Portals Of Time (9 page)

“Did I nae tell ye ta stay at the castle?”

He puffed up. “Aye, m’laird, but—”

“Do ye nae longer obey your laird?”

“Nay...I mean ‘aye’, m’laird, but—”

“Stop growling at the lad, Lucian. He had a good idea. And if ye’d let him speak a full sentence...I think ye would agree.” Lucian glared at Dugal but motioned for Ian to speak.

Glancing nervously at the earl, he continued.

“I brought Shalizar...ta find his mistress.”

Lucian threw back his head and laughed. Placing an arm across his shoulders, he pointed at the stallion.

“Ye do understand that he is a horse, do nae ye?”

Ian nodded. “Aye...but he behaves like a dog around m’lady. Even Sir Lachlan noted it.”

Lucian frowned. Has everyone gone mad? He eyed the stud as he approached him. Still...if there was the slightest chance...

“Can ye find your mistress, lad?
” he murmured softly in his ear.

Shalizar knickered back in answer as he pawed the earth impatiently. Glancing back toward his men, he made his decision. Leaping into the saddle, he gave him his head as they headed off into the thicket.

Malcolm bathed her face with a cool cloth as she thrashed about on the pallet he had made her. He had managed to remove the bolt while she lay unconscious
but now a fever had set in.
She is burning up! If she dies twill be my fault and I would nae blame
Dunbar
for exacting revenge. He would be right.
He hung his head in remorse. Patrick was dead because of him. And now...mayhap the lass.

“Lucian!
Hold me
!” she cried out feverishly. Tears seeped out beneath her dark lashes. “Please hold me!” she pleaded.

She thinks I be the earl!
He stared at her pale face for a moment then grunted to himself.
Surely there be nae harm in comforting her
.
He stretched out beside her and gently eased her into his embrace. A few moments later her thrashing ceased as she drifted off to sleep. Exhausted...he quickly followed.

He crept silently through the darkness with his sword drawn in readiness.
His heart pounded in his chest as he neared the second chamber where a dim glow could be seen. One of them was injured. He had spied flecks of blood on the bushes outside of the entrance.

Lucian’s neck glowed red from the heat of the lion tattoo. He knew that she must be the one hurt. Had he not felt the wound as she was struck? He licked his dry lips then stepped into the chamber.

Malcolm awakened to the
sensation
of cold steel pressed against his throat and a gutteral growl in his ear.

“Make amends with God for ye meet him in person this day!”

His eyes shot open
in alarm.
Achh! He is NOT going ta understand what he sees here! I am a dead man!
He groaned as he glanced toward Arianna. She was still sleeping but beads of perspiration dotted her face. The fever had broke! He grinned widely as he eased her out of his arms.

“Ye think this be humorous, Maclean?” he bellowed in rage.

He glanced up at Lucian’s dark scowl.

“Well...it all depends on how ye look at it.” He held up his hand to halt the earl’s forward motion. “Now tis true that ye found your wife in me arms but she was so feverish from her wound that she thought I was ye. So, in a way, she was in
your
arms as she slept.
”

Lucian snarled in rage as he stepped closer, raising his sword.

“Naught happened, Lucian. She was too ill from her wound. In fact, I saved her life. See for yourself. Her fever has just now broke!”

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and glanced her way, keeping Malcolm in his sights. He dropped to his knee and inspected her injury while testing the coolness of her brow. Maclean had cauterized the wound to stop the bleeding after cleaning it with uisge beatha. He grunted approval as he inspected the pinkish skin.

"
I
t appears that I am in your debt
...although she would nae be injured, if nae for ye. Tell me who did this! I will ken all of it!”

Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief as he ran his fingers through his auburn hair.
Normally he feared no man, but an irate husband who happens to be an earl, is another story. He had no wish to be drawn and quartered. He bent over to retrieve more wood for the fire as he began his explanation.

“Twas about five days past that Angus came ta visit me. He said that if I truly wanted his sister he could arrange it. He was t
a
draw ye out with a diversion. He kenned that she would follow ye...being how ye are inseparable. All I had ta do was watch for her
then snatch her away ta me home. He said he would ascertain that she be a widow forthwith!” Malcolm drew in a slow breath.

“I could see nae down side and I need her
knowing
ta help me people get back on their feet. It has been hard these last few years.”

Lucian stared at him. He had not realized that things were so dire for his clan.

“She does nae have the sight, Malcolm. Twould have done ye nae good.”

“Aye, I ken it now. She would have sensed the attack if she did. She would have kenned Patrick’s death.” He choked on the tears that threatened as his shoulders slumped.

“Patrick lives.”

His head shot up. “Truly? How can that be? I saw him take the blow!”

He chuckled. “Oh aye. He be a bit bloodied and bruised but he is well enough.”

A feather-light touch stroked his arm. His big hand covered hers as he turned his attention to Arianna.

“How are ye feeling, mo gradh?”

Running her tongue over dry lips, she replied weakly, “Thirsty, husband.”

His heart swelled at the endearment as he held a skin of water to her parched mouth. She had not acknowledged him
so posses
sively before. Life was good.

After he had convinced her to eat, Lucian bound her wound securely to reduce the jarring she was in for
when
they rode back to join the others.

Arianna grit her teeth against the pain as Malcolm handed her up to her husband. Once she was securely snuggled against his chest they headed off for the camp.

“Tell me, Dunbar, how did ye find us? I hid the path well.”

“Aye...ye did. M
e
best trackers did nae find it.” He eyed the young laird grudgingly for a moment. “Twas me squire that provided the means ta find ye.”

“Your squire? How?”

“He reminded me that m
e
lady’s horse
was part hound. Shalizar followed her scent. The bloody beast would have gone right on into the cave
rn
if I had nae restrained him.”

Malcolm stared at the steed in disbelief. “Surely ye jest!”

Lucian laughed as the tension began to ease out of him. “Nay. I tell ye true. In all me days I have never seen such as him!”

“Patrick spoke the truth then...the beast is possessed!” He shook his head in wonder.

They reached the camp a short time later
to find that Angus and his small band of warriors had managed to escape. Dugal had gone after them.

Malcolm checked on his brother as Lucian saw to Arianna’s needs.

“Ye will eat lass,” He gruffly ordered. “Ye need ta build your strength.”

“I’m fine. Just a bit tired.” He caught her in his arms as she swooned.

“Ye are nae fine! Now stop arguing with me!”

She raised her brow. “I was not arguing...simply making a statement.”

With an affronted stare , he replied, “If ye disagree with me tis arguing!”

Arianna’s mouth gaped in protest then clamped shut.
I’m too tired for this right now...but it will be continued when I feel better. He just assumes that he’s always right. And even if he is it would not be wise to let him think so. He is too arrogant already.
She smiled sweetly as she batted her eyes at him.

“Whatever you say, Lucian. You know best.”

Malcolm had overheard their discussion and whispered loudly to
her husband
.

“Beware, my lord. The last time she had that look and spoke so sweetly
, she led us on a merry chase.” He chuckled as she frowned at him, then strolled away.

“You are an insufferable man, Malcolm
Maclean
!” She yelled after him.

“Eat wife! I will return in a few moments.” She stuck out her tongue at
Lucian’s
receding back as he walked over to his guard.

Lucian knew that, in spite of her protests, Arianna was not strong enough for the ride back to Dunbar Castle. A half day’s hard ride would be more than a day at the pace she would need. He had been weighing the options but could only come to one decision. She would have to continue on to Malcolm’s holdings. It was only
two or three hours distant.

It did not set well with him but he
ha
d to do what was best for her. She needed to heal and he
felt
required
to send her brother to hell!

After making the arrangements with Malcolm, he returned to her side. She had dozed off in his absence, but he
noted that she had obeyed him and had eaten every morsel. He woke her gently, a smile on his lips.

“Tis time ta go, mo gradh.”

“Hmmm,” she answered drowsily.

Arianna clung to his neck as he carried her
to the horses. She inhaled his scent deeply. She loved the woodsy smell that clung to
his skin
.

“Look at me, wife.”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze.

“Ye are going with Maclean ta his home.” Her heart plummeted as she felt the rejection.

“You are casting me aside?” Panic welled up inside her.

“Do nae be foolish! I would never cast ye off!”

“But you’re giving me to HIM!” Her voice rose in alarm.

Grasping her chin
, his lips met hers in a passionate kiss that lasted long enough to make her legs buckle beneath her. She clutched his tunic as he held her close.

“Did that feel like I was ridding myself of ye? I love ye, Anna, but I must see ta Angus so ye will be safe. Ye require rest afore the long ride home, as well. M
e
guard will be with ye in m
e
absence. Ye will be safe.”

Dumbfounded...she nodded. All she could do was allow him to lift her up into Malcolm’s waiting arms.
He loves me? Lucian...loves...me! I never dreamed that he ever would.
She smiled at her handsome earl
.

“I love you, as well, husband. Be careful...please! Angus is the one who frightened me so much in my nightmare. He is very dangerous.”

Lucian’s heart swelled at her words as he squeezed her hand. “I will be cautious, Anna. Do nae fear.”

The earl paced the camp as the eve grew darker. His frustration obvious to his men. They had met up with Dugal five days past and had been scouring the countryside ever since. There was no sign of Angus or any of his men.

He had settled before the fire to eat when the last group of bone-weary trackers rode into the camp. He glanced up expectantly as Collin approached wearing a huge grin.

“We found them, m’laird! They be nae more than two leagues from here.”

“Saints be praised! I was beginning ta think them wraiths!”

“Nay, they are human enough.” Picking up a stick, he began drawing a map in the dirt for Lucian to study as they planned their attack.