Delight (31 page)

30

T
wo days passed. Hasty preparations were
made for the long journey to Hartzburg. Snow fell softly on the hills. Herds of red deer foraged for food in the pine forest. A magical mist shimmered above the loch and wrapped the castle in dreamlike seclusion. The autumn days of what was called
Foghara
in Gaelic had yielded to the sleeping spell of
Geamhradh.

The small army that Princess Rowena had raised was leaving Scotland before winter sank its teeth any deeper. She had found the perfect warriors to carry her father
'
s campaign: The pirates of the
Delight,
and a more restless lot she had never envisioned.

The pirates had dreamed of the legendary city of gold. They had hoped to serve their dragon-captain in one final burst of greed and glory. Instead, they were serving Douglas and his sainted brother in a raid to strengthen Prince Randolph
'
s stand against the rebels.

As Willie told Douglas, "Hartzburg needs us more than this castle does, sir. But don
'
t you worry. We
'
ll all be back together before long. The lads will never leave you."

"That
'
s what I
'
m afraid of,
"
Douglas said.

D
ouglas had awakened at dawn to see Dainty and Aidan off at the drawbridge. His two best friends had decided to help Matthew and Jerome liberate Rowena
'
s uncle from the mountain rebels who held him hostage. Douglas, Frederic, and the pirates planned to join Prince Randolph in his fight. They would travel in separate parties.

Douglas joked for a few minutes with Dainty and Aidan as was their custom before a raid.

"Where will you go afterward?
"
Douglas asked them.

"I don
'
t know,
"
Aidan said, looking restless on his sturdy roan. "Maracaibo maybe."

Dainty said, "I have a friend in Marseilles who owns an inn. I might spend a year just fishing, building a ship.
"

They looked at one another for what they knew could well be the last time. These were men who wouldn
'
t shed a tear if you tortured them on the rack.

"
Go then," Douglas said as his brother Matthew, in white satin, emerged from the stables on his horse. "Be gone, you worthless dogs. I'm sick of your ugly faces if you want to know the truth.
"

Aidan nodded.

"
The grace of God be upon you and your princess," Dainty said.

Douglas turned away, his voice low.
"
And on you both."

B
aldwin looked at Douglas. A small crowd had gathered in the courtyard.
"
Well, Captain, I'm sorry to be leavin
'
ye, but Jerome has just asked me to be his man-at-arms, and I think the lad needs a good brain like mine on his side.
"

"
'
Parting is such sweet sorrow,'
"
Douglas said.

Baldwin stared at him.
"
Do ye mean that, sir?
"

"No, but Shakespeare
'
s Juliet apparently did,
"
Douglas said.

Baldwin narrowed his eyes.
"
Is yer dragon
'
s pride keepin' ye from askin' me to join your army?
"

"Rowena's cousin needs that sharp brain of yours," Douglas said. "I have depended on it for too long.
"

"He's always welcome to come back to us later,
"
Rowena said. "Douglas, you must remember your manners with our friends.
"

Douglas frowned at that, but not for long. He had captured his prize. He could afford to be
gracious. He would, perhaps, persuade Rowena to move to another castle in an undisclosed location when they returned to Scotland. And he would, the minute he got her alone, remind his wife that a warrior must not be henpecked in public.

Epilogue

The Scottish Highlands

September, 1663

B
luebells and heather covered the hills surrounding the cas
tl
e. Children waded in the cool waters of the loch and played pirates on the peaceful shores with wooden swords.

The pagan flames of Needfire still burned hot and pure in the hearths of Dunmoral. With luck, and the Lord's grace, the ancient Celtic fire would never die out The castle had its protector, the eighth Earl of Dunmoral, even if he still didn't know Mary Queen of Scots
from Queen Elizabeth, or a para
pet from a pair of socks.

The princess also had her pirate, and she intended to keep him, even if she had to lock him up in the tower for the rest of his days.

In three months or so Dunmoral would have a genuine heir.

Hartzburg had been liberated from the rebels. Prince Randolph's banner flew high from his rocky castle where he ruled unchallenged. He had blessed his daughter
'
s marriage to her dragon. After all, he told everyone who would listen, his son-in-law had saved him.

"What I want to know," Gemma said in the solar, "is did my brother turn Rowena into a royal hoyden, or did she reform him?
"

Hildegarde chuckled as she dipped her quill into the inkwell to write out a list for the nursery.
"I'
m not certain that it matters. Perhaps we should worry more about what wicked children the pair of them will give this world.
"