Heart of the Highlander

by Robbins, Kate

  “What have you done to my wife?”

  “I have not killed her if that’s what you want to know. I have healed her properly. She will come in handy when the time comes for us to need more coin.”

  “Muren!” Rorie yelled her name as loud as he could. He would not let them take her. “Muren, wake up!”

  He prayed the lad, John, was not a part of this treachery and could aid him in some way.

  “Run away, boy. Run to my brother.”

  The lad skirted around Ada and tore off across the bailey. Rorie and Bane continued their deadly dance. Rorie, holding only a short-handled smith’s hammer, could barely ward off the repeated blows coming from Bane. He really was a skilled swordsman, and Rorie wondered at what point they had spoken to his father and why they had not then approached him.

  “You should have spoken to me, lad,” Rorie said.

  “We did,” Ada said.

  “No. I have no recollection of either of you coming to me since my father died.”

  “It was a long time ago, and you were on the road leading east. We waved you down, but you ignored our request, and your brother flicked us some coin. You who are too good to speak with an old woman and a cripple boy.”

  Rorie remembered now and stepped back. A few years back he’d been riding to see Sutherland with his father, and in truth, he’d been so caught up in clan business and the threat of the king riding north to claim all authority, he’d not paid any heed to those in need on the side of the road. Still, this was a pretty severe retaliation.

  “You cannot imagine how pleased I was when you came seeking aid for your witch.”

  “ ’Twas you who spread the rumours.” God’s bones, he’d brought this madness into his home. She could have killed Muren at any time.

  “The lass will be dealt with in her time. For now, I will not harm her whilst she carries a bairn.”

  Rorie stopped and looked at Ada and then back at Muren, who was now standing and looking at him with horror in her eyes. Was there something wrong with the bairn or—

  “Rorie, look out!”

  He turned around just as Bane stepped forward and thrust his blade into his belly. The ache in his shoulder was nothing compared to this pain. Rorie doubled over when Bane pulled the sword back out. Delicate hands held onto his shoulders as he fell to his knees and blackness drew near. The last thing he heard was dozens of feet running toward the blacksmith’s hut.

  ***

  Muren turned on her side so she could watch Rorie sleep. His wounds had been cleaned and treated by a woman in the village named Lyn. She’d scoffed at the prospect of burning the wound to seal it, and instead packed it tight with what Muren did not know, nor had she been in a fit state to ask.

  When Lyn was finished with Rorie, she then saw to Muren’s wound and flushed it with water before packing it tight with her own concoction.

  “He should have come to me first,” she said. “Even about your headaches, my lady. I could have cured those, too.”

  Muren smiled at her. She had a kind face even when she was chastising them. “I thank you, Lyn,” she said. “You shall be paid with an amount of your choosing.”

  The woman flicked her hand. “I do not need payment,” she said. “I only need the chief to protect us.”

  “You shall have that by any means necessary.”

  For the next two days, Muren drifted in and out of slumber. Lyn returned every few hours, and flushed and then packed their wounds again. Muren had to admit, her side hurt less and less. Rorie had not yet woken, though Lyn insisted he would live and heal fully.

  On the third morning, Muren woke with an odd sensation in the pit of her belly. She just managed to climb out of bed and make it to a chamber bucket when her guts spewed forth. She waited for the pain to start in the back of her head, but none came.

  Muren stood and wiped her mouth. Another wave of sickness doubled her over, and again she waited for the pain to begin.

  The door to their chamber opened and closed again.

  “You are unwell, my lady?”

  Muren turned around too quickly and had to hold on to her side when a needle of pain shot through her. “Just a little sick.” Still nothing in her head. She did not understand. She’d vomited plenty of times but never without the pain following in her head.

  She sat near the hearth as a couple of servants entered with some food and mead. As soon as they removed the bucket of sick, Muren’s stomach rumbled. The thought of placing meat in her mouth brought on a new wave of upset in her belly, but it quickly settled when she took the cheese.

  After two goblets of mead and several pieces of bread and cheese, Muren’s strength reared. She stood and walked over to the stairs to walk up to the tower.

  “Now, just where do you think you’re going, lass?” Lyn said.

  “To stretch my legs. I fear I will go mad if I do not move about some.”

  “Very well, but take it slow. Your wound has not fully healed.”

  “Aye, I will take it easy, I promise,” she said. She glanced at Rorie again before heading up to the tower overlooking the lochs.

  The cool sea air kissed her very soul. She needed it. Her actions, resulting in her own injury, had not prevented her vision of Rorie’s from coming true. That meant the king was in danger. But Rorie was right. She could not speak of it, lest she be burned at the stake or hung for treason. No. She would speak of these visions no more and prayed she never had another one.

  Noise from below drew her attention to the stairs. She made her way slowly down and smiled as she drew nearer to the ruckus.

  “I want her brought back down now!”

  His familiar voice made her heart soar, even though he was barking orders again.

  “Hush, Rorie. I’m here,” she said, as she stepped back into the chamber.

  The moment her eyes met his, she stopped. His were filled with worry and dread. Muren moved to the bed and took his hand.

  “I am here, love. You need not worry any longer. I am well and healing, thanks to Lyn.”

  Rorie looked at the woman fussing about the chamber and then back to Muren. “I thought you were gone,” he said in a hoarse whisper.

  “I am here, and you are healing,” she said and smiled at him.

  “What has happened to Bane and Ada?”

  “I do not know. This is my first time out of bed myself in three days.”

  “Three days!” Rorie said and tried to sit up. He winced and clasped his gut, then lay back down.

  “Now, stop that,” Lyn said and came over to him. “If you do not stay put, you will be laid up for the winter, do you hear?”

  Rorie smiled. Muren didn’t think many had spoken thusly to him, besides her, in a very long time. She was pleased he did not challenge the woman.

  “Thank you, Lyn,” he said. “Would you send for my brother, please?” he asked her.

  “Aye, but only a short visit.”

  She left then, and Rorie took Muren’s hand. “Come back to bed,” he said.

  She smiled and gently crawled over him until they were tucked back into bed together. Her side was forgotten for the moment.

  “I knew you were not in bed with me,” he said. His brows were drawn in tight, as though he was trying to figure something out.

  “You must have woken to my retching.”

  “You were sick?” he said and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “How does your head feel now? I am sorry I was not able to help you.”

  Muren shook her head. “I did not have any pain in my head. Just sick.”

  “Has that happened before?”

  “No.” In truth, Muren did not know what to make of it. Mayhap it was a result of her injury and the trauma she had endured combined with worry over Rorie. ’Twas no wonder she had gotten sick.

  “You did not wake me,” he said.

  “So, how did you know I was not in bed with you?”

  “I do not know. I did not dream, but somehow I always knew you were near and
that we would both heal from these injuries.”

  “Are you saying you’re a seer?” she said with a wide grin. “You must speak of this to no one, Rorie,” she said, deepening her voice to try to match his. “I could not bear it if you were to be burned at the stake.”

  Rorie’s eyes grew wide. “Are you making fun of me?”

  “No, my lord,” she said, laughing when he reached out and pulled her close. “I would not dream of it.”

  “Good, because I would not want to have to punish you.”

  Rorie captured her mouth with his and kissed her deeply. She groaned and slipped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. Injury be damned. It had been far too long since they’d shared in their passion. When she shuffled closer, they both winced in pain. Muren smiled at him. They had both gotten this far. Though she’d had no visions for quite some time and she would not wish them back, somehow a peacefulness had settled over her. As though the immediate danger had passed. God, she hoped that was true.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Rorie was just rolling onto his back when Ewen entered his chamber. He grinned when Muren ducked her head under the covers.

  “Well, it’s about time you woke up. I was beginning to think you’d sleep forever,” he said with a grin.

  Rorie sat up with great care, so as not to irritate his wounds. His shoulder was not so bad, but his gut burned. He could kick himself for bringing that vile woman into his home. By God, she would pay.

  “Aye, but no more. Where are Ada and Bane?”

  Ewen’s brows knit when he saw the lump under the covers move. “They are secure, Rorie. Awaiting your judgement.”

  Rorie lifted the covers a little and grinned at Muren. “Do you wish to be elsewhere?” he asked her, thinking she might be uncomfortable in her state of undress with Ewen present. Rorie could care less and was perfectly comfortable walking around naked. ’Twas natural, as far as he was concerned.

  “Aye,” she said in a quiet voice.

  “Nay, do not worry yourself, my lady,” Ewen said, smiling. “I will speak with your husband at length as soon as he is up and about.” He then turned and reached for the latch, but hesitated.

  “What is it, Ewen?”

  Looking over his shoulder, he said, “They meant to kill you, Rorie. You and anyone who got in their way. Remember that when you decide their fate.” With that, he left the chamber.

  The weight of the issue pressed down on him. He’d passed judgement many times over the years regarding various insignificant squabbles, but nothing like this. Once a clansman had been caught thieving from a neighbour, and his sentence was to receive twenty lashes. Rorie was but eight summers at the time and, as his father made him watch, it was a long time before he could get the image out of his head.

  What kind of punishment was befitting a person who plotted his death? The scriptures said an eye for an eye, but since he was merely wounded, Rorie could not very well sentence them to death.

  “Is he gone?” Muren asked.

  “Aye, love. You can come out now.”

  He loved how dishevelled she looked when she pulled the blanket down and sat up. He would have to deal with the burden soon enough, but for now, he just wanted to look at her.

  Returning his gaze, she frowned. “Rorie, what are you going to do about them?”

  He shook his head. “I truly do not know.”

  “You cannot have them hanged. It just would not be right. They have not killed anyone.”

  He was surprised to hear his thoughts coming from her lips. When he was plotting to confront the king, she’d surprised him with her strategic mind. Just how far did that extend? He would be more than happy to be able to talk with her about such matters.

  “What would you suggest?”

  She cocked her head to one side, her brows drawn in tight. “You want my opinion?”

  “Aye, of course.”

  She blinked at him a couple of times then smiled. Lord, he could get lost in that smile. “Very well, then. I think they should be made to answer for their crimes.”

  “But they have already admitted to them, and given a reason for their actions. You think they should be permitted to speak again?”

  She looked beyond him for a moment and then nodded. “Aye, I think they should be permitted to speak again.”

  “To what end?”

  “To be sure there are no others involved.”

  “And why would you think that?”

  “Because it does not add up. You dismiss her on the road, and you ignore her, so she then plots to kill you but waits until you seek her aid in order to launch her plan to have you murdered by her son? And then kidnap and hold me for ransom? Really, Rorie, it does not make sense. No one carries that much of a grudge over a slight from a nobleman. There’s something more at play here.”

  God’s bones, she was right. Rorie had not had enough time to think on it, but Muren clearly had. Put that way, there was definitely something amiss. Despite his discomfort, he was energized by their conversation. Far more so than by any strategic conversation he’d ever had with Ewen.

  “What do you propose? How do we catch her in a lie?”

  Muren shook her head. “That’s the part I do not know. Can you recall anything of note from the day you visited her at her cottage?”

  “Aye! She does not need her cane. She wears a thick pad underneath her cloak to make her look frail, and that day she showed me. But why would she show me her deception and still plot my demise? Really, Muren, it’s making my head hurt.”

  “Hey, I am the one with the headaches remember?”

  He did remember; he also just realized it had been quite a while since her last one. “How do you feel?”

  “I am well, except for my side. How do you feel?”

  “Best when you are here beside me.”

  It was true. Though they’d had their differences, there was no doubt in his mind that she was the other half of him. He could endure being laird of the clan with her by his side. When they were together, he was whole.

  She placed her hand on his face. “I do love you, Rorie MacKenzie. Even when you are bull-headed.”

  “Me? ’Tis you who wanted to find yourself, even when danger was at our doorstep.” She frowned, and he feared he might have gone too far. “Muren, I jest. I do not blame you for our troubles. They were always ours to bear together.” He took her hand in his. “Whatever comes our way in the future, we shall share in it together—the good and the bad.”

  He held his breath as she regarded him. Opening her mouth a couple of times and then closing it again, she finally said, “We are on this journey together. And together we will find the right way forward. After all this time, I realize that I do not need to stand on my own two feet, rather I need them beside yours.”

  Rorie’s heart soared. Mayhap it took almost losing one another for them to realize that, instead of working against one another, they were stronger by working together.

  “I wish I was healed already,” he said.

  “I wish that, too,” she said and leaned forward to brush her lips across his.

  Lyn entered the chamber then and clucked her tongue at them. “My lady, if you are well then mayhap we can get you dressed and let the laird rest. I fear he will not be on his feet as quickly as you.”

  “Aye, but she has only one wound, I have two.”

  “Aww, wee lamb,” Muren said and scrambled down to the edge of the bed when he made to grab her.

  “I will be up and about very soon, my lady. And when I am, you will eat those words.”

  “Come now, my lady,” Lyn said and placed a throw over her shoulders. “Let us get you to the inner chamber to clean you up.”

  Rorie smiled as Muren grinned at him from over her shoulder when Lyn whisked her away. He lay back on the pillows and regarded the wound through his gut. At least it was clean. God’s breath, but he was a lucky man to have come through the last few months with his and Muren’s heads still firmly planted on t
heir shoulders. She was right, though. In order to determine the severity of punishment for Ada and Bane, he must first fully understand the scope to which their crimes extended.

  ***

  Muren eased into her gown with Lyn’s assistance. She was still a little sore, but was surprisingly well, considering what she’d been through. More importantly, Rorie was awake and appeared none the worse for wear. He would surely heal, and mayhap they could finally put the past few months behind them. They had indeed endured so much sorrow and heartache, they were due some happiness.

  When Lyn made to cinch the bodice of her gown, Muren’s breath caught. Not from her side, rather from her breasts.

  “They are tender, my lady?”

  Muren placed her hands over them and nodded. When had that started? She had not fallen nor bumped into anything, yet her breasts were suddenly heavy and tender to the touch.

  Lyn smiled. “You’ll be pleasing his lairdship with this news then?”

  Muren blinked at her a few times, and then her earlier sickness dawned on her. Could she really be with child so soon? She could have danced for joy! What a wondrous gift to help her to focus on the future. “How can I be sure?”

  “When was the last time you bled?”

  Muren couldn’t say. So much had gone on over the past two months it was difficult to determine when, but she had certainly still been at Dunrobin Castle. With all the travelling and turmoil, she’d not even realized she was late. But now she was acutely aware of it. She and Rorie had first made love on Rona, and that was more than a month ago. She smiled and rubbed her belly. Could it really be?

  “You will have to take extra care in your healing now, my lady. That bairn needs your body strong, so we must ensure your wound is kept clean at all times.”

  “Aye, Lyn, and thank you. I shall take extra care, I promise. Will you please tell no one of this? I want Rorie to hear it from my lips first.”

  “You have my word, my lady. Now, let us get you some exercise, shall we? Mayhap a brief turn about the courtyard and then back to your chamber to rest.”

  Muren’s belly fluttered at the thought of how Rorie would handle the news. He would be as overjoyed as she, of that there could be no doubt.