Tall, Dark, and Medieval

by Barbara Devlin

  “Nay,” Conall muttered. “I can no’ leave her.” He pushed his chief’s hands away and swayed.

  “Conall, as yer chief and friend I order ye to leave this room. Ye can come back once Abigale is done. Ye’re no’ helping Effie by sticking around here and fainting. Now, let’s go.”

  Damn James for being right. Resisting leaving only put Effie in more danger, that he knew, yet he couldn’t convince his body to move. Being weak himself he needed rest, ale, food, and to walk off this fog misting his head. She was in the best of hands, that he could bet his life on.

  “Aye, but I’ll be right outside the door.”

  At that moment, Alice strode in with her arms full of cloths and Abigale’s herbs while Rory carried the hot water bowl. Alice placed the cloths on a table next to Abigale and waited for instructions. Rory stood on the other side of Abigale, also waiting while James took Conall outside the chamber.

  Before Conall left, he took one last glance at Effie. Grief-stricken, failure loomed over him as he watched the helpless lass lying on the bed. He had failed again to protect the ones he loved. If she made it through, he would fly them away from all the fighting and unsettledness of Scotland. They would just disappear and forever be together as long as she would have him. He would have that secluded home in the countryside, farming and raising wee bairns. Never would he leave her sight again, not for one moment. Effie was his heart, his mate, his twin soul destined to be forever one. Nay, death was not coming for her, he would no’ allow it.

  As soon as Conall stepped outside, he slapped his hands down hard on the stone railing and hung his head down, taking in deep breaths. James clapped a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Words escaped him, but with James his actions spoke louder and Conall knew that his friend, his brother, felt his pain.

  After a long stretch of silence filling the corridor, Conall spoke up. “’Tis no fair.” He broke down. “I cannae lose her.”

  James stood uncomfortably next to him, scanning the great hall below them as if he searched for words of wisdom to give his friend. “Aye, I won’t say I know how ye feel because we all feel differently when it comes to our mates, yet one fact remains true. Ye’d give yer own life to save her, that I understand.” James paused. “But Abigale is with her and she too is fighting for Effie.”

  James turned around so his back leaned against the railing and he crossed his arms over his chest as he looked over at his friend. “Ye have to be strong, she needs yer strength.”

  Conall peered up from the ground. For a man whose words didn’t come easy, James couldn’t have been more correct. Aye, pulling himself together was exactly what he intended to do. Nonchalantly, he wiped the tears from his cheek and squared his shoulders then cleared his throat. “Ye’re right. Effie is a fighter.”

  James nodded and smiled at Conall.

  ~~~~~

  Caden couldn’t quite understand why he still lingered here, in the dimly lit bedchamber, hovering over the sleeping lass. The warrior with war braids had left the room long ago, yet Caden remained, battling with himself to leave. Oh, there were many reasons why he should let the lass go while he still had a chance, yet they weren’t good enough no matter how many times he ran the reasoning’s through his muddled mind.

  He remembered the way Maggie’s body felt snug against his as he carried her through the throng of people at Caerlaverock Castle and then into the sky. She had felt like a fine exotic silk caressing his skin. And the way her long black lashes rested on her pink cheeks while she slept was angelic. His eyes traced down her face to a perfect pert nose to full rosy lips. He thought better and turned his eyes away from her before he did something stupid, such as placing a kiss on those lips.

  He had to admire the struggle she had given him as his eyes wandered up and down down the sleeping lass’s petite body. Her hair was black as a raven and her eyes were blue but not just any color blue, they were the color of the ocean with the slightest sparkle like stars against a black night sky. He continued to study her body further but gave pause when he reached her chest. The shift she was wearing was bloodstained with trails over her breasts, which sparked his curiosity as to what lay under the thin material.

  Curiosity getting the best of him, he bent down and slid a finger under the top of her nightdress, slipping the material down and exposing the top of her right breast. Blistered flesh marred her flawless skin.

  God’s blood! What kind of trouble had the lass gotten herself into to receive such harsh punishment?

  Fighting the urge to peek further, he pulled the blanket over her body and stepped away from the bed. He thought better than to involve himself with her mischief. The lass was the Black Douglas’s problem now; not his. Furthermore, he wasn’t staying long.

  Why he’d carried on with the task this far was beyond his logical thinking. First mistake, having a beautiful lass in his arms. Second mistake, flying to Black Stone with the Dragonkine warriors. They would have a lot of questions for him, questions he did not want to answer, nor relive his past.

  Yet here he stood like some lust-stricken fool, protecting his mate. Mate? Caden stopped cold in his tracks. No way in hell was he sticking around. The lass was not his problem, and furthermore he was a free man now. Being pent up in the dungeon for at least five years was enough to drive him daft and daft was exactly what he would be if he stayed here any longer.

  In two long strides he reached the door and opened it wide only to be greeted by a six-foot-four, long red-haired Highlander sitting outside the door sharpening his axe blade. “Going somewhere, laddie?”

  Caden huffed in frustration and knew better than to piss off a Dragonkine warrior with a battle axe in his hand.

  HIGHLAND STORM

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Conall’s attention turned to Abigale as he heard the bedchamber door shut behind him. His heart smacked against his ribcage and his pulse thumped to a panicked rhythmic beat when he saw the blood-covered apron wrapped around Abigale’s body and the sorrowful eyes that stared back at him. Was he prepared for the cold hard reality of Effie’s condition and furthermore, living the rest of his life without the red-headed lass? Nay, he would never accept that reality.

  “Conall, I’ve done all I can do. I’ve removed the weapon and cauterized the wound, but,” Abigale said.

  Before she could finish, Conall interrupted, fearful of what she was going to say. “Can I go see her?”

  “Not yet. She’s still unconscious. Conall, the blade was close to her spine, leaving me to believe she could very well never walk again. I saw this happen to a wounded man with the same injuries as Effie. I’m no’ going to give ye false hope; Effie’s condition is serious.”

  “I can heal her.” Conall stepped by Abigale and began to open the door.

  “Conall, she’s with child.”

  As if the knob to the door was hot iron, he quickly let go and paused.

  “Alice believes she’s about three months into the pregnancy.”

  Three months? he pondered. Closing his eyes in relief he ran that thought through his head again. Effie was pregnant with their child. For the briefest moment joy warmed his heart as he thought about that cottage in the countryside, Effie standing in front of the door holding their newborn babe, the wind blowing through her hair, she was happy. But as the wind blew the image he dreamed of living, it disintegrated into the air like gray ash.

  “Since I do no’ have a lot of knowledge of yer kind has there ever been a situation where a Dragonkine has healed a human woman while pregnant? What concerns me is that she’ll be in a healing sleep and I dinnae know how the babe will fare.”

  Conall turned to Abigale with a look of defeat written on his face. “I have no knowledge about a Kine healing a human woman with child. Our kind usually mates with our females, no’ humans.”

  “James? Do ye know?” She looked at her husband as if he had to know, or at least prayed he knew the answer.

  “Nay, bele ange. I dinnae know.”

&n
bsp; Frustration festered as Conall’s hope of saving Effie crumbled away. There had to be something he could do. For Christ sake he was a dragon, there was magic pulsing through his blood. “Ye be telling me that if I heal her, it could harm the babe?”

  “Aye.”

  “And if I dinnae heal her, she’ll die?”

  Abigale hung her head down looking at her blood-covered apron. “Aye,” she choked out. “And even if ye heal her there’s still a chance she’ll never walk again.”

  Conall couldn’t believe what he was hearing. If he healed his wife, she could lose the babe, or he could do nothing and leave fate in God’s hands that Effie and the babe would survive.

  Pacing his hindrance into the stone floor, he needed to make a decision and fast. Effie’s life sat in the palms of his hands; he needed to get his head straight.

  Back at Caerlaverock the lass had showed courage beyond compare, even risking her own life to save him. Their fates had turned and now she needed him to fight for her more than ever.

  A few paces and profanities later, he knew what he had to do. To hell with fate. If he could save the woman he loved he would do it and never think twice about it. Sure he damned himself selfish, for putting their unborn at risk, however he couldn’t live without her in his life. Without further hesitation, he opened the chamber door and closed it behind him. He was going to save Effie and worry about the ramifications later.

  ~~~~~

  The smell of burning sage clung to the air, warding off the evil spirits that might be lurking around Effie’s bedchamber. Alice had sworn to Conall that her ritual of smudging would help in the healing process. Abigale and James’s girls made trinkets from a rowan tree and hung them around the bed and placed one around Conall’s neck, telling him he too needed to be healed.

  In the evening as the Dragonkine brothers, and Alice and Abigale stopped by the bedchamber to pray over Effie, wee one played a tune on the harp that Effie had taught her, showing her how much she missed Effie. Not only was Conall grief-stricken, Abigale’s girls were too. Though Conall wanted to be left alone he knew that they weren’t just here to pray for Effie; they didn’t want him to grieve alone.

  Although he believed it all to be silly folklore, he accepted the gifts and enjoyed the company. Perhaps putting a wee bit of faith in those treasures wasn’t a bad idea after all. All he had left was hope as the second day of the healing was coming to an end.

  Alice had brought food up to him and by the second trip she had a bath prepared and clean clothes laid out. Guilty didn’t come close to describing how he felt for leaving her side when Alice persisted that he take a bath and eat to keep his strength up. Being back home, the evil magic he’d once felt was long gone and his own wounds were healed, which made him feel even guiltier. He was healed while his love lay asleep and still wounded.

  Even though Effie felt no pain and slept peacefully, alas he couldn’t shake the guilt-ridden feeling. He spent the days washing the blood from her body, brushing her beautiful red hair, and tending to the fire in the hearth, making sure she was comfortable while she slept.

  Now Conall sat in a chair next to Effie reflecting on how his life, his long never-ending life, had come full circle. He had been here before, had seen the aftermath of violence that was brought upon his family. Coming home from hunting to find his wife and son burned and their house in flames was an image that forever haunted him. He hated himself more than the rogue Vikings who had left him hollow and took away his life, his family. He’d failed to protect them. And as if fate wasn’t enough of a bloody bastard, he was in the same situation all over again with Effie, except this time he had hope. There had been no hope for his wife and son. The deed had been done and he had been left to bury them and endlessly live with the pain of losing his loved ones.

  Aye, he had hope. He had put Effie under a healing sleep regardless of the risk to their unborn babe.

  Conall stood and walked over to Effie and adjusted the fur over her legs. His eyes moved up her body and settled on her stomach. Even though she wasn’t showing much of a pregnant belly, there was a wee babe in there fighting for its life just like its mother. He placed his hand flat on her belly ever so gently. “Please forgive me, wee one.” His voice was raspy and low. “Yer ma and I need ye to be strong and brave.” He bent down and kissed her belly.

  As soon as he made contact with Effie, his legs buckled and he fell to his knees. In one massive wave, his world crashed over him and he lost control, the very same control he’d fought hard to keep. Heavy tears breached the wall of strength he’d held up for so long, and raw bleak emotions jerked from his body as he laid his head down on Effie’s lap. “Stay with me,” he said between deep breaths as he clenched the furs on the bed. “I can no’ lose ye, lass.”

  A fortnight could have passed for all he knew as the hysterics wore off. Blinking past the tears, he pressed his head against her chest and listened to her breath. The rhythmic beating of her heart soothed him and his dragon, confirming that she was indeed still with him and fighting.

  He rubbed her stomach in a circular motion as if he was making a wish. Conall supposed he was in fact doing just that, making a wish, vowing his soul in return for hers and his babe.

  “Conall,” she whispered.

  Listlessly he raised his head and was beyond belief when forest-green eyes stared back at him. “Effie.” He’d have pinched himself if he hadn’t been in shock. “Ye’re awake?”

  Coughing through a dry throat she said, “Aye.”

  Leaping out of his seat Conall threw his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. “Thank the Gods that be, ye’re awake.”

  “Conall, ye’re... squishing me.”

  Regaining his composure, he straightened himself, but never taking his hands away from touching her. “Forgive me. I thought I’d lost ye, lass.”

  “Nay,” she coughed again. “I’m here.”

  Cursing himself for a fool he let go of her hand and fetched her some water. “Here, drink this.” He sat back down and continued to rub his hands up and down her arms. “Do ye remember what happened?”

  Effie paused from quenching her thirst as she recalled the last images she had of Caerlaverock. Her eyes grew big. “I was falling... and you caught me.”

  “Aye, I did.”

  “And I killed Tavish.” Her face flashed a frown. “Then I must have fainted, I dinnae remember anything after that.” There was a hint of panic in her tone of voice. Conall could see that she was trying to make sense of it all as she desperately fought to remember.

  “Effie, yer brother wasn’t dead like we thought. I flew ye back to the tower and as I was making sure ye were alright, yer brother threw a dagger at ye and it pierced yer back.”

  “He threw a dagger at me? But I stabbed him, which I know for certain.”

  “Aye, I couldn’t believe it meself. But the bastart had one last fight in him and then I finished him off.”

  “I see.”

  “I didnae know what else to do so I flew ye back here so Abigale could heal ye, but...” he raked a hand through his hair, “ye lost a lot of blood, lass, and under the circumstances ye’re in I had to heal ye for if not I would have lost ye.”

  Effie’s brow furrowed. “What do ye mean, circumstances?” She struggled to sit up. Helping her, Conall lifted her until her back rested comfortably on an array of billowing pillows behind her.

  “Do ye need anything, like food? Aye, ye must be hungry.”

  “Dinnae change the subject, Conall. There’s something ye’re no’ telling me. Why can I no’ feel me legs?”

  And here it was, the dreadful moment of truth. She had to know he’d healed her in order to save her life, yet he could have very well put their babe in grave danger. And to add to her dismay she might never walk again. Hating the fact he had to be the bearer of bad news, Conall gave pause to gather up his thoughts.

  “Effie.” He sat down by her bedside and held her slender hand in his. “I do no’ know where to start.”
He took a deep breath and hoped that she would understand that his motives were out of love for her.

  Her brows creased as she looked at Conall for the answers.

  “The dagger was embedded close to yer spine. Ye can no’ feel yer legs because of the severity of yer wound. Abigale did all that she could but she needed me help. Even with me magic there was no guarantee ye would be able to walk.”

  “So, are ye telling me I’ll never walk?”

  “’Tis possible, aye. We’ll only know as ye fully heal.”

  Effie stilled as she wadded the sheet in her hands. Conall knew it was a lot for the lass to process, but he needed to tell her everything. “Effie, ye’re with child.”

  Effie’s head popped up from staring at the crumpled sheet. “A babe?”

  Conall smiled, for he couldn’t help it. The thought of Effie carrying his child left him proud and warm inside. Even his dragon purred at that idea. “But—”

  “Oh please, Conall, how much worse can it be? Dinnae tell me that the babe is at risk.”

  As quickly as his joy at her waking had come, his insides turned sorrowful. Fate had really kicked him hard in the ballocks, damned his soul. With one last plea to whoever was listening, Conall blew out a deep breath. “I had to make a decision and I hope in time ye can forgive me. Abigale warned me that if I healed ye, the babe might not make it. We just dinnae know how the babe will react to me magic. I had to save ye, my sweet. I know it was a selfish act but I can no’ live withoot ye.”

  Effie remained silent a little longer than Conall would have liked, which caused him to worry. He was all ready for her to kick his arse out of the chamber for putting their babe at risk. Furthermore, he wouldn’t blame her if she did. At least she lived, and to him that was all that mattered. He hung his head and closed his eyes, waiting for his judgment.

  “Conall, there’s nothing to forgive. Ye did the best ye could to save me...” she reached over and squeezed his arm, “and ye did. I’m alive because of ye. Our babe will be just fine.”