A Pledge of Passion to the Highlander

by Maddie MacKenna

  Nicholas nodded. “I have seen her, at the camp, and wondered why Howard is cavorting with a noble Scottish lady. Particularly when he has no love for the people, to say the least.”

  “He is a monster,” said Roseann, in a trembling voice. “His crimes against the people of Greum Dubh are grievous, indeed. He must be stopped.” He paused. “I still do not know what role Lady Sineag has in this. It surprised me greatly when I saw her here.”

  Nicholas blinked rapidly. Slowly, he took out a letter from his pocket, pressing it into her hands.

  “What is this?” she asked, staring down at it.

  “It is proof,” he said slowly. “I found it in Howard’s tent not too long ago and took it. It was my intention to lay it at King Edward’s feet as evidence as to what Howard has been up to here, but I am giving it to you now.”

  “Why?” she said, turning the letter over in her hand. The seal was broken, but she didn’t recognize it. She went to open it, but Nicholas stopped her.

  “There is no time to read it,” he said slowly. “I want you to bring it to the Laird of Greum Dubh immediately. He will have everything he needs in it to understand the situation and do what he must do.” He hesitated. “He is key to it all, and it is right and fitting that the letter must go to him. He must be the first to read it. Do you promise me?”

  She nodded her head, mystified. “I promise, brother.”

  He nodded. “Good. I am only doing this for you. If you really love the man, and he loves you, then I must assist him. Otherwise, I would have kept the letter and brought it to King Edward.”

  She trembled so that the letter shook in her hand. “I will guard it with my life.”

  He nodded grinning. “You had better!” His face sobered. “You must have really gotten up that Scottish lady’s nose, Roseann. The fact that she wanted you killed, and Howard condoned it, is strange. You are an English noble, after all. Howard is taking a great risk on her behalf.”

  Roseann’s face darkened. “The Lady Sineag hates me. She always has. She is the reason that I am here. She made me leave Coirecrag in the middle of the night and without telling anyone under threat that she would hurt our home and our family if I did not comply.”

  Nicholas swore underneath his breath. “By God, she is as rotten as Howard! They are a good match, indeed.”

  Roseann blinked back tears again. “I lost my way. That is how I ended up here. It was never planned.” She took a deep, ragged breath. “I was in the village of Crisdean when the soldiers came. It was the most horrible thing I have ever seen in my life…”

  Suddenly, she saw the mound of freshly dug earth, just beyond the horse and with a shovel discarded beside it. She stared at it, puzzled for a moment. It looked like a grave…

  She shuddered violently. It was a grave. Nicholas had just dug it, ostensibly for her, after he would’ve killed her.

  “It is confronting, seeing it,” he whispered, following her gaze. “If I had not been here, one of the other soldiers would have surely done it, Roseann. You would not be alive now.”

  She shuddered again. She would have been killed and thrown into the earth. No one would ever have known what happened to her. These woods would have become her final resting place.

  The horror of the dream drifted into her mind. The shadow, threatening to choke her. Running through these woods desperately, trying to escape it. Searching for Domhnall, who had been elusive. She had heard his voice, but hadn’t been able to see him…

  Nicholas stirred restlessly. “Do you think you can stand up now? I do not want anyone following me up here, because I have taken too long. You need to get moving immediately.”

  Roseann nodded, taking a deep breath. “I shall try.”

  Slowly, she stood up. Her legs were stronger already, just from being able to stretch out. Tentatively, she walked back and forth. They did not buckle beneath her, and strangely, she could feel the blood flowing.

  “That’s it,” encouraged Nicholas, watching her. “Take a few more steps to get the blood flowing properly again.”

  After two more circuits, she finally felt her legs had returned to normal, again, and that she could walk without pain or stumbling.

  Nicholas stood up, passing her a weathered knapsack. “I have put a few supplies for your journey in here to keep you going. Some bannocks and water. And there is a map of the way back to Coirecrag.” He took a deep breath. “It will be a difficult journey, but you will make it, Roseann. You are a strong woman now. Stronger than the girl that I last saw at Loughton Hall.”

  She blinked back tears, putting the knapsack over her neck. Suddenly, she felt the truth of Nicholas’ words.

  She was strong. She had left Loughton Hall a girl, but she was a woman, now. A woman who had an important mission that she could not afford to fail.

  “Put the letter in the knapsack,” said Nicholas slowly. “Whatever you do, make sure you do not lose it. Otherwise, all may be lost.”

  She took a deep breath. “I promise, Nicholas. You can rely on me.” She swallowed a painful lump in her throat. “Thank you for everything that you are doing. And for saving me…”

  He ducked his head slightly. “What was I supposed to do, little sis? I could hardly let them kill you, could I?”

  She embraced him fiercely. He hugged her back, just as tightly.

  “Stay safe,” he whispered.

  “And you,” she whispered back.

  Suddenly, there was noise coming from down the hillside. Nicholas turned to her, his eyes wide with fear at being discovered.

  “Go now,” he whispered urgently, leading her to the horse. He helped her mount it, then stared up at her. “I must start filling in the grave before anyone gets here. Godspeed.”

  She nodded. With a deep breath, she flicked the reins, heading off into the woods. Her heart was in her mouth, but she didn’t look back, not even for an instant. She had a mission, and she must not fail.

  35

  Domhnall descended the staircase, striding towards the courtyard. He could see through the window that the men were busy, preparing the horses for the long ride east—the ride to deal with Howard, once and for all.

  His face darkened, and his fists curled by his side. The monster would not get away with it, not this time. They were woefully short on men to deal with him and his camp full of renegade English, but his blood was up, and he simply didn’t care any longer.

  He will pay, he thought fiercely. He will pay for what he did at Keelieock. He will pay for what he did at Crisdean. As God is my witness, the monster will pay.

  He had been awake at dawn, restlessly stirring, filled with a fierce fire. He wasn’t prepared to wait for the men of Lios any longer. He had roused his men, telling them that today was the day that they would ride.

  He reached the courtyard. His horse was already saddled, waiting for him. He strode towards it, his hand on his scabbard. His sword was itching to spill English blood.

  “Ready?” he barked at the assembled men who were milling around the courtyard. “We will pick up more men at the villages along the way.” He took a deep breath. “It still will nae be enough, but it will have to do. What we lack in numbers, we will make up for in strength and passion, ye ken?”

  The men shouted their affirmation.

  “Down with the English!”

  “We will slay the bastards!”

  “For Keeliock! For Crisdean!”

  Domhnall smiled grimly. Their blood was up, and nothing was going to bring it down, except for the slaughter that was long overdue.

  His face darkened. He was going to enjoy every second of it when he finally faced off with Howard. He was going to make sure that he located the man, and he alone was going to have the satisfaction of killing him.

  He frowned. Even now, he lingered, hoping against hope that the men of Lios would come riding into the courtyard. He strained his eyes towards the castle gates, but there was no sign of them.

  Crannach, he thought bitterly. He is a
liar. Was the message even sent?

  More and more, he was starting to doubt the Laird of Lios. The hedging and excuses. And yet, what motivation could the man have, not to help him? If Howard wasn’t stopped, the man would tear through Lios just like Greum Dubh. None of it made sense.

  He mounted his horse, just about to give the command to ride, and looked towards the castle gates one last time.

  Suddenly, he saw movement. A solitary rider was trotting through the gates. He frowned, staring at the figure.

  It was a woman. A woman with long, curling dark hair. A woman so pale that she looked almost sickly. A woman who was so weary in the saddle, she could barely hang onto the reins, and tilting dangerously to the side.

  His heart seized. It was Roseann.

  Within seconds, he was off his horse, running towards her. She looked dazed and unfocused. She barely looked at him as he stopped her horse, staring up at her.

  “Roseann?” he whispered.

  She slowly gazed down at him, her amber eyes clouded in confusion.

  The next minute, she toppled off her horse. He caught her, just in time, holding her in his arms and hugging her fiercely to him.

  She is back, he thought, with fierce joy. She has come back to me.

  He ran with her in his arms and up the stairs to his study. He barely noticed the whole castle staring at him. He knew they were just as confused and shocked by the lady’s sudden dramatic reappearance at Coirecrag as he was.

  He laid her gently on the lounge, gently pushing her hair back from her pale face. She was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and her eyelids were fluttering like a butterfly’s wings.

  “Roseann,” he whispered. “Can ye hear me?”

  Her eyes suddenly flew open. She gazed straight at him.

  “Domhnall?” she whispered in a coarse voice. “Is it really you? You are not a dream?”

  He kept stroking her hair. “I am nae a dream, my love.” He swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. “Where have ye been? And why are ye in such a state? I almost went mad when ye left me…”

  She smiled faintly. “I did not want to leave you. She made me. She told me she would hurt my family if I did not go, without a word…”

  His heart twisted. He should have known. He had known, in his soul. He didn’t need Roseann to say the lady’s name. He knew who she was referring to.

  Guilt tore through him. In his bitter loss, he had doubted her. He had thought that perhaps she was an English spy, after all. And here she was, returned to him, obviously at great peril to herself. What had she been through to be in such a state?

  His eyes drifted down. Her gown was filthy and torn. It was so bad that it was hanging in shreds off her. And around her neck, she carried a weathered knapsack, the type that soldiers sometimes carried their supplies in.

  “I will tell you everything,” she whispered slowly. “But, I will tell you later when there is time.” She paused. “I have something for you. Something that I have been assured is the key to everything…”

  He frowned, staring at her hard. Was she delirious and raving? What on earth could she possibly have?

  “Open the knapsack,” she whispered. “There is a letter in there. I promised faithfully that I would deliver it to you.”

  He hesitated, then opened the knapsack. Inside, there was a map of Greum Dubh and a letter with a broken red seal. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands.

  “Read it,” she whispered, her amber eyes blazing with a fierce light. “Read it now, my love.”

  He opened the letter, reading quickly. Then he slowly placed it down, staring at the wall behind him, unable to believe it.

  Roseann had been right. It was the key to everything. He felt like a light had suddenly emerged, almost blinding him with its ferocity.

  Everything made sense now. Everything. He shook his head in disbelief.

  “Is it what you need?” she whispered, trying to sit up. “My brother Nicholas gave it to me. He made me promise to deliver it to you…”

  Slowly, he took her hand and stared into her face. Her beautiful face that he had thought he would never see again in his life. She had obviously been through great trials to get the letter to him and to deliver it to him safely.

  He caressed her face gently. “Aye, my love. It is exactly what I needed.”

  Domhnall poured two goblets of wine and walked towards the bed. She was sitting up in it, with pillows propped around her, her long dark hair streaming down around her.

  He handed her a goblet, studying her carefully. Her color had improved in the hours since she had returned. She had slept for most of the day, after briefly eating. He had carried her to her chambers himself.

  She took a sip of the mead. “Thank you.”

  He gazed at her, still unable to believe that she was sitting there in front of him. She was weak, and she was wary, but she was alive. And she was back here with him.

  “What happened, Roseann?” he asked quietly.

  Her eyes filled with tears. She put down the goblet on the side table next to the bed.

  She took a deep breath. “It was terrible,” she replied, gazing at him. “I took a wrong turn when I left the castle. I must have become disoriented in the dark…”

  His heart flipped at the thought of her on horseback alone, wandering the countryside at night. And then, a fury grew in him knowing that Lady Sineag had forced her to do it behind his back, and the woman had threatened her, so that she felt she had no choice.

  He tried to strangle the fury down. The fact that she had survived even that ride was amazing. But he knew, instinctively, that there was more to this story. That she had suffered terribly. He saw it in the tremors, which still coursed through her, and the paleness of her skin. She wasn’t merely weak and weary.

  “I saw a village in the distance,” she continued. “It was light, by that stage. I was so weary. I thought I might get shelter and refreshment and work out where I was. The innkeeper where I stopped heard my accent and grabbed me, assuming I was a spy. If it wasn’t for Angdaigh…” she trailed off. A sob escaped her lips.

  “Who was Angdaigh?” he asked gently. “And what did he do for ye?”

  “Angdaigh was a stable hand at Coirecrag,” she continued. “He was in Crisdean to see his sweetheart, Moibeal.” She stopped abruptly. The tears that had been threatening to spill out were now streaming down her face.

  He gazed at her, horrified. “Ye stumbled into Crisdean?” His mind was working furiously. “Were ye there…. when the attack happened?”

  She nodded her head slowly. His heart seized again, at what could have happened to her. How she could have been brutally killed, or dragged away, for the pleasure of the renegade English soldiers. How on earth had she escaped it?

  “I ken Angdaigh MacGille,” he said, gazing at her steadily. “He is a good lad. Hard workin’. I ken he has a sweetheart at Crisdean.” He paused. “Was it Angdaigh who saved ye from the attack?”

  She nodded, the tears still streaming down her face. “He saved me twice. From the innkeeper, and then…. when it happened.” Her voice faded to a whisper. “Moibeal was killed by them when we were all trying to flee into the woods. Angdaigh managed to kill the soldier who did it, and then he told me to run. He told me that he would stay and defend me….”

  Domhnall swore underneath his breath. His heart tightened in a fury again. The murderous swine.

  She took a deep breath. “I have no doubt that he was killed there. I kept running through the woods. Two renegade soldiers saw me…and I was taken back to Howard’s camp.” She paused. “I met him, and then Lady Sineag came into the tent. She is allied to Howard, but I still do not know the reason why. She ordered that I be put into a cage, and I was going to be killed…”

  “Sweet Lord,” whispered Domhnall, gazing at her in horror. “All that ye have endured! How de ye escape the cage?”

  “My brother, Nicholas,” she whispered. “He freed me under the pretense of killing
me. I was so shocked to see him there. He is working as a spy in Howard’s camp. He gave me time to escape and a horse.” She paused, gazing at him. “And he gave me a letter to take to you.”

  Domhnall swore again. “I will be forever grateful to Angdaigh and yer brother for what they have done. They have given ye back to me.” His voice trembled. “And yer brother has given me the key to ending this, once and for all. I just need to figure out the way to do it.”

  She blinked rapidly. “You were about to ride out when I came,” she said quietly. “Has the letter changed things, now?”

  He nodded grimly. “I wanted to stay with ye to see that ye were well, but the letter…” He took a deep breath. “The letter has made it that I can get my revenge, and deal with them all, without sacrificing my men for nothing. That is why I called off the attack.”