“Seems to me you have the easier end of all this,” she pointed out dryly.
“Aye, it would seem that way.”
“Well, it is that way,” Mildred spat.
Adlin cocked a brow. “So is it safe to assume you’ve accepted your surroundings?”
As if she offered him a boon, Mildred nodded her head once and continued to eye their surroundings. “Suppose I’ve no choice, do I?”
“I wish you did but nay.” Adlin nodded over his shoulder. “But I can promise you one thing. Going that way, following me, won’t be nearly as bad as your dream.”
“Nightmare,” she muttered.
“Nightmare,” he conceded. What else could he say? Not much. Nothing she would believe anyway.
Mildred seemed to be a little more accepting of her current situation. He could see and sense it in her posture. She looked in the direction in which he’d nodded. “What’s there?”
“My castle. My clan.”
“Scotland, a thousand years ago or so.” She brushed hair away from her forehead in a determined gesture. “That can’t be good.”
Adlin couldn’t help but grin. “Oh, ‘tis not that bad. In fact, you might be surprised.”
Her eyes shot his way. “You said it was your clan?”
He shrugged. “As much as a clan can be any one man’s but aye, the MacLomains are mine, lass.”
“You like to be evasive, don’t you?” Mildred started to walk into the forest.
“Actually, I do. ‘Tis my thing I suppose.” The lass walked in the wrong direction. Catching up, he slowly steered her in the right direction.
“I’m scared,” she stated as she walked. “You should know that.”
“Aye,” he agreed quietly.
But she plowed on, her determined gait moving her steadily through the highland woods as though she owned them. He couldn’t help but wonder if she truly understood that this was actually happening. After all, she’d dreamt of it her whole life. Yet he knew meeting him for the first time was the easy part. She might think it hard but what she was about to encounter would drive it all home, would probably make her drop to her knees.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes scanning the horizon as they broke free from the trees. But Mildred’s stride didn’t slow. Her pure determination remained intact despite such an odd visage.
Adlin watched in wonder as she seemed to swallow her fear and continue walking. His wooden castle shone sturdy in the early morning sun. Bright green grass spread out like a soft, velvety carpet. The loch surrounded it on three sides in a sparkling splendor of blues and greens and shimmering iridescent shadows.
It was only when she’d walked halfway across the wide field that she slowed and said, “I shouldn’t walk up to it first.”
“Dinnae worry, lass, they willnae stop you.”
Mildred finally stopped and stared, her expression lost. Her long hair blew in the wind, chin stayed strong. Her eyes grew sad before she whispered, “No, of course not. But I do not belong.”
“So many heavy thoughts so soon,” he said immediately and took her hand again. Before she could respond he started walking. “If you had not had the dreams and then traveled back in time you would not belong. But ‘tis not the case.”
She stopped short and their hands fell apart. “That’s where you’re wrong, Adlin. I tend to think none of this would exist had I not had my dreams.”
“Then you give yourself too much credit.”
***
Mildred stared blankly at Adlin then again at the castle. She gave herself too much credit? Highly unlikely. The castle was beautiful, the man beside her equally so. No, everything she thought, saw and felt right now was very, very real. No ‘credit’ needed.
What amazed her most was how comfortable she felt. Somehow that should be alarming. But it wasn’t. Had the dream/nightmare prepared her that much?
Or had her mother?
She stopped several hundred yards before the gates and looked at Adlin. There was no doubt that she gazed upon a Scottish highlander, a man born in a different time than hers. Though it was all hard to believe, Mildred wasn’t such a fool to find the whole scenario impossible.
After all, she came from a lineage of magic.
Yet nothing of what her mother had spoken of in the past could have prepared her for this. Did her mother even know? Did Adlin? Obviously. “Tell me, why are you so familiar with me? Have you dreamt of me as well?”
Adlin was about to respond when a female voice yelled down from the top of the first gate. “If ye dinnae chop off his bloody ballocks now I’ll do it meself!”
He shaded his eyes to the cresting sun, shook his head and yelled, “Just have him and be done with it, lassie. The whole clan kens your need for him!”
Wide eyed, Mildred looked from Adlin to the young woman standing far above. It was hard to see her from this distance but her voice continued to carry far. “Yer as bad as the rest of them!”
A small stone went flying by her head, aimed right for Adlin. He laughed and pointed at the drawbridge. “Seems you should be throwing it at him!”
Stricken, feet pounding fast over the bridge, a young man ran.
“Bloody bastard!” she yelled. “Run then!”
Mildred heard a strange sound from behind and turned to find Adlin holding his stomach so intense was his laughter. With a frown, she turned back to see the young man running across the field.
“What then?” the woman yelled down in Adlin’s direction. “I suppose ‘tis not a thing that a lad has a try at yer sister and then runs off?”
His sister? Dumbstruck, Mildred watched Adlin. None of this made sense. Why was he laughing?
“Come.” Adlin chuckled and took her hand. “Let me introduce you to my clan.”
They’d made if halfway over the drawbridge before the woman claiming to be his sister was running past them, her eyes wild, and hair in disarray. Still holding Mildred’s hand he managed to grab the woman’s arm in passing. He shook his head. “Let him go, lass.”
The woman shook with fury and eyed the woods in which the man had vanished with disgust. “Bloody bastard.” She spit on the ground and shook her head. “Made away with me pride he did.”
Adlin released Mildred’s hand and gently steered the woman back in the direction of the castle. “Nobody could make away with your pride. Go have the kitchen make ready for a guest, aye?”
The woman blinked rapidly, her eyes flickering from him to the forest before she finally nodded. Not sparing a glance in Mildred’s direction she said, “Fine then,” over her shoulder.
Mildred didn’t know what to make of the scene she’d witnessed. The only logical conclusion was that the woman was insane and Adlin humored her. Before she could stop her next words she asked, “Is she really your sister?”
Interestingly enough, Adlin’s expression grew serious for a split second, the lines of his strong jaw grinding, before he broke into a warm smile. “Indeed, lass, that was Iosbail. I’ll introduce you later.”
Mildred almost responded but decided not to. It was clear his sister was crazed. That had to be difficult for him. The sun crested over the castle and she turned. The structure suddenly looked intimidating, especially from this vantage point. Tall and octagonal it seemed to puff out its chest and watch the surrounding land, ready for anything.
“Imagine what it will look like someday,” Adlin said softly. So softly she barely heard him.
“What?”
He seemed to snap out of thought and said, “Come. You’ll like it here. It’s safe and the people are kind.”
Odd as it may seem, it only then struck her that she stood on a wooden bridge leading to a gate. She’d stormed nearly unseen to get where she needed to without really seeing where she was going. As if the dream unfolded around her, so too did reality. The wood was worn, creaking beneath her feet. The air smelled an odd mixture of sea salt and musty water. But on the wind she caught the faint scent of baked bread and roasting meat.
“Please. Come.” Adlin pulled her after him. “That,” he pointed overhead once they’d left the bridge, “Is a portcullis. It will lower tonight and provide a barrier.”
“I know what a portcullis is,” she muttered. Truly though, she didn’t, at least not in the sense of walking beneath one in the eleventh century. It seemed much higher and overwhelming in real life.
“That’s the cookery to the left, the armory to the right.”
Mildred knew she was walking slower even though he never let go of her hand. She squeezed his hand not because she needed to know he was there but to know she was there.
“How, why,” she whispered.
Adlin stopped. Even though he didn’t step in front of her his tall, strong frame felt like it protected her from a sudden onslaught of emotions. It was hard to imagine that she’d feel so strongly now….when she’d arrived at least a half hour ago. Mildred gulped and scanned her surroundings.
For some strange reason she’d felt safer before she’d gone beneath that portcullis. Why? Probably because now it all was very, very real. Everything had life and scent and more sound. Dust kicked up from people walking. The scraping sound of metal on metal rang nearby. Pure and happy foreign reality thrived around her.
Mildred’s hands started to shake. The sensation traveled up her arms and down her body. Colors sharpened and her mouth dried. Everything started to swing back and forth as though not hooked to the ground. She tried to step but her knee buckled.
“I’ve got you,” Adlin whispered close to her ear. Or was it far away? She had the faint sensation that he was carrying her up and up and up.
The next thing she knew she was lying in a large stone room. A wall torch burned and crackled in the corner. A faint wind blew, only seen by the flap of a nearby rawhide. Warm and soft, a fur blanket covered her. Sweeping and intense, tapestries depicting the ocean hung around the room.
“How are you, lass?”
Startled, she sat up. Adlin sat in a darkened corner. Somehow he struck her casual and vibrant all at once. His blue and green tartan lay loosely over one broad shoulder, his leanly muscled arms rested on the chair arms. But his icy blue eyes were sharp and intense, watching her.
She tossed the blanket aside and swung her legs over the side of bed only to realize she was nude. “Oh no!” Quick like, she pulled the blanket around her. “Why am I naked?”
A corner of Adlin’s lips inched up. “You were sweating. I have little control over the servants when they’re set to make a guest comfortable. I suppose they decided that you didnae need clothing.”
Mildred groaned. “Where am I?”
“In my chamber.”
“In your chamber?”
“Aye.”
“Why?” She pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I mean when… and why.”
“Only a few hours ago. And you’re in my chamber because I requested it.”
Mildred didn’t like it. Not one bit. “Give me my clothes. I want to go home.”
Adlin didn’t move. In fact the only change in his expression consisted of one eyebrow inching up a fraction. “So you know nothing about where you are then? Or why you are where you are?”
Mildred dug her fingernails into the fabric. “Um, I’m in Scotland and in your chambers. Didn’t we already cover that?”
Ignoring her sharp remark he said, “Did it not strike you odd that I told you I was to take you to your betrothed upon your arrival?”
Her mouth fell open but she snapped it shut. He had said that, hadn’t he? “It seemed the least of my concerns at the time.” With a heavy swallow she asked, “What exactly did you mean by that?”
“I meant what I said.” Adlin shrugged. “Perhaps not in the way that you took it but in precisely the way I meant it.”
Mildred frowned. Adlin was clearly a man who danced around the subject. Two could play at that game. “And how precisely did you mean it seeing how I took it all wrong?”
A small grin erupted on his face. “Let’s just say that I’m pleased you’ve come here first and not there. I think it will make all the difference, lass.”
“Be direct then.” Mildred narrowed her eyes. “Tell me why you’re pleased I’m here and not wherever I might’ve been.”
The wind increased and the animal skins on the windows flapped violently. “Simple. I can forewarn you now.”
She ignored her sweaty palms and increased heartbeat and said calmly, “Be direct, Adlin. Forewarn me.”
“You weren’t supposed to travel to this particular time in Scotland. You weren’t supposed to meet me yet, Mildred.”
“Not sure I like the sound of that,” she replied.
“I know it sounds confusing but ‘tis not.” Adlin stood. “Look at it this way. We were given a chance to get to know one another before we ever really should have…at least in this reality.”
“This reality?”
“Here. Now,” he said with passion. “A blip in time.”
Mildred gritted her teeth. “You make less and less sense by the minute.”
“We were given an opportunity,” he provided but stopped when the door creaked open a fraction.
Iosbail stuck in her head. “She’s awake!”
Adlin’s expression clouded. “Aye.”
She burst into the room. “Good. About time ye introduce us.”
“Oh, stop talking in the old tongue,” Adlin mumbled.
With a heavy sigh, Iosbail stood with her hands on her hips and looked from Adlin to Mildred. “But I enjoy it.”
“’Tis tiring,” Adlin said.
“Is it then?” Iosbail asked Mildred.
Mildred stared blankly. The woman was asking her if her language sounded odd when she’d just been thrust back over a thousand years in time?
“’Tis fine, you dinnae need to answer. I can switch my way of speech if ‘twould make it easier,” Iosbail said. She plunked down on the end of the bed, a wide grin on her beautiful face. “Tell me then, how was the time-traveling?”
Mildred continued to stare at Iosbail, dumbfounded. It was strange comparing the disheveled female who’d raged over the bridge earlier with this somewhat refined woman. With hair as black as Adlin’s, a perfectly proportioned face and sharp, intelligent eyes, it was clear Iosbail was a woman made not only of drama but of immaculate transformation.
“She needs time, Iosbail,” Adlin said softly.
His voice got through to Mildred and she swung her attention his way. As handsome and intimidating as he might be it didn’t slow down the onslaught of emotions she was feeling. “Time? Yes, time would be good. Actually, my time would be better. My clothes too. I want to get dressed.”
“Of course.” Adlin stood.
“Oh, dinnae get the dress. Use your magic, brother,” Iosbail said.
“Nay, I dinnae want her getting used to—”
“Fine, then I will,” his sister said with a wide smile.
Mildred balked at the instant weight on her body. She pushed the blanket aside to find that she wore a garment. In a state of panic she tried to scurry from the bed only to fall flat to the floor. Before anyone said a word she came to her feet and stared down. Though the dress was simple and of ancient design, it fit.
“Iosbail!” Adlin said.
“What!”
“Too much, too fast.”
“Well, I dinnae think so.”
“Stop!” Mildred gained her bearings and looked from brother to sister. “I need simple straight answers. Why am I here and what are you two? Because you’re more than simple people.”
Iosbail nodded with approval. “Aye, you were right to dream of this one.”
Adlin shook his head and started to talk but Mildred interrupted him. “You dreamt of me too?”
“Of course he did,” Iosbail said. “Look at you. Is it any surprise?”
Adlin’s expression grew guarded, stony. His well-sculptured lips thinned and his direct blue eyes
met hers. “I will answer your questions.”
He paused, obviously trying to gather his thoughts before he continued. “You are here because you were supposed to fulfill the fate of someone deceased. Now I’m not so sure. Iosbail and I are not quite human. We are wizards.”
Mildred felt her legs grow weak but decided to ignore the sensation. Instead, she braced her hand on the wall by the hearth. The idea of magic and… wizards wasn’t so far-fetched. What made her brace herself was the first part.
Fulfill the fate of someone deceased?
Her mother had taught her one thing above all else. When given information that seemed outside her comprehension, don’t let it overwhelm, don’t let it rule. Shame on her, she’d already let that happen several times since she’d arrived. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts then opened them, directly on Iosbail. “Whose fate was I supposed to fulfill? Why am I no longer?”
“Mhuire. Her name was, Mhuire,” Iosbail said, her eyes steady on Mildred’s. “The MacLeod’s dinnae know she died, nor do her kinsmen. You were to go in her place.” She shrugged. “Now I’m not so sure.”
“Nay, she’s not meant to at all,” Adlin said.
Mildred gripped the wall tighter. “This is a lot to comprehend. Why me?” She shook her head. “And why not me?”
“Because ‘tis destiny,” Iosbail said easily. “Because you arrived when you did.”
Wind howled and the animal skin flapped uneasily against her arm. Mildred started to chew her nail. None of this was right. She’d been tossed back in time. No doubt about it. Now, on top of that, she was being told what she was meant to do and then not to do.
“Well that’s an unfortunate habit she has,” Iosbail said to Adlin.
Adlin nodded. “I told her as much.”
Mildred frowned and lowered her hand. With a deep breath she gathered her thoughts. This wasn’t that much different than what she’d dealt with when it came to Irene, Jonathan and her mother. After all, she owned this situation. She controlled this situation.
Eyes calm she looked at Adlin. “Why am I no longer to go in Mhuire’s place?”
Adlin’s eyes seemed to soften, his strong stance relaxed. “Because the timing isn’t right. As I said, you traveled back in time too soon.”
Highland Defiance (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) Page 3