Enchanted Lover

by Scharon, Connie C.

  “Asilinn has seen his birth. Our son will be born in the tower room at Dunbocan Castle. Help me end this war before he arrives.”

  “I must think on it,” Angus said. “This intrigue confounds me. I'll see you to your room and we'll talk after dinner.” Rising from his seat, he showed Jared to a comfortable chamber just down the hall.

  Later that evening, Laird Innes put forth a splendid table. Before dinner, he took Jared aside. “You shall have your chance for peace, Dragon Lord of Dunbocan,” Angus told him. “Your insolent kidnapping will not color my judgment nor will the knowledge of my grandchild. That shall remain between us until the matter is put to a vote. After dinner you and your councilmen will meet with us and then the Innes council will decide on your peace plan.”

  Ian came over and sat down beside his father and Jared. “Thank you for bringing Skye,” he said. “I swear if the child were a little older I'd ask for her hand. What a charmer she'll be someday!” Ian lost his grin when he saw the serious expression on his father's face.

  “Would you join yourself with a MacLean like your sister has done? My children will be the death of me.” Angus groaned. “After dinner,” he reminded Jared when he rose and walked off toward his council members.

  “Your father is not on my side right now. What can I say to win him over?” Jared looked intently into his brother-in-law's face.

  “The truth, whatever it may be, is the only balm for my father's heart. And mark my words, if you lie, we will all know.” Ian stood and followed his father.

  Jared shoved his chair back from the table. His enemies had been busy while he was infirmed. His gaze flew over Morven, Ross, and Keith. Was one of them a traitor? A few short months ago he would have sworn none of them would betray him but now it was clear someone high up in his ranks was out for blood—his blood.

  Why had Morven been willing to declare him dead without a thorough search? Had it been because he knew what had happened? Jared didn't wish to think along those lines. Now he must somehow convince the Innes council he was not behind the looting of their villages.

  Rising from the head table, he walked over to his men and informed them they would be meeting with the Innes council that evening.

  “Morven, I want a word with you before the meeting,” Jared added.

  Morven rose and walked out into the hall with Jared. He started to speak, but Jared urged him along until they were in the room Laird Innes had ushered him into earlier. “What is it, Milord?” Morven asked. “If it is over my rude behavior, I apologize. You were right. I have no way of knowing what became of the messenger.”

  “Did you know of the pillaging of the Innes villages?”

  Morven shook his head. “No, Milord, I hadna heard of it.”

  “Odd, news like that usually travels fast. Of course, I was infirmed. I heard naught of it until now.” Jared gave his cousin a cold appraisal. “Have the masked riders been up to any mischief in our sector?”

  “There were incidents while you were recovering, but the masked ones were as elusive as they were that day in the woods.”

  “Osred is one of them.” Jared watched Morven's face for any reaction.

  “Osred,” Morven repeated in disbelief. “You must be mistaken. The man is afraid of his own shadow. He's a pompous ass!”

  “Skye saw him meet with a masked rider in the woods. I marked his horse's hooves so I could tell where he had been. He rode with them the day they attacked me. I saw the hoof prints in the mud just before I was attacked.”

  “You left him behind. Lady Asilinn could be in danger.”

  “I gave her many warnings before I departed. If God is with us, she will be safe.”

  “Laird, did you mark the horses’ hooves of everyone you suspected?”

  “All members of the council,” Jared replied evenly. “It was an unfortunate necessity.”

  “I see, you suspect us all of treason.”

  “Not all, maybe only Osred. Time will tell. Let's adjourn to the hall for the meeting.” They walked side by side down the passageway in silence.

  By the time they reached the hall, all other guests had vacated the chamber and only the council remained. Ross and Keith looked relieved when Jared and Morven entered.

  Erland, one of the members of the Innes high council, addressed Jared. “Laird Innes has told us of your peace plan and I admit we were intrigued until recent events made us set the idea aside. Now you turn up asking us to believe you had no part in the attacks made against us. Yet these men wore your plaid. What say you, Laird of Dunbocan? What defense do you offer?”

  “Would I come here with only a handful of men if I were the culprit in these crimes?” Jared asked. “Would I bring my only sister into your midst if I was not dealing in good faith? How many of you rode with Laird Innes to Cock Bridge? Did you not see the masked riders start the fighting? Together we can hunt them down and end this sabotage of our peace process.”

  “You answer only with questions,” one of the elder council members objected. “I would hear a firm denial. We have been enemies too long to trust your silver-tongued eloquence. Tell me straight out and let me see if I believe you.”

  “I did not have anything to do with the attacks on your villages. I suffered my own infirmity because of an assassination attempt by the masked men. Lady Asilinn herself came to my rescue and nursed me back to health. I wouldna be alive today were it not for her.”

  Erland turned to Laird Innes. “Would you vouch for this man's honesty?”

  Angus let out a heavy sigh. “I wilna enter this debate on either side, judge for yourself.”

  “Father,” Ian objected. “You know Laird Jared to be honest in his dealings thus far. Why will you not support him?”

  “Be silent!” Angus warned.

  Ian leapt to his feet. “I will not sit silently while a man who has saved our lives on two separate occasions stands before the council without your aid. If you wilna support him, I would know the reason.”

  “Insolent whelp,” Angus snapped. “Hold your tongue and let them judge!”

  “I will not!” Ian walked around to stand beside Jared facing the council. “When the masked riders attacked at Cock Bridge Laird Jared rebuffed a blow that could have ended my father's life. Later in the same skirmish, he killed a man to save my life and carried me miles on his own horse to keep me alive. He and my sister saw to my welfare while they nursed me back to health in Dunbocan Castle. I was not treated as a prisoner but as a guest.”

  Angus was glowering at Ian, but he continued. “Before I left, one of the masked men tried to kill me. Laird Jared's sister, Skye, hit the man over the head and personally helped me fight him off until Jared arrived to save me yet again. Twice over I owe him my life. If he says he did not send men to attack our villages, then he did not. To me, it is that simple!” Ian finished by glaring at his father. “I would think you would be grateful to Laird Jared for my life, even if you canna thank him for saving your own.”

  There was a collective gasp from the councilmen at Ian's harsh words to his father. They whispered among themselves for a few moments and turned to Laird Innes.

  “Laird, we are of the opinion we could come to a decision if you would tell us why you will not speak out in favor of Laird MacLean's plan. We beg you to share your insights with us,” Erland entreated.

  Angus stood and glared at Jared, pointing a finger at his chest. “The son of a bitch got my Asilinn with child!” There was dead silence for a moment. Ian burst out laughing.

  “Well Father, he married her first,” Ian pointed out as he tried to stifle his mirth.

  The beginnings of a grin tore at the edges of Angus' mouth. “So he did,” he admitted, giving way to his son's viewpoint. “I believe Laird Jared speaks the truth.”

  It felt like all the tension left the room in one fleeting moment as the members of Laird Innes' council laughed about the cause of Angus' anger. They finally came back to order and gave a formal pronouncement.

 
“We unanimously approve the peace plan,” Erland announced.

  Jared grinned and grasped Ian's hand in a firm shake. “Thank you,” he murmured.

  “No, Jared, thank you. This situation has finally made me do what Asilinn has been trying to get me to do for years, stand up to my father.”

  Jared grinned. “Not an easy task, he’s a stubborn man.”

  “Aye, so,” Ian agreed.

  Wine was brought forth to celebrate the agreement and all sat down to discuss the problems which lay ahead on the rocky road to peace.

  The next morning Jared watched in amusement as Skye was confounded by the warm greetings she received from everyone she met.

  “How is it I seem to have won them over?” she asked.

  “Ian told your part in saving his life when the masked assassin came after him at Dunbocan. To the Innes clansmen, you are a heroine.”

  “Well, I've never been a heroine before,” she said with a grin.

  “I dinna know about that. After the way you've helped Asilinn and me, I believe you have quite a knack for it.” Skye gave him a shy smile.

  The rest of the visit went very well and Jared eagerly anticipated bringing the good news to Asilinn. To that end, he hurried the negotiations to a close.

  Ian rode with them to the edge of the Innes lands. When he turned to go, he leaned across and planted a soft kiss on Skye's lips. “Go with God,” he whispered, then spurred his horse to a gallop and disappeared over the horizon.

  Jared watched Skye stare after him with glazed eyes. When she realized Jared was looking at her, she blushed crimson and smacked his arm. “Let's go home.”

  “Had enough kisses for one day?”

  Shooting him a stormy look, she rode up to talk with Ross.

  As they neared Burnum Woods, Jared felt uneasy. He tried to shake it off, attributing it to his last experience there, but when they rode through one of his men spotted the dead body of the messenger. Jared rode over and jumped down from Ailleagian. He traced the tracks of the man back towards Dunbocan until he came upon the ambush site. Kneeling he examined the hoof prints which still remained in the soft earth. His jaw tensed when he came to his feet.

  “What is it, Milord?” Morven asked.

  Jared mounted and leaned across to his cousin. “Whoever killed this man, rode Keith's horse. Say nothing until I investigate further.”

  “Mayhaps we should arrest him now?” Morven suggested.

  “Not yet, I would assure myself of his guilt first.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  There was no night or day for Asilinn in the dungeon. Glenna came to her infrequently with a hard crust of bread or a dish of cold soup. Even the water they brought her tasted stale. But she ate every scrap of food given fearful for her baby's health if she refused.

  After the first few visits, Asilinn persuaded Glenna to leave a small candle burning for her to eat by. Each time it was the same, a short stub of wax which gave her little light before it spluttered out and left Asilinn alone in the thick veil of blackness. She tried to be brave but every time the candle died, she cried out. In her brief moments of being able to see, she took out her papers and wrote the story of her capture and incarceration. At least if she perished Jared would know who was responsible. Afraid they may discover her notes; she loosened one of the stones in the back wall and kept her writing tools there.

  The manacles rubbed her wrists raw but they attached to a ten-foot length of chain which allowed her to maneuver in the tiny airless space. Not unlike the ones Jared used on her after her escape, she mused. Somehow, his use seemed kinder. He never hurt her.

  The lack of fresh air bothered her the most. The musty earth stench of the dungeon permeated everything. Her clothes and hair took on the odor and she could no longer escape it by breathing through the loose cloth of her shirt.

  After eating, she always tossed her tin plate out through the narrow slit in the door. In the darkness, she could hear the scurrying of rodents and occasionally even see their glowing eyes through the thick, everlasting night. Apparently, this section of the prison had been out of use for so long most rats had abandoned it for lack of food. She prayed her presence would not kindle their renewed interest.

  She wondered how Osred and Glenna were explaining her absence. Having no accounting of time, she could not estimate when Jared would return. She bit her lip as she thought of him. What lie would he be told when he arrived home? Would he know she still lived imprisoned by the foul deeds of his enemy? Was the plan to kill him? The thought disturbed her and she realized for the first time she truly did care for him. Did he also care for her? She may never know.

  There was nothing she could do but desperately cling to the vision of having her baby. Jared was there holding her hand when she gave life to his son. It must be true! With that small hope to sustain her, she prayed for the day she would feel Jared's arms wrap securely around her.

  ***

  Osred rushed in the door of Glenna’s cottage. “There is still no word from Edinburgh and Laird Jared returns early. We are dead if we remain.”

  “What are you saying?” Glenna shrieked.

  “We must flee for our lives. The plan is ruined. I'm riding for Edinburgh immediately.” Osred paced the floor.

  Glenna didn’t know whether or not to trust Osred’s assessment of the situation. “What of our benefactor? He will be livid we have failed. He expects to ride through the gates to the news Asilinn has perished or at the very least been arrested for witchcraft.”

  “All the more reason to flee,” Osred replied. "I had hoped the soldiers would have arrived to arrest her but now we are dead if we remain. I go, with or without you. All who have been involved in this deception shall be exposed as soon as Laird Jared sees Asilinn is not in her room.”

  “Couldn't we keep him out like we have the others? At least we could hold him off until the soldiers come.”

  Osred gave her an incredulous look. “You know our laird very well. Do you think we could keep him from her side?”

  Glenna felt the color drain from her face. “What of Ivy?”

  “She does not know where we have hidden the Innes bitch. Let Ivy stay and face his wrath. Mayhaps his anger will be spent on her and it will delay his search for us.”

  Glenna glanced furtively around the room then grabbed a bag and stuffed it with a few meager belongings. Looking at Osred with resolve, she took a deep breath. “Let's go.”

  ***

  A welcoming throng surrounded Jared when he rode into the castle, but the face he desired to see was conspicuously absent. Liam answered his unspoken question. “Lady Asilinn is ill,” he told Jared. “Osred says she is in danger of losing the baby and keeps all visitors from her room.”

  A flash of anger seared Jared's brow. He spurred Ailleagian toward the castle. Throwing open the door, Jared screamed, “Asilinn!”

  Flanna came from the kitchen wringing her hands. “We are all worried, Milord.”

  Jared grimaced and took the stairs two at a time. He tried to shove open the tower door. It wouldn't budge. “Asilinn, open the door!” he shouted.

  By this time, Liam caught up with Jared. “Milord, I installed a heavy bolt on the door for Lady Asilinn. It will be practically impossible to break through, but Ivy is supposed to be tending her.”

  Jared stared at his cousin. “Why did Asilinn need a bolt on the door?”

  “She woke to find Osred and Glenna hovering over her bed one morning and asked me to install it.”

  Turning back to the door, Jared cried out to his housekeeper. “Ivy, open the door at once.”

  A quavering voice came from the other side. “Milord, please stop yer bellowing,” she pleaded. “Lady Asilinn is desperately ill. She doesna want you to see her this way.”

  “Bloody hell,” Jared muttered. “Liam, you are to stay at the door and arrest Ivy should she try to leave. There is another way into the tower room.”

  Liam eyebrows arched in surprise. “Aye, Milord,
I will not fail you.”

  Jared searched Liam’s eyes for a minute then hurried down the stairs. He strode through his workroom and shoved the lever which opened one of the entrances to the maze of tunnels. Stepping inside, he closed the door and dashed up the stairs to the secret entrance to the tower room.

  He put his ear to the door and listened for any sounds from within. He could hear soft moaning. Springing the door open, he stepped into the room. Ivy leapt from the chair by the fire and ran for the other door. She threw it open and rushed into Liam's waiting arms.

  “Not so fast,” Liam ordered, dragging the frightened woman back into the room.

  Jared sprang across the room and threw back the covers to reveal the sacks stuffed with straw. He turned on the cowering woman with uncontained rage. “Where is she?” He clutched Ivy by the throat.

  “I dinna know, Milord,” Ivy cried. “I only followed Osred's orders.”

  “You turn on me and obey traitors to my cause! Why?”

  “Please, Milord, have mercy,” she begged. “All my sons perished in the war with the Innes clan. I didna want the peace. I longed for revenge.”

  “Where is Lady Asilinn?” Jared repeated, tightening his grip on the woman's slender neck.

  “Milord,” Liam said. “If you kill her, we may never know.”

  Jared released Ivy and paced across the floor. The woman dropped to her knees. “I swear to you, Laird, I dinna know. When Osred came to me she was already gone and I had not the courage to ask what they had done with her.”

  “Milord,” Liam interrupted. “After Toby announced you were coming Osred and Glenna fled the castle. I saw them leave by the east gate and thought perhaps they rode out to meet you with news of Asilinn's illness.”

  “She was not with them?”

  “Lady Asilinn would never betray you,” Liam stated flatly.

  Jared scowled at him. “I meant as a prisoner. I know Asilinn is no traitor.” He glared Liam. “How is it you are loyal to my wife?”

  “Lady Asilinn has confided in me and I value her friendship.”

  At that moment, Morven walked into the room followed closely by the rest of the councilmen. Jared turned to his inner circle. “Lady Asilinn has been kidnapped. Get every available man. I want the castle searched.”