Highland Secrets

by Elizabeth Rose

  “Let’s go,” said Fia, looking over her shoulder at Imanie. She nodded slightly. “Thank ye, Imanie. I will never forget ye.” Why did this have to feel so much like a final goodbye? The idea tore her up inside. With a yank to the reins, Fia turned her horse and rode hard, trying to get back to the castle before the Highlanders attacked them in the woods.

  Chapter 2

  “Hold up!” called out Laird Alastair MacPherson raising his hand over his head, bringing his horse as well as his army to a halt. The clan gathered around him atop their horses, as well as on foot.

  “Why are we stoppin’?” growled Brohain, the resident troublemaker of the MacPherson Clan. Ever since Alastair’s father was taken prisoner by Clan Grant over three years ago, Alastair assumed the title of chieftain and laird. Some of the clan members didn’t think he should take his father’s place but, in the end, he walked away claiming the position.

  Duncan MacPherson’s wild nature was what put him behind bars to begin with. Alastair wasn’t half as reckless as his father. While he was one of the clan’s best warriors, Alastair didn’t agree with his father’s past decisions. Nay, he wasn’t the cold-hearted bastard that his father turned out to be. Alastair also had a mixture of his mother’s kind and loving nature running through his veins.

  “I thought I heard somethin’,” said Alastair in a low voice.

  “Mayhap, it’s Richard and his army movin’ up the coast.” Alastair’s right-hand man, Niven rode to his side. Niven was three years younger than Alastair’s age of five and twenty years. Half of the men in the clan were older than him, and some of them like Brohain and Rhodric were the age of his father. The older men resented Alastair and wanted to follow the aggressive ways of their last chieftain.

  “I dinna believe so,” said Alastair. He and his clan were sent out as scouts to find out King Richard’s position and how many troops he was bringing to invade Scotland. One of the Scot’s spies returned and told them days ago that Richard was already storming the border. Alastair needed to bring the news to the Highlanders who were gathering in Fife for an ambush. If the plan worked accordingly, the bloody English wouldn’t know what hit them.

  “There,” said Rhodric, pointing at riders as they disappeared into the forest.

  “It must be the English,” said Niven.

  “It is the English, but no’ Richard’s army.” Alastair had been in these woods first as a child with his father and then again three years ago when they came over the border to spy. “Castle Rothbury is just beyond this section of the English king’s forest.”

  “Let’s get those bluidy Sassenachs,” snarled Brohain, roiling up the men.

  “Nay!” shouted Alastair, remembering the girl they had encountered in these woods three years ago. How could he ever forget her? As far as he knew, it could be her in the woods again. “We’ll make camp here since nightfall is almost upon us.”

  “My laird, Brohain is right,” said Rhodric. “The riders are just up ahead. If we dinna stop them, they might tell the others, and they might attack while we sleep.”

  “Then I’ll stay up all night on watch if need be, but we are no’ goin’ after them. We are here on a mission. We willna be distracted by a few riders who may or may no’ have even seen us. If they come for us, then we’ll defend ourselves, but we are no’ goin’ to attack.”

  Brohain and Rhodric didn’t like Alastair’s decision but, then again, when did they ever?

  Alastair looked up to the darkening sky, thinking about his father. For three years, he’d been a prisoner. The longer the man was gone the more Alastair’s hopes were dashed that he would ever see him again.

  “Oh no!” Fia followed behind her cousins on their way back to the castle. “Maira, Willow, stop.”

  The cousins stopped and rode back to her. “Fia, we need to keep going.” Willow nervously scanned the forest.

  “I must have dropped my bracelet.” Fia checked her pockets, sure she was holding the bracelet when she left the secret garden. Not noticing it was gone wasn’t like her. “I canna find it.”

  “Well, what did ye do with it?” asked Morag, holding on to Maira’s waist on the back of her horse.

  “I dinna ken.”

  “Fia, it’s not like you to lose something,” said Maira. “You are the observant one. You remember everything.”

  “I guess I was startled because of the Scots,” she lied, not wanting to tell the girls she was worried about Imanie. Their parting had seemed so final that Fia now wished she had insisted that Imanie come with them to the castle. “I need to go back and find it.” She started to turn her horse, but Willow brought her horse up behind her to block her.

  “Fia, you can’t! You heard Imanie. We are in danger. We need to get back to the castle anon.”

  “That’s right,” said Morag. “If we stay here any longer, we could be killed.”

  Fia’s eyes swept the forest. She didn’t see nor hear any Scots, so she didn’t think they were in danger. Imanie’s goodbye still haunted her. More than anything, she wanted to return to the garden. Plus, she wished she hadn’t lost the bracelet. It meant so much to her with all the personal items put there by those she loved.

  “I will just be a minute,” she said, directing her horse around Willow. Maira rode in front of her next, pulling her sword from its sheath.

  “I can’t let you go, Cousin. Now, turn around and ride back to the castle with us before we’re all killed.”

  Fia thought she heard voices in the distance, realizing she was careless, letting her emotions control her. If she went back now, the girls were sure to follow. By doing that, Fia was only putting all their lives in danger. While she cared deeply for Imanie, she didn’t want to risk the lives of her cousins and her sister.

  “Ye’re right,” she said, turning her horse. “I can come back to look for the bracelet after the threat of the Highlanders has passed. Now, let’s get out of here before we’re discovered.”

  As she rode toward the castle, she glanced over her shoulder, feeling as if she were being watched.

  The girls made it back quickly and entered through the castle gate instead of sneaking in. They were passed up by soldiers armed for battle heading out of the castle.

  “Girls! Where have you been?” Lord Beaufort rode up on his horse followed by some of the guests who were dressed for battle as well. Chaos broke out and women and children ran through the courtyard. Some of the women were saying goodbye to their husbands.

  “We’re sorry, Lord Beaufort,” Maira said, taking the lead. She slipped out of the saddle and to the ground. “We went out for a ride.”

  “Egads, you girls are naught but trouble,” said the earl. “When I return, I will send missives to all of your fathers telling them you have disobeyed my orders and have been sneaking out of the castle without an escort.”

  “We weren’t in any danger,” said Willow. “Not really.”

  “I had my sword to protect us,” added Maira.

  “Girls, there you are.” Lady Ernestine ran up to greet them, wringing her hands in worry. “I was afraid the Highlanders found you and abducted you.”

  “Highlanders?” Fia asked, wondering what they knew.

  “One of the guards said he saw a Highlander while out on patrol,” said Lord Beaufort. “It seems the king’s woods are crawling with them.”

  “Is that where ye’re goin’?” asked Fia. “To fight them?”

  “Yes, and more,” was all the man said before directing his men out the gate. Ernestine ran after him.

  “Fia, Maira, where have you been?” Branton approached with a sword at his waistbelt and carrying filled travel bags. He was on foot. “Lord Beaufort is leaving to fight the Scots. He got a missive from King Richard and has gone to be at the king’s side.”

  “King Richard has called for knights and lords to join him?” asked Maira. “That means my father might be heading up the coast of Scotland with him.”

  “And mine, too,” said Willow.


  “They’ll be fightin’ our faither, Fia.” Morag jumped down from the horse and headed over to join them.

  “This isna guid,” said Fia. “Our uncles and our faithers willna fight against each other.”

  “If your fathers pay homage to the king, then they don’t have a choice,” Branton told them. “If they are called to battle, they have to go, no matter what the circumstances.” A knight summoned Branton. The boy hurried over to give him the travel bag since he didn’t seem to be going along with the men.

  “Do ye think our faither is goin’ to have to fight against Uncle Rook and Uncle Rowen?” Morag asked Fia.

  “For the sake of both Scotland and England, I hope no’,” Fia answered. This was a situation no one would want to experience.

  Chapter 3

  Alastair heard the English heading from the castle, coming down the road to most likely join up with the king and his army as they burned and pillaged the coast of Scotland. His men were settling in for the night, not expecting anyone to be traveling in the dark.

  “They’re comin’,” shouted Rhodric, jumping up and grabbing his claymore.

  “Kill the bluidy Sassenachs.” Brohain rushed to mount his horse, not bothering with a saddle.

  “Wait,” called out Alastair. “They are no’ comin’ for us. They are on the road and headin’ to meet with their king.”

  “So, we’ll stop them from ever gettin’ there.” Brohain roiled up the others as usual, and Alastair tried to calm them.

  “We were sent as a scoutin’ party. If we’re all dead, it will do the rest of Scotland no guid. Stay where ye are and dinna attack, I tell ye.”

  Brohain was not listening. Before Alastair knew it, half the clan was headed on horseback and foot to confront the English on the road.

  “Damn ye,” spat Alastair, heading for his horse as well.

  “My laird, are we goin’ to stop the English, too?” Niven was right on his heels.

  “Nay. We are goin’ to stop Brohain and the rest of the fools before they get us all killed.”

  With the rest of the clan who were loyal to him following, Alastair led the way.

  The sound of shouting woke Fia from a sound sleep. She sat upright in bed, listening intently. She was sure she heard Lord Beaufort’s voice. What was he doing back so soon? She ran to the window and threw open the shutter, stretching her neck to see the gate being raised. Soldiers and wounded men heading into the courtyard.

  The door to her chamber banged open and she turned abruptly, holding her hand to her heart. It was Maira and Willow who shared a bedchamber next to the one she shared with her sister.

  “Something’s wrong,” said Maira, holding her sword in one hand even though she was only dressed in a nightrail.

  “The Highlanders must be attacking the castle,” cried Willow.

  “I dinna think so,” said Fia, rushing back to the window. This time, in the light of the torches, she saw Lord Beaufort and some of his guards leading Highland prisoners into the courtyard. There must have been half a dozen of them, and their hands were bound.

  “Which of you is the chieftain of the clan?” shouted Lord Beaufort to the prisoners.

  “I am,” said an older man, spitting at Beaufort’s feet. The earl swung at him, punching the man in the gut. Fia took a closer look at their plaids, remembering these men from the day in the woods when she was captured by them and then let go. Hadn’t Imanie warned her that these were the same Highlanders in the king’s woods again? Only, this man who stepped forward claiming he was their chieftain was not the man who saved her life. Instead, he was the one who had wanted to kill her!

  “Morag, wake up,” Fia called to her sister who could sleep through anything from a thunderstorm to an attack on the castle and never hear a thing. “These are the Highlanders we met in the woods three years ago.”

  “Fia?” Morag sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. “What’s goin’ on?” She yawned. “Maira and Willow, why are ye here?”

  “It’s the Highlanders!” exclaimed Willow.

  “We’re bein’ attacked? They entered the castle?” Morag sprang out of bed and ran to the window, pushing the others aside so she could see.

  “I’m gettin’ dressed and goin’ down there to find out what I can,” said Fia.

  “Fia, nay. Please stay here where you’re safe,” Willow begged her.

  “Aye, we should wait until morning,” agreed Maira. “Now, everyone back to bed. I am sure Lord Beaufort will tell us all that has transpired as soon as it is light.”

  Fia laid in bed, tossing and turning, having had horrible dreams all night about Imanie. She worried for the old woman. If the Highlanders attacked the English soldiers, they might have attacked and killed her as well. She looked back at the open window, still hearing the sounds of the soldiers’ voices. How could she sleep knowing Highlanders were inside the castle walls?

  She sneaked out of bed and dressed quickly. First light would be here soon, but she couldn’t wait. She had to know now what happened in the woods and if the Scots had been anywhere near the secret garden.

  Her hand was on the door when she heard her sister’s voice from the bed.

  “Fia? Where are ye goin’? It’s no’ first light yet.”

  Damn. Wouldn’t you know it? Morag could sleep through an earth tremor, but when Fia wanted to sneak out, the girl was awake.

  “Go back to sleep, Morag.”

  “Ye’re dressed!” Morag sat upright in bed. “Ye are goin’ down to the courtyard, are ye no’?”

  “Yes. I canna wait until first light to find out what is goin’ on. I fear for Imanie and wish we had never left her in the secret garden all alone.”

  “Then I’m comin’ with ye.” Morag sprang out of bed. The last thing Fia wanted was a tag-along with a big mouth. She had hoped to go to the secret garden to check on Imanie and look for her bracelet at the same time. Now would be the only time to do it when there was still chaos in the courtyard. If she waited until sunup, Lord Beaufort would be sure to see her and make her stay within the castle walls.

  “I’ll be back, Morag. I ken how much ye like to sleep, so go back to bed. When I return, I will tell ye and the others everythin’ I’ve learned.”

  “Ye are no’ goin’ to do anythin’ stupid, are ye, Fia?” Morag yawned and sat back down on the bed.

  “Ye dinna have to worry about me.” She put her hand on the heart brooch, hoping her dangerous plan wouldn’t be the end of her. Mayhap it was a mistake, but she couldn’t tell the others. They would either keep her there or want to go with her as Morag had. And telling Maira to stay behind was not going to go over well. It was easier to sneak around in the shadows if she was by herself. “Get some sleep, Morag.” She walked over and kissed her sister on the head and tucked in the blanket around her.

  As she left the room, she looked back, hoping this wouldn’t be the last time she ever saw Morag. It was dangerous, but Fia had to do it. She felt as if she’d already abandoned Imanie and it didn’t sit right with her at all.

  Alastair stumbled through the woods, not sure how long he’d been passed out after being stabbed in the side by the English when he went to stop his clan from attacking last night.

  The English were strong, and the battle fierce. The last he remembered, he ordered his clan to retreat to the border. Of course, Brohain, Rhodric and some of the others with bloodlust in their veins had not listened to his orders and continued to fight. Being the chieftain of the clan, Alastair couldn’t leave them behind.

  He’d been so intent on saving Brohain’s ass that he hadn’t even seen the young English boy dart out of the shadows. By then, it was too late. The boy scared his horse and Alastair fell to the ground, being stabbed by the lad before he knew what happened. Then to make matters worse, the boy stole his horse.

  The last thing he remembered was seeing Brohain, Rhodric and some of the others being led away as prisoners. The damned fools! Why hadn’t they listened to him?

  Holding his pla
id up against his gaping wound, Alastair searched for a horse. He came across several of his men dead on the ground, as well as some of the English. He still had his sword, thank goodness, since the fool boy was more interested in his steed than he was in his weapon.

  Alastair felt fury flowing through his veins. He would never get the respect from the older members of the clan that his father once had. The past three years had been naught but a struggle since the clan was split. Hell, if he didn’t care as much as he did, he would have left the older members to their fates and just concentrated on the ones who were loyal to him.

  Now, because of a foolish move, some of his men were dead, others were captured, and part of his clan had left for the border without him. Could things possibly get any worse?

  He didn’t find a horse in the woods but, as he walked, he came across what looked like a hidden door in a knoll. His side bled profusely, and he couldn’t go much further without tending to his wound.

  Putting one bloodied hand on the wooden gate, he pushed it open. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the area inside, showing him a secret garden. With his vision blurred, he staggered forward, seeing a small cottage at the other side of the garden. He wasn’t sure who lived here but hoped he could convince them to help him.

  He made it to the cottage and was about to knock when the door swung open. An old woman stood there, looking as pale and weak as he felt right now.

  “You!” she said, which made him take a closer look at her. She sounded as if she knew him.

  “I’m sorry, but do ye ken me?”

  “You’re the Highlander that let Fia live when the others wanted to kill her.”