Highland Trails of Love

by Barbara Bard

  Chapter 15

  Alastar had been plotting his next move, waiting in the alley. He'd been in the dungeon for so long that he had to get his bearings. He knew he wasn't in danger of being recognized. Barely anyone had visited him in the prison but looking at him now they wouldn't see the huddled, hunched figure of a broken man. He was transformed and re-energized, but he knew that if he spoke one-word people would be on him like flies around honey. Still, he was so close, he almost trembled with anticipation. The day he thought would never come was almost at hand, and he would soon see Lord Athelred fall.

  It filled him with anguish to see Lord Flynn living on such a huge estate. His deeds deserved punishment and he was not worthy of these riches, not after what he had done.

  He was about to move forward when he heard movement. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and peered around the corner. Cloaked in darkness, he was confident that nobody would see him. To his delight and surprise, he saw the fair maiden who had tended to his needs during his imprisonment. To see her again brought him no end of joy, and his heart was warmed by her appearance. She seemed troubled, her head was bowed, but her sorrowful expression did nothing to mar her beautiful face.

  As soon as she came within reach of him he reached out his arm and dragged her back, hating to feel her struggle. It was a risk, for she may well have been afraid of him and raised the alarm, but he had few allies in this place, and she could provide him with valuable information.

  While she struggled, he pulled her deeper in the small nook he had found.

  “Dinnae worry lass, it's just me,” he said, finally turning her around so that she could see him. Rebecca's eyes widened as she recognized him, but there was a hint of disbelief in them as well.

  “Are ye gonnae scream?” he asked.

  For a moment defiance flared in her eyes, but then she shook her head and wilted. Alastar slowly removed his hand from her mouth. It hovered there for a moment, for he was ready to silence her in case she had lied to him, but she did not make a noise.

  “I am sorry for startling ye,” he said with a warm smile, trying to put her at ease. She staggered back, stunned.

  “What are you doing here? I saw you leave!” she said in a harsh whisper. After she spoke she jerked her head around, afraid that someone had overheard her.

  “I did lass, but I hae work tae dae here.”

  “What about the others?”

  “Oh aye, last I saw they were making their way back. I'm sure they're just fine,” he said. Rebecca folded her arms across her chest and cast her eyes to the ground. She was afraid.

  “I say again, I’m sorry.” Alastar was genuinely concerned for her well-being and didn't like the idea of her being afraid of him.

  “Why did you come back?” she asked in a choking voice.

  “As I said, I hae business.”

  “What is your business?”

  “Well, I hae tae come back and thank ye for all ye did over the years,” he said, trying to make her smile. It worked, albeit only briefly.

  “Ye seem troubled lass,” he continued.

  “You shouldn't be here. It's not safe for you. And I shouldn't be talking to you. I can't do this,” she said, as though coming to a sudden realization. She spun on her heels and went to walk away from him, but Alastar shot out a hand and pulled her back by the arm. She winced in pain. Alastar let her go instantly, but he hoped that she would see his immediate need by the look in his eyes.

  “I need ye help, lass.”

  “I can't offer you any. I'm just a servant. I shouldn't even be here.”

  “Ye're just about the only one I can trust. If it were nae for ye I would hae died in that prison. I owe ye my life, but I would ask one more thing of ye,” he said. Something in his tone touched her, for she looked up at him with her wide, almond-shaped eyes. Alastar was moved by the way they glistened. He didn't think he had ever laid eyes on such beauty.

  “I have helped you once before. It already placed me in danger. I cannot do so again. I don't know why you are truly here, but you must leave, for your own sake you must leave now and never look back.”

  She choked on a sob as the last words left her lips. She was about to walk away again, when Alastar told her the truth.

  “I am here tae kill Lord Flynn,” he said. She stopped in her tracks.

  “Why are you men so obsessed with killing? Death hangs around you all like a shadow. I do not want any part of this. It is already bad enough that he is planning to invade your people. What's one more death?” she asked rhetorically.

  Alastar stiffened at her words.

  “He is planning tae invade?”

  Rebecca nodded. “I overheard him talking. He plans to wipe out all the Highlanders for taking his daughter. He can't seem to understand that she left of her own volition. He's also determined to find you. There is a madness in his eyes. I would not cross paths with him.”

  “Our paths are destined to cross lass. What more can ye tell me of his plans?”

  “I know nothing else, only that he plans to strike at them swiftly.”

  Alastar tapped a finger against his lips as he thought.

  “I must warn them, but perhaps if I can kill him afair he leaves I can stop his army,” he said to himself. His eyes flicked up and looked at Rebecca. “Just a wee bit more help lass, and we can stop this war before it begins.”

  “With another death? That will not make it right.”

  “It will nae, but it hae been coming for a long time.”

  “It would be easier if you left.”

  “Aye, but life is rarely easy. I cannae leave without challenging him lass. He killed my father.”

  At these words, Rebecca stiffened and looked at him. He wondered if she saw the pain in his eyes.

  “He killed my father in front of my eyes, then dragged me back here and put me in chains. Hae ye ever heard of the Blue Thistle?”

  A hint of recognition passed across her face. It quickly vanished, and she flushed crimson.

  “Ye have,” Alastar gasped. “Tell me what ye hae heard.”

  Reluctantly, Rebecca told him. “It's a game the children play. One of them is the Blue Thistle and runs away from all the others, because the Blue Thistle is a coward and runs away from everything.”

  Anger coiled within him as he clenched his fists.

  “This is the work of that monster. Nae only hae he taken my father's life, he hae sullied the name. Dae ye see now why I must reclaim it? Why I must make him pay? Ye must help me lass. Ye are my only hope of getting close tae him.”

  Rebecca seemed to consider the proposition. Alastar wondered what was going through her mind. He hoped that she remembered all the years she had helped him. There was a kindness in her that Alastar hoped would not fail her.

  “I can see the honor in your quest, but I fear it is too dangerous. I already worry for my life for helping you before. To do so again would tempt God's wrath. I will not alert anyone to your presence, but that is all the help I can offer.”

  “And what of the war? Ye are worried about the loss of life. If we stop Lord Flynn now we can stop the slaughter. Rebecca, ye showed kindness tae me once. Ye kept me alive when everyone else had forgotten about me. Ye helped me and Declan and Catherine escape. Ye know that she left with him because she loved him. Lord Flynn is angry, and he will nae stop until all the Highlanders are dead. Ye know in ye heart what is right, please, I am asking, nay, begging from the bottom of my heart for ye charity once again.”

  As he said this, he sank to his knees and bowed his head in supplication. Rebecca shifted uneasily on her feet, but she did not leave.

  “What would you have me do?” she asked.

  “Find out what Lord Flynn is planning with his armies. We may need tae know if I cannae kill him. When the time is ready take me tae him and I shall flee.”

  “We shall flee,” she corrected him. “I cannot stay here after all of this. If I help you then you must help me in return. I seek only a simpl
e life. I do not wish to be involved in these schemes any longer.”

  “Ye have my word I will see ye safely away. The Blue Thistle always protects the innocent,” he said proudly.

  He rose back to his feet. In doing so, he moved a little closer to Rebecca. He could feel the heat from her body and smell the sweetness of her hair. For a moment time seemed to stand still as he was transfixed by her glorious beauty, and his breath was taken from him.

  “You should not stay here. You will be found,” she said, breaking their gaze. A thoughtful look came upon her face as she considered the various options, and then her eyes lit up. “You should go back into the dungeon. People will never look for you there!” she said.

  Alastar did not like the idea and furrowed his brow.

  “Trust me, it is the safest place,” she said.

  Alastar was forced to concede that there was some wisdom in her words, and assented.

  “Then we must be quick,” she said, and walked towards the light. She moved her head this way and that to make sure the path was clear, then she led Alastar across the courtyard. Alastar walked as though he was meant to be there. His father had taught him many lessons in stealth, one of which was that as long as you acted naturally it was unlikely any suspicion would fall upon you.

  So, it was that they made their way across the courtyard without being disturbed, despite there being many people around. They passed the stables and Alastar noticed George. George froze for a moment, but then carried on as though nothing had happened. Alastar gave him a slight nod. It was pleasing for him to see that neither George nor Rebecca had suffered any ill consequences as a result of helping him escape, although it was clear that Rebecca was troubled in her soul.

  He and Rebecca did not exchange words as they made their way to the dungeon, but he found that walking alongside her was pleasing. She had a grace that was rare, and although the sky was blue and the gardens through which they walked were bright and vivid, nothing could compare to her visage.

  They left the fragrant aroma of the gardens behind and returned to the place from which Alastar had plotted his escape for so long. He felt his heart sink as he reached the entrance to the dungeon and said goodbye to the light, for this hadn't been what he hoped.

  “Dae me a wee favor lass and dinnae lock me in,” he said with a wry smile. His expression was returned by Rebecca.

  “I shall come back to you when it is safe,” Rebecca said.

  Alastar watched her leave and turned to face the darkness of the dungeon. He sighed and placed his hands on his hips. Revenge would have to wait another day.

  Chapter 16

  Rebecca scurried away from the dungeon as quickly as she could, hoping that nobody had seen her with Alastar. Seeing him again had been a strange experience. As soon as she saw him it was as though a lightning bolt had struck her, and she was unable to do anything but comply with him.

  She wished she had the fortitude to simply tell him to leave, but she could not. There was something about the man that held sway over her, and he certainly looked different than the last time she had seen him. He was tall and handsome, and her heart fluttered whenever he was near. She had also been touched by his admission of what Lord Flynn had done. Rebecca simply couldn't stand by and do nothing when war could be stopped. Her own safety was not of paramount importance, and she would do her duty to try and help those indeed.

  For the time being though she returned to her chambers to try and calm her mind and collect her thoughts. She sat on her bed and looked out to the sky, feeling envious of a bird she saw circling higher and higher. It had no worries and no cares, and she wished to share in that mood.

  After a short time Elayne came bursting in.

  “Who was that?” she asked, an excited gleam in her eyes. She sat beside Rebecca and clasped her hands excitedly.

  “Pardon?” was Rebecca's neutral reply.

  “The man I saw you walking with in the courtyard. He was very handsome. I am so envious that you get to serve Lord Flynn directly! I knew that serving in the house would be so much more exciting than serving out here. I do so wish I had been chosen in your place,” Elayne said.

  “He was just a visiting merchant. I was there to escort him to the gardens, because he had heard how beautiful they were and wanted to look at them himself. He was an interesting man.”

  “I'm sure he was,” Elayne said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Your prospects have improved immeasurably. I am sure the flowers weren't the only thing the merchant found beautiful.”

  Rebecca blushed. “I do not know what you mean,” she said innocently.

  “Yes, you do, and if you don't, you should do well to learn the meaning quickly. We are not given many opportunities in this life, so when one presents itself to us we must grasp it with both hands. You are able to mingle with powerful men, men whose eyes will fall upon your beauty. You can nurture affection from one of them and tempt him into making you his wife, then you can escape this life of servitude.”

  Rebecca shifted uneasily. She wished that she could tell Elayne the truth.

  “Perhaps you are right, but I am not sure I will see this merchant again. I shall try and make more of an effort to use my new position to the best of my advantage,” she said.

  “That's the spirit. I know what I would be doing in your place,” Elayne said, a shadow creeping over her face. “I would be serving Lord Athelred in any way I could. Such a powerful man must be lonely now that he has been deprived of his family. Such a man would be looking for comfort, someone to whom he could bestow his affections.”

  She smiled. Rebecca didn't tell her about Lord Flynn's true nature, fearing that it would make no difference whatsoever.

  “I do not believe I am worthy of such attention from a man like Lord Flynn. I do not possess your beauty. Perhaps there is time for you yet Elayne,” Rebecca said diplomatically.

  “Oh, I am quite sure there is, but I shall be doing all I can to get into the household, so I can serve with you and catch Lord Flynn's eye.”

  “Speaking of which, I must return with haste so that Lord Flynn doesn't think I am neglecting my duties. I would not wish to bring his wrath upon me,” Rebecca said, rising from her bed. She bid Elayne farewell and made her way back to the house, trying to settle her nerves as much as she could.

  Rebecca wasn't certain how to fulfill Alastar's plans, but she supposed that when the opportunity presented itself, she would be aware. As she walked through the estate, she was sure that people were watching her every move, even though nobody had any reason to suspect her of any wrongdoing.

  Once in the house, Rebecca was told that Lord Flynn had retired to a private room and needed someone to tend to his needs. Rebecca swallowed to try and rid herself of the lump in her throat.

  She found him sitting in a chair watching the crackling fire. He had a plate of food and a mug of wine in his hand.

  “Ah, just in time,” he remarked as she entered, handing her the mug, which she saw was empty. Red drops flecked his pale lips, which he wiped away. He stared at the fire, transfixed by the dancing flames. Rebecca went to the table, poured wine into the mug, and then handed it to. As he took it, his fingers brushed against hers. Her eyes darted up and found that he was looking deeply at her, then he turned back to look at the fire. Rebecca moved away to stand at the rear of the room, just as a dutiful servant should.

  “I must speak with you girl. I know that there is news that travels through this estate of which I am unaware. You servants carry whispers around like rats carry disease. Have you heard anything of the man who escaped from the dungeon?”

  “No, my Lord,” Rebecca said.

  Lord Flynn visibly tensed at this. “I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance. But I wanted to punish him.”

  “If you don't mind my asking Lord, what did he do?” Rebecca asked, hoping that she wasn't overstepping her boundaries.

  Lord Flynn looked up from the fire. His eyes were cloudy and gray.

>   “His father was my nemesis. Over and over again he was a thorn in my side, halting my plans, raiding my armies. I could not capture him in the war, but I found him afterwards. He was always a nuisance and I had him stamped out. But his son, ah, that was another matter. What was I to do?

  Of course, I had a son myself and would not have wanted him to suffer for my sins, so I took mercy on the boy. I brought him back here and imprisoned him for the crimes he committed against this land. Now he is out there, and he will surely hold a grudge against me. Not that it matters. I shall be marching to war soon, and if he chooses to fight he will die like the rest of them. They're a plague girl. Have you ever met one of them?”