Highland Magic

by Donna Grant

  "Why did you leave the Glen?"

  Frang smiled ruefully. “Ah, the question everyone at this castle wants an answer to.” He looked deep into her amber eyes before reaching out and touching her cheek with the back of his fingers.

  He let his hand drop and took a deep, steadying breath. “When I was very young, I dabbled in things that should have been left alone. No warnings could stop me. My curiosity got me cursed."

  She blinked and her brow furrowed. “Cursed? By who? Another Druid?"

  He laughed. “If only it had been a Druid. Nay, Kenna, it was something much more powerful than a Druid. A Fae cursed me for my meddling in their affairs."

  "A Fae,” she repeated softly, her head cocked to the side. “They do exist?"

  Frang nodded. “Most assuredly they do."

  "You've met one?"

  "I've met dozens."

  She licked her lips. “Amazing."

  Frang leaned his elbows on his knees and waited for the rest of the questions. He didn't have long to wait.

  "So what was the curse?"

  "I was to serve the Druids and the MacInnes family for a certain number of years. You see, a prophecy had been foretold, and I was needed to make sure the scales weren't tipped in the other direction."

  "The same prophecy you spoke of last night that included Glenna?"

  He nodded. “And her two sisters."

  "I suppose that since you have left the Glen that the prophecy has already taken place?"

  "Aye. The curse ended with the end of the prophecy."

  She stared at him, as if reading his soul. “Your leaving was part of the curse, wasn't it? You were made to leave?"

  "I was,” he admitted. “It was the hardest thing I've ever done. Except coming back."

  She rose to her knees and touched his cheek with her hand. “I'm sorry, Frang. If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have had to return."

  He placed his hand over hers and smiled. “Sacrifices are a part of life, Kenna."

  "What did you sacrifice for the curse?” she asked as she gently pulled her hand from his.

  Frang briefly closed his eyes. “Three hundred years of my life."

  "By the saints,” she whispered. “That's why Glenna didn't recognise you? You weren't as you are now?"

  She was nothing if not intuitive. “Aye. I was made to look like an old man with a long white hair and a beard that travelled nearly to my stomach."

  She giggled and slapped a hand over her mouth. “I'm sorry,” she said. “I shouldn't laugh. ‘Tis just that I cannot see you that way."

  "It wasn't a pretty sight.” He joined in her laughter and pulled her up beside him on the chest. “What else do you want to know?"

  "How much do you know about me and my involvement with the Wallace?"

  Frang blew out a breath and turned forward. “I know that the herbs you gathered for him weren't for his soldiers, but for him alone. He was searching for immortality."

  "That night at the castle. Why were you really there?” she asked.

  "I wanted to have a look around for myself. To see if my suspicions regarding the Wallace were true."

  "And your suspicions about me as well?"

  Frang glanced at her and nodded. “I didn't want to believe that you were willingly helping him, but you evaded all my questions."

  She nodded. “Making me look guilty. Go on,” she urged.

  "It was when I searched the castle that I found Wallace's tower. I saw your basket and knew you had been at the castle. It's also when I found the book you carry."

  "The Book of Magic. I had no idea that the Wallace had it in his possession,” she said as she rose and paced in front of him. “At first, when he asked me for the herbs, I didn't think twice about asking him what they were for. Yet, week after week, he requested I bring him a basketful.” She stopped and looked at Frang. “And that's when I began to wonder."

  "Did you question him?"

  "I tried,” she answered. “I didn't want him to think I knew too much, so I couldn't come out and ask him. Yet, no matter what question I put to him, he always had a response that was believable."

  Frang nodded in understanding. “Making you want to believe him."

  "Aye,” she said and crossed her arms over her chest. “He was my laird and had served the clan well. I never thought he could reach for something as powerful as immortality."

  "But with the book, he could do much more than that."

  "Oh, aye,” she admitted solemnly. “He bade me stay at the castle that last night, but I couldn't sleep. I knew he had taken my herbs to his tower, and I wanted to get them back. So, I went there and found not only my basket but the book as well.” She dropped her arms and sat beside Frang. “Brigit described the book to me in detail, and she talked about how kings had killed for it. But then it had disappeared for hundreds of years until people forgot about it and it passed into myth."

  "A myth it is not,” Frang said with a sigh. “You must have gone to the tower after I did. I raced back to your cottage to make sure you were safe as well as to see if you had any involvement with Wallace. Then, I was going to return and take the book."

  Kenna smiled. “I beat you to it."

  "Aye, you did."

  Her smile dropped. “It feels so good to tell you my secrets. They've been a heavy burden to carry."

  Frang wanted to wrap an arm around her and pull her against him. Instead, he clasped his hands together. “Kenna, that book is dangerous. Brigit didn't lie when she said men had killed over it. The Wallace won't rest until he has it back in his possession."

  "Which is why you stayed?"

  He turned to face her and looked into her eyes. “I cannot leave when there is such danger."

  "And once the danger is gone?"

  He couldn't stop from touching her this time. His hand rose up and pushed a lock of damp hair behind her ear. “I gave my word that I would never return."

  Chapter Twenty

  Frang hid behind one of the ancient stones and watched Kenna with the Druids. She had let her hair hang feely about her, and next to the cream gown, it looked as if it were on fire.

  "She's very beautiful."

  He looked down to find Glenna standing beside him. “Aye. She is. She fits nicely with the others."

  "Any Druid would. How did you find her?"

  Frang smiled as he recalled that fateful day. “By accident, I assure you. I was wandering from town to town when I happened upon her and three men set about doing her harm."

  "So you saved her?” Glenna asked with a knowing look in her golden brown eyes.

  "I saved her. She was alone and in need of help around her cottage, so I offered to stay and give my aid."

  Glenna walked until she stood in front of him then waited until he looked at her. “Why were you going to just leave her last eve?"

  "Because I had to. I gave my word, Glenna. The Fae don't take kindly to my going back on a vow."

  "Yet you did."

  "Aimery knows I had to return. That vow will be forgiven because I had no other choice."

  Glenna rolled her eyes. “If they can forgive that vow, they can forgive others. You belong here, Frang."

  He didn't argue with her, not when in his heart he agreed so adamantly. Instead, he raised his gaze until he found Kenna again. When she turned and her gaze came to rest on him, he found that he wanted to go to her, to discover what all she had learned.

  "'Tis strange how things work, isn't it?” Glenna said as she began to walk away.

  "What do you mean?"

  "For three hundred years you anchored the Druids here, yet now you are afloat and in need of anchoring. Who do you think will be your anchor, Frang?"

  He watched her leave, her words making him consider things he had no business thinking of. He shook his head and searched for Kenna. He found her alone by the stream that ran through the circle of stones, and before he thought twice about it, he found himself walking towards her.

  "Want
to go for a walk?” he offered.

  Kenna smiled and nodded. “Where are you taking me?"

  "Somewhere that might interest you. We stopped there last night for a brief time."

  She looked interested as she followed him out of the stones and into the forest. “'Tis strange that this forest is so different from mine."

  "Not strange really. This forest may have similar trees, but it holds something yours did not. Druids and magic. That's the difference you sense."

  She clasped her hands behind her back as she considered his words. “I think you might be right. In all your travels across Scotland, did you find other Druids?"

  "I found hints of them, traces of magic that was old and disappearing like the clouds. The Druids here are the largest concentration of them in Scotland. There are smaller groups, but they stay hidden for fear of what men will do to them if found."

  "They have every right to fear men,” she said, her mouth pressed in a grim line.

  "The Druids live in fear, and because of that fear, our magic will slowly die out. Over the last three hundred years, I've seen the number of Druids dwindle with each passing year. I fear that in another hundred years we will be completely gone."

  She stepped around a clump of ferns growing next to a tree. “That is a sad thought. A very sad thought indeed."

  "If I had not spoken of the Druids or had reason to bring you here, you would have married and never said a word to your children of Druids."

  Kenna chuckled. “If I had married, you are most likely correct. Men can be small minded creatures at times. It is unlikely that a man in a clan that knows nothing of Druids as the MacInnes clan does would have allowed me to even speak the word Druid."

  "Exactly,” Frang said and took her hand to lead her into the nemeton.

  She gasped and looked around the small clearing. “What is this place?"

  "It is called a nemeton. ‘Tis a sacred clearing and is valued greatly by the Druids. Think of it as a fortress of nature separated from the rest of the world."

  Kenna laughed as she spread her arms and twirled around in the clearing. “It's so beautiful. The grass is greener, the flowers more bountiful and the colours more vibrant.” She stopped and let her eyes roam over every inch of the clearing. “There are more birds and animals here as well."

  "Aye. They are drawn to the magic that centres here."

  "Magic?” she repeated and looked at him. She licked her lips as she gazed into his eyes and wondered if his body pulsed as her did.

  "Do you see that mound over there?” he asked and pointed to the bit of raised earth in the centre of the clearing.

  She glanced to where he pointed. “Aye."

  "That is where you can call a Fae."

  Her eyes grew round. “What?"

  "If you circle it nine times to the right, it will call a Fae to you."

  "Why does it look like there have been fires on it?"

  Frang walked to the mound. “During Beltane, the sacred fire is kindled on it."

  Kenna followed him and bent to touch the earth. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at Frang. “It feels different here,” she said as she straightened.

  "It's the magic."

  She turned and looked at him, no longer ignoring the yearning in her heart for him. Try as she might, she couldn't turn away from Frang and the attraction he held over her. “Is walking around this mound the only way you can call a Fae?"

  Frang hesitated only a heartbeat. “Nay."

  A smile split her face. “Can I meet one?"

  "You'll most likely get your chance very soon at Beltane."

  "Why do you say it with your brow furrowed and your lips pressed tightly together?"

  Frang sighed and pressed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger before looking at her. She was so beautiful, so full of magic that it hurt just to look at her. The more time he spent with her, the harder it was to ignore his desire for her.

  "Because of the Book of Magic. The Fae know you have it. The Wallace knows you have it. Your laird will do whatever he can to get it back, and the Fae will make sure that doesn't happen."

  "Then I will give the book to the Fae."

  Frang shook his head. “The Fae don't want it either. They cannot touch it."

  "Why?"

  "I'm not sure exactly. I only know they want no part of it."

  Kenna threw up her hands in disgust. “Then what am I to do with it?"

  "Destroy it.” He swallowed a groan as she took a deep breath, moulding her gown to her breasts.

  She blinked then took a step back. “Why? It holds such history."

  "And spells that men should never see."

  Her worried amber eyes peered up at him as she walked towards him. “Did I do the right thing in taking it?"

  "Aye. If you hadn't, I would have."

  Her eyes glanced away. “You're afraid I'll use it."

  It wasn't a question. Frang inhaled deeply. “Curiosity is a trait that all humans have. It's inevitable that someone will open the book to see what's inside it. I fear what will happen once the book has been opened."

  "Frang,” Conall called as he stepped into the nemeton. “I've been looking for you. I've been sent a message from Wallace."

  Frang glanced at Kenna before he faced Conall. “What does it say?"

  "I think you and Kenna need to return to the castle with me."

  To Frang's surprise, Kenna moved closer to him and took his hand in her own. He moved his head to peer down at her and saw her worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

  "It's not a good sign, is it?” she whispered.

  Frang squeezed her hand. “I protected you once. I'll do so again."

  She tilted her face to him and tried to smile. “I don't know what I'd do without you."

  The walk back to the castle was done in silence. Frang didn't release Kenna's hand until they reached the bailey, and only then reluctantly. He had enjoyed having her close to him, and he knew she needed his strength.

  Once they were seated in the solar where Glenna awaited them, Conall closed the door and leaned against it. His silver gaze turned to Kenna.

  "What was your relationship with the Wallace?"

  Frang crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. He had told Conall everything the night before, so he didn't understand why Conall questioned Kenna now.

  Kenna glanced at Frang before she turned to Conall. “He was my laird, and I was the clan's healer."

  "In the missive I've been sent it states that you were his betrothed."

  "Never.” Kenna's voice shook with anger, her hands balled into fists atop her lap. “He spoke of me becoming his wife my last night with my clan, but I never agreed."

  Frang stretched his legs out in front of him as he studied Conall. “You say you just received the missive?"

  "Aye,” Conall answered.

  "It hasn't even been a day. I would have thought we had a week at least before we heard from Wallace."

  Conall nodded wearily. “I did as well."

  "He's already returned to his clan,” Glenna said as she stared out the window.

  "Impossible,” Conall stated.

  Glenna turned to her husband and chuckled. “What did I tell you about using that word?"

  "She right,” Frang said. “The Wallace and his men were at least a day behind Kenna and me, yet they managed to nearly catch us."

  "Magic,” Glenna confirmed.

  "He's just a man,” Kenna argued. “He's not a Druid, nor does he know the first thing about using magic."

  "Maybe not,” Frang said quietly. “But he had the Book of Magic. He could have memorised certain spells."

  "St. Myrtle's knuckles,” Conall cursed under his breath.

  Glenna rose and walked to her husband. “I agree, my love."

  "What does he want?” Frang asked.

  Conall's gaze lifted to him. “He asked for three things. The book, Kenna, and your dead body. In that order."

  Frang
leaned back in the chair and thought over Conall's words. “In order for you to comply he would have had to issue a threat. What was it?"

  "Total destruction of my clan."

  Frang heard Kenna gasp and felt a jolt all the way to his toes. He stood slowly. “We'll need to gather the Druids and prepare them."

  "You'll need to prepare them,” Glenna corrected him. “You are our high priest, Frang. Reclaim what has always been yours."

  Frang stared at her a moment wondering if he was strong enough to leave the Glen a second time. Yet, after all the generations of MacInneses had done for the Druids, he couldn't turn his back on Conall now.

  "I will see them readied."

  Glenna nodded.

  Conall wrapped his arm around Glenna and pulled her against him. “The Wallace gave us two days to comply with his wishes."

  "He couldn't have returned to his clan,” Frang said. “He's been very careful about keeping his search for immortality a secret. I don't think he would allow his men to realise that magic is being used."

  Kenna cocked her head to her side. “Do you think they didn't realise how quickly they gained on us?"

  "Nay,” he replied. “Their focus was on capturing you and nothing else."

  She smiled. “Aye."

  "What?” Conall asked.

  Frang turned him and smiled. “There is no way the Wallace returned to his clan for more men. He's out there. Waiting."

  "And if you're wrong?"

  "We've got the Druids and Glenna."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kenna sat in the stone circle and tried to find the calm that had left her as soon as she heard the Wallace was going to attack her new home.

  Home. Without a doubt this was her new home, and though she missed her small cottage, she felt as though she belonged here.

  Her gaze moved around the circle noting the peace and beauty of the land. If Wallace attacked, everything Frang feared would come to pass. The end of the Druids would happen quicker than any of them expected.

  The stream gurgling at her feet and the gentle sway of the trees above her helped to find some peace, but she knew she wouldn't truly find it until the Wallace was dead and the book destroyed.