The Talisman (Heart of the Highlander Series Book 2)

by Gafford, Deborah

  Though the larger dog writhed and tried to break free, 'twas clear the contest was over.

  Rorie cursed and tossed a few coins at Jock. "Damn yer bloody hound. I have but enough coin fer my meat and ale, wi' none left fer enjoyin' meself upstairs." He looked around the room."Where's Chloe? Mayhap I can sweet talk her into a free ride."

  Ailis stood completely still in the shadow of the upper stairs as she watched the man gaze around the room. She did not wish to draw his attention. With relief, she had watched the smaller dog win the fight and the two men pull their animals apart tying them to tables away from each other.

  'Twould be best to leave while everyone was busy congratulating the winners and taunting the losers. Perhaps if she were quiet, no one would notice her and she could make good her escape from this noisy prison.

  She forced herself to let go of the newel post. Her knuckles ached from gripping it tightly for several minutes as the fighting had drawn her attention. Silently, she walked down the stairs as inconspicuously as she could. But, as she neared the bottom, a thin peasant with long, greasy hair sat down sprawling on the last step.

  Fie, now what was she to do? She could not get past without brushing up against him. But 'twas the only way out. She hesitated, then gathered her skirt close to her body and hugging the wall, tried to step around him.

  The peasant looked up with a leer, reached out and grabbed her skirt as she tried to pass. She lost her balance and fell against him, sprawled on the steps.

  Frightened and angry, she shouted, "Nay! Take your hands off me!" She shoved him away, scrambled to her feet and rushed through the common room toward the door.

  Half way across the room, a burly arm whipped out and grabbed her. Ailis fought the man, but he only laughed and forced her into his lap. 'Twas obvious what he wished from her. She screamed and struggled harder as he called out to the barmaid. "By damn, Chloe. This one may give ye contest fer yer coin. She's feisty, enough." He ran his beefy hand over her shoulder and cupped her left breast, giving it a pinch before he let go. "Aye, an' soft as a bairn's arse."

  The barmaid looked over at Ailis struggling in the big man's arms and laughed. "Ah, Murdoch, darlin', canna ye see she nay wants the likes o' ye? She spent all o' the night wi' the laird. Besides, I dinna think ye can afford her."

  "Well now, I dinna want all night. I've coin enough in me sporran fer a few minutes wi' her. If she's as skilled as she feels, 'twill nay take long. Come, wench, I've a hunger I mean fer ye to fill." The man stood and jerked her roughly toward the stairs.

  "Nay! Let me go!"

  Ailis felt herself yanked out of the big man's grasp then saw him go down in a pile of heaving arms and legs. Stunned, she stumbled backward and turned to run just as she recognized Gavin's plaid and dark hair.

  He must have pulled her away as he knocked the man to the floor. She had seen naught before it happened. Frightened for Gavin's safety, she watched as the men fought violently.

  A hard punch to the man's mid section brought out a string of curses and he retaliated by punching upward into Gavin's right eye. The eyelid began to bleed as Gavin returned the blow.

  Ailis bit her lip and twisted her hands, hating that Gavin was being hurt and not knowing how to stop it. She watched as he jerked back to avoid a fist and saw that his eyelid was beginning to swell. From the looks of it, 'twould be swollen shut soon.

  His opponent kicked out and rolled at the same time, forcing Gavin beneath him, then hit him viciously in his swollen eye. Gavin winced and slammed his fist into Murdoch's jaw. His head snapped back and Gavin rolled free. He rose and, steadying himself with his hands on his thighs, took several deep breaths.

  "Watch out!" Ailis screamed as the other man stumbled to his feet, grabbed a chair and swung it sideways at Gavin's head.

  Bending double, Gavin charged forward hitting Murdoch in the abdomen and knocking him to the ground amidst pieces of broken chair. Gavin stood a bit shakily, bent over and pulled the man to his feet by the front of his shirt. As Murdoch swung at him, Gavin slammed his fist into his nose.

  Ailis heard a crunch and watched as the man went down in a bloody, cursing heap.

  "Ye broke me bloody nose! Ye son of the Devil. I'll—"

  "You'll not draw another breath if you are not gone from here today. If another man had done this, I would have killed him. My family thought of you as a friend and treated you so. For their sake, I will not take your filthy life here and now. But, if ever I see your face on my lands again, I will kill you. Doubt not my words for 'twill be the last thought you ever have."

  Murdoch stood, wiped his bloody nose with the back of his hand and spat at Gavin's feet. He walked to the door of the alehouse and called over his shoulder as he disappeared into the street. "Enjoy yer whore while ye can. I will have me revenge on ye! Ye'll see!"

  Ailis gasped and grabbed Gavin's arm as he started forward. "Nay, Gavin. Please." She pulled on his arm, urging him to stay beside her as she gazed about the room for somewhere they could go so she could care for his eye.

  She realized a hush had fallen over the room. When the fighting had begun, everyone had watched with interest and several men had shouted wagers. Now, many in the crowd hung their heads sheepishly and did not return her look.

  Gavin yanked his arm from her grasp and shoved sweat soaked hair out of his face. She cringed at his fierce expression.

  "By all 'tis holy, woman, what do you think you were doing, walking unescorted through a common room full of drunks wagering on a bloody dog fight? My God! I thought you had more sense than that. Even if you cared naught for your reputation, you should have thought of your safety! Did you think nay harm would come of doing so?"

  "What? I did noth—" Ailis tried to answer, but Gavin pulled her none too gently by the arm and stomped out of the alehouse.

  "Wait," she cried. "You have no right—"

  He swung around suddenly, jerked her to him and leaned down until his forehead all but touched hers. She saw the blazing fire in the deep green depth of his one undamaged eye. "I," he snarled, "have every right. You are under my protection and since you do not have the sense to remain where you belong, I must see to it that you do not endanger yourself again. Do not push me further, woman." Turning his back on her, he quickly strode to the wagon, pulling her along in his wake.

  Shamed by the man's assault in the alehouse and deeply hurt by Gavin's words, Ailis fumed silently. She wanted to lash out at him, but dared not do so. 'Twould only worsen matters. However, she could not hold back a glare as she yanked her skirt free as it twisted about when he lifted her to the wagon seat. He returned her look with a glare of his own, as if her feelings meant naught.

  Something bumped against her legs as she moved to the far side of the wagon seat. She reached down to untangle whatever was caught in the hem and felt the hilt of his dirk. It must have caught in her skirts as he lifted her to the wagon.

  Grasping it carefully, she withdrew it then held it out defiantly, almost as if she dared him to take it. "Had I this, I would have had nay trouble. I would have sliced the man's gullet open and been done with it." Though the words were a lie, she took some comfort in the way Gavin's eye widened in surprise before he quickly retrieved his dirk. He shoved it deep into the sheath in his boot then silently climbed up beside her.

  The horse started off in a trot, urged on by the slap of the reins on its back. The sounds of its hooves hitting the ground and the creaking of the heavily loaded wagon did naught to break the chill silence between them.

  After several miles, Ailis swallowed her pride. Though his words proved how poorly he thought of her, he had saved her. Twice. She owed him thanks, nay anger. A sudden bump in the road jostled her against him and he looked over at her for a brief moment. The cold anger she saw in his expression froze the words in her throat. 'Twas obvious his anger with her still burned fiercely and there was naught she could say to change it.

  Mayhap 'twas for the best. Now that she had seen his talisman, t
here was no reason to remain at Kirkholm. She would have to leave soon before winter forced her to stay where she was no more than an unwanted burden. Aye, she must put her feelings for him behind her. There could be no room for kind thoughts in her heart. She must harden it to survive. Alone.

  To find her family's killer and repay their deaths.

  They traveled until mid day in grim silence. Finally, Gavin pulled the wagon to a stop and got out without looking at her. He tied the reins to a low hanging branch of a tree and muttered in her direction.

  "If you have need of a moment of… privacy, on the way back to Kirkholm, take it now. I will not stop again before we get there."

  He left her sitting on the wagon seat and stomped off down a small hillock toward a deep burn that rippled its way across the base of the hill.

  Ailis had made up her mind over the long silent ride. Gavin obviously did not share the growing fondness she felt for him. 'Twas best she leave as soon as they returned to Kirkholm and she was able to gather a few supplies. 'Twas nay reason to remain there and naught must stop her from what she had to do. Anger churned in her stomach and hardened her heart.

  She pulled her skirt out of the way and half climbed, half slid, from the wagon. Rather than follow Gavin down the hill, she walked to the right into a copse of nearby oaks. She wandered through the trees for a few moments, saw to her personal needs, then started back toward the wagon, still in no better humor. A large rotten log lay on the ground in front of her and she kicked it to vent some of her anger.

  Had she been calmer, she would have taken closer notice of her surroundings and looked at the log before she kicked it. But, she was so furious with the events of the trip and Gavin's surly treatment that she did not act as she normally would.

  Ailis knew she was in trouble as soon as she kicked it. A loud buzzing drone emanated from one end of the log and almost immediately, a thick, dark cloud of hornets rose as one and flew straight at her. She screamed and ran toward the wagon. Covering her face as best she could with one arm, she flailed the other arm out in front of her as she dashed through the copse.

  #

  Gavin stood at the edge of the burn, washed his face and arms and tried to cool his temper. The water cleaned the dried blood and sweat from his face but did naught for his anger. 'Twould take more than the icy flow of water over his skin to open his swollen eye and cool his irritation with Ailis for putting herself in harm's way. His emotions warred with his common sense. Och man, why let the lass get under your skin, so? She means naught to you. …Does she?

  Gavin frowned. He did not know what he felt about her any more. At first, when he found her in the forest, he felt responsible for her safety, naught more. In truth, doubts of her sanity had left him wondering if 'twas wise to bring her inside Kirkholm's gates. Then as he came to know her, he began to admire her strength and courage, to enjoy her company.

  But when he had rescued her and held her in his arms last eve, passion had rushed through him with the force of a swollen river after the spring rains. He had had to fight his baser feelings, to resist making love to her. The urge to possess her body burned stronger than any he had e'er felt for another woman.

  Yet there was more to it than that. The sentiment she evoked as he had calmed her fears, had torn at the wall around his heart. A woman such as she should be loved and cherished, not merely used to slake a man's lust. She deserved a husband who would truly care for her.

  But that man was nay him. He would nay wed. 'Twas enough for him to lead the clan. After watching his mother waste away and die of grief when his da was killed, he had sworn ne'er to let himself be so controlled by love. When he lusted, he sought a woman to share his bed only until his passion was spent. He had nay need or want of a wife.

  Logan would wed. Aye, knowing his brother as he did, the lad was more than willing and able to find a fine lass. As laird, he would make sure that Logan wed and see their line continued.

  Gavin laid a hand on his aching side. He could ignore his swollen eye and the split in his lower lip, but the sharp pain that pierced his side when he bent over, was hard to disregard. 'Twas enough to make him long for a stout jug of usquabae and a soft bed.

  He was tired and sore and would be damned glad when they reached the keep. Saints be with them should they meet with trouble on their return to Kirkholm. With his right eye swollen shut, he could nay see enough to fight well.

  It had been a mistake to bring Ailis. He should ne'er have asked the lass to go. He could have picked up the provisions without her. Why, in heaven's name, did he do it?

  Och, because you are a bloody fool. You were only too delighted when the need for new brewing supplies gave you a reason to take her with you.

  Well, the harm had been done. No sense fashing o'er it like a wee bairn. If he drove steadily, they would be back by nightfall. And then they would go their separate ways. Once at Kirkholm, he would not feel so… responsible for her. Aye, once they returned, his feelings would nay plague him. 'Twas merely the journey that caused his concern. That and naught else.

  Gavin gingerly wiped the water from his face and headed back up the hill to the wagon. He held his side and forced himself to keep climbing. Och, but 'twas easier going down.

  When he got to the wagon, Ailis was nowhere in sight. He turned about in a full circle, scanning the area with his one good eye.

  By all the saints, where was she? He could nay believe she would wander far after all that had happened.

  The quiet of the countryside was shattered by an ear-piercing scream coming from the grove of trees just beyond the wagon.

  Only one woman had a scream like that.

  "God's blood! Now what?" Gavin grabbed his sword and dirk, forced his pain from his thoughts and ran into the trees. He ran hard, watching for an attack and looking for Ailis at the same time.

  "Ailis! Ailis, where are you? I'm coming!"

  Running through the closely grown trees was hard enough for a man of his large size, but brandishing weapons in both hands while seeing out of but one eye made it nigh impossible. He ran on, nonetheless. What did it matter if his efforts more resembled a drunken bear stumbling about at a tinker's fair than a braw Highlander? Ailis needed him. 'Twas all that mattered.

  He heard her screams coming from the right and turned in that direction. Soon he saw her running toward him waving her arms about as she had the first time he'd seen her when she had rushed at him, frightened and dirty, in the woods below Ben Dearg.

  Gavin ran toward her, looking to his right and left for pursuing assailants. 'Twas naught but her. By the blessed saints, had she lost her wits?

  As he neared her, he deliberately ran forward to block her path while he quickly sheathed his weapons. He felt a sharp sting like the bite of a nettle as he grabbed one of her arms and stopped her.

  "Ailis, what's wrong? I'm here. You are safe!"

  She shook her head and yanked her arm free. "Nay," she shouted, "run!" Ailis ran from him as if a tribe of crazed banshees were after her. For just a moment, Gavin stood there and watched her. By the rood, what possessed the lass?

  "Ow! Och, ow, you damn wee beasties! Ow!"

  Gavin broke into a sprint and sped after Ailis. As they ran from the cover of the trees together, he pointed to the burn. "Quick, this way! The beasties nay like water!"

  By the time they had run, stumbling into the water until it was above their waists, both were gasping for breath but the maddened hornets were still diving and stinging with a fury.

  "Take a deep breath!" Gavin shouted. Then he grabbed her shoulders and dropped down beneath the water, pulling her under with him. They crawled along the bottom of the waterway for as long as they could hold their breath.

  Finally, when they could hold it no longer, they erupted from the bottom of the burn, gasping for air and looking wildly about them. Fortunately, they had traveled several feet downstream and the hornets still hovered over the area where they had entered the water.

  Gavin silently
pointed to them and, signaling for her to be quiet, slowly led her further downstream away from the hornets. After a few moments, he spotted a large willow tree with drooping limbs hanging over the water. Pulling her close, they ducked under the branches and waited in silence. For several minutes, they stood clinging to each other behind the drapery of green leafy undergrowth.

  Cold, wet and miserable.

  Eventually, the hornets gave up their pursuit and flew back toward the copse of trees.

  Gavin watched Ailis shove her wet hair from her face with a long sigh, but before he could assure her all was well, she glared fiercely at him. By her expression, 'twould seem she'd had more than she cared to suffer for one day. But 'twas nay reason to scowl at him. He had done naught to merit it.

  Her voice easily eclipsed the sound of the burn. "What do you think you were doing back there? I canna believe you acted so! Did you nay hear me scream? Sweet Mother Mary, why did you stop me?"

  "Of course I heard you scream, woman! Why do you think I ran into the trees? I was saving you. Again."

  "Hmph. And while you were making your grand rescue, did you nay listen to what I was screaming?"

  "What? Nay, I didn't stop to listen to your words. I heard you scream and I came to your aid. By God, woman, you have a poor way of thanking a man for his protection!"

  "I was shouting bummies, hornets! I was already headed for the water when you came crashing through the trees and stopped me. I could have—"

  Ailis stopped in mid sentence as she took a good look at Gavin. His right eye was swollen shut, his bottom lip distended and cracked, and his cheeks and face were beginning to swell beyond his injured eye. His neck looked bloated and was covered with large, red blotches.

  "Gavin! Your face is red and swelling. Are you sickening from the hornets' stings?"

  Gavin squinted his one good eye and tried to see his inflamed hand as he held it up. He felt hot despite the cold water and his legs trembled with weakness. "I know not. In truth, lass, I do not think I have e'er been stung before."