Highland Sanctuary

by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

  "Are ye sure this will work?" Serena began to undress. "I'll never forgive myself if aught were to happen to ye, Mither."

  "And I'd never forgive myself, if I didn't do it," Evelina said.

  They exchanged gowns.

  "Do ye still have the veil Doreen gave ye?" Evelina asked.

  "Aye." Serena nodded.

  "Did ye ask if ye could wear it on the stake?"

  "My request was granted. They decided it might be best for the wee children who'll be present. There hasn't been a burning at the stake around here in years."

  Footsteps sounded down the hallway with the whistling.

  "Hurry! Get the veil," Evelina said.

  Serena grabbed the veil. Evelina helped her situate it on her head and down her face.

  "I'll be over at the bench weeping with yer plaid over my head, pretending to be ye." They hugged in a tight embrace. "Go with Leith and don't ask questions. He's waiting outside," Evelina whispered in her ear, slipping the plaid over her head.

  "Time's up." The guard appeared at the cell door.

  "Bye, Mither." Evelina burst into tears. "I love ye." She sat on the bench at an angle and listened for Serena to play her part.

  "Bye, my sweet daughter." Serena had to stifle a sob that Evelina knew wasn't real. "Thank ye, kind sir," she said in a muffled voice beneath her veil.

  "As soon as I escort yer mither out, I'll be back for ye, lass. 'Tis time." The guard closed the door and clicked the lock. Evelina listened as their footsteps faded down the hall. Her heart beat lighter with each footstep they took.

  Once they were gone, she dropped to her knees and thanked God for allowing this plan to work. She prayed for Serena's safety. Now the true test of her own ability of endurance would come. "God, I meant it when I said I'd take Serena's place. Give me the strength to hide myself until she's well away and safe. Then if it's yer will to save me, so be it. Regardless of what happens, in the next hour, I love ye. I'm a child of God, and I commit my body and spirit to ye, my Lord Jesus Christ."

  The door opened at the end of the hall Evelina dried her tears with Serena's plaid. She pulled it down over her shoulders and set the black veil in place. Standing in the center of the cell, Evelina folded her hands in front of her and waited.

  "God be with ye, Mither." For the first time, Evelina noticed the auld woman sitting in the dark corner, hiding on a bed of straw. Evelina prayed the woman wouldn't give her away.

  Gavin raced Sholto across the moorland and around the peat bogs. He and the army of MacKenzie and MacPhearson sliced a path through the fields of purple heather that now looked gray in the moonlight. Gavin glanced across the starry sky, measuring the minutes left until dawn.

  His father had stayed on familiar roads that most travelers took and then cut across the lands of the overlords he knew until he reached the MacPhearson holdings north of Inverness where they joined forces. Unaware of Serena's new death sentence, they were settling into camp when Gavin came upon them. He prayed they hadn't lost too much time.

  As they rode into Halkirk, Gavin's heart pounded with fear. The sun broke through the clouds. "Please, God, save Serena. Slow them down somehow. Bring obstacles against them. Don't let them harm her," Gavin prayed, knowing he wouldn't make it on time.

  The others kept pace with him. The one thing he could always count on was the Highland code of conduct. Highlanders were fiercely loyal to their clan and leaders as long as they were treated with respect and honor. Bryce and Birk achieved that status with their clansmen. Gavin hoped he would one day follow in his father's footsteps.

  The crisp morning air blasted his face, keeping him wide awake. His pulse pumped through his body, giving him more energy than a person in his sleepless state should contain.

  They reached Dunnet and rounded the loch with less than two miles to go. "Almost there!" He called out to his Da and Bryce. Akira rode behind her husband. The four of them led the rest of their combined armies.

  When they finally rode into Braighwick, the main street lay quiet and eerie. The usual morning bustle of the market wasn't taking place as the vendors were often out by daybreak. It could only mean one thing.

  He glanced up at the rising sun, slanting across the purplegray sky. "If they've started a fire, make it rain, Lord!"

  Beyond town, dark black smoke swirled from growing flames. A crowd had gathered in a half circle around a tall stake, well away from buildings and homes.

  "Nay!" The word ripped from Gavin's throat.

  He cringed at the mental image of what Serena must be enduring. Grief wedged through the brittle pieces of hope that had kept his heart beating with spirited energy. Their thundering horses pounded the ground in threatening speed, but in spite of their valiant effort, it looked as if they had arrived too late.

  Many turned and pointed. Some scattered and ran from fear of attack. Gavin rode right past them, straight to the burning stake. An armed man went after Gavin, but he paid the man no heed. Bryce lifted his bow and arrow and shot a warning that came two inches from the man's nose.

  "I wouldn't touch 'im if I were ye!" Bryce motioned the men to take command of the town's soldiers, outnumbering them two to one.

  "Who's the magistrate in charge here?" Birk MacKenzie asked, slowing his horse to a halt. "I've a letter from the King that concerns ye and the local kirk."

  "Serena!" Gavin called as their voices faded into the background. He hurried to her. The veiled figure high on the stake didn't move. Was she already dead? The fire had now risen.

  He almost didn't see the others hugging the bottom of the stake as the flames closed in on them. Some of the villagers had refused to leave her side. His heart swelled with even more fear as he realized he had more than one person to save. "Help me! More people are in there!"

  "We warned them to leave, so we built the fire in a wider circle around them," Devlin Broderwick said in his English accent. "They only succeeded in prolonging the inevitable. We thought they'd have enough sense to move once we set fire."

  Gavin turned. A roar rumbled from deep inside his chest as anger overcame his good sense. He balled his fist, reared back, and bolted his knuckles straight into Devlin's nose. The man swayed to the ground. His hand flew to his face as blood exploded. "And that was inevitable!"

  "We need water!" Akira gestured to the others, trying to gain their attention from the chaos.

  "Ye need at least twenty barrels of water. We don't have time for that. It's too far away," Craig said.

  "Gavin . . . hurry." Quinn's voice rose from the blaze. "Canna . . . hold on . . ."

  Another scream ripped through the air. It sounded like Father Tomas.

  "We only need to break through a small path to get them out. I know we canna put the whole thing out, but we've got to give them an outlet of escape." Akira pointed to an area where the flames weren't as high or thick.

  "She's right," Gavin said. "A path will work."

  "Gavin watch out!" Akira's gaze lifted over Gavin's shoulder and widened.

  Gavin whirled in time to see Devlin lunging toward him with a dagger. An arrow flew through the air piercing him with solid aim. His expression shifted from anger to surprise as he halted in slow motion and sank to his knees, then crumbled.

  "He had a dagger strapped to his leg." Bryce lowered his bow. "I'm glad I saw him pull it out."

  "So am I," Gavin shook his head in disbelief.

  "There are barrels stored at the loch in case of a town fire." A woman called out. "I'll show ye where. I didn't like them burning the lass. I'm glad ye're here to stop it." She handed a wee bairn to her husband, lifted the hem of her skirt and ran over.

  "Come on." Akira slid. She flicked the reins and they were gone.

  "Serena!" Gavin called. No movement. "Quinn, can ye hear me?" The giant hugged the post, keeping his face from the fire.

  "Getting closer . . . so hot!" Quinn said.

  Gavin motioned to Roan and another man. "We can use those shovels on the wagon to dig up dirt and t
hrow it in the fire and start a path until the others get back with the water."

  "Good idea." Roan grabbed the shovels and handed them out. They dug and threw dirt in the area Akira had pointed out. By the time the others arrived back, a dent had been made in the fire, but not as much as Gavin had hoped. They lifted the barrels and hauled them as close as possible.

  "Throw it here." Gavin directed where he and Roan had been piling dirt. It took four barrels of water, but they finally cleared a path. "Wet yer plaids and soak some extra ones."

  "Keep dumping dirt and make the path wider if ye can." Gavin said.

  Covering himself with a wet plaid, Gavin ran into the burning midst. He covered the giant with the other wet plaid as best he could and Quinn stumbled out on unsteady legs. He collapsed once free, coughing. Beacon had already succumbed in a heap. Gavin went back in, picked him up, wrapped his plaid around them both, and carried him out.

  "I'll get the next one!" Craig ran inside. Gavin laid Beacon down and went to soak his plaid again. Pulling out his knife, he ran inside after Craig came out carrying Father Tomas.

  Gavin wiped his sweating brow, pulled out the knife, and chipped grooves in the stake. He climbed to cut Serena's hands free. Her limp body fell over his shoulder. He suffered splinters as he climbed back down and choked on the swirling smoke. Gavin cut the rope at her feet. He wrapped her in his wet plaid and raced through the cleared path, marveling that the fire had not yet consumed the center where the stake stood bold and tall.

  Breathing heavy, Gavin fell to his knees, settling her on a bed of grass. He coughed, trying to ignore the scratching pain in his lungs and throat. The stinging smoke lingered in his eyes and nose.

  Akira lifted the black veil and gently tapped her cheeks.

  Gavin gasped. "Evelina?"

  21

  Serena held onto Leith as they rode into Halkirk. He'd taken an unfamiliar path, avoiding travelers on the main road who might have recognized them or heard of Serena's escape. "I think we're far enough away from Braighwick to stop in Halkirk," Leith said over his shoulder. "If I know my brother, he'll come through here."

  A sturdy black carriage with red trimming rolled toward them heading out of town. Six beautiful stallions pulled the large carriage surrounded by riders dressed in royal clothing. Half an army traveled ahead of them and the other half followed in the rear.

  As they passed, Serena glanced at the royal inscription painted on the side and wondered if it contained the King himself or other members of the royal family.

  "Stop!" A man's voice called out the window. The driver pulled the reins, halting the prancing stallions.

  Serena clenched Leith tighter, worried she'd been discovered. He patted her hands. "Don't be afraid. He may help us."

  "You there!" The door opened and a thin man with reddish curly hair and a long thin nose stepped out. He wore colors of black, red, and gold. Thick chains hung around his neck, one carrying a cross pendant, and solid gold rings adorned his thin fingers. "Is that the MacKenzie crest on the hilt of your sword?"

  "Aye." Leith said, dropping his head in a bow.

  Serena didn't move, too afraid of attracting his attention. If she could have slipped off Leith's horse without being noticed, she would have done so—and escaped.

  "And what is your name, lad?" The King asked.

  "Leith MacKenzie, the youngest son of Birk MacKenzie, Clan Chief."

  "Ah." The King raised a finger and grinned. "That explains it. You've the look of your father. He's been a loyal and dedicated subject. I may have need of his influence in the near future. I've heard some alarming reports that Braigh Castle has been taken over in a wayward manner. I received a letter from your father stating his sons were there. Do you know aught about these claims?"

  "Yer Highness, I'm afraid the report is true," Leith said. "I believe Iain MacBraigh was pondering how best to contact ye. I doubt he's aware that ye know about his plight."

  "I'm aware of everything. It's my duty . . . as King." He glanced at Serena. "And who is this lass in mourning?"

  "Serena Boyd. She's the one with the falling fits my da wrote ye about. They sentenced her to die upon the stake this morn, but she and her mither dressed alike and switched places. They may be coming after us as we speak."

  "Who? The magistrate of Braighwick?" The King waved a hand. "I had my secretary draw up a pardon for Miss Boyd. Even though we're not on the best of terms, I have Boyd relations, you know. Are you kin to any of the royal Boyd line, Miss Boyd?"

  "I . . . I wouldn't know, yer Highness. I've never met any of them."

  "Well, I often wish I'd never met any of my Boyd relations, but that's another matter." The King glanced back at Leith. "I questioned my physicians about her fits. They tell me it's been known as the falling desease for centuries and remains unexplained. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, wrote a book claiming it's a brain disorder. I'm told Julius Caesar also had the condition and it was named for him—a 'seizure.' They warned me there's naught to be done."

  "We thank ye for the pardon," Leith said.

  "If none of her fits have caused anyone harm all these years, and she's fine after having one, I'm inclined to believe my physicians. The pardon has my written signature and the royal seal. I brought a copy with me as I've other business here in the north."

  "Your Royal Highness, may I see it?" Serena asked. "Indeed, you may." He turned and snapped his fingers. A servant hurried to the carriage to retrieve it. The King turned to Leith. "You're welcome to return to Braighwick with me. My next order of business is the true ownership of MacBraigh Castle and the estate grounds. I'd hoped Iain MacBraigh's connections in London would aid me in an alliance I'm trying to build. He must remain part of the landed gentry for my plan to succeed."

  "Yer Highness, Iain MacBraigh discovered another will from his uncle naming him as heir. I believe he plans to show ye the document," Leith said.

  "Good. I'll ask to see it when I arrive." His servant brought a rolled parchment bound by a scarlett ribbon. The King handed it to Serena. "May my trust be proven well, Miss Boyd."

  He turned and snapped his fingers. "Let's make haste. Onward!"

  "Are ye goin' to open it?" Leith asked over his shoulders.

  "Nay, I don't wish to ruin it while riding, but I did want it in my possession."

  Leith turned his mount around and they kept to the brisk pace that the King's men set. A while later, they arrived in Braighwick to the smell of burning wood and black smoke clouding the sky. A wave of despair assailed her as a painful ache seared her heart.

  "Nay! This canna be!" she cried.

  "Serena, it may not be what ye think," Leith said.

  As soon as he slowed to a stop, Serena slid from the horse and pushed her way through the crowd. "Mither! Mither! Where are ye?"

  Gavin bent over a woman covered in black soot, wearing Serena's clothes. She thought of the day they brought her mother to her from the house fire. If her mother could have survived that, she could also survive this. Hope swelled in her chest as Serena lifted the hem of her black gown and ran to them, sliding to her knees.

  "I tried, Serena." Gavin looked up. Tears gathered in his red eyes, dashing her hopes. "I really tried. She'd already smothered from the smoke under the veil before I could get her down. I thought she was ye."

  Serena ignored his words. "She's not dead, Gavin. She only passed out." Serena grabbed her mother's shoulders and shook her. "Mither! Mither! Ye have to wake up. The King pardoned me. I'll never be in danger again. Mither? . . . Please, wake up."