The distant thunder had begun to rumble loudly in the sky and Killian noticed when he glanced back to where’d they feasted earlier, many of the tables and chairs in the room had begun to shake. Killian knew how valiantly Alainn had fought to stem her powers these past months but, in her dark, unpleasant mood, she seemed unable to suppress them any longer. By now the captain and the other men had long since left the room, only Riley and Niall remained behind with Killian after Alainn had gone for her remedies.
“What by God’s nails were you thinking, Riley? You knew Alainn was already upset about learning we’d been with Rory, about the horrid vision she continues to see, and then you purposely aggravated her. She is in a most delicate condition. And I know well enough you are aware of how given to jealousy she can be. I should beat you soundly for upsettin’ my wife!”
“Well, I don’t believe her confounded visions. I won’t have it dictated for me when I can be with my brother. And sure she has no reason to be thrown into a fit of jealousy, ’tis not as if you actually did anythin’ with the other women. You seem entirely loyal to her and faithful as well. I don’t pretend to understand it, but sure ’tis your choice, I suppose. Or maybe it is only that you simply fear her and you believe with all her many unnatural abilities she would sense if you’d been unfaithful!”
“I do not fear Alainn, but I love her greatly and I respect her, and I intend to remain true to my vows, for clearly I take them far more seriously than you have taken your own marriage vows, Riley.”
Niall’s brow was furrowed and his eyes appeared tired. As Alainn stood at the top of the stairs she could sense her grandfather’s troubled thoughts. She knew oftentimes he felt his grandson was an undeniably trying lad and so like his father it was apparent Niall sometimes questioned having Riley becom joint chieftain of the O’Rorke clan. In truth, he’d been surprised when Riley had decided to assist him in being chieftain, but with Teige still unaccounted for after all these years, and his own advancing age and his health beginning to fail, he needed the assistance of his grandson, though hard-headed and impulsive he may well be.
Alainn saw how all three men watched as she slowly made her way back down the massive winding stone steps. She headed straight to her grandfather.
“The elixir is to be taken before you retire for it is sure to make you tired and perhaps even dizzy, and the balm is to be rubbed upon your aching muscles several times a day. It will appear warm for a time, but that is usual. I know it will capably lessen your discomfort!”
She gently placed her hands on his stooped back and the old, white-haired man felt the warmth immediately spread across his aching back and shoulders. He knew her healing touch would be far more effective than her remedies although knowing Alainn they were surely charmed by her magic so unusually powerful as well. She placed a gentle kiss on the man’s leathery cheek. She turned to go, but the elderly man caught her arm.
“I apologize for your cousin, Alainn, for Riley is an unthinking buffoon at times. And I regret that we were unable to heed your word. There was little to be done about it for each chieftain needed to be at council or they would forfeit their right to vote on most pressing issues.”
“And so they chose to risk forfeiting their lives!” She spoke in a venomous whisper. “Goodnight, Grandfather!” And with that, she left the sprawling room without a farewell to her cousin or address to her husband.
After the other men had left the castle, Killian went to his steward to discuss happenings and details that the man wanted clarified. He would soon go to Alainn, but he knew her well enough to know she needed time to cool down, to sort through her temper and her thoughts, and Killian thought he perhaps needed that time as well.
Chapter Five
Killian stood outside the door in disbelief that Alainn, even in her deeply displeased state, would lock him out of their shared bedchamber, he became less than patient. He pounded loudly on the large wooden door and called out even louder.
“Alainn O’Brien, open this door this instant; if you think I’m spendin’ another night out of my own bed and away from you simply because you’re sore at me, you can think again!”
He heard her footsteps and then heard her attempting to open the door. Several moments had passed and she still wasn’t able to manage it.
“Alainn, why in hell would you lock me out of my own bedchamber?” He roared.
“Are you alone out there?” She questioned as she called through the keyhole.
“Aye, I’m alone, but what by God’s bones does that have to do with any of this?”
Killian watched as she magically appeared as her abilities allowed her to capably move through the thick wooden door.
“Killian O’Brien, settle you down; I did not lock the door. I don’t know who was responsible for it wasn’t locked with the key. In actuality, I am entirely unaware of where the key is kept!”
Killian tried the door once more and strangely enough it now opened with no resistance.
“I think it was held tightly closed by some form of magic!” Alainn deduced.
“You magically locked it?”
“No, it is as I have told you, I did not lock it by any fashion, and if I had used my magic to lock it, you would have been able to open it, for if you’ll recall I have uttered a spell to make you immune to any unfavorable magic I produce.”
“Aye, I recall, but who else in the castle is capable of magic?” He questioned as he moved inside the chamber.
“No person that I am aware of. Well, I do suspect the old healer, Glynnis, knows some magic, though she lets on it is only healing she does. But I can’t see why she would want to keep you out of our bedchamber. It is as though someone wants to keep us apart. You thought I would lock you out of your own bedchamber?” she asked, clearly doubtful.
“Aye, well it is our bedchamber and you did seem mightily angry about the gathering and the dancers!”
Alainn’s eyes flashed with jealousy as she spoke.
“Aye, well, ’tis true I am not pleased to know you have looked upon other women without benefit of clothing, but as long as it’s only lookin’ you’ve been doin’, I suppose I can’t fault you too harshly, then!”
Killian wore an obvious look of relief, until she spoke again.
“And if I thought you’d done more than look you’d not only not be sleepin’ in the same chamber with me, or even under the same roof, you’d quite possibly be missin’ a few parts of your body that you’re surely somewhat fond of!”
“And if memory serves me correctly, you tend to be somewhat fond of them as well!”
Alainn pretended to remain perturbed at him, but she smiled nonetheless, though soon went back to pondering who might have enlisted magic to keep them apart.
“If Riley was capable of any form of magic, I would suggest it might be him, for he does seem to prefer to have us at odds.”
“Aye, I’ve noticed that as well, and I’ve no notion why, unless he thinks misery loves company.”
“And I’ve no desire to be miserable, Killian.” With that she put her arms around his neck and pulled him close for a kiss as she stepped inside their bedchamber and closed the door.
“Nor I, Lainna!” he whispered as he returned the affection.
She began unfastening the ties of his tunic and he smiled at how eager she was to remove his garments. He reveled in the fact even though she carried their child she still seemed to require the joining as often as he did. He thought himself a fortunate man indeed to be wed to a woman as lovely as any goddess, and as insatiable as any woman he’d ever heard tell of. Her long golden hair was now loose and her beautiful lustrous locks hung nearly to her waist.
He looked down at the soft pink nightdress she wore and noticed the ties were already unfastened. He slipped the gown off her shoulders and gazed at her unsurpassed beauty. Her skin was creamy and flawless. Her breasts had always been full, but now that she carried their child they were voluptuous and he moaned as his bare chest brushed against her s
kin. She traced the lengthy scar that ran from his neck to his navel. He had been nearly killed as a boy, and Alainn had not only healed him, but ensured he’d had a reason to live, for even then, back when they were children, he believed he had fallen in love with her. Now there was only a long, thin line to remind him of that torturous day, for Alainn had healed him almost completely.
These past weeks, he had spent every night and half the day in such desperate need to be with her, he’d thought he couldn’t bear it a moment longer. As his lips traced her jaw and neck and lingered on her peaked nipples, she moaned softly and pulled his head to her possessively and passionately.
“Oh, Killian, I have missed you so; I have missed this intimacy, being with you like this!”
He gently turned her and touched her soft loveliness. She caressed him as well, and his growing arousal was heightened further with her tender touch.
“You must take me now, Killian. I cannot endure bein’ parted from you a second longer. Next time we will take the time to be more diligent in prolonging the arousal and the coupling. For now I need you within me for I am mad with desire for you.”
Her words echoed his own thoughts and he needed no further discussion on the matter. He entered her with an urgency they both required, yet with gentleness he felt impelled to show her in her condition. As they moved together and her moans grew louder and more intense, he felt her body tremble and felt her warmth tighten around him as he moved within her. Twice more she achieved fulfillment before he finally allowed himself to reach his pinnacle as well. Then he carried her to their large bed and laid her down where he then joined her beneath the quilts.
“You are a masterful lover, Killian O’Brien! How I have missed this. The naked women dancers would be lusting after you in earnest if they’d actually had you as I have!”
He smiled at her and their gazes met in the candlelight. They continued to caress one another and soon he was in a state of arousal once more.
“Sure, I’m not opposed to bein’ with you for as long or as often as you can love me, Killian.”
“And there’s no discomfort for you because of the babe?”
“What I am feelin’ at the moment could hardly be considered discomfort!” She cooed as he continued with his touch, and he noticed her breath came in ragged gasps as he entered her and he looked down into her eyes.
Killian smiled as Alainn’s body trembled almost as soon as he’d entered her. Later as his warmth spill within her, she moaned contently as they held one another and remained still joined.
“And Eireen thought it couldn’t be managed?”
He looked at her with doubt in his eyes, “You speak of our intimate time with our servants?”
“No, only today we did, but not as a rule.”
“Aye, well our cousin was questionin’ the likelihood of it bein’ a possibility as well.”
“It would take more than a swollen belly to keep us apart in this manner!” Alainn whispered as she looked into his emerald eyes.
“Aye, and what a lovely wee belly it is!”
“Not so wee, but I am well pleased it does not offend you!”
“Alainn, how could I be offended by any part of your loveliness, and the fact you carry our child, that you carry my son, created as a result of our love and our lovemaking, how could any man be offended by that. It makes me proud and honored and hard!”
“Hard?” she whispered, as she caressed him once more and discovered he spoke the truth. “My God, I am married to an uncommonly grand and virile man!”
“Not so grand, I am simply a man who has been too long parted from his love, and who has imagined this time with you in each gloriously sensual detail for weeks now.”
“And you do possess such a magnificent imagination, Killian O’Brien!” she whispered happily as they kissed passionately and tenderly coupled once more.
Later, neither of them seemed ready to sleep though they’d made love several times and were surely both completely exhausted. They’d spent a lengthy time talking as well. Killian was hesitant to speak with her of the matters that had upset her so severely earlier in the evening, but the only times they had ever experienced any difficulties in their relationship was when they had allowed subjects to be left unresolved. He was about to broach the topic when she spoke on it first.
“I am apologetic for losing my temper earlier, Killian, and for allowing my abilities to present themselves. I have attempted most consciously to keep these powers concealed, to never call upon them, Killian.”
“I’ve never asked that of you, Alainn. As long as they are no danger to you or our child, or you don’t use them around people who might think them of an evil origin, I do not have an aversion to the use of your magical powers. They are part of who you are, and I have known about them for as long as I have known you.”
“I am aware of this, Killian, and I am most thankful of your acceptance of them, but I don’t need them. I am entirely content without them. When I am in a temper, it is most difficult to control them, though I assure you, I fight them even then.”
“I am regretful you were driven to use them because of your temper. I would see you never angry or displeased, Alainn. I knew you would be most unhappy in learning about Rory bein’ with us near Dublin when we were there, but I could see no way to avoid it. I know how you worry regardin’ your vision.”
They stared at one another and he saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
“’Tis because I don’t know how to keep you safe, other than to keep the three of you parted. If I could dispose of the entire English army through use of my powers maybe then I could rest easy that the vision would never come true.”
“Aye, well I think that would be a great feat even for you, Alainn, for apparently their army is massive. I keep hopin’ the English king will simply forget this intention of takin’ over and ruling all the countries around him and remain content to direct his attention to his personal life which always seems to be the talk of the entire of Europe.”
Alainn gently touched the stubble on his jaw and he smiled at the tenderness within her fingertips.
“And you’ve not decided to become healer for Castle O’Donnel. I find it difficult to imagine you are content to keep such a tiny plot for your herbs and to prepare such few concoctions when you have lived your entire life as a healer. You once adored healing and helping people, and you’d spend most of your days in the herb garden at Castle O’Brien, or in the chamber creating remedies.”
“I am content to grow the herbs only necessary to heal those close to me. Besides, Glynnis is the healer here at this castle.”
“Has she been unkind to you, Alainn?”
Chapter Six
Something in Alainn’s tone had clearly left him with that assumption.
Alainn didn’t respond, but fell quietly to her recollection of her recent distinctly memorable encounter with the healer, Glynnis.
The morning had been bright and sunny, discovering that some of her herbs were dwindling and her herb garden was only beginning to become established, Alainn thought it would be an opportune time to introduce herself to the castle’s healer. She reasoned they might possibly share or trade some needed ingredients or worthwhile knowledge. Alainn had heard very little of the woman other than she was somewhat peculiar and elusive.
When Alainn had been healer at Castle O’Brien, she and Morag had shared a large open chamber within the castle walls where they prepared their many elixirs and remedies. She brought to memory the chamber and all that was inside—the large cupboard that housed the well-organized vials and remedies, the herbal concoctions specific to aid in any number of conditions. She envisioned the shelves lined with mortars and pestles of varying sizes; the large hearth with the many tied bunches of herbs hanging to dry to the state of perfection. She could clearly recall the familiar scent within the chamber and it brought a smile to her lips in appreciation of many happy years there as a healer.
Alainn stood before Glynnis’s h
ome and noted it was a typical cottage with a thatched roof. She knocked upon the door, but when no one appeared to be within, she started down the winding stone pathway to the small hut behind that evidently served as a healing chamber. It was built into the side of a hill. There seemed to be only one tiny window and the shutters were closed tight. At the moment there was smoke drifting out the partially open door. She hesitantly knocked and waited. No response. She drew nearer and called within.
“Glynnis, are you here?”
When there was no reply, she gently pushed on the open door and it creaked opened wider. Alainn’s eyes met with near darkness in contrast to the bright sun. The smell within the tiny smoke-filled chamber was most pungent. Her eyes began to sting and water, and her throat tickled and sent her to coughing. Standing in the doorway, she called out once more as she glanced over at the spewing cauldron on the small hearth. She noticed the many vials and containers lying scattered about the tiny room in disarray, on shelves, tables and even tipped over upon the earthen floor.
She turned to leave for being here was beginning to make her feel quite intrusive, when she heard a tiny mournful sound being emitted from deeper within the chambers. Even when she wasn’t employing her powers of perception, Alainn always possessed a keen instinct and kinship to animals. She could now sense and hear that there was an animal in distress. She made her way through the dark room, careful not to trip over the many articles scattered about the floor, and followed the noise as it took her to another doorway. The sound had grown louder and more insistent as she drew closer. She pushed open the door and this time the odor she encountered was not simply acrid, but vile and disturbing. It made her stomach lurch for it was the distinct smell of decomposition. She immediately covered her nose with her hand.
She willed her eyes to see clearer in the dark chamber, and then immediately wished she could not see what horrors that room held. There were perhaps two dozen cages filled with an array of animals in various states of tortured abuse and ill health. She drew nearer to the cages and dared to inspect further. There were rats and mice missing feet or tails, lizards with eyes gouged out; toads and frogs also legless and suffering. One cage held a large hawk missing each one of its talons, and another contained a bat void of one wing flapping about, disturbingly hitting itself against the bars of the cage.
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