Lords of the Isles

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Angus remained silent for a moment and Murdina took another step closer to him.

  “My Anna did tell me I was not to mourn her for long, but…” He turned his head away.

  “Why not come and see what we have done to Lady Anna’s garden. She would be so happy and proud to see how beautiful it will be once again.”

  Angus coughed away the tears that threatened. “Aye, I would like to see what you are doing.”

  He followed Murdina who explained with a smile what plants and flowers would flourish in the spacious garden. The two were soon talking. Angus was even smiling and when he stumbled, his leg having yet to fully heal, Murdina caught him and slipped her slim shoulder beneath his arm to help him to the nearby bench.

  Angus protested. “You are too petite to take my weight.”

  “Nonsense, my lord,” Murdina said and shouldered his weight with ease as she helped him to the bench. “I may not have much size to me, but strength I have an abundance of.”

  Angus smiled and patted the spot beside him. “Sit and talk with me and call me Angus.”

  Emma saw her husband approaching and ran off, wrapping her arm around his and turning him around to walk back the way he came.

  “I was going to speak with my father,” Rogan said.

  “He is busy talking with Murdina,” Emma said with a smile.

  “But I wanted to tell him,”—Rogan stopped abruptly and turned wide eyes on his wife—“I saw him sitting on the bench with her.”

  “He invited her to sit with him and to call him Angus.”

  Rogan grinned. “Finally, he shows interest in a woman. He is not dead after all.”

  “And is a woman dead if she shows no interest in a man?”

  “She might as well be.”

  Emma took a step away from him. “Then I guess I was dead all those years I found no interest in men.”

  He grabbed her around the waist and yanked her to him, ignoring her hands that slapped at his arms. “You were waiting for an exceptional man… me.”

  “You did not wait,” she accused, though with a smile.

  “I had to make sure I found the right woman.”

  “Then how do I know I found the right man when he is the only man I have ever known intimately?” she asked.

  He leaned down and stole a quick kiss. “Because he proves it to you every day in everything he does for you and every time he makes love to you.” He lowered his voice. “His love knows no bounds for you. He cannot spend enough time with you or make love enough to you. You consume his every thought, word, and deed. And there would be no life without you.”

  Each word melted her heart and sparked her passion. She did not think she could love him anymore than she already did, but somehow he continued to prove her wrong with his words, his deeds, and his love.

  She wiggled out of his embrace and took hold of his hand. “I need to show you something.”

  Rogan glared at her. He pours his love out to her and her response is to show him something?

  “It is important,” she insisted and tugged at his hand for him to follow.

  He shook his head and went along with her. He shook his head harder when she hurried him into the stable, though he was pleased to find that it had a fresh scent to it when normally it stunk.

  Rogan followed her to the back of the stable and when she turned into the last empty stall, he wondered what was so important that she wanted him to see. He was shocked when she hopped up on a crate and flung herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He grabbed her tight as he stumbled slightly from the brunt of her body slamming against his, and then settled her firmly against him.

  “Now to show you how much I love you,” she said with a smile.

  Sometime later, they lay panting and sweating in the fresh hay on the ground.

  “You are sure to kill me, wife,” Rogan said with a chuckle.

  She balanced herself on her elbow and rested her head in her hand after she turned on her side to face him. “But at least I will know you died happy.”

  “Extremely happy,” he confirmed with a growing grin.

  “But first you will give me many children,” she instructed sternly, though smiling.

  He laughed. “With as much as we make love, we are bound to have a large brood.”

  “It is your fault I want you so much,” she said with a serious tone, though her smile grew, telling a different story.

  His arm came around her waist quickly and with an effortless tug and lift she was stretched out over him. “Now tell me why it is my fault, wife.”

  She rested her elbows on his hard chest and her face in her hands. “You awakened my body and once I got a taste… I craved more.”

  “Have no fear, wife, I will be sure to satisfy all your cravings.”

  “Though it may kill you?” She giggled.

  “It is better to die a happy man than a miserable one,” he assured her.

  “I will keep you very happy, husband.”

  “You already have,” Rogan said and kissed her softly.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Emma made her way quietly out of the keep. It was the first morning in days that she left her husband to wake alone. The urge to explore the woods on this beautiful morning was too strong to ignore. This place would not entirely be her home until she made her personal acquaintance with the woods.

  She was not surprised to see Murdina walking toward the cottage. She had found the woman was an early riser like herself. And over the last few days, she had found that Angus would join Murdina shortly after she began tending the garden and they would spend several hours talking.

  Her thought had her asking Murdina, “Will Angus join you today?”

  Murdina’s cheeks blushed pink, and she smiled. “I would not mind if he did.”

  “You have given him reason to start living again,” Emma said happy for the pair.

  “And he has given me reason to smile more often,” Murdina admitted, her smile growing. “You are here early this morning. Is there something or someone who needs tending?”

  “No, I hoped to take a walk in the quiet and peacefulness of the woods as I did daily at my home.”

  “And Lord Rogan permits you to go alone?” Murdina asked.

  “I fear I have not yet grown accustomed to asking permission.”

  “Do you think it wise not to at least let your husband know where you go? After all, you are not familiar with these woods yet.”

  “My sister Patience taught me how to track, so I rarely get lost,” Emma said, hoping to alleviate the woman’s obvious worry. “And you know where I will be.”

  “Aye, and glad I am that I do,” Murdina said like a concerned mother.

  “I will see you in an hour or so,” Emma said. “I do not intend to go far this morning.”

  “Good,” Murdina said with a nod and a sigh of relief.

  Emma left the woman to open the cottage door, a signal that it was available to anyone who needed it. She made her way into the woods behind the cottage and through a thick wooden door in the stone wall surrounding the village. She took only a few steps in before she was surrounded by lush growth, and she stopped to breathe in the earthy scent.

  There was something about the woods on a spring day. It was like watching it wake after a long winter’s nap. She closed her eyes and listened to the birds tweeting and the rustle of the new leaves on the trees. Her heart soared, for she felt she was finally home.

  She opened her eyes eager to explore and dropped down like a dead weight when she heard footfalls not far off. Patience had taught her to never wait to see who approached, for by then it might be too late to escape harm.

  Emma maneuvered herself behind lush foliage and waited and listened. The footfalls were light, almost faint, but she heard them. She was sure of it. Her hand flew to her mouth when a ghost warrior appeared a few feet away. She kept still, not making a sound, though she feared he would hear her heartbeat, it pounded so hard in her ches
t. She watched as he walked with guarded steps and cautious eyes.

  Seeing him was proof the MacClennan clan continued to be watched.

  A thought hit her then. If they were being watched, why could she not do the same to them? Perhaps she would be able to learn something about them or was she being foolish?

  She had no time to debate the matter. The ghost warrior would be out of view soon and her chance gone. Foolish or not, she followed.

  Emma kept as light on her feet as possible and kept to the bushes, trees, rocks, whatever she could find to duck behind so that he would not see her. When he went over a small rise, she held back and crept slowly toward it, not sure what would be on the other side. It was nothing more than a glen and the warrior was heading up the other rise. She waited and approached with the same caution. She did not know how long she followed him, though she had cautiously marked the trail as she went, so she would be able to find her way back.

  It was when she approached another rise and peeked over it that she almost let out a gasp. There in a campsite sat her sister Heather surrounded by several ghost warriors.

  *

  Rogan turned as he woke to wrap his arm around his wife, but met empty space. He could not say he was not disappointed to open his eyes and find her gone. It had been nice the last few days to have her there beside him, on top of him, or under him after waking. He smiled at the memories. He could not be angry with her. He had been expecting this. He had seen the way she had glanced with longing at the woods. It had only been a matter of time before she answered the need.

  That did not mean he would not worry about her until she returned. She was a good tracker, so he was not concerned she would get lost. But the woods could harbor danger and the one thing that did concern him was that the ghost warriors were out there watching them.

  He doubted she would venture too far, but a few feet into the woods could prove dangerous enough. He hurriedly got dressed and went to the Great Hall. Liam was at a table, and he hurried over to him.

  “Have you seen my wife?” he asked anxiously.

  Liam saw the worry on his friend’s face and quickly answered. “I saw her talking with Murdina by the cottage just after daybreak.”

  Rogan felt his apprehension fade, and he joined Liam at the table. “Why are you not eating with Ina this morn?”

  “An early morning romp has left her exhausted and she sleeps,” Liam said with a grin.

  “An early morning romp wakes my wife and off she goes full of strength to start the day.”

  “So you are the one left exhausted,” Liam teased.

  “And famished,” Rogan said, reaching for a hunk of bread and a bowl of porridge.

  *

  Emma stared in disbelief. Heather sat only a few feet away from her, yet it might as well have been miles. At least, she appeared to look well, none the worse for wear. No bruises marred her lovely face and her long blond hair fell neatly in waves as it always did. She wore different clothes than Emma remembered, but otherwise she looked as she always did… beautiful. And Emma was overwhelmed with relief.

  The problem was… how did she rescue her?

  There was no way that she would simply walk away and abandon her sister. If she took a chance and hurried back to the keep to get help, Heather could be gone by the time she returned. And the search for her would begin again.

  No, she would not take the chance. Her sister was here in front of her, and there was no way she would desert her. She had to think this through, and it suddenly dawned on her. She had not followed the ghost warrior here—he had led her here.

  Whatever was the matter with her to think that she could follow a ghost warrior without being detected? It had been a trap. They wanted her to follow, but the question was why?

  Emma was about to find out. She tucked the loose strands of hair that had fallen free from her braid, brushed leaves and twigs from her clothes and with her head held high, she stood and marched into the camp.

  *

  A couple of hours later Rogan walked with Liam to the cottage. Liam was certain his wife had woken by now and he would find her there. Rogan was eager to see Emma and find out if she enjoyed her walk in the woods and perhaps entice her to take a walk with him.

  Ina and Murdina hurried over to Rogan as he approached, and his heart slammed in his chest. Something was wrong. He could feel it.

  “She has not returned,” Murdina said. “I was telling Ina that Emma left for a walk in the woods and she has yet to return. She told me that she was not going to go far and would be but an hour.”

  “When did she leave?” Rogan asked, fearing he already knew.

  “Just after sunrise,” Murdina said. “I should have realized sooner that she had not returned, but your father was here and we talked and he left a short time ago and that was when I realized she had not returned. I was just coming to find you.”

  “Gather the men,” Rogan ordered Liam. With rushed strides, he returned to the keep. He cursed himself ten times over. While he had sat joking and laughing with Liam, Emma had been in danger. Never. Never again would he allow her to go into the woods alone.

  He rolled up the sleeves to his shirt as he made his way to his bedchamber. Once there he slipped on his chest straps, crisscrossing them over his chest and back and sheathed his sword in the back sheath. A dirk went in the sheath at his waist and he tugged on his leather arm guards tying them at his wrists.

  He walked out of the room prepared to get his wife back no matter the cost, and God help anyone who stood in his way.

  *

  “Emma!” Heather shouted, scrambling to her feet and ran to her sister.

  They threw their arms around each other and hugged tight. Emma noticed that the ghost warriors did not stop Heather from going to her, nor had they come after her when she entered the camp. Her instincts had been right. They had led her here.

  Heather stepped away from Emma, though she kept a firm hold of her arms. “You got my message. You came for me.”

  “I have,” Emma said happy to be holding her sister tight.

  “But now you are trapped. They will not let either of us go,” Heather said sadly.

  “At least, we will be together,” Emma said, though her heart filled with sadness at the thought that she would be separated from her husband. Still, though, she could not leave her sister alone with that monster.

  “Are you alone? Is there no one protecting you? And how far are we from home.” She shook her head annoyed. “I get no answers, though I have asked many questions.”

  “To start with, Patience still searches for you and Da has improved some. Maura watches over him. We are on MacClennan land and—” Emma stopped. How did she tell her sister that she was wed to the man Heather had been promised to?

  “What is it, Emma? What is wrong?” Heather asked anxiously.

  Emma blurted it out quickly. “I am wed to Rogan MacClennan.”

  Heather shook her head. “Nothing makes sense anymore. Come by the fire and tell me how your marriage came about and if you are happy.”

  “You are not angry?” Emma asked. “You had been promised to him.”

  “I will be angry if you tell me this was forced upon you and you do not wish to be wed to Rogan MacClennan.”

  “Though it was forced, I love him with all my heart,” Emma said.

  Heather walked Emma to the campfire and they sat side by side with their arms around one another, without one ghost warrior approaching them. And Emma began explaining why Rogan was now her husband.

  *

  “She leaves a clear trail,” Liam said, “but then so does the ghost warrior.”

  Rogan sat impatiently on his stallion. He wanted to rush ahead and find his wife, but it would be an unwise move and one that could prove harmful to Emma. This news now filled him with foreboding.

  “Are you telling me that this was a trap?” Rogan asked. “That the ghost warrior wanted Emma to follow him?”

  “It appears that way.”


  “Then that would mean they lead us to her as well,” Rogan said.

  “And into another trap.”

  “That we have no choice but to follow.” Rogan shook his head. “Why? Why lay in wait for Emma and leave a clear path for us to track her? Unless someone wishes to meet with me on his own terms.”

  “You think the Dark Dragon is near?” Liam asked anxiously and cast a quick glance around them.

  “I do not know, but we will find out soon enough.”

  *

  “I am happy for you, Emma,” Heather said after her sister finished telling her bout the marriage and gave her hand a squeeze. “It gives me hope, for surely your husband will come and rescue us.”

  Emma had expected Rogan by now. There did not seem to be many ghost warriors lingering about, though there could be more hiding away, and waiting. She hoped not, for there was a chance of a rescue. There was a chance to bring Heather home.

  There was one thing Emma had to know. “The Dark Dragon has not hurt you, has he?”

  Heather paled. “The Dark Dragon?”

  Surely, her sister knew who had captured her. “These are his warriors.”

  “But they wear no white faces.”

  “The one I followed did,” Emma said, looking around to find him and seeing not one warrior with a face painted white.

  “I thought a band of mercenaries abducted me and were demanding money from Da. They wanted something to send to Da to prove they had me. I was so frightened of what they might do to me, I chose to send the ring so you were aware of how dire my circumstances, instead of Mum’s pin.” Heather shook her head. “Surely, you are wrong about the Dark Dragon.”

  Emma watched as fear turned Heather’s face deathly pale and she hurried to offer encouragement, keeping her voice low. “Rogan will be here soon and we will both be safe. You will come home with me. Rogan will protect you.”

  “Tell me, Emma, tell me how you know that it is the Dark Dragon who is responsible for my abduction,” Heather urged.

  Thunder cracked and lightning sparked, causing the two women to jump.

  Emma looked up, shocked to see the dark storm clouds overhead. It had been a beautiful day when she had started out this morning. When had the sun disappeared, and the clouds turned so ominous?