Authors: Connie C. Scharon
“I was sure he would fight to take you with him until
the matter is resolved.”
“Would you allow it? I would promise to return when
the peace is made.”
Jared’s eyes narrowed dangerously. He gazed at her in
the firelight. “I told him when he suggested it I canna allow it. I’m just
surprised he accepted that.”
“He plans to return in one month to talk with you
again. In that time, it is his wish that…" Asilinn paused. She was
fumbling for the right words, almost afraid to continue.
“What? Just tell me. I promise I wilna be angry.”
“He told me to find you a whore to ease your lust so
I dinna get with child until this matter is resolved,” Asilinn blurted out in
one long breath. Her gaze fell to her lap and she could feel her face color
with a blush.
Jared roared with laughter. When he had finally
recovered enough to speak, it was more to himself than to her. “Wiley old goat,
that’s why he’s willing to go, he thinks I will leave off taking you to my bed
if he promises to consider peace.”
“If we make a child now, he will not belong to either
of our clans. They will both hate him for the part that belongs to the other. I
would not wish such a fate on an innocent child. I think the peace should be
made first.”
“I see he has manipulated you well in your short time
together. Our king thinks the peace would be served by our child.” He leaned
closer and forced her to stare into his eyes. “And if you already carry my
seed, would you choose to lose the baby?”
“No, Milord,” she cried, fresh tears springing to her
eyes. “No child could ever come to harm at my hand.”
Jared pushed back in his chair with a sharp intake of
breath. Laird Innes was manipulating his innocent daughter to his own ends. But
two could play the game. “So you want to wait to conceive my child.”
“Aye, Milord,” she whispered.
“Asilinn, I've been with other women in my time and
I've never given any of them my child. If I decide to go along with this
ridiculous request, there are things that can be done to lessen the
possibility.”
Her eyes grew wide. “What kinds of things?”
“There are ways for you to grant me my husband’s
rights and pleasure me without risk of making a child. Granted they are less
fulfilling, but not without their own special enjoyments. If you are willing to
try this, I shall consider your request. Is that agreeable with you?”
“Aye, so.” Her heart thumped wildly against the
inside of her chest. What was she agreeing to?
“Were you afraid of my reaction to your father's
request?” Asilinn nodded in the affirmative. A lecherous grin slid across
Jared's face. “I dinna think your father had in mind the solution I propose,
but 'tis the only one I find acceptable to meet his conditions. We will try
this tonight and I will consider if I can be satisfied with this until your
father returns.” He thought she looked like a scared rabbit, but all he could
do was think about Angus and grin. Laird Innes would ring Jared’s neck if he
knew of this proposed bargain. “Was there anything else, Asilinn?”
“Father asked me not to give away any of our clan
secrets until the peace was settled.”
“I wouldna ask you to," Jared replied. “But I
will begin your education on alternative pleasures tonight.”
***
“The conditions you urged upon Asilinn will anger the
Laird of Dunbocan,” Ian told his father. “I fear for her safety.”
“Laird Jared MacLean wilna harm her,” Angus replied
with certainty. “She is a valuable tool to him. We must discover what reasons
Laird Jared may have for desiring peace. Mayhaps there is something we do not
know. I’ll send a missive to Robert to verify his desires in the matter.”
“You dinna believe Laird Jared’s motives?”
“I want to be sure before I lead our fellow clansmen
to his peace table.” Ian nodded his agreement.
The evening was overcast as they headed through the
thick woods separating them from their encampment. They rode in quiet for a
time, gradually approaching the densest part of the forest.
Angus broke the silence of the dark woods. “If by
some chance this should work, we would be aligned with the most powerful man in
the Highlands. His blood would be our blood, a stronger bond than any other
clan can claim. It would be an advantage, but I must be assured he is dealing
with us honestly.”
Ian laughed. “I'd like to see Laird Jared's face when
Asilinn requests he keep her from his bed.”
The sound of hoof beats cut off their conversation.
Angus drew his horse up. “Listen.”
“Perhaps Erland grew tired of waiting for our return
and rides to meet us.”
“No, he had specific orders to the contrary.”
A small contingent of hooded men broke from the dense
thicket to their left. “Ride,” Angus ordered. He spurred his horse to a dead
run. The men thundered after them quickly closing in.
Angus wheeled his horse and charged into their midst,
temporarily dispersing them. Grasping his sword, he felled one man in a single
blow and spun to parry an attack from the rear. His son raced to his side and
impaled the warrior who sought to kill him. They were still surrounded while
they attempted to fight off the remaining hooded assassins.
Suddenly another group of riders appeared out of the
dark night. The masked attackers turned and fled. Ian started after them, but
Angus called him back.
“Let them go back to the Laird of Dunbocan and tell
him of their failure,” Angus shouted.
Erland and ten men rode up. “Are you all right,
Milord?”
“Aye, Erland. I appreciate your timely disobedience.”
“Always at your service.”
“Are you sure these men worked for Laird MacLean?”
Ian asked.
“I am mightily suspicious. But I would hear his
rebuttal if he has one. Come, we ride back to Dunbocan. Erland and his group
shall accompany us.”
***
Jared was not pleased when a knock at the door
interrupted his planned seduction of his lovely wife. When he answered the
door, the look on Morven's face told him it was a problem worthy of his
attention. Telling his cousin to wait for him in the hall, he walked back into
the room. Asilinn sat with her back to him. She gazed into the fire lost in
thought or so it seemed.
“I'll be back shortly,” he told her as he left the
room.
Laird Angus Innes and his men stood in the lower
hall. “Is there some problem?” Jared asked.
“On our way back to camp we were attacked. Had my
commander not disobeyed my order and come in search of us, my son and I would
have been killed.”
One of Laird Innes' men slung a lifeless body to the
floor at Jared's feet. Angus threw a silver pin with Jared's coat of arms on
top of the body. “You sent assassins to kill us.”
Jared knelt and lifted the man's head then dropped it
in disgust. “I told you there were those within my own clan who would fight
against this alliance. Obviously, Tynan was one of them. I swear to you on your
daughter's life I did not send them.”
“Let Asilinn come home with me until this matter is
decided.”
“If I let you have her, you have no reason to make
peace. She is my wife and I will not let her go.”
“I want to speak to her again.”
“She has retired for the evening.” Jared watched
Angus' stone face. “I apologize for this affront to your honest dealing with
me. You have my assurance these men will be hunted down. I'll catch them. When
I do they will be handed over to you for punishment.”
Angus could not hide his surprise. “You'll allow us
to decide their fate?”
“It is your right. It was your life they sought to
end. You and your men are welcome to stay the night, though I daresay you would
feel more comfortable in your encampment. You will not be attacked by my order
unless you harm my people.” Jared paused. “Did these men wear dark masks?”
“Aye, they did,” Ian replied.
“And was their leader riding a bay horse?”
“‘Twas difficult to tell, but I believe so.”
“These are the same men who attacked Asilinn and me
on the trail.” Jared turned to Morven. “Take Ross and go and account for the
whereabouts of every man in the inner circle. We have a traitor in our midst.”
“I'll take my leave, Laird of Dunbocan,” Angus said.
“But I would have you give my daughter a message.” He drew a deep breath. “Tell
her I have decided not to let the men and horses rest for the time I had
planned. I will be leaving your lands at dawn. I wilna see her again until I
return. If we cannot come to an agreement, I'll be back with an army to free
her.”
“There will be an agreement,” Jared assured him.
***
As they rode off Ian cast a stern look at his father.
“Will Asilinn understand she should not try to escape?”
“I pray so, for I fear for the child if the masked
riders should find her alone in the woods. This is a foul mess,” Angus
muttered. He urged his horse forward. “Let us hope Asilinn’s gift returns to
warn of the dangers and she stays safe.”
***
Jared returned to his room to find Asilinn bent over
the fire brewing something in her kettle. She watched him warily as if he were
going to devour her.
“Your father sends you a message. He says he will
leave tomorrow at dawn and he is sorry he will be unable to see you again
before he leaves.”
“Tomorrow, but he said he might stay several days.”
Jared shrugged. “That is the message.”
Why had her father sent a messenger back with this
new plan? Was she to find a way out tonight? While Jared was gone, she had
gotten together the things she thought she would need for her escape. They sat
now a few feet from her under her cloak.
Asilinn looked up to see Jared had come close. “Come
to bed. I would begin your education in alternative pleasures this evening.”
“Mayhaps you would have some restorative before we
start.” She motioned to the aromatic brew on the fire. Asilinn’s heart was in
her throat. She had only meant to put him to sleep with her concoction and
escape his attentions this evening not be forced to flee tonight. She did not
know how long it would make him sleep.
He came close and sniffed her brew. “Smells good,
I’ll have some.” He sank into a chair by the fire watching her while she poured
him a cup. Jared captured her hand and pulled her into his lap when she handed
it to him. She could feel his hot breath on her face as he took a sip. “You’re
not having any?”
“I just did. I hoped it would relax me before my
tutoring.” She played with fire now. She could see the gleam of his eyes at her
remark.
With a mischievous grin, he took a deep draught and
leaned his head back against the chair. “Good, fair Asilinn. I would have you
begin by helping me undress. Start with my boots.”
She must play along and pray her potion worked
quickly. Sliding off of his lap, she knelt by his feet and did as he asked, but
when she went to straighten, he stood. He spread his legs and pulled her
between them. “Work from bottom to top,” he directed as he took another drink.
Her nervous fingers fumbled with belt holding his plaid in place. Jared stroked
the top of her head with one hand while she worked. Thank God, he still drank
her brew. He downed the rest of it.
His lazy grin told her he was enjoying her
discomfort. She worked the plaid loose and pulled it off of him. His manhood
was fully exposed. “Taste me, Asilinn,” he said in quiet demand. With one hand,
he nudged her head toward his crotch. She placed her hands on him and felt the
growing hardness of his shaft. “Take me in your mouth,” he whispered tightly.
Again, he pressed her head to his groin. She heard the cup drop to the floor
when he placed both hands on her head. Asilinn was shaking. She found it hard
to catch her breath. After one look into his fiery eyes, she did as she was
told. Asilinn began a timid exploration of him with her mouth.
Jared couldn’t believe what was happening. His whole
body shook while she did her duty. He savored the moment as long as he could,
but something was wrong—he was woozy. He felt like he might drop over if he
didn’t sit down. He sat and pulled her back to her task as he half-fell into
the chair. But it was too late. The darkness closed in around him and she was
gone.
Rising shakily to her feet, Asilinn stared at him.
What had she done? There was no time to dwell on it. Jared appeared to be
sleeping and she must go quickly before he woke and caught her. She slipped
silently over and put on the clothes she had prepared. She decided she did not
want to go alone into the secret passage. Her thought was to go the most direct
route out of the tower and try to find a way out of the castle without being detected.
It wasn’t much of a plan, but her father’s message had made it clear it was
tonight or not at all. Convinced her husband still slept soundly, she carefully
opened the door to their chamber. He did not stir. Closing the door silently
behind her, she made her way down the narrow tower steps until she came to the
main hall. As she peered around the corner, her heart caught in her throat.
A coffin lay on a makeshift litter on the stone table
on one side of the room. Heart pounding, she moved across the floor until she
stood beside the table. Had Jared killed one of them, her father, or her
brother? With a trembling hand, she grasped the lid and lifted it. It was the
man who spilled the wine on her dress at the wedding. He had been killed with a
sword.
A sudden noise behind her made her jump. Two of
Jared’s men were walking through the doorway but they hadn’t seen her yet.
There was nowhere to hide—nowhere save in the box with the body of the dead
man. Desperate she climbed inside and pulled the lid closed her. She could hear
the footsteps come closer. Holding her breath, she prayed for deliverance.