and fierce expressions were intimidating to me.
“I spoke with one of them. A bad omen. It has nothing to do with the lowlanders, this much I am sure of.”
The group quietly mulled the news over, looking down into their plates.
“He's probably just saying that because you're right here,” Jelia hissed to me. “He doesn't want to hurt your delicate lowlander feelings.”
“Lord Lachlan has no reason to flatter me,” I said, looking squarely into her eyes. For some reason this woman would not let up on me, and her foolish, immature games were starting to wear on my nerves.
Lord Lachlan seemed to sense his name rolling off my lips, because he looked again at me.
“The spirits told me that Lady Bethia would bring us good fortune, actually,” he said, directly to me, his handsome face glowing gold in the firelight. “I have no reason to believe otherwise.”
We gazed at each other and I felt a tugging deep within me to go to him and take my rightful place beside my betrothed. It certainly would make Jelia seethe with jealousy if I did so. But still, I didn't trust him, and resented more than anything that I was to be traded as if I were some pawn in a game I wanted nothing to do with. The only reason I was there was to save people like Kain, not to be some blushing bride to a brutish highlander. What did I care if I brought them luck? They could all rot for all I cared.
Unfortunately, the power of my anger was waning the longer I was in their camp. Everybody had been more than accommodating, and many were even apologetic about their lifestyle, begging my forgiveness for their peculiar habits and customs. They claimed to hate lowlanders, but they were more courteous and thoughtful of me than even my own parents had been. It must have been something in their breeding.
***
Because of their kind treatment toward me, I thought that perhaps they were all very welcoming of outsiders, until one day my opinion of this changed. I was in my tent with Winny, who had taken to keeping me company as I attempted to avoid the rest of the highlanders. Suddenly, a loud rallying cry roused us to our feet.
“It's the O'Connell clan,” Winny said, pale-faced. “We don't allow any encroachment here, no, that's not allowed.”
The fierce men ran past the open flap of the tent. I approached the opening to watch as they sped off together toward the breach. Following up behind the men was Lord Lachlan, who had just finished bathing. He had barely put his kilt on before following the men to th
e disturbance. I couldn't take my eyes off his broad chest as he ran toward me, his eyes fully focused on the scene ahead of him. I was entranced, despite myself, by his hulking, rippling body barreling forward, his bare muscles tense and threatening to tear apart any threat to his clan.
He passed the tent without any indication of having seen me, and I watched his long hair swaying, still wet from bathing. It flew behind him, some strands slapping against his muscular back. I turned to Winny, who was watching the men running off with a look I found difficult to pinpoint. It seemed there were elements of fear, certainly, but there was also an unmistakable thrill behind her eyes. This was what they were bred for – fighting and protecting what was theirs. I never felt more out of place, me and my frail lowlander's body, than in that moment.
I felt restless suddenly, and longed to go and see the action.
“Lady Bethia, no!” Winny cried, reaching out to grab me as I ran out of the tent. She was too late, and I followed the commotion, my breath coming in short gasps as I tried to catch up with the men. Although they were huge, they were incredibly fast, and it took everything I had just to get far enough ahead to find where they were going. I followed them as they climbed a large hill in the camp, and heard metal clanking as the men prepared to brawl.
I was fully panting by the time I climbed the hill, my legs shaky from the unexpected exertion. Once I reached the top of the hill, my eyes widened.
“Wolves!” I shouted.
All of the men, both O'Connells' and Lachlans', turned toward the sound of my voice. It was too late. Some of the O'Connell men were already being attacked by a small pack of wolves. Two of them were grey, and knocked the leader of the rival clan down to the ground. They began gnawing at the man, putting their giant grey paws on his suddenly vulnerable body. In the lead was another great white wolf, much like the one that had saved me on my journey to meet Lord Lachlan.
