Gavin stared at her in silence, his blue eyes devouring her face. She waited for him to process her words. He blinked as his face turned a shade darker.
"Yer faith puts my own to shame," Gavin said. "How anyone could ever believe ye're possessed is beyond me. By heaven's breath, I'll pray for the wisdom to help ye out of this mess. My free will is to help. Mayhap, God will use me."
He lowered his head, their lips molding like melted wax that never hardens, but continues to soften and reshape. Serena lifted her arms around his neck, drawing from his warmth and security. She laid her head against his chest, burrowing in the comfort of his embrace.
Dark smoke pumped through the thick trees where the village lay. Fear sliced through her. She pulled away and pointed. "Gavin, the village is on fire!"
The smell of burning wood grew thick and heavy as Gavin raced Sholto toward the village. He ducked low-hanging limbs and ignored shrubs with jagged branches nicking his arms and legs. He knew by the pounding hooves and panting breaths of the destriers behind that his men kept up the fast pace he'd set.
Only half the group came with him, while the others stayed behind to defend the castle if need be. Serena had fought him hard, wanting to come and see to her mother and Gunna, but Iain, Tomas, and Kendrick had defended his position that she stay. The betrayed look she gave him slit his heart like a dagger. He would not soon forget the memory.
Shouts echoed as Gavin reached Serena's humble home. The cottage was consumed in flames, each blaze snapping in the air like the wind. As Gavin drew near, a wave of heat pressed against him.
Quinn fell to his knees, breathing heavy, and lowering Evelina to the ground. Tears streamed down his face beneath singed eyebrows, leaving a streak through the soot upon his ruddy cheeks. Fear plunged down Gavin's neck and throughout his body as he pulled Sholto to a stop.
Girard and Cara's father beat at the flames to no avail.
"Evelina!" Quinn shook her shoulders. His hands and arms were covered in sweltering blisters. "Evelina!" He sniffed and wiped his face to see.
Gavin leaned over her. A portion of her hair had dissolved from her scalp. What was left of her darkened skin on the left side of her face and neck had melted. He checked for a pulse on the undamaged side of her neck. A faint beat pulsed against his finger. Relief washed through him, and he sighed.
"She lives, Quinn! Ye got to her in time," Gavin said.
"I did?" The giant looked over at Gavin with innocent hope, his eyes searching.
"Aye." Gavin nodded. "Ye saved her life." Gavin checked over the rest of her, but only Evelina's long gown had suffered.
"She needs Tomas," Quinn said.
"I'll take her to him at the castle." Gavin glanced at the burning foundation. "What about Gunna?"
"I couldn't get to her." Quinn dropped his gaze to the ground and sat back, his large shoulders sagging. "I wanted to, but the roof had fallen on her."
"Ye risked yer life to save Evelina. Serena will be so thankful and proud of ye." Gavin pointed to Quinn's hands and arms. "Ye need to come with me so Tomas can attend yer burns."
"Nay," Quinn grunted as he pushed to his feet. "I need to help the others stop the fire. They've gone to the loch. We've got to save our village. Take Evelina to Tomas and tell Serena I'm sorry."
Quinn rushed over to the wagon of barrels Beacon carried on a cart.
Evelina groaned, but didn't awaken. Gavin feared the pain would be too much for her when she became fully conscious. Mayhap it was better this way. Gavin called Sholto. The animal obeyed the summons, but neighed and pawed the ground in restlessness.
"Ye want us to stay and help contain the fire?" Craig appeared at his side, bending over his shoulder.
"Aye." Gavin nodded.
"Will she be all right?" Craig asked.
"I hope so," Gavin said. "I need to get her to the castle where she can be cared for. I'm going to mount up if ye'll hand her to me."
"Aye." Craig nodded and bent to gather Evelina. "I questioned the cobbler and his daughters. No one seems to know how it started, but I suspect it wasn't by accident."
"I agree." Gavin settled himself, rubbed Sholto to calm him, and reached for Evelina. Slightly heavier than Serena, he strained a bit lifting her from a higher angle, but succeeded as she still wasn't a large woman. Gavin gestured to the flaming cottage. "We've got to stop this madness."
"What could be the reason?" Craig raised his hands. "These people are harmless and they bother no one. They stay to themselves and have naught that anyone would want."
"Find out what ye can. The next attack could be worse if we don't find a way to end it now." Gavin turned his horse to leave when he remembered something. "Gunna didn't make it. We'll need to prepare for a burial once things cool down."
On the way back Gavin tried not to jar Evelina's body, but the difficult ride jostled her awake. He knew the moment she realized the extent of her pain. She gasped and a low moan escaped her lips, a deep wail that grieved one's soul. The sound of it made him ache in the pit of his stomach.
"Hang on, Evelina. Soon we'll be at Braigh Castle. Tomas and Serena will take care of ye."
"Hurts . . . to breath."
Her croaky voice didn't sound like her. A surge of concern raced through his mind. Could the smoke have damaged her lungs and voice? He glanced down at all the dark soot that layered her skin. How much of it could a person breathe in without smothering? It was a miracle she'd survived.
They reached the gate where Iain and Philip let him through. Serena paced in the courtyard. Father Tomas and Kendrick were close by. As soon as she saw them, Serena ran to them.
"Mither! Oh, thank God ye're alive." Serena's face reddened. She swallowed and blinked back tears at the sight of Evelina. "Tomas!" She turned.
"I'm here," Tomas assured her.
"She's in pain." Serena gulped. "I can tell. Even if she doesn't say it."
"I'm . . . fine," Evelina said.
"Hand her down, Gavin." Tomas reached up. Gavin did as he asked. The priest faltered, but with determination he gritted his teeth and kept his balance.
"Take her to my chamber," Serena said, following them.
Gavin dismounted as Iain hurried across the courtyard toward him.
"What happened?" Iain asked, almost breathless.
"Where is Leith?" Gavin glanced around, perplexed why his brother hadn't joined them when he arrived.
"Up there. Keeping watch." Iain pointed to the tower. "I don't want a surprise attack from the town mob in case they return."
"I don't think it's the town mob we need to worry about." Gavin said.
15
Once her mother lay on Serena's bed, Tomas ordered a servant to return to his house for his herbal medicines. Then he turned to Serena. "We must to be careful in removing her clothing. The material could have melted to her skin." He looked at Doreen. "We need several bowls of fresh water and cloths to wash the soot from her."
Doreen nodded and vanished to retrieve the items.
"There's an aloe plant outside in the herbal garden," Serena said, hoping to do anything to ease her mother's discomfort.
"Send someone else for it. I need yer help to see if there are other burns. If not, I'll give ye privacy to bathe and change her."
Serena stepped out into the hallway. A row of servants waited. They straightened to attention. "We heard about yer mither, lass. We thought that mayhap we could be of some assistance," said Mary, one of the maids.
Mary was a few years older than Serena, but always did as Serena instructed. Yet, she had never been overly friendly. She treated Serena with indifference—until now. Serena wondered if she was one of those who had talked about her. No matter. If she was willing to help, Serena would accept her offer with grace.
"Thank ye. Father Tomas requested the aloe plant. I canna remember what else is in the herbal garden, but if ye recognize aught that would be good for burns, please bring it."
"Aye, we'll take care of the duty, lass. Don't ye w
orry none," Mary said.
Serena closed the door and hurried to her mother's bedside. Her green eyes followed Serena's movement in silence. A glimpse of fear and worry etched her features, but Serena knew that no complaint would utter past her lips—at least not while she was present in the chamber.
"While ye were out, Evelina had the presence of mind to ask about scarring. I told her there would be some, but it's too soon to tell how much. She requested the looking glass, but I told her she should wait until we clean her up. I checked her scalp and while the hair was singed to the skin, it doesn't look as if the roots were destroyed."
"What does that mean?" Serena asked.
"The hair may grow back." He waved Serena over to his side. "We must check the rest of her." A thorough search proved her gown ruined, but the rest of her skin remained uncharred.
After Father Tomas left the chamber, Doreen entered with water and more cloths. "I found a few strips of silk in the sewing room. I thought these might feel better against her skin."
"Doreen, ye're always so thoughtful. I doubt I would have thought of that." Serena pulled out the two nightgowns Doreen had let her borrow. "I'm afraid these will be too tight."
"I'll find something better." Doreen let herself out again.
Serena sat on the box bed next to her mother. She dipped a cloth in the cool water and wrung it out. Picking up her mother's hand, she began to wipe her clean.
"It's a miracle ye weren't hurt worse. How did ye only get burned here?" Serena gestured to the left side of her face and neck.
"A piece of the roof fell on me, but I was able to shake most of it off and crawl under the table." Her scratchy voice sounded painful. "It caved in front of the doorway or I would have run out. There was so much heat, I couldn't get beyond it."
"How did the others know there was a fire? I imagine the entire cottage caught fast, especially with a thatched roof."
"Phelan. He barked until I heard Quinn's voice. Then I passed out."
Serena swallowed her tears and tried to steady herself before speaking. "I'll have to remember to thank him. Phelan too." She moved to clean the right side of her mother's face and neck. "A few more minutes and ye might not have made it."
"But I did. Let's not think about what might have happened," Evelina said.
"What about Gunna?" Serena finally worked up the courage to ask. Her trembling chin betrayed her. "Did she suffer? Tell me the truth."
Evelina grabbed Serena's wrist with her good hand. "Ye know I'd never lie to ye, lass." Serena dropped her gaze to her lap, properly chastised. "Look at me," Evelina demanded. She nudged Serena's chin up. "Gunna had already passed when the fire started. She went peacefully just as ye prayed she would. I was there by her side. Father Tomas stopped by and read the last rites and prayed. She didn't wait to acknowledge him, but it was done. The fire consumed her body, but she didn't feel aught. I promise."
"I believe ye. I didn't mean to imply that ye'd lie to save my feelings," Serena wiped at the hot tears stinging her eyes.
"Maybe not to save yer feelings, but to save yer life I would. It's how I escaped yer father so many years ago. I told him I was visiting my parents. I'm not proud of what I did, but I was a desperate mither and I'd do it again if I had to."
"Ye're the best mither, giving up everything for me when ye could have stayed and had other bairns. Ye would have had yer parents, too."
Serena kissed her forehead.
"I've no regrets. One day when ye have yer own bairns, ye'll come to understand how deep and precious a mither's love is."
Her mother was trying to change the subject as she always did when it came to Serena's father. One day Serena hoped to at least learn his name. Today, she wouldn't press her mother. Serena leaned forward. "Be still. I'll try not to hurt ye, but I must clean the burn. Soot is everywhere."
Evelina closed her eyes and braced herself. Serena wrung out water from a clean cloth over the festering burn, letting it wash the dark film away. She repeated the action several times, trying her best to keep from having to touch it and cause her mother further pain.
"Thank ye," Evelina said, relaxing. Her fists eased. "I thought it would be much worse when ye wiped the cloth over it."
"I couldn't touch the burn. The thought made me cringe and then I realized I could do it this way."
Someone knocked at the door. Doreen walked in carrying a white gown. "Mary was kind enough to offer this one. I hope 'twill do." Doreen held it up by the shoulders as she approached.
It was simple, long sleeved, and made of soft linen as it had been well-worn and washed several times. Mayhap this would be better than a new linen gown made of crisp material.
"This is fine." Serena nodded. "Mither, if ye'll sit up, we'll try to slip it over ye without touching the burns. Looks like the neckline is plenty wide enough."
Once Evelina was dressed and settled, Doreen went to retrieve Father Tomas. He walked in mixing a healing salve in a wooden bowl. "The servants were kind enough to bring some herbs from the garden. While it doesn't contain all that I'd like, it'll have to do until my other medicines arrive."
"What is it?" Serena asked.
"Aloe, honey, comfrey, and olive oil."
While they applied the salve, Evelina looked up at Serena. "I haven't forgotten why ye came here. What happened after the mob arrived? Are Father Kendrick and the earl still here?"
Serena glanced at Tomas, unsure how much she should tell. Her mother had already been through so much. He nodded. She met her mother's gaze. "Aye, they're both still here. My laird never allowed the mob entrance to the castle and the MacKenzie men helped to ensure it. As to the other, I survived my first private inquisition with Father Kendrick, but the whole ordeal isn't over."
"Neither is the fire in the village," Gavin said from the threshold. "I'm sorry, Father Tomas, but this time the culprit succeeded in burning the kirk. The villagers were so busy keeping the other fire from spreading that they didn't learn that the kirk was in flames until it was too late."
Gavin didn't like the idea of Serena leaving the safety of the castle, but she finally persuaded Iain that she needed to see what had happened to her home and that Gunna deserved a proper Christian burial. Now she rode between Gavin and Iain on her own mount while Tomas followed close behind. They brought twenty men in case of an ambush, determined to be as prepared as possible.
During the last thirty-six hours, Serena tended to her mother. Dark circles cradled her eyes. While she had written a short speech to honor Gunna, her grief began to take root, and she feared another fit would soon follow from all the stress she endured.
The cool weather and wet dew layered the green leaves, pine needles, and grass. Sunlight filtered through the branches above, casting spots of shade in various areas. Birds chirped and fluttered from branch to branch.
As they drew closer to Serena's home, the stench of burnt wood and the residue of soot drifted in the air. It stung Gavin's nose and made his eyes water. He blinked as they rode to a pile of black rocks and the remnant of a foundation. The structure had burned to a pile of rubble, but the stone chimney stood like a tower fortress that refused to go down. They slowed to a stop. Serena gasped, took a deep breath, and dismounted. Her steps were slow and steady as she gathered her plaid around her. Stopping where the front door used to be, she dropped to her knees.
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