I rolled my eyes and turned to walk a few trees down while he settled against the trunk next to the tree where he’d tied his horse. “Yes, sir. Sweet dreams.”
He didn’t answer and I looked back to see that his eyes were already closed. It seemed that I had at least a few hours to kill before we would move again, which was fine. I was eager to make it to Conall Castle, but my legs were none too eager to get back on a horse.
My stomach growled, and I looked around miserably at the vast emptiness. I’d never in my life appreciated the heart-clogging goodness of any fast-food restaurant the way I did in the moment. I’d not had time to think about food when I’d fled, and I expected that since Baodan hadn’t intended to leave on another journey seconds after arriving home that he had little in the way of food with him.
He would be forced to hunt or gather something because Lord knew I didn’t know how to do it. I couldn’t stand the thought of being totally useless though. So as I marched around the wilderness, an idea of how I could help came to mind.
As a small child, I lived in an endless bounce of foster homes until I found Lilly. To be honest, I didn’t remember much about most of them. It was a dark, lonely existence, and each time I entered a new home, I knew it would only be for a short period.
I did, however, remember one family very well. They’d been kind enough, but their real children never took to me. In the end, it just didn’t work out. They were big into camping and we went often. I hated most of it, but I loved watching the dad build a fire. He created it the old-fashioned way with kindling and wood, said he learned it in Boy Scouts.
I’d been far too little at the time to try, but it occurred to me that perhaps I could give it a try now. Unless all Baodan gathered was berries, we would need to build a fire at some point. I could go ahead and get it started for him because there was no way in hell that I would eat raw meat. Hopefully by the time I gathered some kindling and found wood that would work, he would be rested enough to wake up and get me some food.
It took me a long time to find enough small branches and kindling to make anything work, but eventually I thought I had enough adequate materials to give it a go. I sat down to the task at hand and got to work, very quickly realizing what a complete and utter idiot I was.
I clearly missed some part of the equation because no matter how fast I ran my fingers up and down the pointed stick, not even a smidge of smoke rose out of the small pile. I got a little carried away with it though, and I continued to twirl my hands up and down the stick until my palms were red, only stopping at the sound of a stranger’s voice behind me.
“Do ye need some help there, lass? Ye are no going to build a fire that way.”
I turned to see a rather wild looking man make his way toward me. He had no horse, and it appeared as if he had traveled for some time. More than that really, he looked as if his home was amongst the trees. His hair a tangled mess, I could smell him as he approached, but he seemed harmless enough.
Maybe the stranger could help me get the fire started and then take his leave before Baodan woke, then I could impress him with my fire skills. “Yes, please. I’m afraid I really don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Aye, I can see that. Hand me that wee stick that yer holding.”
He crouched down beside me, and I extended it in his direction as he pulled out a dirk and went to work on the stick, slowly shaping it into a much more pronounced point. Once he finished, he completely rearranged my pile and then moved to stand behind me. “It should be easier now, lass. Place yer hands back the way ye had them.”
I did and he crouched down and hesitated. I turned around to smile at him. “It’s ok. You can show me.”
He grinned a nearly toothless smile and scooted closer so that he could wrap his arms around my back as he placed his hands over my own. Together we spun the stick. Just as smoke started to build at its base, Baodan’s voice boomed through the trees.
“I would appreciate it, sir, if ye would take yer hands off me wife.”
Chapter 15
The Dungeons of McMillan Castle
Eoghanan hoped to capture the alchemist and secure him inside the dungeons quickly enough so that he could be back outside Mitsy’s door by morning. It proved impossible. While he secured the man easily enough, he had to sneak him into the dungeon and, despite the man’s small stature, he’d struggled to move his unconscious prisoner down that many stairs.
By the time the alchemist was inside a cell and regained consciousness, most of the morning passed. Every moment Eoghanan spent away from Mitsy’s door, his worry grew for her. He needed to protect her, but he also needed to protect his family from the danger that lived among them. He looked up at the small window near the top of the cell. Seeing that the sun was past its midpoint, he decided now was his best time to move.
Niall should be out for his daily ride, which meant there would be a few precious moments to search for the poison to present to his prisoner. Surely if he showed the man his own vial, the alchemist would not be able to deny that he made the potion.
Once he acquired the poison, Eoghanan would check in on Mitsy. He would make certain that she’d been fed and, if he must, spend a few moments speaking with her in the hopes of lifting her spirits. Not that it would be an unpleasant task. He found the lass’ company rather pleasing.
Surely Baodan would return today so that he could see the lass safely to Conall Castle. With both of them gone, he would be free to resume his questioning of the man sitting in front of him without distraction.
Eoghanan shoved a glass of water in the alchemist’s direction. “There is something that I must see to. I shall be back to visit with ye shortly. I doona wish ye harm, but I will have the truth from ye. If ye doona wish to give it freely, ye will leave me no choice but to hurt ye. Think on that whilst I am away.”
The man called out to him as he started to leave causing Eoghanan to pause and face him.
“What is it that ye think I have done, sir, for I swear to ye there is nothing?”
“Ye have provided a man with a poison of much harm.”
“Do ye have this poison that ye speak of? For I am no a maker of such potions.”
“I doona now, but I will.” Egohanan turned and left, praying with each footstep that his brother’s room would be empty and Mitsy would be safe and sound in her own.
* * *
He held his breath as he opened his brother’s door, only releasing it after finding the room vacant.
Once inside, he hurried as fast as he could, lifting every object in sight. He pulled open the window draping and as light streamed in, it bounced off of something beneath the bed. Crouching low, he saw the vial standing neatly underneath where his louse of a brother slept.
Niall would notice the poison’s disappearance, but at this point, what did it matter? In a matter of days Eoghanan would reveal all of his brother’s wrongs.
Slipping the vial safely away, he crept out of Niall’s room, rounding the corner quickly in his hurry to check in on Mitsy. His heart froze at the sight of the bedchamber door hanging open and the only person standing inside the room was Rhona.
* * *
“What has happened here? Did I no tell ye to keep her inside?” He grabbed the old woman by both arms, shaking her as panic coursed through him.
She said nothing and he stopped as he noticed how she trembled, and he knew it wasn’t from fear. Rhona feared no one. Releasing his grip, he directed her to a chair. “What is it, Rhona? Are ye all right?”
After fanning herself, she looked up at him in confusion. “Would ye believe me if I told ye I dinna know for certain? It seems that most of the castle fell suddenly verra ill during the night. I couldna see in front of me, and I grew too weak to get up off me knees. The guards outside the room said the same happened to them.”
Niall. It had to be Niall. He felt the same way on the night of Osla’s death, and his mother felt much the same way for months. “What happened to the lass that was
in here, Rhona? Where’s Mitsy?”
She shook her head. “I must have fallen asleep in the midst of me illness for when I awoke, Niall sat beside me. He told me that Baodan returned home and took the lass immediately for Conall Castle.”
Rhona was no fool. Unlike most, he knew she didn’t fall for Niall’s charms. She’d always been suspicious of him. “Do ye believe him, Rhona? Did Baodan come here?”
She shook her head as she looked down at the floor regretfully. “No. I doona think that Baodan would have left so quickly with her. At the verra least, he would have spoken to me before he went. ’Twas clear that Niall had no been struck by the same illness as the rest of us, and I have no seen him or the lass since. When he spoke with me, I still couldna move, and he left me quickly.”
“Did he take her, do ye think?” Surely, Niall would have no reason to and, if he had, he doubted the lass was still alive now.
“I doona think so. He seemed verra angry, and he walked with a bad limp. If he tried to capture the lass, I believe he failed to do so.”
“Good.” He turned to leave, his mind racing with all that he knew he must do. “Do ye know where he went?”
“No. I expect to the village. ’Tis where he likes to find all his lassies, and he seemed in a bad way. I expect he’s gone in search of someone to soothe him. I hope that he willna, but I feel sure he shall.”
“I have to go, Rhona. Will ye be all right here?”
He ran as she waved him on, back down to the dungeons. If Niall no longer stayed at the castle where he could keep an eye on him, it was more urgent than ever for him to gather the proof that he needed. His prisoner would give him answers tonight.
* * *
“Dammit man, I doona wish to hurt ye, but if ye doona tell me what ye know of this, ye will leave me no choice.” Eoghanan extended the man a drink of water. He’d not laid a hand on him as of yet, and he hoped he wouldn’t have to. “Have I hurt ye yet? I doona mean ye harm, but I believe ye have been forced to provide a man something that has harmed others, aye?”
“Ye did hurt me. Ye hurt me head.” Slowly the alchemist drank the water, staring back at Eoghanan with dismay.
“Would ye have come with me willingly?”
“No.”
“Help me, sir. I have told ye I willna hurt ye unless I must. What are ye so afraid of?”
For the first time in days, a spark lit the man’s eyes. “How can ye ask that? I have done nothing, but ye have locked me up like a criminal. If ye doona mean me harm, then why have ye brought me here?”
Why did he believe the man? No other held such a knowledge of herbs in the village. Of course, he knew his brother to be smart enough to think of looking elsewhere than his own village for the poison. It wouldn’t do for people to learn the truth about him.
Eoghanan crouched down in front of his prisoner, regret in his heart for the injustice he now believed he’d done. “All right, lad, What are ye called? I’ll tell ye the truth of what has happened, and ye must swear to do the same with me. For if I find later that ye have betrayed me and it was ye that he worked with, I can assure ye that I shall be the last one to see ye alive.”
“Aye, I swear it. I have no reason to lie to ye. Me name is Durell.”
“Fine. I believe that me brother acquired a poison and uses it to slowly poison our mother. ’Tis no the first time he used such a substance on another. She is gone from the castle now, so I have hope that she will heal, but she is still in danger until I can prove his guilt.”
The man looked horrified at the thought. He didn’t provide the poison. “Surely, the laird couldna do such a thing. Why?”
Eoghanan shook his head, astonished at the man’s conclusion. “No, ’twas no Baodan. ’Twas Niall. Now, I believe ye when ye say ye dinna aid him in this. Are there others who could have done so? Here is the poison that I spoke of before.” He handed it to the man and watched as he stared at it.
Eoghanan held his breath while he waited.
Finally, Durell spoke. “Aye, I know who made this poison. There is a woman who lives no far from the village. She is no much of a healer. Only those who wish to bring foul things upon another seek her mixtures.”
Eoghanan clasped the man on the shoulder, hopeful for the first time in many days. “Is there an antidote for this?” He knew this vial would not be the only one in Niall’s possession. For him to have poisoned their mother for so long, he must have much more locked away.
“Aye, I can make ye one, but I shall need to be at me home with me herbs and mixtures.”
Just as well, he needed to get to the village to find his brother anyway. If he found Niall and he did have Mitsy, or if he learned he’d harmed her, Eoghanan would not wait to gather proof. He would gladly kill his brother on the spot. “Verra well, we shall leave at once.” He smiled at the look of relief on the old man’s face. “I told ye I wouldna hurt ye and me apologies for yer head.”
Chapter 16
The Road To Conall Castle
The man released his grip on me immediately and jumped away like someone struck by lightning. “I’m verra sorry, sir,” he told Baodan. “I was only trying to help her with the fire. I shall take me leave at once.”
I stood up and held up a hand to stop him. “No, wait. Thank you. I needed your help. Stay and have a meal with us before you leave. You stay and get the fire started and my husband,” I couldn’t help but say the word sarcastically, “and I will go in search of some food.”
“Only if yer husband finds this acceptable.” He looked down at his feet, clearly intimidated by Baodan.
I walked over to Baodan and grabbed him firmly by the hand so that I could drag him off to where he had left his horse.
“He insists upon it. We will be back in a little while with something to eat.”
I squeezed Baodan’s hand as tightly as I could, but I knew it didn’t cause him the pain that I’d hoped. Once we were out of earshot, I turned on him. “Are you crazy? What the hell is the matter with you?”
“Me?” He genuinely looked shocked. “Ye’re the one who allowed that vagabond to lay hands on ye, lass. He could have dirked ye right in the side, and ye would have been helpless to stop him.”
“He was just helping me. I tried to start a fire to help you out, and I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was doing, but all of that is beside the point. Why did you tell him I was your wife?”
“It isna suitable for ye to be traveling alone with a man who isna yer husband.”
“But I am traveling with someone who isn’t my husband. Do you really think that man cares about what is suitable or not?”
“I doona care what he thinks, lass, but until we get to Conall Castle, ye shall be seen as me wife to anyone we may cross paths with. Now,” he reached out and grabbed me by the wrist, dragging me behind him as he traveled farther away from the man and our fire. “Ye have promised this man food to eat, and food we shall give him.”
* * *
Lots of daylight remained by the time we finished eating. We could have traveled a good distance further but our wild man, who later introduced himself as Alec, seemed starved for conversation and chatted our ears off until sundown.
It turned out Baodan was far less of a hard ass than he tried to make himself appear, for it didn’t take long before he softened to Alec. By the end of the evening, he offered Alec work at MacMillan Castle if wished it.
After hours of listening to the two men talk, I zoned out until Baodan’s touch on my hand drew me out of my daze. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Alec just said that we make a handsome couple, and I told him ’twas only because of me wife’s beauty.”
He winked at me playfully, and I rolled my eyes.
Alec stood and smiled in our direction. “Aye, it has done me heart good to witness two people so truly in love. Gives me hope that I may one day find a lassie of me own.” He tore his gaze away from me to address Baodan. “Why doona ye just kiss her already? I can see in yer eyes
that ye wished to do so all afternoon, but ye have been denied the pleasure of doing so by me presence. Go on and do it now. ’Tis been too long since I’ve seen a proper kiss.”
I stilled where I sat, but Baodan stood in a moment, yanking me up so that I pressed flush against him.
“Aye lad, if ye wish to see a kiss, I am in no mood to deny ye.”
It was rough and consuming, the way his lips met mine. There was a heat in his lips, a passion that had been suppressed for far too long, and I was more than happy to help sate it. He had one hand woven into my hair, gripping the back of my neck so tightly I could only move my lips in response to him when he allowed it. With his other hand against the smallest part of my lower back, he pressed himself into me. I could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
He had yet to break for air, and I worried he would pass out from the effort. He kissed like a man too long without love. While possibly less practiced than his younger brother, he made up for it in talent.
I didn’t care that Alec watched, but I found myself wishing he wasn’t there. Maybe if we were alone I could’ve persuaded him to just rip all of my clothes off and take me right by the fire.
When I could take no more or pass out myself, I reached up with my right hand and pressed it lightly on his face. He stilled and I realized in that instant that he’d lost himself. It broke my heart to be the one to pull him back to reality. I got the feeling that he didn’t often allow such weakness in himself.
An apology lay behind his eyes, and I reached up to kiss him lightly in the hopes that he would know it was okay. How could it not be? There wasn’t a woman alive who would have been bothered by that kiss.
To the left of us, Alec started clapping and I blushed as Baodan released his grip on my neck. Pulling away so that our chests no longer touched, we both moved so that we faced each other once more, but Baodan kept his arm around me, holding me tightly in the crook of his arm.
Morna's Legacy: Box Set #1 Page 57
