by Sky Winters
Somehow, the Artos Clan had fought them off. It must’ve been the sight of poor drew falling to his death, or maybe even the desperate and courageous attack Logan had managed to mount. Clan Campbell scrambled from the village, but few actually managed to escape. The Artos warriors chased after them. Alisa rushed to Logan’s side and lifted him into her arms.
“Are you all right, love?” she said. “Ye didnae have to rescue me.”
He smiled at her. “Like hell I didn’t. You’re nothing but trouble, Alisa MacGregor.”
She cradled him to her chest and gave him a grin. “Would ye have it another other way, my dear?”
“Cannae say for sure yet. I’ve still not gotten to know ye as well as I’d like. But there’s time for that, isn’t there?”
“Aye, there is.”
“I’m sorry ye had to see that side of me, lass,” Logan said. “There were so many of them. They must’ve known what we can do.”
A few feet away, one of the fallen assassins chortled and drew breath in a harsh and ragged manner.
“Everyone knows now, demon,” he said. “You and your kind will never be safe again.”
Red hot, bilious anger flooded and twisted her insides, and she gently lay Logan on his back and crawled over to the fallen assassin. She set her knee to the large wound in his stomach and pressed. The assassin howled in agony.
“How did you know?” she said. “Tell me and I will make it quick.”
“Your little adventure with the wolves!” he spat. “You were ne alone in the woods that day!”
“Someone saw?”
“They’d been tracking you for miles. Ye didn’t really think ye’d escape so easily, did ye? None of you is safe. We will pick you off one by one!”
Alisa put more weight on his wound, but she’d lied when she said she’d kill him. The assassin screamed, but then his face went pale and he passed out from the pain. Alisa crawled back over to Logan.
“Did ye hear that, love?” she asked.
“Aye. We weren’t as careful as we needed to be. You know what this means.”
Alisa nodded. It was time to go back home.
* * * * *
She and the entirety of Clan Artos arrived at Castle MacGregor three days after setting out from the villiage. The shifters had left behind all of their possessions, though the majority of them had opted to burn everything before they left. The castle’s portcullis raised as they streamed over the draw bridge, the October sun high above bright and warm. Alisa’s father greeted them with a cadre of soldiers, and so overjoyed was he to see her alive he broke into sobbing tears and hugged her tightly.
“Daughter! Oh lord above, it’s a miracle!” he wept.
“No miracle, father. Just these fine people. And Logan.”
He pulled away and spotted Logan helping a family of three with their overladen cart.
“Allaway,” the chieftain said. “So you know about Clan Artos. You know what they can do.”
“Aye, father, I do.”
“And tell me, dear,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “is he half as dashing as they say?”
Alisa blushed and her father pulled her in for another hug. How was it fathers always knew? Far from feeling embarrassed, though, the warmth and love of home filled her spirit and nearly brought her to tears. She’s thought she’d never see any of them again. How pleasantly surprising to have been wrong.
“Come see your mother and daughters, Alisa,” he said. “They’ll not believe it till they’ve seen it with their own eyes.”
“Father, we must prepare. Clan Campbell won’t rest after only one defeat.”
His eyes hardened, yet his face still seemed full of joy and wonder. “Dinnae you worry about Clan Campbell, daughter. Now that I’ve got you back, and since the fine, proud warriors of Artos are once again at my side, there’s nothing we can’t do together.”
“I hope you’re right,” Alisa said.
“I am. Whatever comes, whatever dangers and threats that besiege us, we will weather the storm as we always have. Together.”
He pinched her arm and winked, and then he moved off to give Logan a hard slap on the back. When he spotted the chieftain, Logan’s face lit up, and the two men embraced like long lost friends. Alisa watched them and smiled in wonder, thinking she was so lucky, despite the uncertainties of tomorrow. As she stood there, the village’s old medicine woman approached and handed her a cup of water. Alisa thanked the woman for it, and told her how frightfully thirsty she was.
“I thought ye might be,” the healer said. “You’ve got to keep up your strength, deary. All these people are depending on you, whether they realize it or not.”
Alisa drank and felt the cool, clear liquid restore a measure of strength. Sighing contentedly, she handed the cup back.
“It’s funny, but I never realized how much I love this old castle,” she said.
“Family has a way of drawing us to the best of things. Speaking of which, deary, have you been feeling ill in recent days? Perhaps a wee bit sick in the morning?”
“No,” Alisa said, surprised by the question.
The old woman grinned. “Well ye may, though it’s certainly no cause for concern.”
“What do you—”
Instant realization dawned, and she clutched her abdomen and felt a swell of joy deep inside her stomach.
“You mean I’m pregnant?” she said.
“I do, lass. Congratulations. May you bear him many sons.”
“But will … will the baby…”
“It will be a shifter,” the old woman said. “A mighty one at that, as far as I can tell. The future shall be bright for you indeed.”
Alisa gazed lovingly at Logan and her father. The villagers of Clan Artos streamed into her castle, her home, the only place she could think of to raise a beautiful, magical family. There was nothing they could not do together. For them, a life of love would be a life of strength.
END
DRAGON PRINCE
The couples whirled around Kareena like birds in flight. The darkness of the men’s tartans set a bold contrast against the soft pastels of the women’s silken skirts. Their colours filled her eyes and she felt a longing that she could not describe.
She blinked once and suddenly she found herself standing in the middle of the ballroom, surrounded by dancing couples, blocking their path. Kareena tried to move out of the way. She ducked and dived but she could not seem to find her way out. She tried to speak but she realized immediately that no one could hear her. She stood still and watched. Everything was moving through her as though she were a phantom examining a world she was no longer a part of.
“I am here,” she said to the passing couples, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Slowly the couples around her started to blur, until they became specks of diamonds that were carried away with the wind. Kareena focused her eyes and found herself standing on the musky earth of the forests just outside Northwick castle. She turned her head to the right and caught a pair of large, warm brown eyes staring back at her under the sun’s dewy spotlight.
Its skin was the color of a deep forest green, spotted with deep gold markings on either side of its sleek but muscular body. Its appearance was more majestic than any painting of a dragon she had ever seen before. Kareena tried to move closer so she could better admire the dragon, but the moment she took her first step, the dragon dissolved into silver mist and morning dew.
“Wait…” Kareena tried to call out.
But the dragon was already gone.
Chapter One
“Where have you been lass?” Meghan’s voice was gentle but impatient.
“I’m sorry,” Kareena replied immediately. “I… had a bad night.”
“Did ye have the dream again?” Meghan asked with a shrewd glance in Kareena’s direction.
“Aye, but it was different this time. The dragon did not show up until the very end.”
“Hmm,” Meghan’s bright brown eyes seemed t
o grow softer as she pondered over Kareena’s recurring dream. “Perhaps it is a sign of things to come.”
“What kind of things?” Kareena asked.
“I suppose we shall have to wait and see,” Meghan replied as she ran a hand through her silver-grey hair. “Now pass me the sage.”
Kareena suppressed a smile and did as she was told. Meghan was understanding and kind but she was also extremely methodical and that made her impatient. As she got to work on her latest remedy, Kareena moved to the herb cupboard and started to tidy it. She was half way done when she heard steps on the cold stone floors. A moment later, the large wooden door was pushed open and Lady McNeil stepped through. Kareena felt tension engulf her immediately, but she pushed it aside and turned around to face her stepmother.
“Good morning my Lady,” Kareena said with a well-practiced curtsy as Meghan mimicked her movement.
Lady Etaine McNeil was a beautiful woman. She was five and forty but youth still clung to her features. Her eyes were a mixture of blue and brown, and her hair was an uninterrupted gold that fell to her lower back in waves. She turned her thickly lashed eyes onto Kareena with an expression of tolerant distaste.
“Ye look worn this morning Kareena,” Lady McNeil said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
“’Twas a hard night is all,” Kareena replied.
“Take care to rest yourself. Your looks will abandon you soon enough.”
Kareena bit back her retort and nodded her head in acquiescence. Lady McNeil turned her head slowly to Meghan. “I will need a new batch of your skin remedy,” she said delicately.
Meghan nodded curtly. “I shall begin now.”
Lady McNeil’s eyebrows rose suddenly as though she had just had a brilliant notion. “Perhaps it would be better if Kareena were to make the remedy. She must learn if she is to be a healer.”
“If that is what you desire,” Kareena replied trying to be agreeable.
“Tis. I shall expect you to deliver the finished remedy to my bedchamber,” Lady McNeil said, her tone betraying a threat.
Kareena bowed her head in acceptance. Lady McNeil nodded and walked to the door with a flick of her skirts. She was on the threshold when she turned her head back and called out Kareena’s name.
“Aye?” Kareena replied looking up.
“Lord McNeil is hosting Royce McDougal of clan McDougal tonight,” she said with a smile that Kareena did not understand.
“Aye, I know,” Kareena replied. “I have made preparations for the supper in his honour.”
“And I am grateful, but you will not attend the supper tonight.”
Kareena blinked once. “I don’t understand, my father –
“Your father has changed his mind,” Lady McNeil went on smoothly pretending as though Kareena had never spoken. “You will be absent this night.”
Kareena felt her body grow cold with anger. “Why?” she asked, her voice raised louder than she had intended.
Lady McNeil’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Because it is no place for a bastard.” With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared through the door. Once her footsteps had sung its last echo, Kareena turned to Meghan trying to control the frustration coursing through her.
“She can’t do this to me,” Kareena replied.
“I agree,” Meghan said coming forward and putting a hand on Kareena’s shoulder. “You must speak to your father.”
Kareena nodded. “Aye… of course. He doesn’t know of this. If he did, he would never have allowed her to bar me from the feast tonight.”
Meghan smiled reassuringly at her. “Aye, now there’s a smart lass. Don’t you worry.”
Kareena sighed and sunk down onto one of the crooked wooden chairs that surrounded the centre table. “I wish she didn’t hate me so much.”
“Tis not you she hates lass,” Meghan said comfortingly. “’Twas your mother. It does not help that you inherited her fiery red hair and her sky-blue eyes. Except for the sharp nose and freckles you are the very image of your mother.”
“Sometimes I wish I wasn’t,” Kareena admitted out loud. “If that would make her hate me less.”
Meghan’s eyes grew soft with sympathy. “Turn your mind from such thoughts lass. It wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“I know,” Kareena said with a sigh. “She will never be my mother or my friend. But it does not matter, as long as I have my father.”
Chapter Two
Kareena walked down the long, narrow corridors of Northwick Castle. Light streamed in through the slitted windows creating intricate patterns of light as they fell onto the burnished grey stone floors. When she was a child, she used to hop between the little spades of light, making sure to step only on the shadows. She had been a lonely child and the castle had been her one constant playmate.
Kareena turned the corner into another corridor; this one was broader than the last. At its end was a large circular recess with a door at its centre. It was flanked by the coat of arms of clan McNeil. It depicted an eagle in flight, its prey clutched firmly in its steely talons. Kareena knocked hard and she was greeted a moment later with a gruff ‘enter’.
“Father?” Kareena asked as she stepped inside.
Her father was an impressive man. He was well past six feet tall with large broad shoulders that made him look much taller. He had a head of dark curly hair and a full beard that had streaks of grey running through it. His freckles were barely visible anymore.
“Kareena,” Lord McNeil greeted quietly. His chamber was a large one, but Kareena knew he liked to sit by the fire that rested just below a series of arched windows that gave the solar its spectacular brightness. She moved towards the hearth and sat down just as she used to do when she was a little girl.
“What brings you here my bonnie lass?” Lord McNeil asked softly.
Kareena had learnt early on that her father had two voices. One was loud and booming and was used in public and at clan gatherings. The other was soft and quiet and used only in private with his wife and children.
“I came to ask you about something father,” Kareena began cautiously.
“Aye,” Lord McNeil nodded. “And what is that?”
“The feast tonight…” Kareena said trailing off, feeling a sudden panic engulf her.
“Aye?”
“Lady McNeil says I am not to be present,” Kareena forced herself to continue. “But… I cannot believe that you would have agreed to that?”
His eyes dimmed considerably and he pursed up his lips. Kareena knew immediately that he had in fact agreed to just that. She felt her stomach plummet as disappointment, hurt and rejection struggled over dominancy.
“You… did agree,” Kareena said before he could speak.
“Don’t turn your eyes from me lass,” Lord McNeil said as he reached for her chin and pushed it up to meet his face. “It is an unpleasant thing… but…”
He trailed off, leaving Kareena feeling worse than before. “What… exactly is an unpleasant thing?” Kareena asked once she had processed her father’s words. “My presence at the feast tonight or my presence in general?”
Lord McNeil looked taken back. “That is not –
“Tis true then,” Kareena interrupted him as she stood abruptly. “You are ashamed of me.”
“No of course not, I –
“I was a fool to think a Lord could love his bastard child,” Kareena said as she walked to the door. She felt her father rise but he did not move to follow her. She turned at the threshold of the door and curtsied formally. “Thank you for the audience my Lord,” she said weakly before she turned and walked out.
Chapter Three
There were always people milling about the stables but horses were always being taken out to ride. No one took any notice of Kareena as she slipped in and found Frazier in his stall munching on a bale of hay. The feast was only a few hours away and Kareena did not wish to be anywhere near the castle when it took place.
“Come on boy,” sh
e whispered into his ear as she stroked his chestnut brown muzzle. “Let’s run.”
Minutes later, she and Frazier were flying under the castle’s keep, through the gates and out into the open air of the highlands. The moment they had cleared the castle’s shadow, Kareena breathing came easier and her chest felt considerably lighter. She slowed Frazier to an easy gallop as she steered him towards the forests that clan McNeil shared with clan Maclver. It was a large, wild expanse of forest that hugged the Elsick Mounth.
“Let’s ride through,” Kareena whispered to Frazier. He whinnied as though he was answering back and a moment later they sped into the forests.
Once they were surrounded by trees and nothing else, Kareena slowed Frazier down to a trot. They moved through the forest in calm as she took in the earthy breeze that ruffled through her hair.
“Things are so much easier here Frazier,” Kareena said softly looking up towards the large cracks in the forest’s canopy. The light streaming in was warm; it touched her face gently so that she didn’t need to shield her eyes from the brightness. “I wish we could stay here forever.”
She dismounted and let Frazier graze around at his leisure. She picked up her skirts and explored the little clearing they found themselves in. She recognized many of the herbs that Meghan used in her remedies and unconsciously she started plucking off fresh stems and dropping them into the tired sack that hung down Frazier’s side.
She immersed herself in the forest, so much so that she didn’t even realize that the sun was slowly setting and darkness was settling over the highlands. Her thoughts became abstract until she was no longer thinking of her father or the feast taking place at the castle that very minute. Even after night had finally come in, Kareena refused to go back to the castle. A small part of her wondered if anyone would even notice. Suddenly she heard the sharp crack of a tree branch a few feet away. Kareena jumped back with a gasp caught in her throat. Frazier raised his large head for a moment and then went back to grazing.
