Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years)

by Sky Purington

  Her brother shrugged. “So you say.”

  “I’ll be without me magic again. There will be another moment I’ve no magic. Another man.” Even as she said it Iosbail found not only the odds but the very idea unfavorable. “Or there will be another reason for my aging.” She cast a near paranoid glance Adlin’s way. “I’ve no real way of knowing I’ve aged now save the word of you and Ferchar.”

  Adlin shook his head. “You’ve the gift. Was Ferchar lying?”

  Iosbail knew without doubt that he hadn’t been. But that didn’t mean Adlin wasn’t up to some sort of trickery. She glanced over her shoulder at Shamus. “You’ve seen the lot of us together. Tell me brother ‘tis not possible.”

  Shamus grinned. “I wouldn’t know, me lassie. Half the time I was high with fever.”

  “Aye, ye’d know! There’s not but battle betwixt me and yer laird.”

  The Irishman winked. “Sometimes the battle is half the fun when it comes to matters of the heart.”

  “’Tis a bloody good way to turn the heart sour,” she retaliated and turned her attention back to Adlin. “This time your meddling goes too far, brother.”

  Adlin ignored her discontent and nodded ahead to a jagged rock that sat in the woods. It hadn’t changed much in over a century. Scattered around the globe, the Defiance was one of many attached to the original Highland Defiance in northern Scotland. All were interconnected portals in which those with magic could travel. While the Defiance in northern Scotland was huge the other Defiances came in many forms. This one was nothing more than a weather-worn carving in the side of rock that while overgrown had once been part of the mountain hundreds of feet away.

  Adlin, slightly winded, leaned against the rock and said, “We will not be able to go far through this Defiance but ‘tis better for you to travel this way.”

  “Why when you brought us through with your own magic?” Iosbail asked.

  “Because it will be your magic that carries us, not mine. My kin here should not sense this magic. ‘Tis not part of their journey.”

  “Your kin?” Iosbail asked. “But I am kin!”

  Adlin shook his head. “There are too many in this time who would question. Ferchar, Iain and William and so many more.”

  “Well what of me, then?” she asked, eyes rounded. “Why has the future version of myself not been here all along?”

  A mischievous grin lit Adlin’s face. “You decided against it. The idea of changing your past appalled you, dear sister.”

  “Appalled me? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Would you if it kept you from your true love?” Shamus interjected.

  Iosbail scowled. “If it meant I wouldn’t age, aye!”

  Adlin chuckled. “Then the battle you fight now is not with the Sinclair but with you yourself, lass.”

  “I’ve a mind to have you take me to the castle now,” she said.

  Caitriona shook her head. “Nay, my lady. Please. Alan.”

  With a heavy sigh she glanced from the Norman lass to the rock. All along she’d suspected the lass had a purpose. Even if her brother had helped the pieces fall into place, Iosbail’s feelings about the girl were stronger than ever.

  “You know the right of it, Iosbail,” Adlin said, so softly she barely heard. “She has a destiny.”

  While they all watched her expectantly, Iosbail found herself reflecting on the last words Alexander had mouthed. “Take care of your lady.”

  As infuriated as she’d been with him for sacrificing himself, she’d been amazed at his concern for others at such a moment. She thought about the way he’d saved the Norman lass on the ledge. Aye, it’d been his decision to go that way but one he would’ve clearly died for. He would’ve never allowed Caitriona to fall without going over himself. Then there was the way he’d treated her after. Holding her and saying how sorry he was. While angry at him for putting them in the danger to begin with, Iosbail couldn’t help but admire his compassion towards the lass afterwards.

  Her eyes locked with Caitriona’s as she contemplated. Emotional, the lass said, “Please, my lady. I need to know he’s well.”

  Iosbail remembered the way she’d saved Shamus’s life. Could it be her gift was needed again?

  When she looked at Adlin he nodded.

  So that was it. Whoever Alan Stewart was he needed Caitriona’s gift of healing.

  “Does she need me along then?” she asked Adlin.

  “You know that better than I.”

  She glanced in the direction of the castle to where she knew her elderly version resided. Shamus and Adlin would see Caitriona safely to where she needed to go. Meanwhile, Iosbail could make her way back and speak with the other Iosbail. She could find answers beyond what Adlin was willing to give, so many answers and perhaps a way to keep from aging.

  But Alexander’s words echoed. “Take care of your lady.”

  Iosbail closed her eyes and sighed again.

  If he’d sacrificed so could she.

  She opened her eyes and looked at Adlin. “Get us where you need us.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Aye, I’ve no desire to see myself old quite yet.”

  Adlin nodded, his relief evident. “We travel forward a mere month in time. You see after Ferchar MacLomain left us today he returned to his castle only to soon find it in mayhem. He will not remember meeting you but only that which weighs on his mind. Very soon a woman from the twenty-first century will arrive. She will be his true love. Their story will take them to the peak of Scotland and into the heart of the MacLomain’s rivals, the MacLeods. It is there that we will find Alan Stewart.”

  “Ferchar’s lass is from the twenty-first century?” Shamus asked. “That sounds far off.”

  Adlin shook his head. “Not for you to worry about, lad. ‘Tis not our business.”

  Iosbail couldn’t help but be curious. Her brother had indeed become powerful to help others cross so much time.

  “We best be off, aye?” she said.

  Adlin nodded but looked at Shamus. “It seems all have agreed but you to this. What say you, laddie?”

  Shamus offered a wide smile. “These ladies are my friends. Where they go I go.”

  “Very good then.” Adlin closed his eyes and ran his hand over the Defiance. When he held out his hand, Iosbail took hold and reached out her hand. Shamus took her hand then Caitriona’s. The moment all of their hands touched a white light began to surround them.

  Iosbail felt magic churn inside of her. Much like traveling from the Hebrides to Cowal it was warm and consuming. While the faint smell of burning sugar surrounded them the transition was quick and painless. One second they were standing in the woods, the next a sheet of rock edged by tall, wind strewn pines.

  Adlin released her hand and she released Shamus’s.

  Her brother immediately went to Caitriona. “Very soon there will be a lot of activity where we stand. You’ll know Alan the minute you see him. Wait and go to him when he needs you, not a minute sooner.”

  “How will I know when he needs me?” she asked, her wobbly voice eager.

  Adlin squeezed her hands. “Your new gift will let you know. Trust it. Not a moment sooner lass, promise?”

  Iosbail was amazed when the lass nodded. Who promised such a thing?

  “Adlin,” she said. “You ask a lot without saying much!”

  “I’ve the ability to time travel and know things far beyond ourselves, my sister. Trust in that.” His eyes met hers, an ancient blue she’d never before witnessed. “Soon I will call forth great magic. When I do Ferchar and his lass will jump off the cliff. I suggest you and Shamus do the same if you want to return to whence you came.”

  “What of Caitriona?”

  “Her path will go in a different direction.” He looked at the Norman lass. “Your friends will leave, lass. You will remain with Alan and will be safe. Does that suit you?”

  Unsure, Caitriona looked at Iosbail, heart in her eyes. “’Tis up to my lady.”
/>
  She didn’t like it one bit and said as much. “You’re willing to stay here with a stranger in a time not yours? Are you mad?”

  Caitriona’s eyes welled with tears. “’Tis Alan Stewart, my lady. I’ve dreamt of him for so long. He’s no stranger.” She cast an unsure eye between Iosbail and Shamus. “You both have been so good to me. If ‘tis your wish I remain with you then I will.”

  Shamus shook his head. “Nay, lassie. You go where your heart is.”

  Iosbail ground her teeth. This was insanity. But what wasn’t on this whole journey. “I’ll ask only one thing of you then, Caitriona.”

  “Anything,” the Norman lass said.

  Iosbail wasn’t one for affection but she took the girl’s hands from Adlin’s. “Do you remember when I asked you to follow me until I said to no longer?”

  “Aye, my Lady.”

  “Allow me to be the judge. If something happens so intense that I’m willing to send you on your way, allow me the say so, not Adlin, not even your own need.”

  Caitriona blinked several times, obviously torn about her answer before she said, “Aye, my Lady because I know you’ll see the right of it.”

  Iosbail nodded. “I will see the right of it. I promise you that.”

  Yet she had no intentions of sending the lass to her death. Despite her resolve, Shamus pulled the Norman girl into a big hug when Iosbail released her. Apparently he saw an end near. Fool.

  “’Tis time,” Adlin said. “Off to cover for all of you.”

  Shamus nodded and led them to a nearby grove of trees. Crouched down beside her companions she watched her brother move forward. As he did his brown robes turned white and the MacLomain plaid over his wiry shoulder became crisper.

  Though the ocean roared far below other sounds started to reach her ears.

  At first the voices sounded far away but they soon grew louder and louder.

  Suddenly a woman stumbled out of the trees onto the cliff.

  Adlin stood tall, waiting. Against the fierceness of the wind, his white robes rose and slowly flapped in the wind like a bird ready to take flight. His eyes glowed blue against a backdrop of black swirling clouds.

  "Stop,” a man said, his voice deep.

  The woman dropped to the rock as though her legs were shackled and lowered her head.

  Adlin had one hand raised in the air behind him and one in front of him.

  "Release her." Adlin's voice sounded young and powerful.

  "Nay, old man." The strange man swung down from his horse. "This time, you willnae win."

  Iosbail knew without doubt he was a MacLeod. He stopped short when he hit an unseen barrier. The woman tried to stand but her legs were still mysteriously bound together so she began to drag herself toward Adlin.

  "I willnae give her to you, Angus." Adlin curled his fingers and the MacLeod was pushed back.

  The clansman chuckled. "Aye, but you will." He removed a satchel from his side and released the cinch. A small, black, metal pentacle dropped into his palm.

  Iosbail felt the power shift unfavorably.

  "How do you have that?" The pain in Adlin's gaze turned the power in his eyes a murky shade of blue.

  Angus smiled and brought the pentacle to the unseen shield that barred him from moving forward. It dropped and he laughed. His lips straightened and his eyes died when he looked at Adlin. "I suppose you could say I've good acquaintances."

  "Very good." Iosbail swung her gaze to the sound of a new voice.

  Ferchar, the lad who’d greeted her earlier, appeared. He stood, legs apart, about ten feet from the lass on the ground. Another man stood beside him.

  Caitriona gasped. “Alan!” she whispered.

  Angus massaged the pentacle. "Ahhh, MacLomain. You've come properly attired." The MacLeod Chieftain held the black pentacle by its heart and ran one of its five points along his cheek. "Where's your pentacle, Ferchar?"

  There was nothing in Ferchar's face to acknowledge that he’d heard Angus's taunt, nothing to prepare anyone for what happened next.

  But Iosbail could hear the words Ferchar spoke to the woman on the ground, she who was obviously his true love.

  "Go, Caitlin. Go." Ferchar's voice crashed into the woman’s mind as he removed from his folds a black pentacle identical to the one Angus held. "Go!"

  "Home, Caitlin. Go home." This time it was Adlin who filled her mind. Slow motion overtook Caitlin as she stood, and her legs were freed.

  "Dinnae move, lass," Angus snarled.

  But Caitlain moved, obviously determined.

  She took a step back toward Adlin and Angus shook his head. He raised his hand and whipped the black pentacle at her. At the same moment, Ferchar threw his and it intercepted Angus's, mere feet in front of her.

  Rage engorged Angus as the pentacles froze midair above them in a war of magic. He pulled his axe free. Caitlin reached into her cleavage and withdrew a sapphire dagger.

  Iosbail was mesmerized. Holy hell!

  As Angus thrust his axe at Caitlin, she whipped her blade at him.

  "No!" Alan jumped between them, his back to Caitlin.

  Iosbail caught Caitriona around the waist before the girl could lurch forward.

  Alan fell to his back, an axe handle protruding from his chest. Angus the enemy lay on the ground with a dagger in his heart. Magically enhanced, it quickly sucked the pump from his heart, swamping his shocked form in flames of intense sapphire.

  Meanwhile, Alan Stewart’s body jerked, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

  Stunned, Iosbail tried to make sense of everything

  Caitriona screamed in grief.

  Adlin yelled, “Now, Iosbail. Now!”

  Like Alexander, Alan had sacrificed for others. Iosbail released Caitriona and the lass ran to the fallen warrior. As she watched the lass crouch beside Alan she wondered… who was she to give the girl permission to do anything? There was passion here…love. What kind of love she didn’t know.

  “Now, Iosbail, not much time!” Adlin said.

  Yet she had to know her lass would be all right. Iosbail ran over and crouched beside her. “I’m sending you on your way lass. Will you be well?”

  Caitriona’s eyes met hers briefly, “Aye my lady. I’m with him now.”

  Iosbail looked closely. There was truth and incredible feeling in the woman’s eyes. More feeling, in fact, then she’d seen in anyone’s eyes in a very long time.

  “Iosbail, now!” Adlin roared.

  With a satisfied nod, she squeezed Caitriona’s shoulder. “I release you. Stay strong, my friend.”

  She’d no sooner stood when Shamus grabbed her hand and they ran.

  Straight off the cliff.

  Chapter Twelve

  Slam. Bang. Crash.

  Everything about this travel through time hurt. When the pain in her head slowly started to subside, Shamus was standing over her, eyes bloodshot before he fell to his arse beside her. “Hell, lassie, Adlin doesn’t work his magic as well every time, aye?”

  Iosbail held her head as she sat up. “Alexander,” she whispered.

  Shamus muttered, “I dinnae see him.”

  Exhausted she blinked. The original Highland Defiance was across the way. In all its glory the massive window stood hundreds of feet high. Iosbail shook her head and lay back in the grass. Shamus followed suit, still holding his head.

  “Do ye think Caitriona’s well then?” she asked.

  “Doubt yer brother would have it any other way.”

  “He’s a devious bastard.”

  “Aye, but he has a kind heart about him.”

  She shaded her eyes from the harsh rays of sunset and looked at him. “He’s a trickster.”

  Shamus shaded his eyes and looked back. “Aye, but it seems he does it for the greater good.”

  “You only say that because you’ve been brought back from death.”

  “By a lass who was sent by yer brother.”

  “So you think.” Iosbail scowled. “C
ould be she was found by me.”

  “But that would only be because Adlin sent you to us without magic.”

  “Hmph.” Iosbail shook her head. “Everything could’ve gone the same with me magic.”

  Shamus grinned though it clearly pained him. “Nothing would’ve gone the same had you had yer magic, lassie.”

  “Welcome back!” A very young Adlin peered down, smiling.

  Iosbail didn’t hesitate but shot up and kicked at him. Adlin dodged the swipe and took a few steps back.

  Despite her swimming head, Iosbail came to her feet. “You bloody arse!”

  Shamus jumped up ready to defend her.

  Adlin shook his head and said to Shamus, “Nay, I mean her no harm, lad. Adlin’s the name. Good to meet you.”

  The Irishman nodded. “Aye…me thinks.”

  Iosbail shoved Shamus aside and put her hands on her hips. “Where is Alexander? I’ve done everything you wanted. Now save the Sinclair!”

  Even though it occurred to her she sounded overly passionate the truth was she worried about the poor bastard. He’d done everything to save them and now he was left to a Hebrides clan with intentions she imagined extremely unfavorable.

  “The MacLeon clan arrived here yesterday via the Defiance. They await you at my castle.”

  “The MacLeon Clan? I dinnae ken.”

  “You didnae know then? The MacGilleEathain clan out of the Hebrides will be known as the MacLeon clan. While never an ally they are an intricate part of the MacLomain’s future.”

  “Why?”

  “Only you have the answer, lass. They’re here for you.”

  “You dinnae seem that concerned,” she muttered as she walked away from the Defiance.

  “That they are with the MacLomain’s tells me they’re on a journey with purpose. One, however, that I’m not particularly worried about.”

  Iosbail thought again of her time with Innis. The man wasn’t a fool. Why then was he here in the seat of his enemy? As she walked down the long stairway leading away from the Defiance she stopped, looked back and eyed her brother up and down. “I think I prefer you as an old man.”

  Adlin offered a crooked grin. “No matter what you mean by that I could offer the same. I think I prefer you as a lass set out for revenge.”