Enchanted Lover

by Scharon, Connie C.

  He gave Ailleagian a kick and reined him through the castle gates until they arrived at the main entrance. Dismounting, he carried Asilinn to their room and laid her gently on the bed carefully examining her wounds. It didn't look too bad but Asilinn seemed almost catatonic.

  “Are you all right?" he whispered, stroking her hair from her eyes. “You have not spoken."

  Asilinn pushed his hands away and sat up propping herself up in the bed. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she fought his attempts to comfort her. “You sent men to kill my father and brother.”

  “I did not. I swear to you. It was the masked riders, mayhaps the same ones who attacked us on the trail.”

  “You knew of the attack and kept it from me!”

  “Aye.”

  “Why should I believe you now?”

  “Because it is the truth. Tynan was one of them.”

  She remembered all too clearly her encounter with Tynan after he had passed on. Jared reached over and stroked her hair. “Do you believe me?”

  She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “I must trust you. I have no choice.”

  “And can I trust you, Asilinn, or will you drug me and run from me at the next opportunity?”

  “My father and brother have gone, Milord. I have nowhere to run.” She pulled up her skirt enough to display her sore red ankles. “And I canna tolerate another chaining.”

  “Aye, so.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Asilinn….” He seemed to struggle to find the right words. “I wilna treat you like a whore again.”

  Her eyes filled with tears when she met his steady gaze. “Promise?”

  “You have my word.” He wiped away the single tear trickling down her cheek. “I was so angry at your betrayal I didna see what I was doing to you.” He fumbled with the blanket while he sought to cover her and then moved away from the bed.

  This was as close to an apology as she was going to get. “I shall count on you to keep your word, Milord.”

  He nodded. “Do you want me to send Wynne up to sit with you?”

  She shook her head no.

  Jared paused at the door. “Now I must go and see what fool inflamed the mob against you.” He left their chamber.

  Asilinn pressed back in the bed. Even without chains, she was still his prisoner.

  ***

  It was late when Jared returned to the tower. She had been sleeping and woke when he entered. Half afraid to let him see she was awake, she lay very still in the bed. He stripped and lay down beside her reaching across to pet her head.

  “I know you dinna sleep, sweetling.” Pulling her closer, he ran his fingers over the nasty knot on her forehead. She half expected him to begin the ritual seduction she had become accustomed to in the days he kept her chained, but all he did was press her head to his shoulder and draw her close. “Does it hurt much?”

  “No, Milord.”

  “Good, try to get some sleep.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Asilinn was sleeping peacefully when a gentle knocking interrupted her slumber. She sat up and saw she was alone in the tower room. The gray light of morning streaked across the floor. Snatching her fustian robe, she wrapped it around her while she answered the door.

  “Lady Asilinn, I'm sorry we woke you,” Flanna apologized. “I felt sure you'd be up.”

  “‘Tis all right, Flanna,” Asilinn assured her, reaching out to rub the head of the small freckle-faced boy beside her. “How do you feel this morning, Toby?”

  He smiled shyly and handed her a bouquet of flowers. “I picked these for you,” he said. “Thank you for savin' my life, Lady Asilinn.”

  “It was my deepest pleasure.” Asilinn took his hand and squeezed it.

  “Milady, I am heartsick about what happened.” Flanna touched the swollen lump on Asilinn's temple. “Laird Jared asked me to check on you this mornin' and make sure you were well.”

  “I am fine, just a bit sore.” Asilinn smiled at Toby, who was now tugging at his mother’s skirt. “Thank you for the lovely flowers, Toby.” The small boy beamed.

  “We dinna wish to intrude, Lady Asilinn. We'll be off to the chores now.” With a tremulous smile, Flanna led her young son out of the tower room.

  Closing the door behind them, Asilinn removed her robe and checked herself over. The only real damage from the stoning was the head wound. She had a few other scrapes and bruises, but nothing of any consequence.

  What was she to do now? The idea of hiding in her room was not appealing. The people would take note of it if she shrank from her duties and stayed hidden in fear. No, she would pretend nothing untoward had transpired. She wished she were sure of the way to the hot spring. A good soak would surely restore her.

  Absently she worked the knots out of her waist-length hair. It took her the better part of an hour before she had brought order to her appearance. Glancing briefly in the glass, she was satisfied with her efforts. It struck her Wynne had not come to help her dress. Normally the woman would have shown up to offer help by now. Perhaps she too had turned on Asilinn.

  There was another knock at the door and Asilinn pulled it open fully expecting to see Wynne, instead Skye stood before her in one of her remodeled gowns.

  “Good morning, Skye.”

  Brushing by her, Skye entered the room. “Close the door; I must speak to you.”

  Asilinn did what Skye asked and walked over to the young girl. Jerking the chair around, Skye pointed to it. “Sit," she ordered.

  Her irritation rising, Asilinn sank into the seat looking expectantly at her visitor.

  Skye paced back and forth in front of her. “The people fear you, Asilinn.” She looked at Asilinn as if she anticipated some comment.

  “I understand their fear. People are always frightened by things they do not understand.”

  “If my brother had not arrived when he did, they would not have stopped until you were dead.”

  “Aye.”

  “You accept this?”

  “What else am I to do? I canna change what has happened. Hopefully their fears have been allayed by their laird.”

  “Does my brother believe you are a witch?”

  “I dinna think so. Mayhaps you should ask him.”

  “You will not confide in me? Am I not your sister by marriage?”

  Asilinn shook her head while she studied the dark-haired beauty before her. “Now we are fast friends when only yesterday you saw me as an enemy?”

  “I tried to keep them from stoning you.”

  “Aye, so, but why should I confide in you, Skye? For all I know you may be aligned with those who seek to kill me. The clothes I found in your trunk are identical to the outfits worn by the men who tried to murder me on the road.”

  Skye's eyes grew wide in disbelief. “How do you know it was you they were after? Mayhaps they were just robbers.”

  “Their purpose was clear. Jared suspects treachery from within his own clan, but has not yet uncovered the culprits.” Asilinn watched Skye pace back and forth. “I do thank you for your efforts to protect me yesterday.”

  “I just did not want you publicly stoned. I'll kill you myself if harm comes to my brother because of you.”

  For all her bravado, Skye seemed very vulnerable. “I applaud your loyalty. I only hope when you do decide to act in your brother's behalf, you are certain whether your actions help him or hinder him.”

  “This wilna please him, but I will do it anyway.” Skye moved over to the tapestry obscuring the entrance to the secret passage. “Are you brave enough to come with me no questions asked?”

  Not waiting for an answer, Skye hooked the weighty covering out of the way and opened the secret door. “I'll show you a way out. If Jared is not here to protect you when the people rise up against you, it will ease my conscience to know I did what I could to keep you from dying for my brother's ridiculous peace plan.”

  Asilinn came over beside Skye and looked her squarely in the eye. “Your brother has already told me
about the secret passage, but a maze of tunnels run beneath the castle.”

  “He told you? But you must have tried it to know what lies below. You already tried to escape and failed.”

  “No, Skye, Jared took me through the secret passage to the Dragon's Spring for a bath. It was then I realized how extensive the secret side of Dunbocan really is. One could wander lost for days and never find the way out. If you are sincere, show me.”

  “I'll show you the way to get from here to the east gate. To show you anything else might invite a secret attack from your people if you betrayed us. Come.” Skye extended her hand for Asilinn to walk in first.

  Asilinn knew a moment's hesitation. Could she trust this mercurial young girl or was this some devious trick to rid the Laird of Dunbocan of his new wife? Asilinn decided she must take the chance and stepped into the darkness of the passage. Skye followed holding up a torch to light the way.

  They made their way down three flights of narrow stone stairs. This time Asilinn was counting. The stairs continued down, but Skye directed her to take a passage branching off to the right. About fifty feet further down, they came to a junction of three intersecting tunnels. Taking the middle one, they snaked around a long time before it dead-ended in what appeared to be a solid rock wall. The dank, musty air was suffocating.

  “When you get to this point, you can open this.” Skye demonstrated by pulling a small wooden peg from the wall. “Now look and tell me if anyone is in the hall.” Asilinn put her eye to the hole and saw a much larger passageway beyond the wall.

  “There is no one about.”

  “Good.” Skye turned a lever to make the cantilevered stone swing open. They came out into the large hallway and Skye swung the door closed. “Guards frequent this area of the castle,” Skye warned. “From this side the door opens by turning the metal torch bracket like this.” The hidden door swung open again and Skye slammed it closed.

  “This way,” she directed. “Hurry up. We're near the dungeon and 'tis dangerous. Never go to the right or you'll be in the cell block.” Asilinn glanced to the right apprehensively. She hurried after Skye down the hall to the left.

  They went about twenty feet and made a sharp turn. Glancing both ways, Skye used a similar lever to open a section of wall and jerked Asilinn inside just as a group of guards rounded the corner. Both of them leaned back against the interior of the new passage breathless.

  After the sounds of the men had disappeared in the distance, Asilinn said, “I think I would have to be very desperate to attempt this on my own.”

  “I didna say it would be an easy escape.” Skye’s emerald eyes danced with excitement. “Come on we're almost there.” They walked down the new tunnel making three more turns along the way.

  Eventually they came to a heavy, oak door. Skye pulled loose a squared off rock and reached in the hole it left retrieving a large key. She used the key to open the door. There was a small set of stone stairs beyond the door. Pocketing the key, Skye led Asilinn up the stairs into a small cottage overlooking the east gate. They opened the door and walked out into the brilliant sunlight right across from a row of well-kept cottages.

  Asilinn was startled to see her husband coming out of the neatly groomed cottage across the way. Glenna stood beside him still in her bedclothes. She gazed up into his handsome face. “If there's anythin' else I can do for you, Laird Jared, it would be my greatest pleasure.” Glenna smiled up at him and rubbed her hand down across his chest. “Anythin' at all.”

  “You have done more than enough, Glenna,” Jared assured her. He turned to take his leave and looked into Asilinn's pale face. “Good morning, Asilinn.”

  Asilinn was rooted to the spot. She could not force her legs to move while the vision of Glenna and Jared once again tortured her with its clarity.

  “Good morning, Lady Asilinn,” Glenna called.

  Jared gave Glenna a withering glare. She hurried into her cottage and closed the door. Slowly he turned back to Asilinn. “How are you feeling this morning?” he inquired, coming closer. His fingers moved to test the nasty swelling on her temple.

  She jerked away. “I see now you have given your word you wilna use me like a whore you must seek another in my stead.” Asilinn didn’t know why his indiscretion cut her so deep. She was his wife, but not by her own choice.

  Grabbing her chin, he forced her to look him in the eye. “Do you always assume the worst of me?”

  She could feel the color rising in her face. “Is milord angry because I am able to see through his lies to the truth?”

  “God's teeth!” Jared’s eyes flashed daggers at her. “How am I to gain their support if I dinna have yours? You make my quest impossible with your mistrust!”

  He released Asilinn and looked over her head to his sister. “You brought her out the passage?” Asilinn turned while Skye nodded dumbly. “Give me the key and both of you return through the main entrance. And, imp, ask me first the next time.”

  “Aye, Milord,” Skye said obediently.

  “You will stay with Lady Asilinn until she is safely in the tower.”

  “Am I to be a prisoner again?” Asilinn interrupted. “Do you go back on your word so soon? I but question your motives and I am to be locked away.”

  “You are not a prisoner!” The muscle in his lower jaw twitched menacingly. “I think of your safety.”

  Morven rushed up to Jared with a short dark-haired man in tow. Seeing Asilinn, the man tried to hide his face. “Tell Laird Jared what you just told me,” Morven demanded.

  The man glanced at Asilinn and stared at his feet. “Would you betray my father?” Asilinn asked.

  “Do you know this man?” Jared queried.

  “He attends my father's horse. Is he your spy, Dragon Lord of Dunbocan?”

  “I found him running in the woods,” Morven said. “He says he runs because Laird Innes has heard Lady Asilinn was caught trying to escape and was put in chains. Innes prepares to attack Cock Bridge in revenge. This man's people are from Cock Bridge. He sought to warn them.”

  “Zounds,” Jared muttered. “Get the high council together in the Dragon's Lair. I have need of their support in the actions I am forced to take.”

  Asilinn grabbed his arm and he spun to face her. “Dinna do this, Milord,” she begged. “Let me talk to my father and see if I can dissuade him. He'll see I am unharmed and leave off his hot-headed plan.”

  Jared looked at her. “You would plead my case with your father?”

  “Aye, to prevent his death I would.”

  “I'll handle this in my own way, but I promise you I'll do all in my power to avoid bloodshed. Will you give me your trust or must I go to face your father without your support?”

  “Dinna ask me to choose.”

  “You made your choice when you took your vows. Now you must live with the consequences.” He turned back to Skye. “Take her to the tower,” he ordered. “Asilinn, I will see you before I leave.”

  Skye grabbed Asilinn's arm and pulled her up through the series of gates leading to the inner sanctum of the fortress. Asilinn saw the people staring at her and straightened her back. Holding her head high, she made her way to the tower of Dunbocan before she dissolved into tears.

  Skye said nothing, but sat with Asilinn and stroked her hair while she sobbed into her pillow.

  ***

  The Dragon's Lair fell silent when Jared entered flanked by Morven. Jared motioned for the gathering to take a seat. His eyes roamed over the assembled faces.

  He could see Osred's dark eyes glowing in victory over the latest news. The MacLean clan counselor had been the one with the most strenuous objection to Jared’s plan to kidnap and marry Asilinn. Osred basked now in the glory of the moment. His prediction had come to pass. Laird Innes prepared for war because of Asilinn.

  Beside Osred was Garrick. He was the oldest member of the council and perhaps the most difficult, but he respected most of Jared's decisions and he was in favor of peace.

  On Osr
ed's other side was Liam. Jared could still remember the rage he felt when he saw Liam rip open Asilinn’s wet dress. Liam and Wynne had known of Asilinn’s attempted escape and confinement. Who else knew? Had Liam sent word to Laird Innes? Now Liam's dark eyes raked over Jared, but Jared couldn't read his cousin’s sober expression.

  Keith sat at the far end of the table. He had lost a brother to the war. Jared felt he supported the peace.

  Ross, who sat beside him, was the youngest member of the council. Having lost the other male members of his immediate family, he got the seat by accident. Jared had allowed it rather than alienating his branch of the coalition by omitting him. This pleased Ross greatly and he usually supported Jared in whatever he proposed.

  Although all had their say, Jared was the one who decided in the end with or without a majority. It was an honor for any of them to be given leave to speak freely without fear of recriminations. They all valued their positions. The question was which of them was trying to undermine Jared's authority.

  Osred was the most disagreeable, but he had no chance of assuming power. He was not even a blood relative. Of the others, only Liam had reason to want Jared dead. If power was their only motive, it could be any of them.

  “As you are aware Laird Innes rides to Cock Bridge. Our spies tell us he is moving on the town tomorrow. If we take a contingent of men through Burnum Woods, we can reach Cock Bridge before Laird Innes. I want to leave the castle well guarded. This could be some twisted plan to attack at one spot while others move against us here. Laird Innes wants his daughter back and I will not allow it. Therefore, I propose Morven stays here in charge of the defense of Lady Asilinn and Dunbocan. Morven, I'll leave you with half the garrison.”

  “Milord, I want to be with you on the field of battle,” Morven objected.

  Jared studied his cousin. “You will stay here. If I have my way, there will be no battle.”

  Liam was on his feet. “No battle? Has the Laird of Dunbocan gone soft because of a woman? There was a time when women were not of such great import. I remember it all too well!”