Twice Upon a Soul

by Deborah R Stigall

  “Okay…Little Bit…let’s see if you can do this on your own…” Taylor held her breath as she slowly eased her hands away from the sparkling white sides. Swaying slightly but still remaining on its feet the tiny calf hung onto the teat for dear life.

  Stiffly straightening from her bent position, Taylor grimaced as she placed her hands on her hips. Still working the knots from her aching muscles, Quinlan shook his head in amazement. “Where did ye learn such magic…breathing life into its wee body…stealing it from the dead?”

  Sighing wearily, Taylor tilted her head to one side, smiling happily as she watched both babies eat. Pressing her cheek against Quinlan’s hand on her shoulder, she replied, “The Discovery Channel.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Taylor frowned at the knock on the door; her hands busy with the intricate braiding of her hair. “Come on in,” she mumbled through the hairpins in her mouth, hoping her visitor would be able to understand her.

  The door opened slowly, revealing a reluctant Dulcie, Zelda’s oldest daughter. Keeping her eyes glued to the floor, she scurried in to place another package on the bed. Pausing to kneel at Taylor’s feet, Dulcie whispered, “Another gift I bring from the valley.” Before Taylor could convince Dulcie to stop kneeling at her feet, she’d already scurried back out the door.

  Rolling her eyes at Dulcie’s behavior, Taylor made a mental note to speak to Zelda the next time she had a few minutes alone with the busy sprite. There was absolutely no reason for Dulcie to behave like Taylor was royalty…no matter what Zelda might say. Nodding her head decisively as she pushed the last hairpin in place, Taylor formed her argument in her mind. If Zelda were so concerned about Taylor’s happiness…she’d put an end to Dulcie’s bowing and scraping.

  Walking over to the bed platform, Taylor picked up the package as Mattie bounced into the room. “Oooh, another one. Hurry and open it…I just love these wonderful surprises you’re getting.”

  “Well…I wish they’d stop sending them,” Taylor muttered. “It’s getting kind of embarrassing.

  Word had spread quickly about Taylor’s hand in the saving of the pure white calf born to the Provider. Kaskin had seen to it that the entire valley had learned of the One’s magical breath of life. Taylor had tried to explain to everyone that quite a bit of luck had come into play. Even when Mattie had attested to Taylor’s reference to other persons successfully reviving animals, Kaskin had denied her explanation with a smile. Modesty…what a lovely trait in the Laird’s own wife. Grabbing her hand, he’d knelt at her feet, his arthritic knees groaning in protest. He’d pledged his loyalty to her the rest of his life. His life was hers to command.

  Taylor had pleaded with Quinlan to make them understand that she’d really done nothing at all. He’d only crossed his arms over his chest, smiling as he watched her, his eyes shining with pride and the smoldering hope that somehow she was finally beginning to feel as though she belonged in her new surroundings.

  The gifts had started arriving that very afternoon. Packages bearing crystals, precious stones and metals. Some of the parcels contained finely woven silks and intricately woven tartans wound around detailed carvings of stone. The valley sprites and gnomes were honored that the One had chosen to bless them with a second female calf, a sacred white heifer at that. Taylor partially understood the valley’s gratitude when Quinlan explained that all other females had died in the past.

  “Well…” Mattie interrupted Taylor’s musing, pulling her back to the present at hand. “Are you going to open it or not?”

  Shaking her head as she sighed, Taylor hesitantly plucked at the ribbon wound tightly around the package. Finally pulling the cloth away from the parcel, she drew in her breath as the light sparkled upon an ornately decorated mirror. The frame fashioned as though woven from the roots of a tree; the mirror was nearly three feet wide. If Taylor placed it at the proper angle, it was tall enough to display her entire body. Multi-colored gemstones tucked into the loops and swirls of the wood; sparkled in the sunshine pouring through the window.

  “Wow” Mattie exclaimed tiptoeing to peer over Taylor’s shoulder in admiration. “Who sent you that?” she asked, rattling through the wrappings.

  “I don’t know… there wasn’t an announcement like there was with all the others.” Taylor turned the mirror to examine the back, searching for the source of its origin. “Of course, they were also written in Gaelic…so I didn’t have a clue to them either until Quinlan translated.”

  Walking to the over-sized trunks stacked beside the hearth, Taylor stood the mirror atop them, carefully leaning it against the wall. “How about here?” she asked, turning to Mattie. “Considering, I can’t very well put any nails in these stone blocks.”

  Nodding in approval, Mattie grinned at her friend. “Just teach Quinlan the concept of masonry nails.” Her eyes narrowing wickedly, Mattie perched on the edge of the bed. “By the way…are relations improving any between the two of you?”

  Returning Mattie’s evil grin, Taylor crossed her arms primly over her chest. “We’re closer…finding our way…but not nearly as close as you seem to be with Magnus.”

  A rakish grin plastered across her face, Mattie threw the wrappings at Taylor’s head. “If you had to spend eternity with a man like Magnus….I bet you’d be close to him too!”

  “Perhaps,” Taylor noted, a glint in her eye as she tilted her head to the side. “But you have to admit it, Mattie my dear, that you always did have a weakness for red-headed men.”

  Shrugging her shoulders happily in defeat, Mattie bounced her heels against the side of the sleeping platform. Perched upon the edge of the bed, she reminded Taylor of a child waiting for its bedtime story. “You know me too well…though, Taylor?” she smiled, her voice growing softer as she sighed. “I think this time…I really love him….and I’m glad I’ve got an eternity.”

  “I’m glad you’re finally happy, Mattie,” Taylor replied, smiling in absolute agreement. Noticing the shadows growing longer across the floor, Taylor gathered up the wrappings into a tight bundle. “I guess we’d better be getting downstairs. Quinlan said he had something he needed to tell me.” Her eyes narrowing as she peered at Mattie’s face, Taylor paused, her hand on the door. “I don’t suppose you have any idea what it is that he might be up to?”

  Raising her hands in the air, Mattie widened her eyes in feigned shock. “Believe it or not…for once I’m innocent,” she replied, sliding off the bed. Following Taylor into the hallway, she quietly mumbled under her breath, “And if Magnus knows…I’m gonna strangle him for not letting me in on the secret!”

  ~*~

  Zelda wrapped the fur-lined cloak tightly around Taylor’s neck. Pulling the hood down low over Taylor’s eyes, Zelda frowned as Taylor pushed the slight woman’s hand away. “Zelda! I can’t breath when you pull it so tight. Why can’t I wear my regular cloak?”

  “Because Laird decide to wander in dead of winter,” Zelda snorted in reply. “Zelda willna’ have Her fallin’ ill. Her must promise ta’ stay warm. Spring is still FAR AWAY,” she retorted loudly in Quinlan’s direction.

  Smoothing his leather breeches into his fur-lined boots, Quinlan’s shoulders shook as he chuckled under his breath. Gently patting the fretful sprite on the shoulder, he placed his other hand over his heart. “I swear to ye, Mistress Zelda. I’ll no’ keep her out overly long. We’ll be back before ye know it.”

  Shaking her head and muttering under her breath, Zelda just glared at Quinlan in reply. Pulling a drawstring bag from her belt, she pressed it into Quinlan’s hands. “Warming crystals. Use them. Dinna let Her grow cold or Zelda will take a switch to ye.”

  Opening his eyes in mock fear of Zelda’s heartfelt threat, Quinlan tied the pouch of crystals securely to his belt, all the while turning to hide the grin he couldn’t suppress. “Come Taylor, we’d best go before Mistress Zelda changes her mind and locks us away in our rooms!” Gallantly offering Taylor his arm, he winked in invitation.

  Smi
ling as she shook her head, Taylor accepted Quinlan’s arm. When the frigid air outside blasted through the open door, she snuggled closer, wondering if maybe Zelda was right all along. “Are you sure you want to go for a walk right now? It’s awfully nice in here by the fire.”

  “’Twill be fine,” Quinlan replied, patting her hand. “There’s something I’d like for ye to see.” Holding her arm tightly, Quinlan turned them up the hill, following a narrow pathway furrowed through the snow.

  Peering out at the landscape from deep within the furry cloak, Taylor had to turn her body completely in order to be able to see. "I wonder where Jasper is this morning?” she mused as they slowly made their way up the path.

  “I havena’ seen the lad today,” Quinlan replied, scanning the surrounding pristine hills with a sharp eye. “He knows how it disappoints ye when he hunts game and brings it home. Perhaps…he’s dining out this morning.”

  Clucking her tongue in disapproval, Taylor shivered as she struggled to keep up with Quinlan’s long stride. “I give him plenty of meat from the kitchen. I don’t understand why he thinks he still has to hunt.”

  “’Tis instinct…deeply born within him…ye must accept him for what he is.” Noticing the chattering of Taylor’s teeth, Quinlan stopped and pulled a flask from his belt. “Take a small sip,” he firmly instructed, holding the mouth of the flask to her lips.

  Her nose wrinkling at the fumes of the ectaberry wine escaping the flask, Taylor backed up shaking her head as she retreated. “Quinlan…there is no way I’m going to drink any of that evil stuff!”

  Nodding at the recollection of Taylor’s hangover the last time she’d drank the wine, Quinlan wrapped his arm around Taylor’s waist, pulling her back to the awaiting flask. “Zelda laced this batch with herbs…she didna’ allow it to ferment. ‘Twill merely warm ye…it willna’ make ye drunk.”

  Eyes narrowing in suspicion, Taylor glared up into Quinlan’s face. “Are you s-sure?” she asked through chattering teeth, her lips blue with the cold.

  “Aye…I promise…now have a drink, before ye bite off yer wee tongue with those chattering teeth.” Quinlan patiently held out the flask, his mouth pulled to one side in a grin.

  Gazing into his unblinking blue eyes, irises frosted with white, Taylor hesitantly sipped from the flask, her own eyes crinkling at the corners as a random thought entered her head.

  “What?” Quinlan asked, warily eyeing the mischievous look on her face.

  Her cheeks flushing with the bite of the wind, as well as from the thought that had just occurred to her, Taylor shook her head in reply; remaining silent as she snuggled deeper into her fur-lined hood.

  “Tell me,” Quinlan intoned, putting away the flask, then catching Taylor by the shoulders so she couldn’t turn away.

  “It’s nothing,” she answered, biting her lip as a tiny giggle escaped.

  “If ye dinna tell me,” Quinlan threatened, pulling her tightly against his chest. “I’ll….” Gazing down into her face barely inches away; Quinlan’s voice caught in his throat as he eyed her wind-reddened cheeks. “I dinna what I’ll do…but I’ll think of something…now tell me!”

  Glancing shyly up through her lashes, Taylor giggled again. “It’s just that I finally figured out what your frosty blue eyes reminded me of…” Her gloved fingers splayed across his chest; she shrugged one shoulder as she avoided his gaze.

  “What?” Quinlan repeated, one eyebrow slightly cocked with interest.

  Biting her lip, Taylor grimaced as she whispered, “A dog I used to have.”

  “A dog!” Quinlan snorted, giving her shoulders a curt shake as his mouth dropped open in disbelief.

  “A Siberian Husky…he was gorgeous…and he had the most beautiful eyes!” Taylor rattled on quickly; patting Quinlan’s chest consolingly, hoping to convince him it wasn’t meant as an insult.

  His expression unreadable, the smile gone from his face, Quinlan was silent as he stood there with Taylor in his arms. He stared out over the snow-covered hills, refusing to look into her eyes.

  “Quinlan…don’t be hurt…I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I loved that dog.” Taylor tiptoed, pulling on Quinlan’s shoulders as she tried to make him look her in the face.

  Finally lowering his eyes, Quinlan brought his face closer, tightening his arms around her waist. “Does that mean ye might could love me as well…since I have his eyes?”

  Licking her lips nervously, Taylor reached up, placing her hand against the rough stubble of Quinlan’s cheek. Searching his face, she finally almost imperceptibly nodded, whispering, “I don’t know…it might be…possible.”

  His breath catching in his throat, Quinlan pulled her closer, tenderly pressing his lips to hers. His heart soared as he felt her surrender….her body melting against his. His hood fallen to his shoulders, Quinlan was oblivious to the icy wind whipping at his head.

  Finally, slowly, pulling her mouth from his, Taylor stretched to pull the hood of his cloak back over his head. “You’re going to freeze,” she whispered, snuggling closer as she tightened the cords around his neck.

  “I’ve ne’er been so warm,” he murmured huskily into her hair, as he held her even closer.

  Inhaling the fragrance of her sweet smelling hair, Quinlan lightly kissed her throat. Reluctantly loosening his embrace, he nodded toward the top of the hill. “Come…I’d best show ye what I’d planned before ye freeze to death.”

  Silently, they made their way up the rest of the path, finally arriving at a huge pillar of stone. Rectangular in shape, the edges painstakingly chiseled, the top had been polished smooth. Standing nearly waist high to Taylor, she lightly ran her hand across the surface of the stone. Upon closer examination, she discovered faded carvings, nearly eroded from sight over the years. Two symbols, interlocking in the center of the stone, ancient runes from a long forgotten time.

  Looking out over the valley, Taylor realized they stood atop the tallest crag for miles around. The world below was blanketed in white, tendrils of smoke curling up from the specks of dwellings below.

  “What is this place?” Taylor asked, turning to Quinlan; her voice nearly carried away with the wind.

  “Ye have no idea?” Quinlan asked. Watching her face closely for a sign of recognition, he struggled to conceal his disappointment.

  Placing both her hands atop the icy stone pillar, tracing the carvings with her glove-covered fingers, Taylor gradually meandered to the other side of the stone; facing Quinlan instead of the valley. As soon as she stood opposite Quinlan, she stopped; barely breathing as her lips parted slightly in amazement. “I’ve….been…here. It seems familiar somehow, especially when I stand on this side of the stone.” Jerking her hands away from the rock, Taylor hugged her body as she shivered with the eerie feeling. Her brows knotting in frustration, Taylor frowned as she shook her head. She’d never been able to stand forgetting something…and she could feel this…memory just out of her reach. “Tell me…what is this,” she prodded Quinlan, pulling her cloak tighter about her shoulders.

  Rounding the stone altar, Quinlan took Taylor’s hand; tracing one of the partially raised symbols with her fingers. “This is the symbol representing m’clan and this one…represents you. The reason the two are intertwined…is because this is the place we were wed.”

  “Here?” Taylor repeated her voice nearly a whisper as she slowly circled the altar.

  “Aye,” Quinlan nodded, holding out his hand to lead her to a snow-covered bench beneath a leafless tree. Wrapping his arm in the length of his cloak, Quinlan brushed the pile of snow from the bench. Removing his cloak, he spread it across the bench, then held out his hand for Taylor to sit.

  “You’re going to catch pneumonia! Put your cloak back on…are you out of your mind?” Taylor pulled the cloak from the bench, vainly trying to toss it back around Quinlan’s shoulders.

  “I’ll no’ have ye sitting on the freezing bare stone. The cold will seep into yer very bones.” Quinlan held up his hands, his face s
tern and aloof as he refused to don the cloak.

  “You are SO stubborn,” Taylor muttered through gritted teeth as she grudgingly spread the cloak back across the bench. When Quinlan finally sat, she untied her own cloak at the throat, draping half of it around his broad shoulders.

  “And ye call me the stubborn one,” Quinlan snorted as he pulled Zelda’s leather pouch from his belt. Upending the pouch on the ground at their feet, he carefully arranged the bluish pebbles into a small pile. Removing a blood colored stone from his vest pocket, he placed it in the center of the small pile of rocks. As soon as the crimson crystal touched the blue stones, the entire pile seemed to hum with energy. Slowly the rocks glowed bright yellow, emanating a delicious wave of heat.

  Spreading her fingers to the delightful warmth, Taylor stared at the rocks in open-mouthed amazement. “How did you do that? Is that some sort of magic spell or something that Zelda showed you?”

  Shaking his head as he stretched his feet closer to thaw, Quinlan placed Taylor’s cloak back around her own shoulders. “Zelda’s crystals…she has the gift of all the sprites and she was generous enough to share.”

  “What do you mean…the gift of all the sprites? I don’t understand.” Taylor re-tied her cloak, leaving her hood hanging down her back, comfortably warm as she sat before the stone fire.

  His forehead wrinkling as he searched for the words to explain, Quinlan pulled his feet back beneath the bench. “All of the sprites of this place can control the crystals…each of them having power o’er differing kinds. Zelda has power o’er the stones of heat. Other crystals exist specifically for healing. I canna entirely explain it m’self…since I dinna possess such gifts.”

  Looking around, Taylor smiled as she nodded, “It’s peaceful…beautiful up here.”

  “Aye,” Quinlan agreed, interlacing his fingers across one knee. “’Twas e’en more beautiful the night of our vows. ‘Twas a night of ten thousand stars.”