“It’s gaeing tae be a grand day when we charge through this place and slaughter them. I cannae wait tae see the look in their eyes when they realize what’s happened!” Malcolm’s face twisted into a malevolent expression. He reveled in this, and it wouldn’t have been so long ago that Rhys would have shared in his father’s grim glee, but now something about it seemed wrong.
“There is a task I hae for ye,” Malcolm added, looking at Rhys directly. “When ye next have some time alone with Caitlin I want ye tae ask her about the armory and where they house their warriors. They will be our first targets. If we can make sure they cannae defend themselves, the battle will be won without much difficulty. If there’s anything else ye can find out then dae sae. I’m sure she’ll tell ye anything. She’ll want tae please her future husband.”
Rhys nodded and agreed to do as his father commanded, although the unease only grew. It somehow seemed wrong to treat Caitlin like this when she had only ever been genuine with him. But he had a role to play. He had always wanted to prove himself as a soldier to his father, and this was the way to do it. He simply had to harden his heart and steel his resolve against his emotions. They made him weak, and he should turn away from them before they did too much damage. In time this keep would be his and he wouldn’t have to worry about these dark emotions. The plot was already underway and the countdown had begun. There was nothing the McClearey clan could do to escape their fate, and so Rhys thought there wasn’t any point wasting time on mourning.
But there was something else playing on his mind, something that he didn’t dare bring up with his father. Malcolm had always prided himself on winning glory in battle and boasting about glory, but there was nothing glorious about the slaughter of unarmed men. The McCleareys were old enemies, but did that give his father the right to perform such a sly plan as this one? It seemed wrong, not that it mattered now…history was only going to remember a great Frasier victory.
He tried to put those thoughts out of his mind and found considerable solace in the thought of seeing Caitlin again. A warm feeling arose in his heart. It was a strange feeling and not one that he had experienced before. Usually, the only passionate feelings he felt were when he was in battle or on a hunt. The blood surged through him and his mind grew hazy with fervent passion, but this was different. It was a calm warmth, and it reached to the deepest points of his body. It was an ethereal thing, where he knew that as soon as he saw her he would be happy, and this knowledge in fact made him happy. She was animated in his mind, with her laughter echoing around and the image of her dancing and winking at him. It was as though she had been given life beyond her physical form and it was all very remarkable. It would take him some time to understand this emotion fully—that is, if they could ever be understood fully—but he looked forward to finding out the mystery and he wondered if Caitlin was feeling the same thing.
7
Rhys had been somewhat guarded as dinner began, and Caitlin was a little worried that she had misinterpreted his actions the previous night. She had never been this unsure of herself before, and it wasn’t a nice feeling. He fidgeted all night and kept pulling at his tunic, as though he had fleas crawling about inside. There was a murmur of conversation and soft music played in the background, but the mood was far more intimate and relaxed than the previous night’s party. The meal consisted of a number of courses, with bread, cheese, meats, fruit, roasted vegetables, and other delicacies being put in front of them. Her father had not spared any expense to mark the occasion and Caitlin hoped that everyone appreciated it.
Once again she and Rhys were sitting beside each other and people generally ignored them so that they might talk to each other rather than anyone else.
“That was an impressive display today,” Rhys said. Caitlin smiled and offered her wide eyes to him in an appreciative smile.
“I’m nae sure ye da thought sae,” Caitlin said.
Rhys chuckled. “Aye, well, he dinnae think women are suited tae that sort of thing.”
“And what dae ye think?” Caitlin asked, teasing him. Rhys smiled and thought about his answer for a few moments.
“I cannae disagree with the evidence of my own eyes,” he said. “Ye proved taeday that ye can dae anything. Where did ye learn tae throw axes like that?”
“I practiced all those things when I was a lass. I used tae watch Da and the other men practicing, and I wanted tae take part myself. Sae I went out and watched. Da tried tae get me tae gae in, and Ma hated it tae, but I always found a way out tae watch them. Then I started tae pick things up and play with them myself. Da came tae the conclusion that it was better for him tae teach me than for me tae hurt myself. He finally accepted that I was gaeing tae dae it nae matter what.” She lowered her voice and looked at him through her long lashes. “I’m pretty handy with a sword tae,” she said. Then, she leaned back and regarded him with a challenging look.
“I’m surprised ye didn’t take part in any of the events yerself,” she added.
Rhys shot back an equally challenging look. “I didnae realize that we could. I was under the impression that the games were being held in our honor, but perhaps I should hae. I would hae been better than Black Pete. I would hae won the honor for my clan.”
“Oh really?” Caitlin arched her eyebrows and giggled. “That’s a fine boast. I think we may hae tae test that claim. I’ve never met anyone who can beat me yet,” she said.
Rhys’s eyes lit up as he enjoyed the teasing.
“I’ve been training a wee bit longer than ye. I had a sword put in my hand as soon as I was born. It’s always been my destiny tae be a warrior,” he said as a boast, puffing out his chest slightly, but Caitlin tilted her head and studied him closely. She then averted her gaze and spoke softly.
“Dae ye think that people are meant tae be certain things? Dae ye want tae be a warrior, or is that just what people expect of ye?” she asked.
Rhys had never really thought about anything like that. He took a few moments to chew on some food. Caitlin’s eyes darted up to look at him, waiting for his response. Her heart fluttered as she shared her innermost thoughts with him. It was scary, and it made her feel vulnerable, but she could also feel an invisible pull towards him.
“I dinnae ken, but I dae ken that I’m built like a warrior and that all the men before me hae been warriors. I dinnae ken what I’d dae if I was nae one.”
“People hae always thought I should be different. Can I ask ye a question, Rhys? What’s gaeing tae happen when we’re married? Will ye expect me tae be like every other wife and sit at home while ye gae out on adventures? Will ye allow me tae come back here and visit my family whenever I want? I’m sorry tae pepper ye with questions like this, but I’d like tae know what tae expect.”
Rhys blinked at her and she was afraid that she had pushed him with too many questions. She swallowed hard because her throat was dry and she realized how quickly her voice had rushed out in a breathless stream. “I’m sorry, I dinnae mean tae ask ye about things ye cannae answer,” she said.
Rhys reached over and instinctively placed a hand upon hers, trying to calm the trembling of her body. He smiled at her. His skin was warm and tough, and her hand looked so tiny under his palm. His strength was evident even in this simple gesture, and as he smiled at her with his bright eyes and his thick lips, she found herself drawn to him, as though there was an invisible thread pulling them together.
“Of course ye will see ye family,” he said, “and I’ll want ye tae be whatever ye want tae be. I hae nae real idea of what a wife is. My own ma died when I was young. Giving birth tae my brothers was tae much for her. There hae only ever been men in my life. But I like the idea of a wife coming with me on a hunt.” He smiled.
Caitlin felt the tension ease in her body. She relaxed with relief and nodded at him, returning a smile. She suddenly became aware that his hand had been upon hers for more than a few moments, and heat spread through her body. She remembered the fleeting kiss she had given him the
previous night and her mind went to wild places. Powerful emotions rose within her and her heart thundered within her chest. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips and she could feel the breath rushing out in warm streams. The air seemed to shimmer between them and she wondered if he was experiencing the same thing as well, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment and she pulled her hand away, averting her gaze. She gulped down a few mouthfuls of water to try and calm herself, unsure if it actually worked.
After dinner, there was another period of dancing. This time Rhys was more comfortable in taking to the floor; he remembered the lessons that Caitlin had taught him the previous night. The tunes were merry and people clapped along, enjoying the sight of the betrothed couple getting along. It seemed as though peace was more popular than most people would have realized. While there were still people who stared at her with enmity, Caitlin saw happiness on most people’s faces. She was filled with a profound sense of responsibility as she knew that they had all pinned their hopes on her. At least she and Rhys were getting on well, and slowly but surely she was beginning to forget that he was the enemy. It was a shift in mindset that had been easier to achieve by spending more time with him. His charm was infectious and he was not the brute that he seemed.
They danced until they were exhausted and night had fully set in. A few people were setting themselves up for a long night of drinking, but Caitlin secretly wanted to be alone with Rhys, away from the crowd. She leaned in and asked Rhys if he wanted to take a little walk around the keep, under the pretense that she wanted to show him her home so that he might understand her a little better. Rhys was quick to agree and the two of them slipped out of the dining hall and walked through the keep. They passed through wide hallways that were lit by torches. Caitlin felt so small compared to Rhys. When they were standing side by side she had to look up to speak to him.
They stopped by the kitchen first, although they only popped their heads in because the servants were busy cleaning up all the dishes that had been used for the feast. It was a bustling atmosphere and they heard a lot of muttering about how gluttonous everyone was. Caitlin and Rhys snickered at each other and then left the servants to their duties. She told him how she used to run through as a child with her brothers in tow and they’d steal a bite of food, and always try and run away before the cook could catch them. Then she took him to a study where she had been schooled in the ways of the world and had been read stories. She talked him through the layout of the keep. He seemed interested in everything she had to say and she appreciated this as it showed that he was intrigued by her life. She talked about the upper levels of the keep, of her own chambers, and the rooms that held her father’s prized artwork and precious heirlooms.
“What about the armory, and where dae the warriors sleep?” Rhys asked. The question didn’t strike Caitlin as strange since Rhys was a warrior and interested in war. She took him through the bowels of the keep out towards a courtyard that opened up at the rear. High walls stood around the courtyard. There was a large garden in between, and the moon shone down. It hung in the sky like a silver coin and it was accompanied by pretty, twinkling stars. It was a breathtaking sight to behold.
But as Caitlin looked up towards the sky she noticed that Rhys wasn’t looking at it. He was glancing around, looking in the dimly illuminated corners of the courtyard. Caitlin rolled her eyes. “Why is it that men are always focused on battling and war when there’s always sae much beauty tae be seen?” she asked in a huff, directing his gaze from the courtyard to the sky. He smiled abashedly. She rolled her eyes and pointed out the armory, which was near the keep, and then gestured to the very end of the courtyard. “Most of the warriors and servants stay there,” she said. Before he could suggest that they go into the armory to look at the weapons, which was what she was afraid he would do, she took his hand.
“I want tae take ye tae my favorite place in the whole keep,” she said. She strolled away and it was quite an amusing sight, to see this giant of a man being pulled along by Caitlin. She led him to the walls and walked up the steps. The air was a little cooler as it washed over the walls and her skin prickled, fighting with the innate warmth that came with being in Rhys’s presence. She skipped as she walked and led him down the long walls. Their feet clacked against the stone surface and heat touched their bodies as they walked past flickering flames. Eventually, they reached a small tower at the intersection of the walls. It was quiet, peaceful. A halo of orange light glowed from a torch near them, and it illuminated them in soft light. The moon and the stars were their only companions. Caitlin smiled as she leaned against the curved wall and looked out into the darkness.
“It may nae look like much nae, but in the daytime, ye can see for miles,” she said, imagining the vast expanse of the countryside. “I love imagining that I can open up my arms and just take it all in. It’s sae beautiful tae see the rolling hills and think about what else is out there, beyond the horizon. Ye see birds soar and animals running across the hills, and ye get tae see people tae. I used tae like making up stories about them.”
Rhys came to stand beside her and leaned against the wall as well. His arm nestled against her and she could feel the heat emanating from his body; it was even more powerful than that coming from the fire.
“Where’s ye favorite place?” Caitlin asked softly. Rhys pulled at his tunic and cleared his throat before gesturing with his hand.
“Out there,” he said. “I love being in the wild. When I was a wee lad I used tae spend hours out there, sometimes days. I used tae gae out with my sword and sleep on the ground, drink from streams, and then I’d come back with a beast. I used tae make Da proud when I’d go and track prey for days on end. He never used tae worry about me, and I never used tae worry about getting back. I knew I’d always return. I used tae run with the wolves and climb trees. I used tae swim in the stream with the fish. About the only thing I couldnae dae was fly with the birds. I always felt like that was the life for me. Maybe nae a warrior, but a hunter. I used tae love seeing people’s faces light up when I brought a beast back for a feast. They all knew they’d be gaeing tae sleep with full bellies that night. And then I’d gae out and dae it all again the next day.”
“That sounds very noble of ye,” Caitlin said, but Rhys scoffed and shook his head.
“Lass, if ye couldnae tell by now, there is naething noble about me.” He stepped back and opened his palms. “I mean, look at me. I hae been fidgeting in this tunic all night. Dae ye really think this suits me?”
He looked at her earnestly and she was not going to refuse an excuse to look at him without having to be coy and hide her interest. She allowed her eyes to roam up and down his body, moving over every inch of him. His broad shoulders led to an expanse of chest and when she looked at him he took up her entire world. The fire flickered behind him, casting him in a faint glow. The features of his face were obscured slightly by darkness, but his eyes gleamed and she could see the brightness and curiosity in them. His hair was wild and his beard was thick. The tunic seemed incongruous with the man wearing it. As she looked at him she could well understand that he was made to be in the wild, running along with the animals, a part of the natural world. He wasn’t made to live in a keep or a house. He was meant to be free, and the adventurous part of her spirit longed to experience that with him as well. She wanted to run along with him and feel the air whipping against her. She wanted to dive into the deepest stream with him and leave the world behind. Yes…it all seemed possible when she looked at him, as though he promised her another life. When they were together it didn’t feel as though they were from two clans. It was simple, easy.
He shifted his weight between his feet and pulled at his collar again. She could tell that he simply wanted to rip it away and expose his skin to the world. The thought made her chest tighten. Her heart skipped a beat. She moved towards him slowly. Her hips swayed naturally and the moonlight played upon her face, casting her in silver light. It caught the ring on her finger and it gl
eamed. The jewels embedded in the ring shone as the caught the light of the moon.
“I think you look rather handsome,” she said in a low breathy voice, almost a whisper as she quickly closed the distance between them. She reached up with tentative hands and spread her palms over the top of his chest. She could feel the thrum of his heartbeat and it sent waves of satisfaction through her. She looked up at him and smiled warmly, trying to entice him with her natural charm. Caitlin’s mind was filled with thoughts of the kiss the previous night. It had opened up a new world of sensations for her. As soon as she had seen him at the beginning of the night she had been eager to kiss him again, to feel the heat of his warm breath against her lips, to have more than just a fleeting kiss. The sensations were pleasing and she found herself reaching up towards him, her lips parting with yearning, her eyes pleading with him for affection and tenderness.
But just as she started to wrap her arms around his neck he stopped, and for a moment she feared the worst. She cursed herself, believing that she was a fool for being so forward. But Rhys quickly put her mind at ease.
“Stop, Caitlin. This time it’s my turn tae dae the kissing,” he said. Before she had a chance to respond, his arms moved around her in one fluid motion, reaching around her body. He pressed into the small of her back and rolled her onto the tips of her toes. One hand reached up and his fingers ran through her hair. His lips found her mouth, ardent and tempting. Their breath swirled as one as heat rose. She whimpered softly, and if Rhys hadn’t been holding her she was certain she would have melted into a puddle. She caressed his cheek and ran her hands through his thick hair, feeling the wild spirit start to take hold of her.
When this had all started and she had learned that she was to marry a mortal enemy, she had accepted her fate with a cool equilibrium, believing that it was her duty to sacrifice her needs for the sake of the clan. But that had been burned away by the hot strength of their desire. Now, she couldn’t imagine doing anything but kissing him, and she was beginning to get used to the idea of kissing him for the rest of her life.
Highlander's War 0f Clans (Scottish Medieval Historical Romance) Page 6