She stilled, then turned to Symon. He stood before her, whole and confident, his love for her shining like a beacon fire.
“ ’Tis as Auld Morag said,” Elena whispered.
“She is seldom wrong, love.”
“Aye, the prophecy, but she also told me I was stronger than I knew, if I but trusted my heart.”
He smiled then, pride glowing about him. “I could have told you that. It takes no second sight to see you’ve a fine strong heart.”
“ ’Twould seem we’ve a wedding to prepare,” Murdoch said, breaking the silence.
“The only preparation will be to bury that one there,” Symon said.
“We’ll see to that,” Ian replied.
Symon looked about him, gaining his bearings. “Hmm, I know the perfect place to wed,” he muttered as he grabbed Elena’s hand and dragged her into the wood. Moments later they burst into the clearing of the circle of ancient stones where Elena had first run into Symon.
“ ’Tis the perfect place,” she said, smiling up at him. They went to the burn close by to wash the blood and dirt from themselves. Symon borrowed Ranald’s tunic and once more brushed what dirt he could from his plaid. Elena finger-combed her hair, then fashioned a crown of greenery for herself. By the time they were prepared, Ian and his kinsmen had caught up with them. Together with their kinsmen of both clans, Symon and Elena entered the circle and moved to the very center.
“Are you sure you want this, love?” Symon asked.
“Aye.”
“Are you not worried I will try to use your gift as Donal did?”
She shook her head, laughter bubbling up within her. Joy spilled out, and she kissed him lightly on each cheek. “You could not do such a thing, Symon. You are too soft-hearted, and you love me too much.”
“But what of others? Are you not worried that so many know of your gift now?”
“I know I am safe with you. I know our clans together will insure this gift is used as it was meant to be, to help those in need, not to advance any one person, or cause pain in any other.”
“Then you are sure.”
“Never have I been so sure of anything before, my love.”
There, before warriors of their combined clans, Elena and Symon exchanged their vows of love and commitment in the auld way, in the place of the ancients.
“And that other lie?” Symon asked quietly.
“What?”
“The bairn?”
“Oh, well, we’ll know soon enough. If ’twas a lie, we’ll just have to try a bit harder to make it the truth.”
Symon chuckled as he scooped his bride into his arms and strode out of the circle that had been the start of so many ills in his life, and so many blessings.
Contents
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
chapter 15
chapter 16
chapter 17
The Devil of Kilmartin Page 22