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Killian stood staring at the closed door, uncertain what to do or say to pacify his wife. He sensed the presence of the other man and felt annoyed by it.
“Would you get the hell out of my sight then, man? If you’re lookin’ for Danhoul, he’s inside the inn. Go by way of the main door, for this is the back door to the kitchen.”
“Yeah, you can bet I want to avoid being anywhere near your wife at the moment, too. And I’d say you’re going to be in the doghouse for a long time. Even without the axe, she’s damn scary! Beautiful, but freakin’ scary!”
“To be sure!” Killian found himself simply agreeing with the unusual man.
When Killian finally entered the kitchen, Alainn had hauled the extremely large washtub into the kitchen and placed it by the hearth. She was in the process of filling the tub from the huge cauldron of hot water. She struggled with the weight of it and he came to assist her. He thought she might refuse his actions, but she allowed it. When the tub was filled, she astounded him by casually removing her nighdress there before him.
“Alainn, you cannot bathe naked here in the kitchen where any number of men might happen to see you!”
“And would you have me bathe clothed, then?”
“I could do without your sarcasm!”
“And I could do without your presence!”
“Aye, well, if you think I’m goin’ to leave you here, you’ve another thought comin’, for I’ll be watchin’ guard over you to see no other man looks upon you.”
“As you wish!”
“Aye, well, be quick about it then!”
“You’ll not order me about, Killian O’Brien. You can insist I do not employ my magic; you can attempt to keep me a prisoner within these walls, or cover myself like a damn leper. You can ensure I offer no healin’ to those around me, but if you think you’re goin’ to keep me from washin’ this horrid stench from my hair and my body, you’re sorely mistaken!”
She scrubbed herself furiously, and he could barely keep himself from staring at her, and keeping his mind on watching the doorway was a difficult feat when he wanted to only look at her. He finally stood in the doorway and blocked the entrance with his large frame so no other could peer inside.
“How can you think I’d befoul what we share, that I’d dare risk losin’ you and what we have by bein’ with someone else, Alainn?” he began.
“You were aroused by another woman this day? Am I not justified in feelin’ fretful or angry or both?”
Killian considered this for a moment before he spoke. “A man often cannot control instinctive arousal, Alainn; ’tis a normal male reaction to a woman. And they are powerful urges that men have been dealt. The desires are undeniably strong; I s’pose to ensure the human race does not die out any time soon. But ’tis up to each man in how he chooses to deal with the physical urges. I can’t promise you I won’t be aroused for ’twould not be a possibility, but I can promise you that you will be the only woman I ever want to be with in an intimate fashion. And I may have bedded some other women.”
“Some?” she sarcastically added.
“I have bedded a lot of women, in your opinion, but ’tis all relative, Alainn. Sure Riley’s bedded more than half a thousand women.”
“And does your competitive nature want to best him still?”
He ignored her sarcasm and went on. “I have shared physical relations with other women, but, I have only made love to one woman, Lainna. For ’tis truth you are the only woman I have made love to. Now that I know what it is to be with a woman I love more than life, I would not trade that for beddin’ a hundred women a day. I am your man, Alainn. Only yours!”
When he looked at her, her rosy lips had formed into a hesitant but appeased smile, and he was much relieved.
“You have not loved me twelve times in one day?” she pouted prettily.
“Is that a challenge?” He smiled as he walked toward her and dared to bend over to kiss her.
“Aye, perhaps it is at that!”
Danhoul had finished closing Riley’s wound, and then placed a cool cloth on his ever-swelling eye. He hadn’t blamed Conner MacLain for dealing with the man by way of his fist, for Danhoul had considered that very action. He had just left the chamber when he glanced into the kitchen and saw Alainn standing with no garment to cover her. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around, startled at her hauntingly beautiful form. He had to pull himself from attempting to get another glimpse of her, when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“Danny-Boy, it’s really good to see you, man. Wow, you’ve really gotten tall. How tall are you now? You must be at least six feet. I thought people of this time were supposed to be shorter than in our time, but I don’t believe it. I’ve just seen two giants. And I’ve seen your charge as well. You’re right. She is gorgeous; like some Disney princess or something! And her husband must be well over six feet tall. I seriously don’t think I’d want him pissed off at me. No wonder you keep your distance from his wife, even though you have feelings for her.”
Danhoul turned around to face Tristan O’Malley. “What the hell are you doin’ here?”
“I thought I’d get a warmer reception than that. Hell, we haven’t seen each other in well over a year.”
“You should not be here, Tristan. Do you not know what dire complications you might bring about by crossing the portals of time when it is not to be?”
“And how do you know I wasn’t sent here?”
“I’m certain I would have been informed. Why would you risk it, Tristan?”
Danhoul pushed past the other man and went to a table that held a jug of whiskey. He poured a large serving into a goblet and sat down with a concerned expression on his face. He remained deep in thought so his friend man spoke.
“I like the hair. It looks authentic and the clothes as well. You look the part of a sixteenth century clansman.”
Danhoul still did not say a word, but continued to stare at his friend with fury in his eyes and he shook his head. “What would possess you to travel here to this time? The gods will be enraged!”
“So let them be enraged! What are they going to do, fire me? It isn’t as though I asked for the position in the first place.”
“You’ve not told me why you are here?”
“Just wanted to see you and have a little excitement. What’s the point of having magical abilities if I’m never allowed to use them? I hate the fact you get to be here with castles and chieftains, swordfights and damsels in distress, and I am stuck in the twenty-first century servin’ ale and waitin’ to be given a charge and a purpose.”
“You should not question any of this. You make it sound exciting and romantic, but ’tis a dangerous place and time, Tristan, most especially for you for you’ve had no trainin’ with swords or historical weaponry.”
“I have magical abilities!” He repeated as he sat down and took a drink from the other man’s goblet.
“Abilities you are not to use!”
“My God, this tastes like shit! And what the hell is purulence and emesis?”
Danhoul smiled for the first time since he’d seen his friend and answered his inquiry knowing very well the man was often given to a queasy stomach.
“Pus and puke!” The man’s face turned a greenish shade and Danhoul derived some satisfaction from that as he spoke on. “Who has seen you here, for your very presence here may have virtually changed history!” Once more Danhoul ignored the other man’s assessment of sixteenth century whiskey.
“Some big red-headed guy... he’s built like a linebacker and I think he might be Scottish, but who could tell with how feckin’ weird everyone talks. They don’t sound Irish, not Irish like we are Irish anyway.”
“Aye, well they speak a truer Irish than in our time. They are supposedly not allowed to speak Gaelic by order of a past proclamation, but they do some, anyway. That was Conner MacLain you saw.”
“The Scottish outlaw, the infamous hitman?”
“’Tis not a term used in these times. You should watch your mouth and say as little as possible. You said you saw Alainn; did you speak with her?”
“Yes, she is rather intense, and maybe a little psychotic.”
Danhoul threw his friend a nasty glare.
“Oh, you don’t like me dissing your little love interest?”
“She is not my love interest!”
“You can deny it all you want, but I can tell you are falling for her. Don’t guardians always seem to fall for their witches?”
“Who else has seen you?” Danhoul asked.
“Danny-Boy, don’t you even want to ask how things are in our time?”
“I don’t care to know, and don’t call me that. The damn song won’t be written for nearly four hundred years.”
“She told me you didn’t like to be called a boy. She defended you, Daniel. I think she likes you, too!”
“She loves her husband!”
“Well they might love each other, but they have a strange way of showing it. They could keep a lot of marriage counselors in business in our time, I’d say, and would make a really interesting reality television series.”
“They both have a lot on their mind at the moment. Killian is to meet with the King of England soon enough; and he feels he holds the future of Ireland in his hands.”
“Shite, he’s goin’ to meet with Henry VIII; that should be quite the meeting. Isn’t he completely bat-shit crazy? He’d have to be to take six wives. He’s liable to have Killian beheaded. I don’t ever recall reading anything about the Irish meeting with the English in any of the history books.”
“No, I think it has not happened before, or at the very least it was not accurately documented.”
“And what has your charge so animated tonight besides the fact she just found out her husband has slept with half the women in Ireland?”
“The demon has been comin’ to her in her dreams and her magical abilities have begun to change. She’s worried about it. And she’s still mournin’ the loss of her child; they both are.”
“She lost a child? Was that supposed to happen? Has it happened before, the other times?”
“Tristan, keep your bloody voice down! We should not speak of this, and we are not supposed to retain clear memories of other times. Even you and I are not to recall everything, and I sense Alainn remembers more than she is to know.”
“I think she might have recognized me or vaguely remembered me.”
“That’s just great, Tristan! It’s not as though she doesn’t have enough on her mind. And the two of you never liked one another, the other times,” he hesitantly added.
“She’s even more beautiful than I think I remembered, but my memories are vague.”
“Don’t let her husband hear you talk like that. He’s as jealous as she is and with much less cause.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a messenger coming into the room; a young soldier of Clan O’Donnel was searching for Killian.
“He’s in the next room,” Danhoul informed him, “but don’t go in there. Wait a moment, I’ll retrieve him.”
Danhoul drew closer to the kitchen area and knocked on the wall trying to get their attention without going inside the chamber. When he hesitantly glanced in, he saw Alainn was now sitting within the large tub with her back to him and Killian was standing keeping vigilant watch over her.
“What is it, Danhoul?” Killian asked as he threw a wary glance in his direction.
“There is a messenger here with word for you. Should I send him in then?”
Killian noticed the smirk upon the younger man’s face and Alainn peeked out from behind her husband’s large frame. Her long hair was now piled atop her head and her cheeks were flushed from soaking in the hot water.
“Is he a handsome sort?” She jested and smiled playfully at her husband.
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually look at other men in such a way so as to assess their attractiveness.”
“Aye, well what of your ‘buddy’ then, he’s not unattractive. Perhaps you might send him in for a time. If he kept his mouth shut entirely I might simply look upon him for a bit, although he’s a wee bit shorter than the men I am prone to be attracted to.”
“The two of you can stop this annoyin’ banter any time now!” Killian suggested. “Tell the man I’ll be there directly! I’ll see my wife clothed and in her chambers and then I’ll speak with him.”
“It sounded urgent, Killian!” Danhoul informed him.
Killian nodded and Danhoul left them alone once more.
“Alainn, get out of the water this instant and see yourself covered.”
“My God, Killian you’d think I was the one who’d shared the beds of any number of others the way your jealous nature prevails.”
“Just be quick about it, Alainn, for you’ve lingered sufficiently long enough to rile me.”
Alainn smirked and playfully splashed water at him, he did reluctantly smile at that, but she stepped out of the bath and covered herself in a nearby wrap. He seemed satisfied the other men were detained with learning what news the messenger was sent to convey. He nodded to Alainn and made his way to the large adjoining room.
Alainn heard the immediate commotion taking place in the other room and although she had promised Killian there would be no magical feats accomplished here, she did employ her supernatural abilities to see herself donned in a garment from her chambers. She hurried to the adjoining room and as she passed Danhoul he gave her a cautious glance clearly aware she had used her powers.
“It is to take place this day?” Killian asked in a voice filled with disbelief.
“Aye,” the young man solemnly responded.
“I was fearful of this, but I had hoped my fears were unfounded.”
“What is it, Killian?” she asked as she looked into the distraught faces of many of the men who had come to hear the announcement.
Killian glanced at her and spoke candidly with no intention of concealing the truth from her. “Thomas Fitzgerald and his uncles are to meet with death this day?”
“But were they not promised pardon?”
“Aye, but Lord Grey is apparently not to be trusted.”
“And by what manner is it to be done?” she questioned further.
Killian looked at the young messenger, for he had not thought to ask the question though it was much on his mind. “He is to be hanged, drawn and quartered.”
“Shite!” Killian responded. “Given a treasonous death. Perhaps as a warning to the Irish who are now present in England. Sure we must be in attendance.”
“Aye!” There was a chorus of agreement from all men present.
Alainn looked up at Killian with concern in her eyes, and then she saw Riley limp out from within the other room.
“I will go as well!” he declared.
“Riley...” She started to protest, but Killian prevented it.
“’Tis a matter of honor, Alainn, for a man to watch his countryman meet with death.”
“Be cautious, Riley, for your wound is subject to opening and to purulence... and keep women at a distance!”
Riley glanced at her with an expression that surely indicated that was not a certainty.
“What happened to your eye?” she asked noticing it was swollen and discolored, and immediately her eyes went to Conner.
The Scot lowered his head, but she noticed the satisfied look upon his face. Riley simply shrugged and touched his hand to the area. She once more turned her attention to Killian.
“But is it not dangerous for the entire lot of you to witness this?” she questioned.
“Perhaps, but I would think even the English know it is a matter of respect.”
“Aye, well, take me with you as well then.”
“’Tis not a possibility, Alainn, nor would I believe you would truly care to witness the gruesome occurrence. And the city will surely be teemin’ with soldiers and guards this day. No, you’ll stay put.”
She did not oppose him for she’d not win this battle, no matter how diligently she might plead. She saw the strange man who claimed to be Danhoul’s friend now wore an excited look.
“Are they really going to remove his insides and cut his body to pieces?”
Killian looked at the other man as though he had lost his mind entirely. “’Tis a typical English punishment. And you needn’t look so entirely pleased and enthralled about it.”
“Well I have to see this, Danny... Danhoul!” he quickly corrected.
“You will not witness it; you will return to your home!” Danhoul urged in a low voice filled with conviction.
“Oh no, not yet, and miss this? Not on your life. Besides, I am Irish, so it would be disrespectful to miss the event.”
Danhoul shook his head in dismay, but he did not protest further, fearful of drawing further unwanted attention to the other man. He found a sword and pushed it toward his friend.
“Wow, these are really heavy!” Tristan commented, but everyone was caught up in the seriousness of the upcoming events and seemed to pay little heed to the unusual stranger.
“You’re goin’ as well, Danhoul?” Alainn asked as he started out after his friend.
“Aye, well, Tristan is not much accustomed to the ways of the English so I’d best keep him protected or he’s liable to meet the same fate as the Fitzgerald men.”
Killian stared hard at Danhoul as he spoke. “If your unusual friend accompanies us, Danhoul, he is your burden. See to it he keeps his mouth shut and does nothin’ to draw suspicion!”
Danhoul nodded surely hoping he could follow through with what Killian had ordered.
“Well, if you are hopeful he will not meet with ill, perhaps you might lend him some garments for both the English and Irish will be suspicious of him in the unusual apparel he now wears.” Alainn suggested.
Danhoul glanced at his friend and was momentarily thankful for the commotion which seemed to keep everyone else from eyeing Tristan with wariness.”
“Sure, my clothes would be ill fitting to him,” Danhoul whispered to Alainn.
“Aye, he’s more apt to fit in my garments!” she said it loud enough so the other man would hear, and his displeased expression made her smile victoriously.
Killian stood close by and he bent down to give her a hurried kiss. “Stay here within the inn, for Conner will be the only man here to protect you.”
“I will!” she agreed and she intended to heed him well. “Keep you safe, Killian. Be wise and cautious!”
He smiled halfheartedly, nodded, and was gone.
As the men walked out the doorway, Alainn glanced toward Danhoul and his odd companion. She presently snapped her fingers and soon the man was clothed in garments liken to the other Irishmen. Killian, Danhoul and the clansman would have enough to contend with this day, they would not be made to explain the man’s unusual appearance.
She prayed Tristan O’Malley would keep his mouth shut for the entirety of the day. She considered attempting a spell of silence, but thought she would be incapable of accomplishing it now that they were distanced. She would not dwell on it, for surely, Danhoul would be capable of keeping his “buddy” at bay for he would not risk revealing any compromising details about him. She felt a distinct uneasiness within the pit of her stomach and she prayed it was not an omen of ill events to come.
