The Highlander's Quest

by Dana D'Angelo

  Angus ignored the lads and directed his comment at her. “We’ve come this far, and we still havenae found the thieves,” he said. “I dinnae ken we ever will.”

  A man pushing a cart full of hay shouted for them to move out of the way.

  Elspeth grabbed the lads, pressing them close to a fence that belonged to one of the houses that lined the street. She then returned her attention to Angus.

  “Ye are serious,” she said, scanning his immobile features.

  As the seconds passed, her heart sank further. He spoke the truth. First, she had hoped they might find the thieves and reclaim the animals. But since that wasn’t going to happen, she needed to follow through and get a loan from the Earl of Freemond. It was unfortunate, but she now had to borrow extra money to account for the freshly stolen livestock.

  “All right,” she said slowly, “We’ll forget about the animals and go directly tae the Earl —”

  “I’m nae going tae Freemond,” he said, moving away from them.

  His response elicited a cold flush to course through her body. When she saw that he wasn’t going to wait for her, she set after him. Everyone knew how dangerous it was to travel alone on the roads. Without Angus, she would never have ventured this far from home.

  “Will ye reconsider accompanying me tae the Earl at least?” she said, trying to swallow back her alarm. However, she did a terrible job of hiding her fear, and her voice shook. “As ye ken, ‘tis dangerous for a woman traveling without an escort.”

  “Ye will have tae find another escort.”

  His response didn’t satisfy her. She was in an unfamiliar village, and she didn’t know how to find and hire a trustworthy guide. If she chose the wrong traveling companion, she risked her life, and in the end, her family would still suffer.

  Elspeth decided to try a different tactic and appeal to his sense of goodness. After all, her father employed him at the farm, and he was treated well.

  “Ye ken my family’s situation,” she said. “If we cannae get a loan, we’ll be finished.”

  When Angus didn’t answer her, the lump at the base of her throat grew.

  He began to look uncomfortable. “If we leave now —”

  She grabbed his sleeve, stopping him. “Please, Angus, ye have tae help me get tae the Earl,” she said, choking back a sob. “’Tis the only way tae keep my family from being evicted.”

  Angus shook his head. “There isnae anything I can do,” he said gruffly.

  “What about the training ye promised us?” Jon demanded.

  He maneuvered around a broken cart and said firmly, “There will be nay training.”

  “I dinnae want tae go back tae the forest,” Alec said. He sat down on the edge of the abandoned cart. Setting his elbows on his knees, he framed his chin with his palms. “Brodie is going tae beat us. I’m sure of it.”

  “Maybe he isnae a warrior like he says,” Jon picked up a couple of pebbles and tossed them, one by one, at a nearby shrub. “Maybe he’s just a coward. And if that’s true, he has nothing tae teach us.”

  Angus clenched his teeth and turned his head. He didn’t want to see the disappointment on their faces or hear about their difficulties. After many months, he had his fill of challenges, and he didn’t need to be burdened by the misfortune of others.

  While he was finally able to acknowledge that this mission was a failure, he was no closer to discovering his identity. That night he saw the brooch on the thief, he was excited, and with no plan, he embarked on a mission to interrogate the robber. It wasn’t a good idea to get his hopes up at the time, but he had done it. Now that optimism had yielded nothing for either him or Elspeth.

  He didn’t invite the lass or the lads to join him, he reminded himself. It wasn’t his fault whether Elspeth and her family fell to ruin. After all, he wasn’t responsible for stealing their cattle. And neither was it his place to protect the youths from their abusive family members.

  But even as Angus tried to forget about the burdens of his companions, he couldn’t block out the lads’ long faces. Nor could he stop seeing the worry and fear on Elspeth’s lovely countenance. He knew that she cared about her family, and the fact that she forced herself on this journey showed her ultimate devotion to them. The only person Angus had to look out for was himself. As far as he knew, no one searched for him. Perhaps his loved ones thought he was dead. Or maybe he wasn’t a good person, and no one cared whether he lived or died. In either case, he had no way of knowing since his past was lost to him.

  Angus felt the tension gathering in his shoulders, and he started to move away from the group. His companions looked at him as if he had the answers, that he had the power to help them. It was the furthest thing from the truth, yet no matter what he said, they believed the opposite.

  He shook his head, trying to relieve himself of the pressure. He needed a place to think, a quiet place where he wouldn’t see their sad faces, or feel the weight of their troubles.

  “Where are ye going?” Alec asked, getting up from his seat.

  Angus caught sight of a building that was partially hidden by a large tree.

  “I’m going in there.” He pointed to the structure.

  “In the kirk?” Jon stared at him.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Angus saw the lads beginning to trail after him. He started to dissuade them, but Elspeth had already grabbed their shirts and pulled them back.

  She caught his gaze, although he couldn’t read much from her blank expression. “We can wait for ye,” she said.

  “We’ll leave once I’m done here,” he said.

  Angus could feel their eyes following him as he made his way to the isolated church. As he got closer, he saw that the structure was surrounded by a weathered stone wall. Just beyond it, the ground fell away into a deep ravine. Within the confines of the wall, the kirk sat in a bed of green grass. And aside from the oak at the front, a half dozen young rowan trees grew in various parts of the land, swaying slightly in the breeze. The church itself appeared newly built since the graveyard on the east side contained only a handful of grave slabs.

  Sunlight struck the thatched roof of the granite structure, and the birds sang sweetly from their perches among the tree branches. On the occasion when the birds paused from their song, he heard the faint sound of rushing water from the nearby burn.

  Angus stood for a moment to take in the view. Three small windows were evenly spaced along the side of the building. To the right of the central doorway was a small panel that contained a Latin engraving. Two slender columns stood on either side of the door while a curved row of chevron patterning decorated the top of the entrance.

  It had been years since Angus last set foot in a kirk, but the sturdy building beckoned him to enter. Perhaps he could find some direction here.

  A midsized rock was wedged at the bottom of the heavy door, keeping it ajar. He walked in the silent building. For a split second, he stopped at the threshold, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Five sconces were set along the walls, and a small fire burning in the hearth contributed to the warm glow in the room. He saw the empty pews and made his way to the front.

  “What can I do for ye, lad?” a voice asked.

  The unexpected question startled him, and he glanced over his shoulder to find a young priest standing next to him. Angus was so deep in thought that he never considered anyone else in the room with him. Under normal circumstances, he would have given a noncommittal answer, but the gentle, sympathetic expression on the younger man’s face compelled him to blurt out, “I dinnae ken who I am.”

  At his reply, the priest nodded wisely. “Everyone feels lost at some point in their lives,” he said. “’Tis normal. In the end, though, ye will find your way.”

  The clergyman’s response sounded like a riddle, and instead of comforting him, it made him feel more frustrated.

  “How can I find my way when I dinnae ken where I came from?” Angus demanded.

  “We are all children of God
,” he explained. “Ye will need tae trust in Him.” He paused as if to allow Angus to digest this profound counsel. Seemingly finished with his speech, he started to move away. He had taken a couple of steps when he abruptly turned back to Angus.

  “Follow your heart, lad. That’s all ye need tae do. Once ye do this, ye will ken the direction tae take. Think back on all the blessings ye received, and see all the joy and happiness they gave ye. Then gather those things and use them tae build your future.”

  Angus might have dismissed the man’s advice, except somehow his words rang true. He hardly noticed when the cleric moved away from him and disappeared into the shadows.

  As his thoughts circled around the cleric’s puzzle, Elspeth’s bonnie features immediately floated in his mind’s eye. He didn’t need a past in order to live. For many months, he wondered who he was and where he came from. But perhaps this knowledge wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t who he was but who he could become. He might never regain his memory; however, that shouldn’t stop him from forging a new existence.

  Perhaps he could find a permanent place to live and then start his life from that point onward. No doubt, his identity comprised of his past, but his character also included who he was at the moment. His memory loss wasn’t something that he could control. But he had mastery over who and what he would become.

  As Angus mulled the situation over, he discovered that things were actually good. He didn’t mind the hard work on the farm. And although he initially wanted to travel alone, he found enjoyment in Elspeth’s company. Then there was that kiss they shared; it was spectacular. He would be lying if he said he didn’t want more. In the end, even without his memory, he was content. It was only when he dwelled on his loss and considered the futility of his quest that he felt defeated.

  But he had a choice, he realized. He could forget about his search. Taking out the crumpled parchment from his pouch, he scanned the writing once more. Angus then walked over to the hearth, threw the note into the fire, and watched the flames consume it. He might never know the story behind the missive, and he was fine with this.

  That thought freed him. And for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to see a bright future with the bonnie lass at his side. He would marry Elspeth, and in a few years or so, he might have a small brood at his knees. That pleasant image made him smile.

  Angus emerged from the kirk less than an hour later. He was determined to return to the farm and see where things led. But before he went back, he needed to help Elspeth, and fulfill his promise to the lads.

  Elspeth and the youth continued to wait for him by the broken-down cart. The lass had her eyes trained to the ground. Jon held the reins of the two horses, looking despondently toward the village square. His brother, meanwhile, traced designs in the dirt with a stick that he had found. It was apparent to any passerby that a cloud of misery hung over the group. Alec noticed him first and alerted the others. Elspeth lifted her eyes and silently watched his approach.

  “Get up,” Angus announced. “We’re going tae see the Earl of Freemond.”

  Chapter 13

  “Did ye say that we are going tae see the Earl of Freemond?” Elspeth asked cautiously.

  Earlier, when Angus announced that he planned to take her home, her heart had plummeted to her stomach. She didn’t want to get her hopes up and then have it crushed again.

  “I did,” he said, an undeniable grin on his handsome face.

  “What about us?” Jon interjected, making certain that he and his brother weren’t forgotten.

  Angus nodded to the lads. “And I’ve decided tae honor my word and train ye.”

  The boys looked at him as if they couldn’t believe their luck.

  “Will ye show us how tae fight with a sword too?” Alec asked.

  “Aye, I’ll show ye that and more.”

  “Will ye show us now?” the lad said, testing the Highlander’s commitment.

  “Now?” Angus let out an amused grunt.

  “Aye, the sooner we learn tae be warriors, the better,” Alec explained eagerly.

  Angus looked thoughtfully at the two boys. “Well, your first lesson is tae get some supplies for the journey.”

  “That isnae verra exciting,” Alec said, his enthusiasm deflated.

  “Training tae be a warrior isnae about excitement,” he said. “’Tis about doing what ye are told.” Angus paused and stared hard at the youth. “Are ye willing tae do what I tell ye?”

  “Aye,” Jon said. He gave his younger brother a shove, and the smaller boy stood taller.

  “We’ll do whatever ye say,” Alec agreed.

  “Guid,” Angus nodded. “When we travel, I’ll teach ye basic fighting techniques, but for now, I want ye tae get the following items.” He listed several things they required and gave them coins to cover the expenses.

  Elspeth studied the bold Highlander as he interacted with the lads, still unsure whether this was a part of a larger ruse. What had happened to him that changed his mind like this?

  When he had finished with the youth, he turned and caught her gaze. “Aye?” he asked, quirking a dark brow.

  “What changed your mind?” she blurted. “Ye were dismal when ye left us, but since ye emerged from the kirk, ye act as if ye have nay troubles in the world.”

  Angus opened his mouth to say something, but then he seemed to change his mind. He stepped forward and took her hand. “’Tis because I dinnae have any troubles in the world.” His brogue washed over her, causing her skin to tingle. “I believe I’ve found what I need.”

  “I dinnae understand,” she said, fighting hard to concentrate on his words.

  His gaze softened, and her breath hitched in her chest. It was the same look he had given her when he kissed her last. Did he mean to do it again? She could pretend that she didn’t want it, but that was a lie.

  “I mean tae forget the past,” he continued in a low voice. “And I want tae look toward a future with ye.”

  “Och,” she breathed.

  No other words sprang to her mind as he rubbed his callused thumb across the center of her palm. His eyes were full of promise as he bent his head toward her. Her lips began to tingle as memories of their previous kiss flooded her. And all the while, she felt a warm sensation begin to fill her heart.

  A noise caught his attention, and he looked past her shoulders. Elspeth turned to see the youths.

  “Ye are back,” Angus said, stepping away from her.

  Elspeth thought she heard a slight twinge of regret in his voice, but then his tone turned brisk as he inspected the items the lads had brought.

  “Guid work,” he said. “Now I want ye both tae stay with Elspeth while I make some queries.”

  ***

  During the twenty minutes that Angus had gone, his words kept repeating in her head. Elspeth was a simple farm lass and was resigned to taking care of her family for the rest of her life. Was it possible that a fine man like Angus wanted to share a future with her?

  And the fact that he had agreed to escort her to the Earl was significant too. He knew she couldn’t afford to pay him, yet he would accompany her anyway. Was this act more evidence that he cared about her?

  It must be true, she thought. That look on his face meant something.

  “It’ll take us five days tae reach Freemond,” Angus informed them when he returned.

  On their first day of travel, they made their way through a pine forest, and the sharp scent of pine needles filled her senses. The birds chirped cheerfully all around them while the red squirrels scampered in the canopies overhead.

  When they stopped for the evening, Elspeth watched Angus stay true to his promise to train the lads. She knew that it took years to become warriors. With no one to instruct them, it was unlikely that the lads would ever become elite fighters. But she was impressed by Angus’s patience and generosity. Indeed, he didn’t have to take the youths under his wing. And for all his talk of not remembering how to fight, he knew what he was doing.r />
  Angus picked up two large pieces of wood, fashioned them into swords, and handed them to the boys. Then with his own claymore, he demonstrated various strikes, thrusts, parries, and recovery techniques. His movements were quick and precise. He appeared engaged in combat with an unknown, unseen opponent. And each action flowed naturally as if they were ingrained in him.

  When he paused to take a breath, Jon jumped from his seat and clapped his hands. “That was terrific!”

  Angus lowered his claymore and seemed to shake himself from his trance. “Those are the basic moves.” He nodded to the siblings. “Now ‘tis your turn.”

  The lads eagerly rushed forward. Angus set the youth to battle each other, having them repeat the motions over and over. On occasion, he stopped the fight to make corrections or to offer further instruction.

  “Will ye teach me as well?” Elspeth said, approaching Angus when he stood aside from the boys.

  “Are ye certain ye want tae fight?” he asked, giving her a doubtful look.

  When she nodded, he handed her his sword. Its unexpected weight surprised her, and he caught the heavy weapon before it dropped to the ground.

  “Ye need tae use both hands,” he said.

  Angus maneuvered behind her and clasped his hands over hers. He then guided her arms in a slow arc. His intoxicating presence made her catch her breath. And she wanted to forget about the lesson and lean back into his embrace.

  But one of the boys called out Angus’s name, shattering the tension between them. At that moment, she became conscious of her surroundings.

  The lads had finished their sword practice and wanted to move on to a strength-building exercise. Angus had shown them this activity earlier, and they were enthusiastic about throwing large rocks as far as they could.

  Elspeth moved out of his arms. “Taking up the sword isnae for me,” she said, acutely aware that the lads were looking at them. “I might fare better with stone tossing.”

  Angus followed her as she joined the rock tossing contest. The heated moment between them, for now, was forgotten.