“I did that, my love. I just wanted to look into those beautiful blue eyes. It’s been a while,” he said, placing the wooden plate between them.
“How do you fare, my love?”
“I’m fine, Appoloin. I don’t really want to talk about any of it, and if you’re finished eyeing up the plate Baglis made for me, then I wouldn’t mind starting to eat.”
“Ah, but, you see, it’s for both of us.” He glanced over to the fire. “It’s a bit chilly in here, and dark. Why are there no candles alight?”
“I haven’t a clue. I thought maybe whoever owns this place was struggling financially.”
“Or more likely is a tight-fisted penny-pincher.”
“I have no idea where we are. I’m presuming Scotland, but when are we this time?”
“We are in sixteenth-century Scotland. The castle is Mingary. We’re not far from the small village of Kilchoan. The castle is built on the rock overlooking the sea. That’ll be why it gets chilly. A fierce wind can blow around it, which helps the boats in and out of the Sound of Mull.”
“I know I’m going to sound crazy… but The Sound of Mull, what is it?”
“You’re not crazy at all. The sound is a stretch of water between the island of Mull and the mainland. It’s part of the Atlantic Ocean.”
“I can get my head around the sixteenth century, Appoloin. It can’t be as bad as the nineteenth century.”
Appoloin lifted one of her hands and kissed it. “Mairi, we’re in sixteenth-century Scotland. In the Highlands, it’s a hard way of life.”
“So you chose to hide us here to teach me a lesson?”
“No, I chose here because we couldn’t be safer. Who in their right minds would want to come to this century, to an insular society, intolerant of anyone who is different?” Appoloin couldn’t understand why she would want to be taught any lessons.
“Well, obviously, you thought it was sensible, but I have to query your reasons. We are different, so why would they be tolerant of us?”
“Because it’s the Highlands. It’s Ardnamurchan, and I am Laird. But that’s not the main reason.” Appoloin took a bite from one of the biscuits, savouring the flavours.
“And the main reason, apart, of course, from safeguarding my own self?”
“The Highlands are full of superstition.” He laughed merrily to himself, and Mairi giggled at his silliness. “How much more tantalising can it get to the superstitious than the possibility that amongst them, live Angels and Witches?”
“And I’m the witch?” she asked unhappily.
“Of course not,” he said, shocked. “You’re the Angel laird’s wife, so you must be an Angel. Now let us eat this lovely supper. I have plans for another edible dish when we’re finished.”
“You have more to eat?” she asked coyly.
“Oh, yes.” His voice grew seductive and deep. “Oh yes, my love, I have a hunger that will not be satisfied by mere food. I have a very tasty wife.”
He raised his hand and pointed to the fire, and flames rose casting a light across the floor. He pointed to candles around the room and blew a soft breath from between his lips and they lit, each candle of a different height, a different width. Their flames danced to his seductive tune, swaying and beckoning the night, to bring forth the passion necessary to eliminate the fears of the past.
*
Mairi was sated, in more ways than one. Her belly was full, and her heart was overflowing. Appoloin’s arm rested on the pillow behind her, and she snuggled deeper into his chest.
“What is it you must tell me, Mairi? What fear is it you have that is so deep you cannot find the right words?”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.
“I know this. I have known for sometime. Did you think I would not be aware that you carry my sons within you?”
Mairi pushed him from her and turned away. Fear and doubt filled her mind—how could she say it?
“Come, Mairi, share with me, please.”
She began to cry. At first her tears were for her alone. They ran from her face onto the pillow. Her shoulders shook with each tiny sob.
“The baby might not be yours,” she said at last. “It might be Lucias’s child.”
“And this is what you have been fretting about, that your stepbrother’s spawn dwells in your womb?”
“It’s possible!” she sobbed out, still facing away from him. “He raped me.” She took control of her emotions. “He hurt me,” she said, and her burdens were in the open now.
Appoloin pulled her closer to him and turned her to face him. “Do you remember when we went through our marriage ceremony, and I said, ‘You are mine, and no other Angel can take you now, not now you are mine’?”
“Yes, I remember,” Mairi said, unhappy that he could bring up such a special moment they had shared, when she had just told him of her rape.
“Listen to the words, Mairi: no other Angel can take you now.”
“I’m not sure I understand. Lucias raped me, Appoloin. I was there, I endured it. He hurt me and made me feel filthy.”
“Mairi, he could not have raped you. What that despicable creature did, was make you think it was real. He played with your mind, your emotions, and he took you into his own dark world. I have no doubt he tried, but the binding ceremony is written in the Book of Angels and cannot be undone by anyone, not even you or I. Lucias will have been furious with you. That is why he hurt you—and for that, he will pay.” Appoloin’s eyes darkened with hate. “I will make sure he pays for putting you through such a nightmare, but he could not enter your body. He only was able to—”
“Fuck with my mind, not my body, is that what you’re trying to say?”
“To put it in the most basic of terms, yes, Mairi. That’s exactly what he did. He did not rape your body. But he has harmed you. He has harmed your mind, and that will take time to heal.”
Appoloin bent forward and kissed her belly. “But my boys are safe and will bake well inside you. They are strong, and healthy, and I hear them sing to me already, calling out that they want their lives to start. They are very impatient boys.”
“Erm… boys—more than one, you mean?”
“Yes, did you not know? You carry twin boys within you.”
Mairi touched her stomach, and although it had to be too early in her pregnancy, she was sure she could feel them moving inside her. It was as though they moved to her hand for comfort, whose comfort she wasn’t quite sure, hers or theirs. She let her mind drift only thinking of them and didn’t hear another word Appoloin said.
She was having babies. Good lord, she was going to be a momma.
*
Mairi woke the following morning and shivered. She was alone in bed and didn’t know when Appoloin had left her.
“Good morning, mistress,” Baglis said as she walked into the room. “I have some parritch for you, this fine day.”
“Parritch?”
“Porridge. I forget how to say it. The word changes depending on where I am in the world.
“I sent a tub up for you and have arranged a bath. Hot water is being readied as we speak. When you finish your breakfast, the rest of the day will be a busy one. But first, let’s get some food into that stomach. Those babies need fed, even if you don’t want to eat.”
“Appoloin told you, then?” she said, disappointed that he would share something so personal without telling her first.
“Of course not,” she said, shocked. “I know these things, lass, and if you want to keep it to yourself, then that’s fine with me, but I’m here to help if you want.”
Mairi stroked her stomach. Was it possible it had grown since last night? She certainly felt rounder.
Baglis spoke as though she had read her mind. “You will find carrying an Angel’s child is not the same as a mortal pregnancy. Your cousins are testament to that fact.”
“How long, Baglis?” Mairi asked.
Baglis was arranging clothes around the room. A dress of soft grey wool l
aid over a chair, woollen socks, and a blanket beside it. Baglis picked up a leather strap. “I’m sorry, my lady, did you ask me something?”
“I just wondered how long the babies will be inside me. I think I have grown since yesterday.”
Baglis tittered. “Yes, you will definitely have grown a little rounder. “You keep those little tots well fed until they decide it’s time to meet the world.”
“And when will that be?” Mairi asked patiently.
“Oh, lass, that’s a hard question. We’d need to know how far along you were to begin with.”
“Three months. I should be three months pregnant, and nobody should be able to see me waddle with a bulge like this.”
“Aye, but you’ve got two babies in there. You’re bound to be bigger.”
“You’re evading, again, Baglis,” Mairi said testily. “How long have I got to go before they decide it’s time to meet the world?”
Baglis walked away, picking this and that and nothing from the floor, readying the bath she had sent up, filling it with dried rose petals and dried rosemary.
“Do you intend to cook me or bathe me in that water?” Mairi wondered aloud.
“The rosemary is good for the babes. The petals are good for you. They will relax you.”
“I will only be relaxed, Baglis,” she grumbled, “when you give me an idea of how long I’ll be pregnant.”
“I give up,” she said unhappily, placing lemon balm soap at the side of the tub.“You have a month to go before the babes make an appearance. That’s if you’re three months along just now.”
“But they’ll be too little to survive. I have to get back to my own time.” Mairi panicked. Baglis was at her side, crooning and stroking her forehead. “Calm, little lass, you must not upset the wee ones. Your babes will be full grown at four mortal months. Remember, they are children of an Angel and a Mistdreamer. Their life inside you grows faster than mortals.”
“But a month! I won’t be ready.” Mairi couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was the hormonal changes, perhaps it was the fright at knowing she would give birth so soon, but she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Now, now, my lovely, none of that,” Baglis soothed. “Breathe to the time of your heartbeat. Hear it in your head.” Mairi’s breath slowed as she listened to Baglis’s gentle voice.
“In with the air,” she whispered, “and out with the bad air.” She repeated this several times, until Mairi had calmed and her breathing returned to normal.
Baglis picked up what looked like a wooden spoon, and dipped it into the bowl of porridge. Mairi expected to taste the grey sludge she usually popped into her microwave, but this was heavenly. Dusted with cinnamon and crunchy sugar and covered in thick cream, fresh Scottish raspberries bobbed on top. It was heavenly.
Mairi finished the bowl, feeding herself, while Baglis busied herself with preparations for her bath, ushering girls carrying buckets of steaming water in and out of the room.
“Let’s get you bathed and dressed, my girlie. His Lairdship is taking you out for some fresh sea air today.”
“I can’t remember the last time I was out in the open.” Mairi put the dark thoughts to the back of her mind and, with Baglis’s help, climbed into the tub.
The water was warm, the scents of flowers and herbs lulled her into calmness, and the soap was fragrant and surprisingly soft. Relaxing she let the warm water lap against her skin and closed her eyes.
It was over too soon, and she was helped her out of the tub. Feeling no embarrassment at her nakedness, Baglis dressed her from inside to out; everything was warm. Everything appeared to be woollen, except for her underthings. She was asked to pass the shon and didn’t have a clue what was meant until she realised Baglis was referring to shoes.
They were little more than pieces of leather, which Baglis placed them against each foot. Four holes were on the strap, two to the rear and two to the fore of it, with horse hair laced through the holes. They were crossed over her foot, and around her heel, then the ties were criss-crossed up her leg to keep the shoe in place.
“Are you ready, Mairi?” Appoloin asked as he strolled into the room.
“She’s ready, bonnie lad, but don’t keep her out too long. You know the air can become damp around these parts. The sea’ll do that at times.” She pulled the soft grey blanket over Mairi’s head, then wrapped it tightly into and around her body.
To Mairi’s surprise, Appoloin picked her up and held her in his arms.
“I can walk,” she insisted.
“Not where we’re going you can’t,” he said and stretched open his wings.
“We’ll see you later, Baglis.” Mairi looked up to see the sky just as Appoloin took flight. She waved to Baglis, who was miles beneath them, and tightened her grip around his neck.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“For what? What are you about to do?” She giggled.
“This!” He shot through the air like a bullet. Mairi held on; the blanket had fallen from her head and her hair caught in the wind. She could barely breathe with the excitement and fresh air filling her lungs.
He spread the blanket over the sandy beach and lowered her onto it and produced a linen bag packed with fresh bread, cheese, and a bottle of wine, filling the two wooden goblets, he sat beside her.
“Do you recognise the place?” he asked as she looked across the calm water, ebbing and flowing onto the beach, trailing with it the vegetation of the loch. Rolling mountains, heather, and fir trees were reflected in the calm loch, and she felt at peace for the first time since Lucias had kidnapped her.
“Hmm?” she said, not wanting to leave her tranquility to answer.
“Do you recognise this place?” he asked again.
“It feels familiar.” She sighed. “Is that an island over there, behind those trees?” she asked, pointing to her right.
“That it is, Mairi.” He smiled and waited… and waited.
“It-it-it…” she said over and over. “It’s Tioram Castle.” She threw herself into Appoloin’s waiting arms. “You brought me to Lauren and Forcas’s castle.”
“One day, Mairi, it will be theirs, but for the time being, it is in the hands of the The MacDonalds of Clanranald. This is a bloody time for the Clanranalds and the MacIains. We are surrounded by battles and clan wars, what with all the fighting that is going on, we can bury ourselves in this history and be secure at Castle Mingary.”
“Nobody wants Mingary?” she asked. “They only want Tioram?”
“Yes, they want Mingary also. They, the MacLeods, The MacLeans, the MacKenzies, it’s a power struggle, and land, of course—with land you have power. With land you have people and food as well. But it’s about power, always.”
“Well, I’m delighted this pair will be born into such a bloody time.” She said sarcastically. “You couldn’t have chosen a time where there were no wars or battles going on?”
“Do you know of a time in Scotland when they weren’t warring with each other? Do you know of a time when the world, at any time, didn’t have a war going on? Not in this universe, that’s for sure. It is so much easier to remain unseen when those around you are occupied in their many battles, fighting amongst neighbours, rather than finding a peaceful solution.”
Mairi rubbed her belly. It was becoming a habit already, though this time it was to block out blood and death from the ears of new life.
“Tell me how I got here—oh, not to Tioram. Tell me how I got to Mingary. The last thing I remember is being in Eaton Square, then my nightmare with Lucias”. She paused, her eyes widening. “I met my Uncle Callum. He’s in Betwixt, did you know that?” she said excitedly.
“The Angels have been searching for him ever since he left his frame, and because of the rules of Betwixt, they have been unable to cross into that land and search for him.”
“I mistdreamed with my cousins,” she continued, “and I told Lauren about her dad. I hope he comes back, but I don’t think he’s ready.”
&nbs
p; “Then Betwixt is the best place for him to be. It will help him work out whatever it is he searches. It doesn’t make it easy for his family, but perhaps it is a time he needs for himself.”
“How did I get here, Appoloin?”
“I brought you here. You had been held in a dungeon in Hell.”
The distant memory flashed through her mind, but it vanished. Lucias had done a great job on her, nearly everything else had been blanked out. His face always loomed in when she tried to recall anything which gave her happiness.
Appoloin bent his head to hide his pain. This was a healing place. The fear he endured when she disappeared had nearly killed him, but she was back and in his arms, and they would both heal together.
“Thank you for bringing me here. It was kind of you.”
“I live for you, Mairi.”
They sat in companionable silence for an hour, then, without any words, together, they packed their belongings into the bag. Appoloin wrapped Mairi in the blanket once again and lifted her into his arms. Spreading his wings, he took pleasure in freeing them from their bindings, his joy ran down each feather and they rang sweetly. She slid hers around his neck and gently tugged his head towards her lips.
Her kiss was soft and filled with the love she had for this wonderful man. He accepted it, and her tenderness, her love poured through him, giving him the strength necessary to discuss an idea that might bring an end to all the problems they would be facing. He took flight, what he must say, could wait.
“Are you sure we’re in Scotland?” she asked when they landed. “This is not how Diana depicted it. Where’s my red-headed Scottish hero? Shouldn’t he be swaggering towards me, arm ready to be fixed? Where are all the houses, and what’s that stack of stones over there?” Mairi rubbed her arms. The biting wind was making her teeth chatter.
“If indeed there was a male swaggering towards you with a shoulder out of joint, you wouldn’t have a clue what to do, and I wouldn’t let you touch him!” Appoloin, couldn’t believe he, an Angel, had just had an attack of jealousy! Regaining control of his emotions, continued with his explanation.
The Park Family: Mairi: Retribution Page 26