To Bewitch a Highlander (Isle of Mull series) (22 page)

This time, the messenger called for order. “Please, silence everyone and hear the king’s plan.” The MacKinnon nodded his acceptance of the messenger’s request, and once again the men were silent.

“As we speak, Haakon and his fleet sail for the Isle of Arran where negotiations are to take place. Our King is going to prolong the talks over the remainder of the summer, ensuring the Norse fleet stays anchored in the waters of the Firth of Clyde come autumn. The harvest moon will ensure our enemy faces two foes in battle. The autumnal storms will waylay their ships, forcing them away from the isle to the mainland where they will be delivered broken and battered to an army of Scotsmen waiting on the coast of Largs.”

“Will the storms wreak such havoc upon the ships?” Ronan asked.

“Aye, the Firth of Clyde means certain death for any sailor foolish enough to try its waters during a heavy storm. The fleet will be devastated”, the messenger said. “Their long ships are light and narrow with shallow drafts. The waves will turn them over like twigs. Each one is likely to carry thirty to forty men or even more, but the vessels offer nothing for protection against the pounding waves. Many will drown, never making it to shore alive.”

“But the shallow draft will allow them easy port on the coast of Largs”, Guthrie said.

“Aye, to be sure”, replied the messenger, “but by the time they pull their ships to shore, they will be broken and facing a Scottish army ready for battle.”

“So he plans an ambush”, Nathair said. “What say you, Argyle?”

“’Tis a shrewd plan as was to be expected of our young King. He has already managed to unite this country. He shall lead us to victory”, Argyle replied.

“King Haakon will likely submit during negotiations before the summer’s end”, boasted Dugald.

“Indeed”, Argyle said. “Alexander is clever despite the scarcity of his years.”

Nathair turned to Ronan, “What say you?”

“’Tis a good plan,” Ronan said, “but we will have to march soon.”

“Aye”, the messenger agreed. “You must leave before the summer’s end. Largs is more than a fortnight’s journey on foot, longer depending on the winds when you first set sail.”

Nathair stood and addressed the room. “We must make preparations as we leave within the month. Go home now and rest, for there is much to be done. Meet tomorrow in the courtyard at dawn.” Then he turned to Aidan, “except for you.”

Ronan had forgotten Aidan’s earlier indiscretion, but clearly, Nathair had not. “Argyle, Aidan has offered to be of service to you on the morrow.” Nathair gave Aidan a good natured slap on his back. “Please be sure to give him plenty of work.”

“Why wait until tomorrow?” Aidan said to Argyle affably. “Let me walk with you, and you can decide if there is naught for me to do this very night.”

“Ronan”, Nathair said, drawing his attention away from the pair now slowly making their way from the keep.

“Aye, Father.”

“Let us sup as we consider what needs to be done. We go to war”, he shouted so all could hear. Then he raised his mug, “For Scotland.”

“For Scotland”, the men repeated and downed their ale.

Chapter 21

Shoney was busy, almost too busy to think about Ronan…almost. She had joined ranks with Morna and the other ladies in their numerous preparations for the warrior’s departure. Large numbers of bannock bread were baked over open flame, and the blacksmith’s hammer could be heard from the first light of dawn until the sun dipped beneath the sea as swords and axes were forged or repaired and spikes were added to oak shields. Iron blade heads were also fashioned and given to boys who inserted the tips into barbed shafts as piles of arrows began to form. Shoney and the other women polished the metals until they gleamed in the sunlight. Then they gathered and packed supplies. Every warrior would carry a large leather sack in addition to their usual sporran with dried herring, bannock, and oats.

As they labored, the stores were diminished, which added to their already heavy work load, for the village provisions would be refilled before Gribun was left with only a fraction of its usual defenses. By the end of each day, Shoney was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as she pulled her blanket beneath her chin, and in the morning, it all started again.

Every day before sunrise she awoke to a line of villagers waiting outside her door, each suffering from some ailment or another
.
She applied alder bark mixed with grease to burns and combined ground ivy and honey to dress open wounds.

That morning had been no different but for one unusual affliction. Just as she was saying goodbye to one of the blacksmith’s apprentices who came early to fetch a supply of her burn grease to keep on hand at the shop, she spotted a small band of villagers making their way toward her hut with Flora in the lead. Holding a boy’s ear in a firm grip, she explained to Shoney what had occurred the evening before. The boy, who was her youngest son, Dugan, had been playing near the Daione Shi Knoll.

Shoney knew the spot well. It was a rocky mound at the foot of a tall, jagged hill some distance from the coastline deep within the moorland. In the summer, it was a lush place. The hill was a steep, verdant green tower, littered with jutting rocks trailing down its surface. At the base of the hill, the rocks gathered in jumbled, moss-covered stacks. The moss was a rich emerald color and out from its shallow depths sprung tall, pink blossoms. How the abundant flowers grew out of the rocky knoll with only a thin layer of moss for a bed was a mystery, but every year they returned.

Giving her son’s ear a good yank, Flora spoke of the clan’s belief that the king of the faeries lived deep beneath the stones. Each year he planted the pink flowers to attract young girls to the entrance of his lair where he lured them down below.

“’Tis a sacred but dangerous site”, Flora explained as the onlookers nodded their heads in agreement.

Dugan turned crimson as Flora insisted he confess how he tripped while playing and fell directly on top of the knoll, crushing some of the famed pink flowers.

“Bridget, he is damned for certain. ‘Tis only a matter of time before the faeries claim him as their own”, she said, her eyes creased with worry.

“Cease your fretting, Flora”, Bridget said as she took hold of her friend’s hand. “He is too old to be raised as the faeries’ own and too young to be of interest to their queen.”

Flora’s yellow head remained downcast as she seemed to consider Shoney’s words. Finally, after several minutes she said, “What you say sounds right and should bring me comfort except for the warning in my heart. I am afraid, Bridget. Is there naught that can be done to ensure his safety?” Flora implored.

“If you wish to protect your son, then plant rosemary and gorse outside your door. The smell will keep the fair folk away. And for the next fortnight light a piece of fir-wood and walk around Dugan’s pallet three times before he sleeps.” This advice was met with murmurs of approval from the villagers in Flora’s company.

She nodded, looking somewhat relieved, “I will do everything just as you have said.” Then the little woman kissed Shoney on the cheek. “Thank you, Bridget. I knew you were the one to ask. We are all so glad you’ve come.” With another hard yank on Dugan’s ear, Flora and party quitted her doorstep with smiles of gratitude.

Remembering the pleading look the boy gave her as he was led away, Shoney chuckled. In the morning, they might be back only this time to mend Dugan’s battered ear. She continued to knead the bannock dough as she stretched the muscles in her neck and shoulders. She could not remember ever feeling so tired or so alive with purpose. She was made an instant member of the clan. The villagers valued her opinions and looked to her for healing and relief.

Or, rather, they looked to Bridget.

She frowned. Despite feeling satisfied that her skills were finally being used, she was filled with sorrow. She had not seen Ronan since the night of the dance. She knew he kept away in order to keep her in Gribun. She would never leave without saying goodbye, and so he refused to give her the chance. Doubtless, he wanted to tempt her to stay by revealing what her life could be like if she became Bridget MacLeod for good. She could not deny that his plan was working, and in a way she was glad he kept his distance. All her life, she watched the village from afar, imagining what it would be like to live amid all the comings and goings, laughter and noise. The reality surpassed her every dream, but she ached for him and dreaded his departure.

Sometimes her mind was hazy with longing, and she lost herself to daydreams. It would start with a breeze that swept the hair off her neck and made her tremble, reminding her of Ronan’s warm lips searing a trail of slow kisses down her spine and across her bare thighs. Or, she would be admiring a fine tree in the distance, and then she would see his tall, thickly muscled frame leaning against the tree, naked as though they had just made love. His lips would curve to the side as he gave her his lazy grin. Then suddenly either Morna or Una would command her attention, forcing her head from out of the clouds and her feet back on the hard, brutal ground. Despite how she wished otherwise, her daydreams could not alter reality.

She threw a couple more loaves on the fire and looked to the midday sun. Today appeared no different than any other summer day, but to her and surely to the rest of Gribun, it was a dark day indeed. On the morrow, the men would leave. Ronan would lead them into battle, and she would return to her home on the cliffs and once again become Shoney.

 “Bridget”, Una’s lyrical voice interrupted her thoughts, “would you like to sup with me tonight? You have not had a chance to meet Guthrie.”

“But he leaves in the morning. Would you not rather spend the evening alone? Besides, I told you I met him briefly when I first arrived.”

“I’m not asking you to spend the night”, she winked and once again Bridget could not help but admire her friend’s dancing black eyes and the frost of black curls contrasting against her white skin.

“Bridget, you look like how I imagined faeries looked as a child with your golden hair and queer silver eyes. You truly are lovely”, Una said to Shoney’s surprise.

“I was just thinking the same thing about you”, she laughed. “Actually, not the part about faeries, I was thinking how becoming motherhood is to you. Your time is coming soon, is it not?”

Una smiled as she rubbed her swollen stomach. Then her black eyes became watery pools, filled with forlorn tears.

“Guthrie will likely be away during the birth. I was hopeful he would be here”, she whispered.

“Oh, Una”, Shoney folded her new friend in a warm embrace. “Do not fear. I will help you through the labor, and then you will have a beautiful surprise for Guthrie when he returns.” Big, dark eyes, wide with fear stared back at her.

“He will return, Una.”

She exhaled and dried her eyes. Then she straightened her tunic and brushed the curls from off her brow. “You are right, Bridget. All will be well.” Una pointed to the fire pit at their feet where several bannock rolls were turning black. “I can’t say the same for our bread”, she chuckled.

Shoney whisked the bannock off the flames with a small knife. They rolled onto the ground, stopping at the feet of a young boy.

“I hope that is not my supper”, he laughed.

“Take them and feed the chickens, will you?” Una called.

Shoney watched the boy grab the bread and run off to carry out Una’s bidding. She marveled at the whirl of activity surrounding her. The village was alive with the mingling of noises and smells, but there also was tension in the air. More likely than not, some of the men would not return, and the women already gave comfort to each other when fear crept into their hearts. Shoney refused to consider the possibility of Ronan not returning. That he might be struck down seemed impossible. He was too vital, too powerful. Surely, there was no warrior alive that could best him. The moment doubt stole its way into her heart, she shook her head and threw herself into the seemingly endless array of tasks to be done.

“Will you come, Bridget?” Una asked.

Shoney hated to disappoint her friend, but she was confident Ronan would come to her that evening. Surely, he would not go off to war without saying goodbye. With this in mind, she did not want to stray too far from her hut.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay for long, but I will come around to meet Guthrie”, Shoney said.

“Thank you, Bridget, ‘tis important to me.”

They finished cooking the last of the bannock, and Shoney wondered what task would be next.

“Right”, Una breathed, “come along then. I told Morna we’d help polish the last of the steel. The Norse will be blinded by the gleam of our men’s swords. They won’t be given the chance to raise their own weapons.”

Shoney admired how Una struggled to remain hopeful and courageous in the face of war, and she could not help but envy the various certitudes that defined Una’s life—her kin, her duties, and a love shared with Guthrie, which thrived without deception. A lifetime of love from those around her had nurtured a strong and sensitive woman. She was a vital and essential member of her community.

Shoney hung her head in shame. She was a fraud and did not deserve the affection of her new found friend. More than ever, she wished for Ronan to appear around the corner and ease her uncertainty. She missed him and her vulnerability invited doubt about his reasons for staying away.

What if his absence could not be blamed on his desire for her to remain in Gribun? What if his feelings had changed? Perhaps having seen her through the prejudiced eyes of his father, he now wanted nothing more to do with her. Or, mayhap, Ronan had finally accepted the truth that she had known in her heart for some time—the obstacles keeping them apart were too great to surmount.

“Bridget, lass do you hear me.” Shoney looked up from the sword she was polishing and saw Morna staring down at her with a smile.

“Forgive me, Morna, I didn’t hear you,” She replied.

“You were daydreaming again, lass.”

Shoney sighed, “So I was.”

“One of these days you are going to have to tell me who he is”, Morna chuckled, “but now is not the time. Tomorrow will be a hard day, so off you girls go. I will be around in the morning to wake you, Bridget.”