The Highlander’s Awakening Lairds of Dunkeld Series)

by Emilia Ferguson

  “You think they will not lift the blockade soon?” Ettie inquired.

  “My father is ruthless,” Ambeal said firmly. She sounded angry even though her words were said softly. Ettie realized from the set of her mouth and her defiant posture that she did not like her father very much. “He won't stop looking.”

  “If you went by the road to Inverglass,” Chrissie said, musing. “And in disguise, you could get through. Go North.”

  “That might work, Mother,” Alf said, resting a hand on her shoulder. Chrissie smiled warmly at him. “Where would we go?”

  “I have a connection with Inverglass,” Chrissie said, musingly. “You could stay there a day or two. And they might convey you to Lochlann.”

  “I wouldn't wish to bring peril to Joanna,” Alf said instantly. “It would be as bad, were I discovered there. Father would go to aid her and there would still be war, only on two fronts.”

  “That's true,” Chrissie nodded.

  “If you were in disguise, though,” Ettie mused, “no one would know you were there.”

  “Joanna could hide you, Alf,” Amice said. “Lochlann is much bigger and older and you know no one has ever breached it.”

  “True,” Alf nodded. “Well, we could try.” He looked at Ambeal and Ettie was touched by the expression that passed between them. He adored her, clearly. Ambeal cleared her throat.

  “I should give myself up. I should never have brought this peril on you all.” She bit her lip. “My...f...father is a cruel man. But I should return.”

  Her voice was brave, but Ettie heard the tremor below it. She took her hand even as Alf opened his mouth to protest.

  “No, Ambeal,” she said firmly. “No one wishes you gone.”

  “My daughter,” Chrissie said, surprising all of them. “You are welcome here. Whatever happens, we would not give you up. I think Alf would fight all of them single-handed, but he won't have to,” she added with a quick glance at her son.

  Alf chuckled. “I would try, Mother,” he agreed. “And get myself run through on the first bout. Better that we never have to do that.”

  “Oh, my son.” Chrissie ran a hand across his auburn hair fondly. “I know you'd try. But I don't want you killed. No one has to die for this. Hope. We have to have it.”

  Ettie nodded, feeling hope flood her body. As the candles and torches were kindled, the place took on a ruddy warmth. They cleared a place in the center of the floor and spread a cloth, making a makeshift picnic table. The basket of bread and pastries was opened and Alf ate as if he'd never seen a meal before.

  Ambeal, holding a rolled pastry, a fleck of it on her lip, turned to Ettie. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For helping.”

  “Not at all.” Ettie smiled at her. She found herself liking the tall, solemn woman. She hoped they would be friends – it would be likely they'd have a chance to be, if all turned out well.

  “We should go,” Amice said after a while. “But before we go, we have to finish planning.”

  “Yes.” Alf nodded, swallowing hard. He wiped his mouth and sat to face his mother. “We will stay for four days, like you suggest. Then head north to Inverglass in disguise.”

  “You can be two peddlers,” Amice suggested. “Mayhap you could even take the cart.”

  “It might work,” Chrissie nodded. “The more convincing it is, the less likely any of the guards are to look too closely.”

  “Or two lepers,” Ettie said, musing. “On the way to the monastery.”

  Alf nodded. “I think even your father's guards would let us pass like that.”

  Ambeal nodded. “Anything to stop them from looking too closely.”

  They decided that the idea – macabre and fate-tempting though it was – might work. Ambeal agreed her father's guards would only let them pass if they were completely in disguise.

  “Well, then,” Chrissie said. “We've put Glenna on guard. And we'll return later with more provisions. Work out a routine, so that no one notices any one of us slipping away. We're in this together, ladies,” she said, turning to all of them with a beam.

  Ettie smiled, feeling a sense of welcome she had never really felt in her life before. She was an only child, raised alone with her parents in their solemn hall. She suddenly had a family.

  Blinking back tears, she stood. “Come,” she said to Amice. “We should go.”

  Chrissie was already standing. “We'll leave the torches and lamps lit – no reason why not, since you can't see down here from outside. If Glenna bangs on the roof three times, douse them.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Alf smiled at her. “You know, I had no idea you were so good at this. You could be in the guards whenever you chose.”

  Chrissie dimpled. “I could try,” she said. “But I don't think I'd be good at following orders. I only do what my heart tells me.”

  “You taught me the same, Mother,” Alf nodded. “And I am glad.” His eyes, looking at Ambeal, were full of light.

  Ettie swallowed hard, seeing the beauty of the tenderness between them. Yes, she thought. It was the only way to live. And Alf following his heart meant she could, too. If Brodgar could come safely back to them. Where was he?

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  LEAVING AND ARRIVING

  LEAVING AND ARRIVING

  “Farewell, Alf.” Ettie looked up into the lean face of a man she'd come to think of as a brother. “Safe travels.”

  “Thank you, Ettie. For the wishes and for everything else.”

  Ettie swallowed hard. “Goodbye, Ambeal.”

  “Goodbye,” Ambeal whispered. “And thank you.”

  “It was nothing,” Ettie said quickly. “Now, I should let you go.”

  “Farewell!” Chrissie called from further back. She had already said her farewells and stepped back to the north entrance. The wind whipped past them. It was early morning, the light uncertain gray. Ettie shivered, running her hands down her arms under her ocher red cloak.

  “Goodbye, Mother. I will see you again.”

  Ettie found herself swallowing hard as Alf mounted smoothly, saluting them from horseback. He looked so handsome and so brave. In that moment, he was not simply Alf. He was every hero in every tale, on a quest for what he loved.

  Beside him, on a small, compact palfrey, Ambeal rode. They would head as far as the woodsman's cottage – Chrissie had spoken with Mr. Knott about this – and there change into their disguise. The cart was there, waiting for them. They would follow the woodland track north.

  “Farewell!” Ambeal called over her shoulder. Her red riding habit slid down from her smooth hair, bringing its pale fire to the morning. Then, silent as shadows, they were gone.

  The three women stood in the sudden silence of their wake, blinking back tears. Ettie felt as if she was rooted to the spot. She was so drained and tired she could hardly think straight. She looked around at her companions. “Well,” she said, hearing her own voice tight and strained. “We should go in.”

  “Yes,” Amice whispered. “We don't want to be missed at breakfast. No one suspects.”

  Chrissie nodded. She opened the door and the three of them went in silently, heading up the stairs to the solar for breakfast.

  For four days, they had kept the presence of Ambeal and Alf hidden from everyone in the castle, even Blaine. It must have been hard for Chrissie to conceal the truth from Alf's own father. However, Blaine was loyal to Broderick and Duncan, and would have suffered with conflicting loyalties. It had been a kindness to keep the knowledge from him.

  “Good morning,” Duncan called, heading up from the stairwell, cutting across their path. “You're all bright and early this morning!”

  Ettie stiffened, but Chrissie was undaunted. “We went to gather dew,” she explained, matter-of-factly. “Early spring dew is a powerful charm against aging.”

  Duncan grinned. He had a nice smile. Open and easy. Ettie wished they could confide in him and Broderick. “Chrissie, you are ever youthful,” he said gallantly.

  Chr
issie grinned. Ettie, beside her, could see the slight edge of panic and strain to it, but she was sure it was invisible to Duncan. “Thank you, Duncan,” she said politely. “Now, let's find some breakfast. I am famished.”

  “Me too!” Amice commented fervently. They all laughed.

  In the solar, Amabel was already present. Sitting beside Broderick, she was pale and strained and ate little. Ettie wanted to comfort her. Of all of them, she knew how painful it was to know Brodgar was away, unable to be reached. He'd been gone five days now with no word.

  “Have we any reports from the border?” Broderick asked as Duncan entered and took a seat beside Ettie, opposite him.

  “Nothing yet,” Duncan sighed. “Apparently a cattle trader passed through this morning, heading south for the spring. But nothing else.”

  “Wonderful,” Broderick said ironically. “It seems we are learning more about local trade routes every day. But no sign of my son.” A vein throbbed on his brow and Ettie felt his tension and pain. Beside him, she saw Lady Amabel tense.

  “There must be news,” she said in a small voice. “There will be.”

  “I'm doing my best,” Broderick snapped.

  Ettie, seeing how their concern hurt them, wanted to weep. She saw Alina move from the shadows, put a hand on her sister's hand.

  “There's no need for that,” she said to Broderick in a level voice. “We're all overwrought. We should finish our breakfast and think of a plan.”

  “You're right.” Broderick subsided.

  Ettie breathed out sharply. Whew.

  “I want to ride out to the cliffs,” Amice said. “Maybe from there I can see the road. If there are troops...” She trailed off as her father turned to face her.

  “None of us are leaving the castle,” Broderick said. “Amice, my dear. I won't let the MacDonnell take you too.”

  Amice looked at her hands. She clearly wanted to protest, but she said nothing. Chrissie cleared her throat. “Has anyone decided which musician we're having for the gathering?” she asked brightly.

  Blaine smiled at her. “We should have whoever you choose, my dear. You're best suited to finding someone.”

  No one else seemed inclined to comment on music. The breakfast passed in a tense silence. Ettie found it hard to swallow. She was glad when everyone stood to leave.

  As if the tension here isn't bad enough without the worry for Alf and Ambeal.

  She couldn't stop thinking of them – on the road by now, probably, in disguise. Would it work? Would they manage to reach Inverglass and get assistance? Or would they be caught? What would happen to them if they were?

  She glanced at Amice and Chrissie, who both looked as tense as she was, both tormented with worry and the secret. She tried to think of something to distract them, but there was no possibility.

  Alina came up to her after breakfast. She was dressed in black, a silver fillet binding back her long black hair from her brow. Her eyes were grave. “Ettie, can I ask you for help?”

  Ettie blinked, surprised. “If I can help, I will,” she said readily.

  “Good,” Alina said briskly. “Come with me to the still-room. We can speak there.”

  Ettie followed the tall, elegant healer up to the top of the turret. There, she took a seat at a bench redolent of herbs and myrrh, and turned to face her, her heart thudding with unease.

  “It's Brodgar,” Alina explained. “Of all of us – beside his mother, and I cannot ask her, she's too affected – you are closest to him. No,” she held up a hand as Ettie voiced a protest. “You are. I can feel these things. I need someone to help me find him. You're the one who’s closest to him.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Sit here with me. There. Opposite. Now, think of Brodgar. Look into the water.” She indicated a black stone bowl, filled almost full with water from the well. The light played on the surface, making shattered mirrors and fractured images.

  “Think of Brodgar,” the healer's voice spoke into her mind. “Where is he? What can he see? Feel him. Think of his hand on yours, his heart under your own. See through his eyes. What can he see?”

  Ettie let the words wash into her thoughts, focused on the feelings the healer was invoking in her. She didn't know what she was supposed to do, so she looked into the water and listened and let her eyes half-close, looking at the water and the torchlight and the dappled play of light on leaves, shifting in the forest...

  Abruptly, suddenly, she was here, in the still-room, with the scent of herbs in her nose and the chilly wind from the turret on her shoulders. Her head hurt. She felt sick. “Alina...”

  The healer looked up at her, big black eyes unseeing. “He's in the woods. Waiting. Lost. He can hear them – troops, men shouting. Coming to find him. Lost...threatened...alone. Without help.”

  Ettie shivered. The description was close to the experience she’d had, only richer and fuller, more directed. Abruptly, Alina's sight cleared. She looked at her. Slumped forward.

  “I'm tired. We should move – the wind is cold.”

  She stood, her body clearly tired and aching. Shuffled to the window to draw the screen across. Ettie stood quickly. Her vision clouded and swam and she swayed on her feet, everything momentarily blank.

  “No, let me,” she said, taking the screen and drawing it across. The room was dark, suddenly, except for the fire and lamp.

  “We should make tea,” Alina said purposefully. She was already at her bench, preparing herbs.

  On the hearth-fire a small pot was boiling; one Ettie hadn't noticed earlier. She went to check the temperature of the water. “I think it's ready, Aunt.”

  “Good. Bring it here. Nothing like tea to restore the mind,” she said, measuring out some leaves that Ettie thought she must have chosen for their reviving quality. Moments later, they were seated at the table again, far down from the black stone bowl this time, steaming mint-scented tea between their hands.

  “What did you see?” Alina asked, sipping her tea. Ettie could see she was shivering and resisted the urge to drape a shawl over the woman's narrow frame. It would be wrong somehow.

  She described her own vision. Alina nodded.

  “That confirms it,” she said. “He's in the woods, alone and frightened. His enemy is around. He doesn't know how to get out.”

  “How can we help?” Ettie asked, sipping her tea.

  “We could try and send help,” Alina mused. “Always assuming we could work out what part of the forest he is in. Even if we could reach him, how could we help? A skirmish will put us in the wrong.”

  “Could we make a distraction?” Ettie asked. “Give him time to escape?”

  “A distraction would work,” Alina nodded, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. “That's not a bad idea.”

  Ettie blushed. “Thank you, Aunt.”

  “Yes. Well,” Alina drained her tea and stood, stretching her back, as if giving praise was something she didn't do often. “We need to talk to Amabel about this. She will help us.”

  “Yes, Aunt,” Ettie agreed. She drank more tea, thinking. She decided to try and forget what had happened – this brush with the uncanny had been altogether too unnerving. She stayed where she was as Alina moved to the bucket in the corner, rinsing out their cups.

  “We should go down,” Alina said. “You and Amice are good for each other.”

  “Thank you, Aunt,”

  “Knowledge is power,” Alina said, almost to herself, as if she had not heard Ettie. “We should pass this news on as soon as we can. Now, I have a sense that we'll have visitors this afternoon. Not of the sort we might like. I should go and get ready for that. And so should you. Keep Amice occupied. She's worried and afraid. The last thing we need is her rushing off on some heroic mission to rescue Brodgar.”

  “Yes, Aunt.”

  Ettie waited until Alina joined her at the door, and then headed downstairs to find Amice.

  She found her in the upper colonnade, looking out over the courtyard. She w
as practicing the quadrille steps, but she was distracted and miserable. As soon as Ettie appeared, she went to her.

  “What is happening, do you think? What can we do?”

  “We should do nothing yet,” Ettie advised, feeling a strange certainty that was new to her. “We can do nothing yet, except wait.”

  “I know,” Amice said, biting her lip. She looked wretched and miserable and Ettie could sympathize. Waiting without being able to do anything to help was a torment. At least she had an idea of where Brodgar was.

  “I wish I knew what was happening,” Amice said softly.

  “Brodgar is safe,” Ettie said. “I don't know how I know that, but I do.”

  “I trust you, Ettie,” Amice said. “I know how close you are. If you know he's safe, I know it's true.”

  Ettie swallowed hard. She wished she had as much faith in herself as Amice had in her. However, Alina and she had both seen the same thing. Certainly Brodgar was alive and unhurt. He was also surrounded, but apparently still free. She wished she could help him.

  Amabel will know what to do. Alina is there now. By this time tomorrow, this could all be resolved.

  The thought made her feel calmer. She turned to Amice, trying to share her new peace. “Maybe Chrissie can help us make new veils,” she said. “I heard the ladies in Edinburgh are wearing hats with little fluttery veils on them – we could make something like that. And Chrissie needs distraction.”

  “True,” Amice nodded. “It could even be fun. Thank you, Ettie. You're so reassuring.”

  Ettie smiled, and swallowed hard. “Thank you, Amice. You are too.”

  Together, arm in arm, they went from the room.

  Later, the visitors Aunt Alina foresaw arrived. Grim and silent, the men were a detachment of guards sent by the MacDonnell. Ettie and Amice watched them arrive from the colonnade, and then went inside to see if they could overhear anything.

  The men were shown into Broderick's office. They managed to catch some words: Release. Exchange. Then the door shut and they were left in silence.