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IT WAS EASIER TO GET a room at the Inn than Callum thought it would be, but only one was available. He took the time to buy something in the marketplace, water Patrick’s horse in a stream behind the inn, and then headed back. Kylie seemed intrigued with what Patrick was telling her when Callum dismounted, and tied the horse. “I found but one room.”
“‘Tis just as well,” said Patrick, “Tavan still has not come and I will wait for him.”
“I wonder where he could be,” asked Callum.
Patrick frowned. “As do I, he is never late.”
*
IT WAS A SMALL ROOM on the second floor of the Inn with a very small table, two chairs, and one bed barely wide enough to hold two people. Callum let her go in first and then closed the door behind them.
Kylie walked to the far wall before she turned around to face him. She said nothing, drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. What now, she wondered. There would be no escaping him, but at least they were alone. When he started to come toward her, she held her breath.
“You need not fear me, I will not harm you.”
Even so, she was worried and carefully searched his eyes. Instead of touching her, he held out a brush made of oak, with a carved handle and new bristles.
“Did you not say you have no belongings?”
“Aye.” Slowly, she took the brush and then smiled up at him. ‘Tis the same brush I have admired for days. I will keep it always.”
“Until you wear it out,” he teased.
Kylie sat on the edge of the bed and began to brush her hair. It was tangled, so she parted it into sections with her fingers first.
Callum pulled a chair away, sat at the table and watched her for a time. “Mother will love fretting over you.”
She smiled. “I will be happy to be fretted over for a change. I do not know what became of my mother. She died, I suppose, or so Father says.”
“Mothers tend to die far too often, do you not agree?”
“I do.”
She felt the need to keep him talking and hoped he would stay at the table. “Are there more than the three of you?”
“We have two sisters, many aunts, uncles, and cousins. You will like them all.”
“All of them? Is there no one whom I will not like?”
“I like them all.”
“Aye, but you grew up with them. Do they favor each other?”
Callum gave that some thought. “I admit there are a few that do not get on well.”
“There, I knew there must be.” Pity she could not go with him to see which they were, she thought. She took two more strokes with her brush and then looked him in the eye. Even if she could go with him, how was he to explain their sudden marriage to all those relatives? “What will you tell your clan about me? They will ask, you know.”
“What would you like me to say?”
“I do not know. I am shamed by what my father has done. Is there no way to...”
“Do you ask me to lie to them?”
She hung her head. It did not matter, and for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she brought it up. “I do not know what I ask.”
“Kylie, my mother will love you in spite of your father. The clan loves Mother and therefore they will love you because of her.”
“Forgive me, husband, but you know little of the world if you believe that. Perhaps if I am with your mother, they will love me, but other times...”
“Then you are to tell me and I will see that it never happens again.”
“Callum, you cannot make people care for me and if you demand it of them, they will care for me even less.”
“Then I am confused. What is it you wish me to do?”
She took another deep breath. “You are right, ‘tis best to tell the truth. Only...”
“Only what?”
“I just wish I were someone else.” She went back to brushing her hair again before she burst into a flood of nervous tears.
He watched her and guessed what was wrong. “Do I frighten you?”
“What?”
“I will not harm you, I give you my pledge.”
“I did not think you would.”
“But you are frightened?”
She set the brush in her lap finally and stared at the floor. “A little. You are my husband, but...”
“But I am a stranger.”
“Aye.”
“I had not imagined it to be like this either. In our village, we court a lass before we marry her. We walk with her, talk with her, kiss her when she is ready and then marry her. This is too sudden even for me.”
“Truly?”
Callum smiled. “Truly, although I would not like my brothers to know we did not.”
Kylie grinned. “I can see why.” She was relieved, but not for long. It seemed a little unnatural for him not to bed her on their wedding night, and she began to wonder if she did not please him. Suppose she mistook his meaning? Suppose what she saw as kindness was simply a lack of desire for her. Such a thing was possible, although other men seemed to desire her.
Then again, why was she thinking these things? If he did not desire her, so much the better. The last thing she needed was to bed her husband and then bear his child alone. When she glanced at him, Callum had stopped watching her.
He wasn’t thinking about her or his attraction to her at all. He had a sort of sick feeling, something he had not felt before, and was trying to understand it. Something was amiss and he could not help but wonder why Tavan had not come back. Should he go find him? Did Patrick feel it too? More importantly, dare he desert his wife on this of all nights?
Callum abruptly stood up, walked to her, and took her hand. She looked terrified as she stood up, but he took her in his arms anyway. She needed to know she could trust his word and he could think of no other way to show her. She was stiff at first, but he waited until he could feel her relax a little. “Tavan did not return and I fear something has happened to him. It is wrong to leave you, but I must.”
Kylie tried not to let her relief show, but she couldn’t help releasing her tense muscles and leaning against him. “I understand.”
“Rest and I will return as soon as I can.” He held her for a moment longer, not wanting to let go yet and she did not pull away, which he found encouraging. Yet his heart seemed to be racing for fear his brother needed him. “I will pay for two more nights and a hot bath for you in case I am delayed. But you must believe I will come back for you. Do you believe me?”
She pulled back a little to look into his eyes. “I have no cause not to. Callum, I am promised to three lads who hope to marry me on Friday.”
He finally smiled. “I expect you to miss those weddings.”
At last, she smiled too. “As you wish, husband.”
He couldn’t help himself, kissed her lightly on the lips, and then released her. He dug two gold coins out of his belt, left them on the table for her, and then nodded and walked out the door.
*
PATRICK FELT THE UNEASINESS too and was happy to see Callum when he walked back up the road. “Tavan has not returned. He said he wished to see the encampment and I cannot guess what has delayed him.”
“Nor can I.”
“I thought to go look for him, but suppose he returns and we are both gone?”
Callum nodded. “You stay, I will see if I can find him.”
“I have never felt this foreboding before, do you feel it?”
“Aye. Build a fire; perhaps he has only lost his way.” Callum whistled for his horse, waited and then heard the stallion coming through the trees just as he expected.
Patrick watched Callum mount his horse, walk him to the castle road, and then turn toward the multitude of campfires in the distance. Building a fire was a good idea and one he had not thought of. He busied himself gathering twigs and dried leaves, and then he lit the fire and fanned it with his hand. Full darkness would come soon and the crescent moon offered little light.
He gathered a little more fuel to keep the fire going, sat on the tree stump again and tried to relax. There was little he could do but wait. Patrick thought about Graw’s dimples and the way she made the king hold her tray so she could curtsy. The memory made him smile. He thought about Finagal too and wondered if she had managed to wait for him as he asked. It was a dilemma of the heart he did not quite know how to cope with. Both were pleasing to the eye, both were delightful, and he struggled to understand how a man was supposed to choose between Graw’s dimples and Finagal’s sparkling brown eyes.
Something moved in the bushes behind him and Patrick quickly got to his feet. He put his hand on his dagger and whispered. “Tavan?”
“Nay.”
The man parted the bush and stuck his head out. “I have come for my daughter. What, pray tell, have you done with her?”
“Who might your daughter be?”
“You should know, you married her.”
“Ah, you mean Kylie.”
Ross came out from behind the bush and stood his ground. “Have you sold her or simply given her away.”
“Neither.”
“Then where is she?”
Patrick wondered if he should try to explain or just pretend to be Callum. He decided on the latter. “My wife does not speak highly of you.”
“There’s a pity, I gave her all I had, and this is the way she repays me.” Ross glared his very best glare, although he was far more familiar with smiling. “I want her back and since you are clearly done with her, give her to me.”
“Why do you want her back?”
“Are you completely witless? You know very well why, and just now, I am reminded. I will have the five gold coins. You bought her, married her, and then did not pay for her, despicable blackguard.”
Patrick did not take kindly to anyone calling his brother that and returned the man’s glare. “She is gone.”
“Gone where?”
“I do not know. She ran from me not long after the wedding.” Patrick hoped that would convince him and it did.
Mumbling something under his breath, Kylie’s father turned and headed back to the village.
It was so like Callum to come to the rescue of a woman in need and now Patrick understood. He stared at the dwindling fire for a moment and then kicked dirt on it to put it out. The least he could do was warn Kylie her father wanted her back, then he could quickly return and build a new fire.
It took longer than he expected. There were two Inns on opposite sides of the castle road and Patrick went to the wrong one first. The right one was on the corner where the castle road met the market road. The second Inn was a bit more rundown than the first, but at least Kylie had a bed to sleep in.
“Back so soon?” said the innkeeper.
It was pointless to explain, so he didn’t. “I have forgotten the way. Might you...”
Surprised, the innkeeper pointed, “Up the stairs, second door.”
“Thank you.”
*
KYLIE STILL SAT ON the bed pondering what to do when someone knocked on the door.
“Kylie, ‘tis me, Patrick.” He was relieved to find her still awake and quick to open the door.
“What is it, what is wrong?”
“Do not be alarmed. Callum has gone to find Tavan. I only came to warn you. Your father found me and is looking for you.”
She clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth in disgust, moved aside, let Patrick in and closed the door. “That old goat couldn’t find a meal on his own if someone handed him a full bowl and a spoon. He likes to wager and has no doubt already lost the pay of his horse as well as mine.”
“I said you ran off.”
“Good. I will be happy never to see him again.” Kylie lowered her gaze. “Did he say why he wanted me back?”
“He said something about Callum refusing to pay for you.”
Kylie closed her eyes. “What you must think of me.”
“I think no ill of you, only him for selling you.”
She slipped into one of the chairs and folded her arms. “‘Tis far worse than that. Father collected the pay from three other lads before Callum, and I am to marry them on Friday. Normally, Father and I would run away, but Callum out bid one of the cousins and he held us captive until the priest came and married us.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I expected Callum to set aside the marriage, but he would not. Why not, I have yet to understand.”
Patrick could clearly see why not. “He gave you his pledge.”
“Aye, but he was forced.”
He took the chair opposite her and sat down. “Forced or not, a lad is only as good as his pledge and Callum has given his to you.”
“That is what he said, but he deserves a wife he can be proud of, not one who has been party to treachery half her life.”
“Did you also give your pledge?”
“Aye, but I thought...I thought it could be undone somehow.”
“Do you still wish it to be undone?”
She took a long time before she answered. “Callum gave me a brush.”
“Did he?”
“I said I had no belongings and he thought to barter a brush for me. ‘Tis the first gift my father cannot take. You do not know how pleased my husband has made me. ‘Tis a simple thing, yet so very dear and thoughtful of him.”
“Do you know what I think? I think you are perfect for my brother. He cares enough for you to give you a brush and you worry that he will not be proud to call you wife. You are very alike and I am convinced he married you because he wanted to.” Patrick got up and lightly touched her shoulder. “I must go back. Do you want for anything before I go?”
“Nay, I am fine.” She returned his smile and watched him quietly close the door behind him. Patrick seemed as kind as his brother and if it were possible, she could learn to like being cared for so completely. Patrick was wrong. Callum married her to keep her out of the clutches of the cousins and she had to remember that. Her husband was just being kind and now the poor man was stuck with a wife he did not love. Leaving him so he could marry another was a way of returning the kindness, she decided. It made her feel a little better about what she had to do.
If she were a decent sort of woman, she would run now and get it over with. On the other hand, now that she was certain her father was still in the village, a good night’s rest...in a real bed...would do her no harm. Even if Callum came back in the night, he promised they would not consummate the marriage and she trusted him. It was the oddest thing. She did trust him and far more than any other man she could think of. Leaving him without telling him would be cruel, she realized, but she could not chance what he would do if he knew the truth. Kylie sighed and walked to the bed. She didn’t even undress before she lay down and went to asleep.
*
A RESTFUL NIGHT WAS not to be had for Tavan in the King’s encampment. The night guards kicked up dust as they walked past, horses voiced their displeasure, and occasionally, the giggle of a woman woke him. The three men with him seemed uninterested in sleeping and for a time Tavan listened to their murmurings. Little of what they said seemed very important and mostly they talked of being released soon. After all, none were guilty of any crime and certainly not one that demanded a long period of incarceration or death.
Just before sunrise, the flaps of the tent were pulled back and guards took all the other men away. One began to beg for mercy, which angered the guard, and another tried to make good his escape...to no avail.
Tavan stared after them, but he could see little and soon the tent flaps were closed again. He heard shouts, but nothing that indicated what exactly happened to the men and soon it got quiet. The encampment gradually began to fill with the ordinary sounds of guards riding out to relieve the night patrols or gathering for a morning meal. He could only hope one of those meals was meant for him.
*
THE PRINCE WAS A HAPPY man. Never in his life had he enjoyed such freedom. No guards constantly plagued him, no ladies in waiting repeatedly tried to please him and each afternoon, he was able to try his hand at fishing in the river. Unfortunately, his efforts were for naught.
Sleeping in the cottage instead of in the Keep at night waylaid any chance of a rumor that he was someone important, and he liked the little cottage. He ate his meals with Laird MacGreagor, at least most of them, but that was something the MacGreagors expected when a stranger walked among them.
There was one thing that greatly annoyed the prince, however. It was a peaceful glen, seemingly hidden from the rest of Scotland just as his father described, yet gossip was outrageously slow in coming. He had no doubt Sawney would alert him if word came of interest, but so far there seemed to be little happening in the outside world.
It was of this he thought as he tried to go back to sleep in the wee hours before dawn. His father’s health and well-being concerned him most. Aside from loving his father and not wanting him to die, there was another issue. Be it death from old age or the success of the plot against them, Luke could already be king and not know it. On the other hand, it pleased him to think what the MacGreagors would say once they learned the future king secretly lived among them for a time. No other clan could claim that.
At length, Luke gave up trying to go back to sleep and sat up. Keter assured him the best time to catch fish was early morning and that he should try putting a chunk of cheese on his hook. The prince doubted that would work, but he had no better ideas. He walked to the window, pulled back the covering, and looked at the blue-black of the sky just before dawn. With the abundance of hearths not yet lit for the day yielding their black smoke, the crisp air was filled with the pleasant smell of Scots Pine. He enjoyed that aroma most.
Luke dressed, laced his shoes up to his knees, grabbed his pole and remembered to take the small sack of cheese he’d saved from the night before. By then, there was just enough light to see his way down the path to the river.
To his surprise, the young woman he admired in the glen sat on a rock near the river and if he was not mistaken, she was weeping. He thought not to disturb her, but when he looked around for others who might come to her assistance, there was no one. Softly, he cleared his throat to notify her of his arrival and as soon as he did, she looked up and quickly tried to wipe her tears away.
Cautiously he approached, sat on the rock across from her, and set his pole down. “Might I help?”
Finagal shook her head, but the tears kept rolling down her cheeks. It was just as she feared, once she started crying, she would most likely never stop.
“What is it?”
This time she began to sob. “Autumn is coming.”
Luke raised both eyebrows. This was another first for he had never seen a woman who desperately resented the changing of the seasons. “I fear even the king cannot prevent that.”
Finagal tried hard to compose herself and when he handed her his cloth, she did a better job of wiping her tears off her cheeks. “Would he, if he could?”
“For you, I am certain he would try.” It was a quick smile she gave him, but one he would never forget. Her teeth were perfect, her big brown eyes glistened, and it was as though her smile could light up the world. It was so magnificent, he was taken aback and needed a moment to collect his thoughts. “Surely ‘tis not autumn that makes you cry. Can you not tell me?”
“I am to marry in autumn, once the harvest is in. The MacGreagor’s have a feast and Laird MacGreagor says it is the perfect time for a wedding.”
“But you do not wish to marry?”
“Nay. I will, of course, I must...but I do not wish it.”
“Why must you?”
Finagal looked him in the eye and tried to decide if she could trust this stranger. “You are Luke and you will go away soon. Will it be before autumn?”
“I imagine so, though I will regret leaving your glen.”
“And if I tell you, do you give me your pledge not to tell? I’d not like my father to hear it. He thinks I marry because it is what I wish.”
“I would never tell a secret entrusted to me. You have my undying devotion.” He meant to say pledge, but devotion simply slipped out. Had he become devoted to her after one simple smile? Yet she seemed to ignore his misspoken word and he was happy to leave it at that.
She took a deep breath and thought about the best way to explain. “My mother, I mean the soothsayer...oh dear, I am saying this badly.”
“The MacGreagors have a soothsayer?”
“Aye, all the clans do, or did. I went to see her quite often, although not as often as I should. Once she told me, I was not keen to see her and found reasons not to. Do not mistake me, she was a kind and gentle soul, only...”
“Only what?”
“Only what she said was not what I wanted to hear.”
“I see.” Luke was so intrigued, he wished she would just blurt it out, but if ever there was a time for patience, this was it.
“I am quite certain you do not see.”
He couldn’t help but smile. Not once, at least not that he could remember, had a woman been brave enough to tell him he was wrong. This one was delightful and he intended to thoroughly enjoy himself by talking to her as often as possible while he was there. “Go on, I am most intrigued.”
“Well, I asked about a husband, you see, for when I am ready. It was then she told the awful news. It was in the rings, she said, when she let a drop of milk fall into the middle of a bowl of water. I did not wish to believe it, who would?”
“What is your name?”
“Oh, I am Finagal.”
“Finagal, what awful news did she tell you?”
She was about to cry again and had to fight back the lump in her throat. “I must marry my cousin.”
“Why?”
“Because if I marry another, I will die within the month.”
Her story suddenly grew dour. Luke didn’t put much stock in soothsayers, although their potions and liniments were known to be useful from time to time. Some potions could even heal a life-threatening wound, but predicting someone’s death was something else again. “Did you believe her?”
“Aye, she was never wrong.”
“Never?”
“She knew if a lass with child carried a boy or a girl...except when the triplets were born, but everyone was wrong about that.”
He might have laughed if she were not so serious. Many a man simply claimed the woman he wanted to marry and there were always arranged marriages brought about by parents. Even kings sometimes married to make alliances with other kingdoms and occasionally, two people married out of love. Yet, to marry to keep from dying was serious indeed. “The soothsayer might be wrong this time.”
“Aye, but I cannot take that chance. I am too frightened of dying.”
“Does your betrothed know?”
“Aye. He is a good lad and he too believes the soothsayer. He says he would do anything to save me, including marry me.” She paused and looked away. “I find myself deplorable and selfish beyond belief.” A few moments later, Finagal looked back at him. “Would you do it if you were my cousin, marry me, I mean?”
“If given half a chance,” he found himself saying. Her eyes were so entrancing; he couldn’t seem to help himself. He was old enough and indeed wanted to take a wife, but few were the chances to meet someone new. There had not been a feast at the castle in months, not since the death of his father’s cousin, and Luke wondered for a moment what the king would say if he brought home a wife. Of course, that would be impossible so long as she believed the soothsayer. Impossible indeed. “Tell me, do you love another?”
“Nay, I dare not tempt myself with love. I see no cause to make three people miserable.”
“You are very wise, but if you could love another, is there one you might fancy.”
“Nay, there is no other.”
He was happy to hear that, although he hid it well. “Why do you not tell your father about the soothsayer’s words?”
“He would laugh at me. He takes not the word of a soothsayer to heart at all, but my mother believes it.”
“I see. Have you asked the soothsayer for a new reading?”
“I asked her twice before she died, but each reading said the same.”
“She died? How very unfortunate.” Had she been alive, he might have bribed the woman to recant, but there was no chance of that now. Luke tried to think of a way to convince Finagal of the foolishness, but changing what one believed was normally impossible. He would have to give that some thought. “I came here to fish and Keter tells me I should put cheese on my hook. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
“Many times and it works very well. Shall I help you?”
This time he could not help but chuckle. Did he seem too feeble to bait the hook by himself? “Do I need help?”
“Well, my fingers are smaller, but if you are very careful and do not get the cheese too warm, you might be able to manage it.”
No greater challenge had he heard recently and now he was determined to prove her wrong. He lifted his pole, unwound the line, and took hold of the hook. Then he opened the sack and was about to break off a chunk of cheese when she suddenly stood up.
“I am late. The sun has risen and I did not notice. I must go.”
He hardly had time to stand up before she was up the path and out of sight.
