by Fiona Faris
“I will ne’er forget the sight or smell o’ that which is before me now, Ian MacDonald, but they did no’ do this thing. Duncan Campbell saved my life, and I demand that ye let him go unharmed.”
“Ye are my lady. I dinnae agree with yer choices on this matter, but out o’ respect for yer faither, our laird, I will allow it just this once.” Turning to Duncan, Ian made his mind known. “Leave these lands, all o’ ye Campbell scum, and ne’er return, or I will kill ye.” Ian’s demand was joined by exclamations of agreement from the other MacDonalds.
Horrified that she might never see Duncan again, Marra broke free of Diana’s grasp on her arm and ran out from behind her people. She raced into Duncan’s embrace. “I dinnae want tae lose ye. I cannae lose anyone else that I care for, no’ another soul,” she sobbed, overwhelmed by the entire ordeal.
“Come back with me. Stay with me,” Duncan invited, crushing her to him. Her tears soaked through his shirt, leaving damp round circles that showed the muscled torso beneath. She had lain her head against his naked chest when he had rescued her and longed to do so again, but she could not give into her desires. She could not leave her people behind.
“I cannae go with ye, Duncan. I must remain here with my fellow clansmen and bury my faither. Ye must go and save yers by warnin’ him o’ the comin’ attack.”
“I will no’ leave ye alone tae face such horrors, lass. I will no’ do it.”
“Ye must. Ye have nae choice. Ye must think o’ yer own people or they tae will be nae but ash and bones.”
“Marra, I…” His words faded as he stared down into her eyes. When he leaned his head down to kiss her, Marra could not resist the fervent need she saw in their blue depths. Rising up on her toes, she met his lips with a fierce passion, pouring every bit of feeling she possessed into the moment. Her head swam and she swayed in his arms, overcome by the sensations that flowed through her body. Had she not known better she would have sworn the earth had moved beneath their feet. When their lips parted, Marra buried her face in his chest once more. Duncan’s fingers threaded through her hair as he clutched her head to him. “I will return for ye. I swear on the scorched earth in which we stand that cries out with yer faither’s blood, I will return for ye, nae matter the cost.”
“Go,” she whispered in a strangled sob, pushing him away, and watched as he waved his men back to the boats. As she turned to rejoin Diana, she passed Ian.
“Ye have made a grave mistake in lettin’ him live, lass. A mistake I fear ye will live tae regret.”
Marra stopped and met his eyes. “Tae grant a person their life is ne’er a mistake. Have we no’ seen enough death this day?”
“Aye, and there will be more tae come. Mark my words, lass. Duncan Campbell will no’ live tae see another winter.”
Chapter Eleven
Duncan raced with his men back to the boats. He had no way of knowing when word had been sent to the other MacDonalds across Scotland, and he feared that he might already be too late. While some MacDonald lands were far flung, others were much closer neighbors. Any one of them could choose to attack at any time, and there would be no stopping it with the truth once battle had commenced. No, they needed to send envoys now, before it was too late, explaining that they had had no part in the attack on Jura.
Once they reached the boats, the men rowed hard for the MacGregor stronghold. Duncan’s mind was on preventing the coming danger, but his heart was back on the island with Marra. He could not stand the idea of leaving her there alone in her pain and grief. He reminded himself that she was not alone, but with her clansmen; yet it brought him little comfort. I will return for her as soon as I have assured the safety o’ my family. Leaving her felt as if he were being ripped in two.
Once he reached the castle, Duncan immediately began issuing orders to increase the guard. He entered the great hall looking for his father, but did not find him there. Fearing that his health had taken a turn for the worse, he climbed the stairs to the laird’s bedchamber. Fergus MacGregor lay upon the bed, pale and sweating. Coughs racked his body as bloody sputum flew through the air. Idonea stood by his bedside, attempting to get one of her herbal tea remedies into him between coughing spells.
“Faither,” Duncan spoke softly as he approached.
“Duncan? I did no’ expect tae see ye so soon. Ye had said ye might be gone for days tendin’ tae the needs o’ Marra’s people.”
“I come bearing’ news that could no’ wait, Faither. The MacDonalds claim that it was Campbells that attacked them and no’ just any Campbells. They blame us.”
“We had nae part in the attack on Jura,” his faither coughed out in protest.
“Aye, I ken that all tae well, but they will no’ listen tae reason. Were it no’ for Marra, we would be lyin’ dead among the bracken. Ian MacDonald has sent runners to the MacDonald chieftains seeking vengeance tae be taken by their fellow clansmen throughout Scotland. Any day now we could be under attack ourselves.”
“We must send our own envoys immediately. They must learn the truth before it is tae late.” Another spasm of coughs cut him off.
“I will see tae it, Faither. I have doubled the guard, and I will have the men prepare tae face battle if we must.”
“Ye have ne’er faced battle before, my son. The men need their laird. They need an experienced warrior.”
“Ye need yer rest. The men will simply have tae obey my word as if it were yer own nae matter my lack o’ experience in the field. I must return tae Jura as soon as I have done what is needed. I cannae leave Marra alone, and we must convince the MacDonalds that we had nothin’ tae do with the attacks.”
“Ye cannae return, my son. We need ye here with us tae defend yer family. I am in nae fit state tae be leadin’ our men as ye said yerself.”
“I will no’ leave her alone, Faither.”
“She is no’ alone. She is with her kinsmen. I will no’ have my son slaughtered for the love o’ a lass; nae matter how much she may remind me o’ yer dear sainted maither.”
“I must.”
Sighing in exasperation, his faither grumbled under his breath about his stubborn offspring then turned back to Duncan. “If ye insist on returnin’ and riskin’ death, then ye will at least have the good grace tae wait until the morn after ye have seen tae everythin’ that needs doin’ here tae protect yer family. I will no’ take nae for an answer even if that means I am forced to chain ye tae the wall.”
“Aye, Faither.” Duncan shook his head at his father’s exaggerations, but knew he was right. He had to protect his family first, before he did anything else. Dinnae lose faith, Marra. I will return for ye. I swear it.
Marra stood among her fellow clansmen and women feeling lost and alone. She felt Duncan’s absence keenly and feared for his safety. “How can ye plead for the life o’ a Campbell after what they did tae yer faither?” Diana asked from beside her in disbelief.
“It was no’ Duncan or his faither that did this.”
“Ye cannae ken that it was no’. Ye were no’ here.”
“I was no’ here because I had been taken, tied up, and left in an abandoned croft all alone until Duncan came tae save me. He was with me. He could no’ have done this.”
“How do ye ken it was no’ him that took ye and then made as if he had rescued ye though he had no’?”
“The voice was no’ his.”
“He could have had another man take ye.”
“He would no’ do that.”
“How do ye ken what he would or would no’ do? Ye dinnae ken the man.”
Marra did not know what to say that would convince Diana that Duncan was an honorable man. In fact, Diana was so sure of her accusations against the Campbells that Marra was beginning to have doubts of her own. She knew it was not fair of her to waver in her convictions, but it was next to impossible to ignore the heart broken certainty she saw in Diana’s eyes. It could no’ have been his clansmen, could it? Before she had met Duncan, she would not have hesitated to
believe them guilty, but now…
“Where were all o’ ye before when I came?”
“Those o’ us who survived the attack on the castle spent the night at my brother’s croft. We will do so again this night, and ye can share a pallet with me.”
“I verra much doubt yer brother has enough room or food tae maintain what remains o’ the clan for verra long.”
“Nae, he does no’, but we will do what we must. We will rebuild from the ashes with ye as our lady. Yer faither was brokering a marriage for ye afore he died. I dinnae ken the man, but ye should be aware that it is likely ye will be expected tae wed and soon. Perhaps yer future husband’s people will be able tae offer us aid.”
“I have nae desire tae wed a man I have no’ met nor heard o’ until now. How can ye speak o’ such things as we stand o’er the burned bodies o’ our dead? I will no’ hear another word about it, Diana. Duncan’s people have offered tae take us in, and yet ye accuse him o’ this terrible deed. Ian has taken it upon himself tae act as laird, summoning our kinsmen from afar tae avenge my faither, only ye have sent them tae the wrong enemy. It was no’ his place tae call for justice. He is no’ the laird. As yer lady, I demand that envoys be sent immediately tae call off any further attacks until we have ascertained who is truly responsible.” Turning to Liam and Robert, she instructed them to see to it.
“Ye may be our lady, but ye are merely a lass. Our people need a laird tae lead them, no’ ye,” Ian challenged her.
“Until then ye will show me the proper respect due a lady o’ my station. I will no’ stand by and allow the slaughter o’ innocent men, women, and children. We will discover the truth before we take any further action.”
Liam and Robert moved to flank her left and right. As her cousins they were bound by honor and blood to protect and defend her even against her own people. Moving to stand beside her showed that they would enforce her bidding, and anyone who did not fall into line would answer to them. “Perhaps it would be best to send someone else tae call off the attack. I dinnae believe it tae be wise tae leave ye unguarded, lass,” Liam spoke, eyeing the men gathered around Ian.
“Nae, ye are the only ones I trust tae do as I ask.”
The brothers nodded and walked down to the boats. Grumblings of discontent swept through the group. Marra moved toward her father’s burnt corpse and knelt down beside him. She had had enough of clan politics for one day. It felt crass and unfeeling to be discussing such matters over the bodies of their fallen loved ones. She did not blame her people for making the choices they had made in her absence with the blood of their kinsmen crying out to be avenged from the ground beneath their feet. Her own father’s voice echoed through her mind. The last thing she had done was deceive him by going to meet Duncan without her father’s permission. She thought of the night before she had left, his kiss upon her forehead, so out of character, and felt guilt for her rebellious heart ever longing to be free from his rule; and now she was, in the most permanent way possible. This is no’ what I wanted when I wished for freedom. Tears streamed down her face as she covered his body with her arisaid.
She attempted to move him, but could not do so without rending his flesh. Sobbing in horror and grief, she pulled out her sgian dubh and started tearing at the charred soil. The miniature size of the blade did very little damage to the hard packed surface, but as she violently stabbed her blade repeatedly into the dirt, she poured all of her pain and uncertainty into the action. “Marra, lass,” Diana moved to take the knife from her hand and held her sobbing frame in empathy. Two of her fellow clansmen came forward to lift their laird’s body from the ashes. The sound of ripping flesh, followed by a noxious odor filled the air causing the men to drop the corpse and back away. A nearby clanswoman vomited from the smell.
“We cannae move the body without rending it asunder. He must be buried where he lies,” Marra informed them, pushing away from Diana and taking her sgian dubh back. She began digging once more, and Diana looked to her brother for help.
Ian moved forward grabbing a mattock from one of the other men. “Here, lass. Let me.”
Marra stood and allowed him to break up the soil. As the metal pierced the blackened earth it was as if each fall of the pick pierced her heart instead. Other clansmen and women began digging graves for the rest of the dead. It took some time, but they were eventually able to dig shallow graves for each of them. Once the bodies were in the ground, they used the stone debris from the castle to place over the graves. It took the entirety of the day to complete the task. As night fell, they said a prayer for the dead. As there were no clergy present they were unable to do much more than that.
“I will arrange for the consecration o’ the ground at the earliest opportunity,” Marra promised her people.
Ian nodded in acknowledgment. “Ye are welcome tae stay with my family and I.”
“I thank ye for yer offer o’ hospitality, Ian, and I accept, but we will need tae make other arrangements for the future. What remained o’ the winter stores and spring garden were destroyed in the fire. Ye cannae be expected tae feed everyone on yer own meager stores for verra long.”
“We will find a way, lass.”
Marra followed Diana to Ian’s croft. Ian’s wife had prepared pottage, and they all ate, then lay down for the night. Marra slept with Diana upon a pallet on the floor. It was cramped, but they made do as best they could. As she lay there attempting to go to sleep, she listened to the various sounds of the night, her people breathing, the fire crackling, an owl calling out in the distance. She thought of the nights she had spent in Duncan’s arms and wished it were he that lay beside her now. She had secretly hoped that he would return for her after warning his father of the coming danger of an attack, but he had not. Part of her knew that it was for the best, given Ian’s threats of murder were any of the Campbells to return, but she could not help how she felt. Her heart longed to feel the comfort of his arms once more.
Diana’s accusations against the Campbells rang through her mind as images of her father’s burnt corpse passed behind her eyelids. She knew that even if she lived to be old and grey, the gruesome image would never leave her. The memory of the sound and smell of rending flesh crossed her senses, causing her to retch in her mouth, but she swallowed it down, refusing to give in to the sensations that wreaked havoc upon her person. The pain of her loss nearly consumed her. Exhausted from crying, she eventually drifted off to sleep.
Marra awakened from dreams of her family being attacked, their screams of agony crying out from the inferno of the burning castle. Light filtered in from the cracks around the edges of the door, and she knew it must be morning. The sounds of people breathing, moaning, and snoring had ceased, so she assumed that most of her clansmen had departed the croft. She turned her face to find Diana still asleep beside her, but noted that the croft was otherwise empty. Feeling something hot and wet beneath her cheek she reached up to brush it away. Her hand came away soaked in blood. She reached up to check her head wound with the other hand and came away clean and dry. Fear gripped her as she realized that the blood came from Diana. “Diana? Diana!” She shook her maid in an attempt to wake her, but was unsuccessful. “Diana!”
Blood oozed from Diana’s ear, dripping down the swollen purple bruise that covered the side of her face and disappearing into her hair. Marra knew her maid had been knocked unconscious during the attack, but she had not realized how severe the wound had been. Rising, Marra rushed to the door and flung it open. She scanned the surrounding area for any signs of life and found Ian’s wife, Rebecca, tending to their animals. “Rebecca,” Marra called out.
Rebecca looked up and raised her hand in acknowledgement of Marra’s presence. “Good morn, My Lady.”
“Rebecca, it is Diana. Something is verra wrong. She is bleeding, and I cannae wake her.”
Rebecca set down the bucket of water and ran to the croft. She and Marra entered the croft together moving to Diana’s side upon the pallet. “This is no’ good
,” Rebecca remarked, noting the blood dripping from Diana’s ear. “She needs a healer, but ours died in the attack. I dinnae possess the skills necessary tae care for her properly.”
“The nearest healer is the Campbell’s. We need tae get her tae them.”
Rebecca looked at her in horrified surprise. “Ye cannae take her tae our enemies after everythin’ they have done, slaughtering our people!”
“It was no’ they who attacked us, and even if they had, we dinnae have any choice if we wish for her tae live. I dinnae ken how tae treat such a wound. She is the closest thing tae a maither I have e’er had, and I will no’ let her die, nae matter what it takes tae heal her.”
“Ian will no’ allow it.”
“He does no’ have a choice. Where is Ian?”
“He went to the castle tae help the others. There is much tae be done if we wish tae rebuild.”
