My laird turned to me with a soft smile. He walked over and seated himself on the side of the bed. "Anything, my love."
"What happened to the young woman who ventured into this wing this morning? Lady Annabel's servant?" I inquired.
His smile slipped off his face and his voice hardened. "So it was the servant of my father's intended who broke my seclusion and forced her way into my room without my permission?" I averted my eyes from his face and gave a nod. He leaned forward and grasped my chin between his fingers. My laird raised my eyes to his and smiled. "You needn't ever fear my wrath, my mate. I have far too many enemies to ever unleash my anger on you."
I blinked at him. "Enemies? But how-" I looked around the room which seemed to be his only abode.
He chuckled and released me. "A man may live in a cave and find himself hated of the world. The most dangerous of my enemies lives under this roof, at least at this moment."
"Your enemies? Can you mean-" There came a short rap on the door.
I started and pressed the sheets closer to my nakedness. My love looked to the door and sighed.
"It is only Leod," he told me. He returned his attention to me. "He comes to tell us you must return to your room."
"So soon?" I whimpered.
He brushed the back of his hand against my cheek and studied my face. "You are a most unusual woman. So many others fear me, even my own father, but you find solace in my company."
I blushed and looked at the sheets between us. "I. . .I can see that you are a kind man," I explained to him.
He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss on my lips. I raised my head and set my wide eyes on his person. My hand reached up and touched the warmth of his lips that still lingered on mine.
"We are perfect mates. I, the devil, and you, the angel," he commented. "Now come, you must dress."
He helped me off the bed and together we scrounged for my clothes. I lifted my shirt from the floor and found that it was torn beyond repair. I cringed and hugged the shirt to my bosom.
"Laird give me guidance. . ." I whispered.
"Is something the matter?" he asked me.
I held up the shirt for him to see the damage. "I cannot leave as I am, and I have no spare shirt," I explained to him.
My laird strode across the floor to the dresser where he fetched a shirt from its drawers. He walked over to me and held out his own small shirt to me. "Allow me to offer mine in compensation," he offered.
"But I-" There came another rap on the door.
"There isn't time to argue, my love. Leod raps twice to warn us danger comes," he warned me.
My laird assisted me into my clothes and we hurried to the door. We opened it to find Leod beside the doorway with his eyes down the hall.
"It is too late, my master. My lady must hide," Leod whispered.
"What is it?" my laird asked him.
"Your father, my master. He comes to meet with you," Leod told him.
Laird Tristan pulled me back into the room and Leod shut the door so he remained in the passage. My lord pulled me over to the bed. He released me and tossed back the sheets to reveal a space beneath the frame of the bed.
"Quickly, in here," he ordered me.
I knelt down on my knees and crawled beneath the tall bed. My laird dropped the covers, but there was a space at the foot of the bed where the sheets didn't quite reach the floor. I could peer through the small crack and watch anyone walk across the floor of the chamber.
I waited with baited breath for what was to come.
CHAPTER 12
My wait was short. The door opened and I saw two pairs of shoes. One belonged to Leod, and the other was of the finest calf skin. The person who wore them had a confident stride as they stepped into the room. Leod shut the door and left we three in the room.
"Good evening, Father," Laird Tristan greeted his guest.
"Good evening, my son," Laird Campbell replied. He strode over to the fire and paused before the warm flames. "Quite a cold evening, is it not?"
My laird joined him and took a seat in the chair. "We might dispense with the false pleasantries. What joyous occasion brings you here to my prison?"
The elder turned towards him, and his voice spoke of his displeasure. "You know well why I've come. The girl this morn."
My damned curiosity tempted me to crawl to the edge of the covers and lift them so I could view the two men. Laird Campbell's face was grave, but the chair was turned so that I could not see Laird Tristan's expression.
"She intruded upon my only sanctuary. Was I to allow her to leave without teaching her a lesson?" Tristan countered.
"You were to allow her to leave without her finding you," Laird Campbell snapped.
"It is only by your doing that I am in here," Tristan reminded him.
"I don't wish to have this old argument," the elder argued. "You know well why you are in, and why you mustn't be seen. The girl was frightened nearly out of her wits, and she is sorely injured."
"This conversation brings up an interesting question. What, or who, induced her to think she could trespass in the north wing?" Tristan asked him.
"Never you mind that. The important matter-" Tristan stood.
Tristan stood, and Laird Campbell shrank back. "But I do mind that. You have given me a limited sphere of influence, and someone has unduly trespassed in it. Who is she and why did she believe she could come in here?" he persisted.
"That is not important," Laird Campbell insisted.
Tristan stepped towards the elder laird, and Campbell started back so he hit the far end of the mantel. His face was drained of its color and his body trembled. He reached into his coat and pulled forth a long dagger. The fire reflected off the long blade and cast a silver color even on the gray handle.
"D-don't take another step!" Laird Campbell ordered him.
Tristan chuckled. "What a pathetic man you are. You have created a monster and now are unable to control him without resorting to a weapon."
"I created nothing!" Laird Campbell snapped. "You cursed yourself and at every pass have tried to thwart my efforts to rid you of the sin on your soul!"
Tristan opened his arms. "I have nothing of which I wish to be rid. This curse is a blessing that promises to make our house great but for your efforts to lock me in here."
"It is for your own good!" the elder insisted.
Tristan dropped his arms and shook his head. "We have played out this argument for ten years and yet I cannot convince you to free me. The consequences you bring upon yourself." He stepped back and sank into the chair. "If all you have come to speak to me about is a mere servant than leave me."
Laird Campbell's eyes hardened. He strode up to Tristan and pointed the dagger at him. His voice was low but firm. "You will let alone any who come into this room, do you understand? You will harm no one, nor will you make yourself seen nor heard."
Tristan tilted his head to one side. "You have given me these warnings before. Why do you repeat them now?"
Laird Campbell frowned and stuffed the dagger into his coat. "That is none of your concern."
"Not even as your son and sole heir?" Tristan countered.
The elder laird's lips twitched. "We shall see, but do as I command. Not one noise nor sign of you by anyone. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly."
Laird Campbell's shoulders relaxed and he smiled. "Good. If you will excuse me, I have some important matters to attend to. Goodnight, my son, and God bless."
Tristan bowed his head. "Goodnight."
The laird of the keep hurried from the room. The moment the door shut Tristan jumped to his feet and paced the floor in front of the fire. His face was a mask of hard thought and he cupped his chin in one hand. He paused and turned to the bed.
"You may come out. He has left the wing," he called to me.
I crawled from the bed, but my eyes flickered to the door. I feared the laird would return and find me in the chambers. Tristan smiled and held out his hands to me
.
"Do you not trust me, my love?" he wondered.
I returned the smile and hurried to him. My hands slipped into his and I shook my head. "I trust you with my life, my laird."
"But you also fear for it," he commented. He squeezed my hands and sighed. "And that is why it is difficult of me to ask you to help free me from this imprisonment, but I am in desperate need of your assistance."
I furrowed my brow. "Imprisonment? But can you not leave any hour you wish?"
He shook his head. "No. My father had a spell cast about this room where all but I can leave."
"But why does he fear you so?" I asked him.
"He believes me a monster, and he believes that every action I take is proof of that," he told me. "That is why I can turn only to Leod and you for assistance. Unfortunately, Leod's disappearance, even for a short while, would be suspect. You must perform this dangerous task for me."
I straightened and tried to keep from quivering. "What must I do?"
He pursed his lips and searched my face. "You are a fine woman, but there is great risk."
I stepped closer to him and looked into his eyes. "As I trust you, so must you trust me to help you. I swear I will not fail you."
My laird smiled, and leaned down to capture my lips in a passionate kiss. I regretted when we parted and his dark eyes looked into mine. "Then I will put my faith in you, and tell you what must be done. Do you know of the old woman who resides past the end of the village along the edge of the moors?"
I nodded. "Aye. They say she is a witch."
"They are correct, and her powers are what we need to break the barrier that entraps me in these chambers," he told me. "Request of her a spell to break a barrier that entraps a lycan. Do you understand? A barrier that entraps a lycan."
I nodded. "I understand."
"Good." He pulled out a small leather bag and placed it in my hands. Coins jingled together. "This will be her payment. If she demands more tell her she will have it, but not until after the spell is broken."
I pocketed the small purse and looked back to him. "Is that all you wish of me?"
He cupped my chin in his hand and shook his head. "No. I wish for you to return to me safely, with or without the spell."
I smiled and curtsied. "I will do as my laird bids."
"I can ask no more of that," he replied. He stepped back and bowed to me. "Forever your servant, my lady, and the gods give you speed."
The door opened and Leod peeked inside. "It is safe for her ladyship to leave," he informed us.
I turned, but Laird Tristan caught a hold of my hand and pulled me against him. His bright eyes looked into mine and he pressed another hot, passionate kiss on my lips. "Come back to me," he whispered.
"Even if God forbade it," I promised.
He reluctantly released me and I hurried across the room to Leod. We slipped into the hall and Leod led me down the passage to the stairs. He paused at the point where the wings met and held out his hand so I couldn't pass him. Leod peeked around the corner and his nose bumped into a large, hard bosom. He started back and pushed me behind him, but his short frame hardly covered me.
Lady Annabel stepped forward and scowled at us. She wore a thick robe of dyed wool and slippers, and looked down her peeked nose at us.
"I was told servants were not to be about at this hour," she commented.
Leod bowed his head and I followed suit. "Leod apologizes, my lady, but Leod and this young woman were only checking the windows in the north wing. The draft can be quite bad if they are not shut properly."
She raised an eyebrow. "I thought the whole of the north wing was unused but for the animals."
"It is, my lady, but the wind and sun loosen them," Leod explained.
Lady Annabel pursed her lips, but turned away from us. "We shall see what my laird Campbell has to say of this matter in the morning."
She turned away from us and walked back to her room. Leod waited until she had disappeared before he grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs. We entered the kitchen a short while later and Leod turned to me.
"If Lady Annabel proves good to her word my lady must be very careful," Leod whispered to me.
"Will she not do as she swore?" I asked him.
"Leod cannot tell, but her ladyship was also commanded not to walk the halls after dark," he informed me.
"What would happen if Laird Campbell was to know of our wanderings?" I inquired.
"Nothing to Leod, but he will learn of my lady and then-" Leod pursed his lips and shook his head. "Leod dares not think of it."
I grasped his shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Leod, what will he do?"
Leod cringed. "Laird Campbell will do what he must so that none shall know of my master. None living."
My eyes widened and I started back. I grabbed my neck and felt my hands shiver against the flesh. "He. . .my laird will kill me?" I asked him.
Leod hurriedly nodded and turned me towards the rear door that led to the courtyard. He pushed me towards the door and spoke in a quick clip. "That is why my lady must away to the witch at once so that Leod's master can be freed."
We reached the door and I turned to him. "But what will his freedom do to convince him not to kill me?" I questioned him.
"Leod's master has a plan, and my master will surely protect you," Leod assured me as he opened the door. The little man shrugged off his coat and set it on my shoulders. He pressed his hand against the small of my back and gently pushed me outside.
"But what about the guards? How will I slip past them?" I asked him.
Leod stepped outside and softly closed the door behind us. "Leod will show you the way. Just follow Leod."
CHAPTER 13
We turned away from the door and I looked out on the dreary courtyard. A thick mist of fog floated over the cobblestones, and a restless horse whinnied in the stables. The white fog wrapped around us and obscured the castle. The tall walls loomed around us as great shadows that judged our deceitful journey. The darkness obscured my vision and the dampness fell heavy on my shoulders. When I breathed a faint mist blew from my mouth. I wrapped Leod's coat close to myself and shivered.
"What trouble have you given yourself, Muira?" I scolded myself.
"This way, my lady. Follow Leod," Leod whispered to me.
He took my arm and led me across the short distance to the stables. We stepped silent across the hard stones, smoothed and rutted by centuries of feet, hoofs and wheels, and slipped into the low building. The space was dark, but I heard the horses shift uneasily in their stalls as we passed by to the far end. Leod released me and stooped near the stone trough in which the spring water ran. He pressed his palms against one of the lowest stones that looked like all the others, but this stone moved. It slid into the base of the trough, and to our right a small opening appeared.
Leod stood and guided me to the hole. "My lady must hurry back before she is discovered missing. Leod will wait for you here."
I knelt down and looked through the hole. A dim light shone at the end of a long, tight tunnel that led beneath the stone walls of the castle and out the southern side. I was a child of the open moors, and this small space frightened me. I looked over my shoulder at Leod.
"Is there no other way?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "No other way."
I took a deep breath and crawled on my hands and knees into the space. The walls brushed against my shoulders and the ceiling touched my head. I could not turn around, but would need to crawl backwards to escape. My only glimmer of hope was the light at the end of the tunnel. I crawled as fast as I could and soon burst from the other end.
The cool night air refreshed me, and I paused only long enough to take a deep breath. Then I navigated down the steep southern slope beside the castle with my hands upon the smoothed stone of the wall. I reached the corner of the castle and peeked around the front. The gate was set back in the castle so that I could see nothing definite, but the shadows of the guards loom
ed across the ground. I crouched down and kept to the tall grass that bordered the castle road.
I dared not look back, but hurried on my way down the road to the dark village. I only wished I knew what Laird Tristan's freedom would bring to the both of us. For me I hoped only for a pardon from the elder laird, but for him I imagined nothing so simple. He was not on good footing with his father. His father considered him dangerous enough that he would forsake God to entrap him.
Much as I was forsaking God to release him.
I shuddered and quickened my step. The half mile to the village was crossed and as I entered the village all was quiet and still. I had never ventured out at such an hour, and found the silence did little to ease my troubled mind. I had crept away to procure my safe leave of the castle, and now I ventured forth to enlist the assistance of a witch to free my lover. My short stay at the castle had done much to fell me from grace, and yet I regretted nothing. I did all this for my laird. My love. He guided me and pushed me forth to help him in his purpose.
I walked among the dark houses of my youth. The lights of candles were snuffed out many hours ago, and all was still save for a dog or two that growled at my passing. I skirted the houses and kept to the dirt road, though the thick fog muddied the ground and the wheel ruts.
I thought of the witch to whom I ventured. She was rumored to be an ancient resident of the village from long before the time of my mother and father. Her sinful desire to know more about the world than God would allow had forced the villagers to cast her to the edge of the moor where her small hut stood.
I knew the way very well. My brother and I had often traveled across the paths to within a half mile of her small house. We longed to catch a glimpse of such a sinful person, but had always been disappointed. Now I traveled to her with the need to see what sort of person she was, but I longed to keep that half-mile distance.
I stopped and looked up. My footsteps had unknowingly brought me, no doubt by habit, to the door of my former home. I looked up at my old home and my heart sank. A longing of a life that was slipped into my heart and intruded on my mission. I thought of my mother and brother as they lay in their bed content and innocent in their lives while I stood outside with a life that was neither content nor innocent.
My eyes fell on the front door. I need only knock and they would give me shelter. The life in the castle would be abandoned and I would be my innocent self again, free to roam the moors and help Mother in her fair garden. My heart beat quickly as I stretched out my hand to knock.