The Inscription

by Pam Binder

  Out of the corner of her eye Amber noticed Lachlan staring in her direction as she left the table and headed toward the stairs. His expression was unguarded, his eyes dark with desire. Her heart beat faster as she suppressed a smile. He did want her.

  The connection between them was as strong as the pull from the currents of Loch Ness that had brought her here. It took all her strength to leave. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to have him comfort her and love her.

  That whole fantasy might prove to be a little tough, since the big lug chose this moment to give her the silent treatment. True, his expression spoke volumes, but this time, in this relationship, she wanted it all. The right words, emotions, commitment, actions; in other words, she wanted the fairy tale.

  The light from the torches cast finger-like shadows down the hall. Amber shivered, opened the door to her room and hurried in. A fire and the light of a half dozen candles welcomed her.

  She drew a chair closer to the hearth and sat down, watching the flames curl around the logs. She was right to leave all the noise and distractions. She needed time to think, to sort out her feelings. A gentle rain pelted against the windowpanes. All she needed was a cup of hot chocolate and a good book and the world would right itself again. It had always been her solution in the past.

  A rush of warm, suffocating air greeted Marcail as she pulled open the door to her chamber and entered. Candles guarded against the shadows of the night, but they were of poor quality. They offered meager light in exchange for their share of smoke. She would talk to Una and advise her to use the tapers from Italy. Marcail paused on her way to open the window. O’Donnell lay unconscious on her bed. Amber and Una had worked hard to clean and bandage the man’s wounds. Her thoughts turned to the woman Lachlan pulled from the water.

  The Lady Diedra knew the events surrounding die night Amber was pulled from the loch. She must have told her son about Marcail’s role. It was for the best. He already suspected Amber was tied to the legend, and soon he would know all.

  Marcail herself had poured the elixir into the water, while repeating the legend of the Lady of the Loch. The Guardian had never failed when summoned. However, it did not always end in success. She remembered the man they had called “Ford.” Marcail had not been able to pull him out of the water in time. A pity. He may have been able to teach them a great deal. Regret and guilt still warred within her.

  Amber, however, had survived. She must concentrate on that. Marcail could only hope her interpretation of the legend was accurate, and that Lachlan would quickly come under its spell. The next full moon was less than a fortnight away. What she was unsure of was whether the Guardian had delivered a mortal or an immortal woman.

  It was a problem easily solved, and easier proven. However, for now she would concentrate on O’Donnell and give the task of determining Amber’s race to Angus. She tucked the book, The Canterbury Tales, under her arm and looked at the man.

  He was of medium height and frame, with shoulder length hair that looked as though it had been cut with the blunt end of a knife. His features were of no consequence. He was someone who would blend easily into a crowd. She was suddenly curious as to the color of his eyes. The idea came to her that they might be green. Nonsense. She pulled herself up straighter and crossed to the alcove next to the hearth. A foolish notion, what matter the color of his eyes?

  She opened the double window, took a deep breath of the cool night breeze and sat down on a cushioned bench under the sill. That was indeed better. Una had sealed the chamber as tight as a tomb. Marcail had spent more time than she could remember explaining to Una the importance of fresh air and sunshine when tending the injured or sick. The woman clung to the old ways as though they were written on tablets of gold.

  Marcail remembered a time when she shared Una’s view. But she had the advantage of having lived over five lifetimes. She had gathered information on the art of healing from China, and Istanbul, comparing what she had learned with the physicians in London, Paris and Madrid.

  She looked down at the leather-bound book, with its ornate gold leaf-engraved designs. She had not thought about her early quest to search out all knowledge surrounding medicine in a long while. She opened the book and turned to the story she wished to read. It mattered not. The world had an abundance of physicians, and if there was one less…

  Chapter 9

  Lachlan walked down the winding stairway leading to the cookroom. He could hear someone opening cupboard doors and rummaging through the shelves. As he entered, a draft caused the candles on the long trestle table to flicker.

  A figure wrapped in a green plaid was searching the cupboard built into the wall by the fireplace. Even in the shadows he recognized her. The death of Molly and her baby had affected Amber greatly.

  “ ‘Tis an odd time of night to be filling your stomach. Come, I shall escort you back to your chamber.”

  Amber pulled the blanket more securely around her. “I’m not hungry. I’m looking for chocolate. It usually helps.”

  Lachlan took a deep breath to steady himself. He had awakened from a restless sleep; the words his mother had spoken still haunted his dreams. She knew about the legend, as did all his kind. But, in her frame of mind, what part was reality, what part fantasy? Walking through the dark corridors he had found himself outside Amber’s chamber. When he discovered she was gone, he had been frantic, as the words of the old tale echoed through his mind. Seeing her again made him realize how precious she had become to him in the last two weeks. He could not lose her, but he knew not how to hold on.

  Now he discovered she had been searching for something to eat in the middle of the night. Had she asked, he would have awakened the entire castle and had them search for whatever it was she wanted. Lachlan put his arm around her shoulders and turned her to face him. She trembled beneath his touch. “I shall take you to your chamber and wake Una to find whatever it is you desire.”

  “Chocolate.” She shrugged out of his reach. “Actually a candy bar, or hot fudge over coffee-flavored ice cream would be perfect.” She opened a cupboard next to the windows.

  He pulled a chair from under the table and sat down. The word she spoke was similar to the one used by Theseus earlier tonight. Was she, too, from the New World? He would find out when she was ready, but now she was troubled, and he would know the reason. This woman was not unlike his sister. If something was on her mind, it would take patience to pull it from her. He folded his arms across his chest. It was going to be a long night.

  Amber slammed the door shut, grabbed one of the candles on the table and headed for the pantry next to the stairs. He rested his head against the high back of die chair, taking pleasure in merely watching her. If he had any sense he would return to his warm bed and let this woman upturn everything in the room. Let her deal with Una’s anger in the morning.

  She burst from the pantry and put the candle and a small canvas sack on the table. “I’ve found cocoa beans. Now where does Una keep the sugar and milk? It shouldn’t be too hard to crush them into a powder. I wonder if I need to roast them first? Could you start a fire?“

  He reached out his hand and grasped her wrist Beneath his fingers her pulse raced as if she had been running. “I shall build you a fire and help you make whatever this concoction is, but first tell me what troubles you.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes and slid slowly down her cheeks. “Molly, the baby and… I couldn’t help them. I thought I could. Can you believe the arrogance? I really thought I could make the difference.” She wiped her face. “It hurts too much to think about.”

  He gathered her in his arms, held her against his chest and kissed her lightly on the top of her head.

  “And I don’t belong here.”

  “We belong together.”

  Lachlan felt the force of his words linger in the air. He wished he could speak soothing words to her that would take away her pain. But all he could do was hold her. He hoped it was enough. She clung to him as her tears seeped thr
ough his shirt to his skin. Slowly, as time silently passed by, the tears subsided.

  She pulled away from him. Her expression had changed from grief to confusion as if she struggled with the weight of the world.

  “You didn’t say one word to me this evening. One minute you’re holding me, saying you can’t draw breath without me, or that we were meant for each other and the next you’re ignoring me.”

  “You ran from me before I had the chance.”

  She shook her head. “That’s beside the point, and you know it. If you have feelings for me, and I don’t mean the friendship or caretaker kind, but real heart-stopping, mind-altering type feelings, then we should explore them. You need to be honest with me.“

  He gently tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. “I am a fool.”

  Amber smiled. “True.”

  The door to the kitchen flew open. Elaenor and a young man ran in holding hands and laughing. They stopped abruptly.

  Elaenor looked from Lachlan to Amber and then back again. “I am sorry, we shall leave.” She leaned over to her companion and whispered something in his ear before she turned to Lachlan. “The night is dear. Richard and I were trying to distinguish the stars from the planets.”

  Lachlan folded his arms across his chest. “Indeed.”

  He looked at his sister. The blush of excitement had faded. She should fear him. He recognized the boy. Richard was the son of John Tuscony and had traveled from Egypt with Artemis. He might be one of the immortals, but he would be lucky to survive this night.

  Marcail had warned him of this day when Elaenor had returned from London. But his sister was still young and her thoughts were always turned toward accumulating knowledge. He had convinced himself this day was far off. A touch on his arm made him look down. It was Amber.

  She smiled toward Elaenor and Richard. “So, what do you have in the bag?”

  Elaenor turned to her, reaching into the cloth sack die young man held.

  “Richard said this fruit is called an orange, and they grow in the lands around the Nile.” She peeled back the rough outer skin and took a bite of the fruit. “It is delicious.”

  “I am not hungry, Sister, and I think ‘twas not die sky you were exploring.”

  Elaenor’s eyes seemed to widen and Richard’s face turned pale.

  “You are unkind, Brother, to think as such.” Her smile had faded to a thin line. “However, what you suggest has merit.” She turned and kissed Richard on the cheek. He blushed as red as Angus’ beard and backed toward the door.

  Lachlan could hear Amber’s soft laughter. His sister stood with her hands on her hips, defiantly. Richard, however, looked as though he expected to be run through with a sword. Lachlan suspected his sister had kissed the lad in open defiance. He was beginning to think rebellion was a trait all women possessed.

  They all awaited his response. He knew, too, he had not handled this well. Elaenor had never been like other young women. He had known, almost from the beginning, that his sister had disguised herself as a lad, and enrolled in Trinity College. He had chosen to say nothing. Lachlan had assured himself she was safe. A professor at the college watched over her. But women needed to be protected.

  “How could you accuse me, Brother?”

  He looked at the two women. Amber’s eyes seemed to accuse him as well. His sister was right. He remembered the reports he had received from his friend at Trinity. After Elaenor’s identity was discovered, she had still kept the lads at arm’s length. He wished his memory had returned sooner, for the humble pie he was about to eat would be hard to swallow.

  “Elaenor will not go.” Lachlan slammed his fist on the trestle table. Plates rattled and goblets of wine tipped, spilling their contents over the linen cloth. His men averted their eyes.

  Marcail leaned toward him. “Your sister will be well cared for. You shall, of course, send all the men you can spare to escort her to London.”

  At this moment Elaenor was in her chamber making ready for her journey. Fear for her safety caused his hands to tremble. She was the only sister he had left. Lachlan cared not that Elizabeth was the Queen of England. In the past he had made monarchs wait at his convenience. This would be one of those times.

  “We shall send a message and inform Elizabeth that Elaenor shall be detained until I can accompany her myself.”

  Marcail fingered the pearls at her throat. “You know Elaenor must leave at once, in order to discourage the queen from pursuing this new course she has set.”

  Lachlan had read the contents of the letter and well knew the dangers. Elizabeth was an intelligent woman. She would be able to ferret out the truth of Amber’s origins. That accomplished, it would only stimulate her curiosity more. It would be a matter of little time before his race would be discovered.

  He had preached to his people that they must work for the good of all. Lachlan could ask no less of himself. Elaenor must leave as quickly as possible. She, alone, would be able to dissuade the queen from pursuing the theories written in the letter.

  The sun was breaking over the horizon as Amber opened the wooden shutters in Elaenor’s room. It promised to be a dear warm day. Amber took a moment to try to figure out how Aunt Dora would have broached the subject of the birds and the bees. Of course, Elaenor had mentioned that Marcail had told her all the essential facts, but there might still be a few details that Amber could fill in.

  In the early morning light Amber could see the grove where she and Steven had made love. Her aunt had known something had changed the instant Amber walked in the door. The dear woman put on a pot of tea and they’d talked straight through until morning. Aunt Dora never raised her voice, never lectured in that condescending tone her parents always used, but listened to her instead. The normal questions regarding protection were raised and the consequences of teen pregnancy. And in the end, when Amber had asked her how she’d known, thinking perhaps it was the afterglow of lovemaking shining in her eyes, Dora had said it was the look of guilt in her expression.

  Her aunt had taken a sip of tea, then explained that with deep and eternal love there was no guilt or regret, only fulfillment of one’s self. But she’d also cautioned that love, like a rose, took time to nurture and grow. Amber brushed a tear from her eye as the memory faded.

  In the room behind her she heard Elaenor packing clothes. She crossed to the bed and sat down. The young woman was throwing dresses, ribbons and undergarments into a large trunk. Elaenor had just told her she was planning a trip with Richard, no matter that the excuse was to visit a friend.

  “I’ll bet you could get someone to pack for you if you asked.”

  That was an understatement. Urquhart Castle was jammed with servants.

  “I cannot wait. Lachlan has said my escort will be ready within the hour to accompany Richard and his family to London.“

  Amber counted to ten to calm herself. She had the sudden impulse to lock Elaenor in her room.

  “Does your brother know what you’re doing?” Might as well get to the point; after all, Mr. Wonderful was waiting.

  Elaenor tossed an embroidered headdress on the pile of clothes. “Yes, he knows. He said he would chop off Richard’s head if we were to lie with one another.”

  Amber smiled. It was a typical big brother response. However, the threats her own brother made in high school had never stopped her. She felt her frustration increase. “Have you known Richard very long?”

  “We were in a class together when I was going to school in London.” The lid to the trunk clicked shut “Do you think I should bring my jewelry?”

  This young woman needed a chaperone. One who had her eyes wide open. “What if I go with you?”

  “And leave my brother? Nay, that cannot be. He needs you. Even if he has not yet come to realize it” Elaenor frowned and walked over to the bed to sit beside Amber. “What troubles you? I will be very safe on my journey to London. Lachlan is seeing to every detail”

  The knowledge was not reassuring. Amber had been on a
picnic with Steven’s family when the two of them had become “lost.”

  Amber held Elaenor’s hands in hers. “When I was about your age, I met someone very much like Richard. I realized later that a young man’s vision of love is not the same as a woman’s.”

  Elaenor raised an eyebrow. “Do you believe I will become Richard’s mistress?”

  Lachlan’s sister was direct. The image of Molly gave Amber the courage to continue. “I want you to be careful, that’s all.” She cleared her throat. “You are still very young.”

  “You are worried about my becoming pregnant. You need not be. Even if I were interested in Richard, in that way, I have no fear of becoming with child.”

  Amber squeezed Elaenor’s hand gently and resisted the temptation to start ranting and raving. “Do you plan to use some form of protection to prevent the conception?”

  “I have heard of such things. The Lady Marcail said that the Egyptians were particularly skilled in that area. But there is no need to worry about me. It is not possible for me to conceive.” Elaenor smiled. “Besides, I have changed my mind about Richard. He is unable to point out even the easiest of the constellations in the sky. Can you imagine such ignorance? Such a man would be of little challenge.”

  Amber smiled but couldn’t shake the feeling that she had missed something. Elaenor was an intelligent sixteen year old, which made what she’d said even more confusing. It was not that Elaenor did not think she’d get pregnant. The young woman believed she couldn’t, until she decided the time was right. Amber was probably overreacting. At least Elaenor appeared to be not as romantically attached to Richard as she’d seemed last night. Maybe she should change the subject.

  “Where is it that you’re going, again?”

  “To see Elizabeth.” Elaenor went over to an empty trunk and resumed her packing. “When I discovered Richard and his family were returning to London, I decided, that instead of writing Elizabeth of my response to her letter, I would talk of it in person.”