“You don’t seem to like the fact I’m English,” said Madoc.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didna mean te be rude, but the English jest killed off me family.”
“Your family?” he asked, surveying her clothes. “So you are not a MacKeefe?”
“Nay, I’m Effie MacDuff, and if ye please, I’d no’ like te talk aboot it any more.”
“Of course,” he said, looking at her oddly. “I’m sorry.”
“What are all these birds fer?” she asked, looking around. Effie was standing inside a small, wooden hut with a tall ceiling. Pigeons sat roosting on the rafters above their heads. There were other birds that looked to be nesting, and still more that were in separate enclosures.
“These are homing pigeons,” Madoc told her. “I raise them.” The pigeons in the separate cages are messengers. They are the ones that fly to my brother’s castle in Devonshire, to the MacKeefe’s castle, or to my twin sister’s home in Hythe.”
“Madoc has pigeons in e’ery place one o’ his siblings lives,” Aidan explained. “Thet is how they send messages between them, and from England te Scotland and back.”
“Fascinatin’,” she said. “So do ye have pigeons near the borderlands too?” She wondered if any of them were near to Liddel Castle where her sister was being held captive. If so, this may come in handy somehow.
“I do,” Madoc said with a smile. “The MacKeefe’s castle, Hermitage Castle, in on the border. And since my sister, Wren, sometimes dwells there, I have birds there as well. Actually, I am going there next, as I need to return pigeons that are trained to fly one way only. That will be my last stop. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Jest curious,” she said.
“It is several days ride to the border,” he said, looking at Aidan. “I’d like to leave as soon as possible. Since my horse went lame, I was hoping to borrow one of your clan’s horses, but I understand they are all gone, as your clan is still at the Glasgow fair.”
“Thet’s right,” said Aidan. “Why dinna ye jest stay til they return?”
“My wife, Abbey, is going to give birth soon to our third child,” he said. “I’m anxious to get back to her. We have both a boy and a girl already, and I’m hoping this one is another son. I really want to raise as many sons as I can, since I grew up without a father. Kyla offered me your horse, Aidan, but I really hate to take it on you.”
“Nay, take me horse,” said Aidan with sigh. “It is important te be there fer yer wife and new bairn. I’ll come te collect me horse and return yers when it’s healed. I’ll return it te ye personally at Blake Castle, and hopefully see yer new bairn as well.”
“My many thanks,” said Madoc. “I’ll be sure to have it back to you sooner than that, as I know you’re going to want it when you go to the Highland Games. And Effie, I hope to see you there as well?”
“I dinna ken.” She looked at Aidan, and he had that sad look upon his face again. “Well, mayhap I’ll jest do thet.” Aidan smiled at those words, and it did her heart good to see his face light up again.
“Madoc, join us fer a bite te eat,” said Aidan. “Afterwards, mayhap ye’d like te get inte the little competition we’re havin’, as we practice fer the Highland Games.”
“I’d be happy to eat with you and also to watch you practice, but I’m afraid I’m not skilled in much besides wielding a sword or racing pigeons,” Madoc answered. Actually, I have my brother, Corbett, to thank for me being a knight. He trained me well, since I was just a thief.”
“I’d love to hear about it,” said Effie.
“I’d be happy to tell you everything over a bite of food.” He looked at Aidan and grinned. “Unless it’s pigeon stew.”
“Dinna worry,” Aidan said with a chuckle. “The MacKeefes no longer eat pigeon thanks te yer sister.”
“Nor do we eat squirrel, thanks te ye,” said Kyla. “And squirrel stew was me favorite.”
Reid chattered away from outside the pigeon loft just then, causing them all to laugh.
* * *
Effie enjoyed the meal along with Aidan, Onyx, Ian, Madoc, and Kyla. They were all getting along wonderfully, laughing and enjoying some mountain magic. She was getting used to the strong whisky, and only took it in small amounts, but was surprised how Kyla kept up with drinking with the men.
“Kyla, how can ye drink so much o’ this brew and still be able to stand?” Effie asked, staring down at her cup.
“I grew up doin’ whate’er me brathair and his friends were doin’ so it disna bother me,” said the girl.
“Aye, she’s one o’ the boys, thet’s why,” said Ian. “And no lass, ye dinna do e’erythin’ we do, if ye ken what I mean.”
“Ye’d better no’ be doin’ e’erything,” said Aidan to his sister, “or I’ll be the first te make sure whate’er laddie is in yer bed disna make it out o’ here alive.”
The men laughed, but Kyla just crinkled her nose and shook her head. “Aidan, if ye keep me away from laddies much longer, I’m goin’ te die a spinster.”
Effie was starting to feel at home, and it was the best feeling in the world.
“Let’s jest hope no laddie e’er gives her a birthday present like I gave ye,” Aidan said to Effie softly, but Madoc overheard him.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me it was your birthday, my lady?” Madoc got up and walked over to her, bowing, and when he stood back up, he pulled a dove from behind her ear and handed it to her. She went to grab it, and it flew up into the sky.
“How did ye do thet?” she asked in surprise.
“Madoc is known as the Lord of Illusion,” said Kyla.
“Thet’s right,” said Aidan. “He kens all sorts o’ tricks, and can also make things disappear.”
“Really?” Effie wondered what she would be called once she made the Stone of Destiny disappear. She was sure it wouldn’t be anything so admirable.
“Ian, play yer bagpipes,” begged Kyla.
“Nay,” Ian said with a scowl on his face, putting down the bones of the pheasant they were eating, having caught it earlier that day. “I dinna feel like it.”
“Come on,” she said, getting up and pulling the bagpipes from behind a rock. “I happen te have them right here.”
“Kyla, what are ye doin’?” Ian rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Quit yer pesterin’ me already, will ye lassie?” He stretched out on the grass.
Effie could see the girl was vying for Ian’s attention, tho he wasn’t giving it to her.
“I’ll play them,” Effie offered, taking them into her hands, knowing the way to get a man to react.
“Ye ken how te play bagpipes?” asked Aidan.
“I do, but I’m no’ verra guid at it.”
“Thet’s becooz ye need te have a lot o’ wind aboot ye, like Aidan,” said Onyx from the other side of the fire.
“I thought you knew how to play them too,” Madoc said to Onyx.
“We all do,” he said.
“Then he’s not the only one with wind.”
They all laughed at that, and when Effie brought her mouth to the bagpipes and blew a sour note, that had them all laughing again, including her.
“Give me thet,” said Onyx, taking the bagpipes and placing them under his arm, blowing into it. His wildcat came out of the shadows and settled down behind him. Effie saw Madoc petting Aidan’s squirrel, and knew it would be safe from the cat.
The music was cheery and Effie found herself clapping her hands and keeping beat.
“Me lady,” said Aidan, bowing and holding out his hand. “May I have this birthday dance?”
“Oh, I dinna dance,” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s yer birthday, now get up and dance,” said Kyla, pulling her to her feet.
“Only if ye dance as well,” she told the girl. “With Ian.”
Kyla smiled and nodded her head. Effie winked.
“I’m no’ dancin’,” grumbled Ian from his position on the ground, his arm over his closed eyes.<
br />
“If the birthday girl wants ye te dance, then do it,” Aidan told him.
“Come on,” said Kyla, pulling Ian to his feet.
“Aidan, ye owe me fer dancin’ with yer wee sister.” Ian got to his feet, and shot a daggered glance to Aidan.
Effie danced with Aidan, and Kyla with Ian, and Madoc even kept the beat with his spoon against a log, as he used it as a drum.
“No’ so fast,” said Effie when Aidan took a hold of her and twirled her around.
“I bet ye canna do this, Ian,” said Aidan, as he did an even faster step, pulling Effie around in a circle.
“Dinna challenge me te somethin’ becooz ye ken I will win,” said Ian, taking a hold of Kyla and doing the same thing. Onyx played the bagpipes faster, and Madoc picked up the rhythm on his home-made drum.
Before Effie knew it, she was dizzy from turning circles so fast, and she fell to the ground atop Aidan. Ian fell as well, with Kyla in his arms.
Effie felt happy for Kyla, as well as for herself. She felt as if she never wanted to leave MacKeefe camps for the rest of her life.
“Come on,” said Onyx, putting down the bagpipes. “The caber is ready fer ye, Aidan, and I have a bet with Madoc thet ye’ll win.”
“What aboot me?” said Ian, getting to his feet, and pulling Kyla with him.
“I’ll bet on ye winnin’,” said Kyla proudly.
“Thanks fer the vote o’ confidence, lass,” he told her and patted her on the head as if she were nothing more than a child.
The men walked away toward the caber. Aidan’s squirrel was on his shoulder, and Onyx’s wildcat was sneaking behind in the shadows.
“He thinks o’ me as a bairn,” Kyla told Effie, putting her hands on her hips.
“Who?” she asked. “Ian or Aidan?”
“All o’ them.” Kyla threw her hands into the air in frustration. “I’ll ne’er be anythin’ but a bairn te them.”
“Men are no’ always thet aware o’ when a lassie likes them,” Effie told her. “Jest give it time, and I’m sure some day Ian will notice ye turned inte a woman.”
“Well, Aidan noticed ye, thet’s fer sure,” said Kyla. “And ye two jest met. I’ve kent Ian me whole life, and he still disna ken I even exist.”
“Sometimes, when someone is so close to another, they canna see the nose on their face,” she said, putting her arm around the girl. “Now let’s go watch the men make fools o’ themselves tryin’ te prove thet one o’ them is better than another.”
AIDAN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Aidan stood with his arms wrapped around the trunk of a tree that they’d made into a mock caber. It was heavy and long, and took three people just to get it into position.
“Come on, Aidan, ye can throw a better caber than the one Ian just tossed like a lassie,” called out Onyx. It was a beautiful day, and the sky was clear blue with white puffy clouds high above the peaks of the mountains. Rolling green hills surrounded them, dotted with long-haired sheep feeding on grass in the distance. A field of purple heather trailed down to the loch. It all seemed so alive as the machairs, tall grass, speckled with bright-colored wildflowers, swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze.
“Ye say thet again,” Ian warned him, “and I’ll show ye how I can toss the sheaf, but it’ll be ye I’m tossin’ instead.”
“That, I’d like to see,” said Madoc, lounging in the background, with his head on a rock and his feet sprawled out in front of him. Aidan’s squirrel was on his chest. Effie and Kyla sat beside him.
“All right, I’m ready.” Aidan took a deep breath, and with Onyx and Ian’s help, hoisted the heavy pole into position, making sure Effie was watching. And he’d just taken a step forward when Reid scampered over and climbed upon his shoulder and then started making its way directly up the pole.
“Nay, get off o’ there, ye doitit squirrel,” said Aidan, moving back and forth with the pole teetering almost out of control. There was no way he could actually throw it with his squirrel now perched at the very top.
“Toss it,” shouted Ian.
“Nay,” cried Effie, “ye’ll kill the squirrel.”
“Reid, get down from there,” yelled Aidan, his muscles burning from holding up so much weight.
The squirrel moved down slowly, and finally scampered back to the ground. And with another step, and his muscles twitching, Aidan tossed the caber, end over end. It was an amazingly straight throw, and it settled much further than Ian’s caber toss.
“Ye did it,” cried Effie, running to him and throwing herself into his arms. “Ye were wonderful, Aidan.” She reached up and kissed him and he picked her up and spun her in a circle before putting her back on her feet.
“I was right,” said Onyx. “Aidan is the strongest when it comes to lifting weight. Too bad I didna place coin on the bet.”
“Thank you for everything,” said Madoc, coming and clasping arms with Aidan. “I need to be on my way before the day gets any later. Thanks again for the use of your horse.”
“Would ye mind if I travelled with ye?” asked Onyx. “I am goin’ te stop in Northumberland to see me sister, Amethyst, and her husband, Marcus, fer a bit afore I head on home te check on me bairned wife.”
“I’d be honored,” said Madoc.
“Ian, did ye want te come fer a visit as well?” asked Onyx. “I hear Marcus’s cousin, Matilda is visitin’, and she is a sight fer sore eyes, I assure ye.”
“Aye, I do,” he said anxiously, raising his eyebrows. “But I need te pick up some things at Hermitage Castle on the way if ye dinna mind. I’ll get me things.” Ian headed for the cottage. Hermitage Castle was the MacKeefes’ border castle that their chieftain, Storm, captured years ago. It was a place where they stayed when they weren’t in the Highlands.
“I’ll go too,” said Kyla, following him.
“Nay, ye’ll stay here with Effie and yer brathair and stop pesterin’ me,” growled Ian.
“Aidan, will ye and the lassies be alright here alone guardin’ the stone, or should one o’ us stay?” asked Onyx.
“I’ll be fine,” said Aidan with a wave of his hand. “The rest o’ the clan should be back any day, and the stone hasna been in danger in the last six months, so I’m sure it’ll stay secure fer another day or two. Besides, no one even kens it’s here.”
“So the three o’ us will be the only ones here te guard the stone?” asked Effie.
“Aye,” said Aidan. “Why do ye ask?”
“No reason,” she said, her face suddenly changing from laughter to one that seemed to Aidan a look of fear.
“I will protect ye me angel, as well as the stone, dinna worry.” He put his arm around her. “After all,” he whispered so only she could hear, “I would give me life if I had te no’ only te keep the stone from gettin’ inte the hands o’ the English, but also te protect ye and me sister. The lassies thet I love.”
AIDAN
CHAPTER TWELVE
It was early the next morning, and Effie awoke in Aidan’s arms after having spent the most wonderful day of her life with him yesterday. It was by far the most anyone had ever done to celebrate her birthday. Sure, her sister Coira had brought her bouquets of wildflowers and cooked her meals as well, but Aidan gave her a present that by far surpassed that. He gave her not only his body but also his heart. That meant the world to her.
The sun was just rising and she slipped away from him silently and dressed, wanting to go prepare a meal for him and bring it back and serve him in bed the way he’d done for her yesterday. Then she planned on telling him about her sister. She couldn’t keep this secret to herself any longer. He couldn’t do anything crazy today, because there was only one horse in the camp at the moment, and it was lame. Besides, he would never leave the Stone of Destiny unguarded.
That would give her a few days until the rest of the clan returned to try to explain to him what she’d planned on doing, and to tell him that she no longer wanted to lie and deceive people. Especially hi
m. By the time the chieftain and the rest of the clan returned from the fair, she hoped she’d be able to talk to him sensibly and try to think of a plan to save her sister that wouldn’t get any of them killed. With a whole clan to back him up, mayhap Aidan could do something to save Coira after all.
She finished dressing and looked down at herself donned in her new clothes. Liking the way they felt, she wanted more than anything to be a part of this clan. She hoped they could get Coira and bring her back to be part of the clan as well.
She spied her brooch on the table and picked it up, wanting more than anything to wear it. Mayhap after she’d had her conversation with Aidan today, if things went well, she’d feel differently. But for now, she couldn’t bring herself to pin it on her clothes. She didn’t even want to look at it right now, so she reached down and slipped it under the pallet, and out of sight.
She glanced over to Aidan sleeping soundly on the pallet, his long, blond hair sprawled across the Stone of Destiny as he used it as his pillow. The stark contrast of his light hair and the black stone made her think how different the two of them were as well. Like day and night, in a way.
Aidan had said he’d give his life to protect the stone, but she was willing to give up the destiny of Scotland in order to save the life of her sister. He was so honest with her, but she’d been nothing but untruthful to him. He’d told her he loved her, but yet, she didn’t return the sentiment. And while he was planning their future together, she was only trying to get through another day, not knowing if she or her sister would live to see the morrow.
She kissed him softly on the forehead, then headed out the door, closing it quietly behind her.
“Guid mornin’,” said Kyla from behind her, scaring Effie and making her jump. She held her hands over her heart.
“Ye frightened me, Kyla. I didna ken ye were there.”
“I’m sorry, Effie. I jest wanted te say thank ye fer gettin’ Ian te dance with me yesterday, before I head down te the loch te bathe. I really wish I could o’ gone with them when they left.”
Box Set - Knights of Passion (7 Novels) Page 55
