A Witch's Destiny

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “Aye, though I am uncertain how it is has come to be that my father and yours are together, I have once more seen it in my vision and it is to the Scottish highlands we must go to discover what has happened to the two of them.”

  “Tis a dangerous consideration, Alainn. We’d be made to journey over uncommonly rough terrain and sure there’s many a perilous lot we’d encounter along the way, for the highland clans are a feuding, raucous bunch even by Conner’s measure. He should know for he’s a highlander himself.”

  “But, we’ve no choice but to go, Killian. We must search for them. We’ve come this far; we must see this through!”

  “I know magic is never a certainty, and Danhoul has suggested in your ailing state you maybe shouldn’t be callin’ upon your magic at this time, but since I am not so very eager to put my trust in him at the moment, do you think maybe you might simply wish us all straight to the highlands?” Killian only half jested.

  “Well, I’m not certain I could use my powers to take all of us to the highlands, and the gods have also issued a warning. They agree it is not the best of times to employ my magic. It apparently has to do with the phases of the moon and the proximately of the demon.” She elaborated when she saw the doubt in his eyes, and only partially stretched the truth for she had been advised not to use her magic for it may cause the evil child’s powers to multiply.

  “Aye. Then I’ll go to the highlands in search of our fathers with some of the men, but sure you can’t make the journey, ailin’ as you have been. You stay put and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can and pray it will be a favorable endeavor.”

  “Killian, I am a seer. I am needed in securing the location where our fathers are to be found. Sure, you can’t do it without my abilities, and I am well enough to travel.”

  “And employing your abilities as a seer is not a feat of magic?” He struggled to understand and was filled with not unwarranted suspicion.

  “Should I need assistance, I will simply call upon the Celtic gods since it is evident Aine and Lugh now both seem able to venture to our earthly realm.”

  By Killian’s grave expression, Alainn knew well enough he was not entirely convinced, but as the night grew late and her stubbornness was unlikely to ebb, he simply kissed the top of her head, and then went in search of Conner to alert him to his intentions of setting off at daybreak.

  *

  After two days’ hard ride over treacherously steep rocky terrain and endless prickly brambles, they stopped to make camp for the night. After they’d finished their meal of salted pork and dried scones, many of the men were noticeably weary so sought sleep immediately. Killian and Conner were discussing the best route to travel to ensure the least amount of altercations with neighboring clans who were often at war with one another.

  Alainn heard only portions of the conversation as she lay upon her blankets near the fire. She was startled to feel the sudden movement within her belly. She jumped at the sensation and her woeful tears began. Always she had known utter joy in feeling a child growing and moving within her. She had delighted in feeling the blessed movements the entire time she carried Cian. She had only begun to sense the quickening when she carried the girl child, but still it had been with joy and excited anticipation when she had felt it.

  But, now, this was entirely unlike anything she had ever experienced, for this movement sickened her. To feel the child move made it become even more real to her and to realize this tiny being growing inside her was unimaginably evil, she desperately wanted it gone from her. Her supper rose and turned to bile in her throat and she hurried from her present location to a nearby tree where she spewed the entire contents of her stomach.

  Danhoul and Killian reached her at precisely the same time, and both wore equally grim expressions.

  “Still the queasiness will not abate?” Killian asked.

  Alainn did not answer for she found herself overtaken once more with a fit of retching.

  Danhoul reached inside his pocket for a potion he carried, and Killian steadied her and held back her lengthy golden hair, yet again. She took the potion and Killian’s arm and whispered a prayer of gratitude for these two strong men who were her guardians.

  “We must turn back, Alainn. You cannot continue in this manner. ’Tis not hard to see you grow thinner by the day in not bein’ able to keep food settled within your belly, and sure the journey cannot be doin’ anythin’ to improve your aggrieved condition,” Killian announced in a voice steeped with conviction.

  “We cannot turn back, Killian. We must continue onward and perhaps when my father is located, he will offer a solution to this malady I possess. It is said by many he was a powerful druid and a gifted healer.”

  Killian was about to argue further, when a shrill, frightened scream pierced the still night air.

  Alainn’s eyes filled with complete disbelief at hearing the woman’s scream.

  “’Tis Mary. I am certain of it, Killian. Mary is here in Scotland and in need of our immediate assistance.”

  Killian’s face revealed some uncertainty, but he was the first to hasten toward the location from where the scream had come.

  *

  When Killian reached the open clearing in the woods, he was startled to learn, both that Alainn had been correct, Mary O’Brien was indeed in Scotland, and that she was at the moment being held captive by a mighty clansman. He had little time to wonder why Mary was here when she was only weeks away from her time to birth her child, when she should be home safe in Ireland and assumedly reunited with her husband, Riley. He saw the ferocious-looking highlander had a knife to the frightened woman’s throat.

  “It would be most advisable to unhand my cousin’s wife straightaway!” Killian began.

  The man glared at him with intense dark eyes, but did not move from his position.

  “Can you not see the woman is with child? Are you such an unconscionable barbarian that you would risk harmin’ a defenseless woman and her unborn child?”

  “She was attempting to steal our horses, and you’ll ken that’s a crime not tolerated by any clan!”

  “I wasn’t stealing your horses; I was merely purchasing a horse, only the one horse, and I fully intended to leave you adequate coin in payment.”

  Killian glanced at the woman in further disbelief. Alainn came through the brush and on her heels were Danhoul and Conner MacLain.

  *

  “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Danhoul spoke lowly under his breath, and Conner’s reaction was even stronger.

  “Mary? What in bloody hell are you doing here, woman? And you, man, I can see well enough you’ll be a MacDonald, aye, you’d best unhand the lass or you’ll have the wrath of the MacLains, and all clans in allegiance with them upon you!”

  “She’s a horse thief, MacLain, and do ye ken I am fearful of dealing with your clan? The MacDonalds are the fiercest and strongest of any clan and not opposed to dealing severely with thieves or enemies!”

  Alainn waited for the man to lower his dirk now placed to Mary’s throat but when he stood his ground she noticed Killian, Danhoul, and Conner all had their hands on their swords. From behind them, there was a loud crashing through the trees and by way of her abilities she envisioned another two dozen men who wore identical tartans to the man now holding Mary about to burst into the clearing. And from the opposite side, several Irishmen who were traveling with Killian’s clan would soon be upon them as well.

  All were brandishing their weapons and Alainn did not need to be a seer to know there would be much bloodshed if the two opposing clans met. As the night was dark, even knowing full well she was not to be using her magic in any form, Alainn waved her hand before her at precisely the same time the Scots had entered the clearing, and she hoped it was before the Scottish clan actually had a chance to view any of the melee. As Killian’s men came through the trees, the entire lot of them, Irish and Scottish alike, including Mary, was rendered still as stone by Alainn’s magic. Only Conner, Danhoul, and Killian wer
e immune to Alainn’s spell of stilling time.

  “What the hell is Mary doing in Scotland?” Conner asked again to no one in particular.

  “And how are we goin’ to end this without doin’ battle with the MacDonalds?” Killian questioned.

  “They’ll not back down, not till we’re all killed or the last of them is lying dead upon the ground, of that you can be certain!” Conner warned.

  “What’s to be done about it then?” Killian glanced at Conner.

  “Well, I’d gladly kill the bastard holding Mary for causing her any fearfulness and he’s seen our faces, and the others will soon see us as well. If we kill only him, the others will be certain to kill any strangers they might encounter without asking questions. You’ll know we Scots are loyal to our clans so they’ll hunt us down till we’re all dead, I’m certain of it… and the womenfolk, too, if they choose to be particularly brutal.”

  “Then ’tis clear we’ll need to kill them first!” Killian harshly concluded.

  “There will be no need of killin’ anyone!” Alainn reasoned.

  “Och, I fear we may have no other choice, Lady Alainn, for they’ll not rest till they see us all dead, for it’s a manner of honor to a Scot to not show mercy or weakness when dealing with an enemy! And horse thievery is a drastic crime, holding the grimmest of penalties. Many a man and a few women as well have met their end for such deeds. Mary knows that well enough for she was born and raised here in Scotland. Why would she attempt to steal from them?”

  They all glanced at Alainn in hopes she might enlighten them by using her magical abilities to learn the truth of it, for although she’d been advised not to employ her magic, often times she was unable to prevent premonitions or information from coming to her without summoning it, and she was clearly holding time at a standstill with her supernatural abilities.

  “Well, since we are a bit pressed for time, I’ll give you the condensed account of the happenings I can tell you from hearing Mary’s woeful thoughts. Sure Mary will tell us the tale in its entirely later.”

  Alainn sighed deeply as she began to speak.

  “She and Riley had a bitter quarrel and in his drunken state he dared to push Mary… she left in a most justified temper after Riley finally passed out from the drink. She managed to get to the Irish port and across the sea. Procuring a horse, after capably following our trail for two days, it pulled up lame and she’s been walking for some time trying to get to Conner.”

  Conner shook his head in frustrated concern, clearly furious at Riley for his abusive actions, and he went to Mary who stood so unnaturally still and placed his hand to her cheek in affection.

  “Och, my dear sweet Mary,” he whispered. “You deserve far better than the likes of your pernicious, uncaring husband but you shouldna have put yourself and your wee bairn in danger in trying to come to me.”

  “Was Mary not a MacDonald herself before she wed an Irishman?” Danhoul asked obviously hoping to find a means to end this confrontation without violence.

  “Aye, she was at that!” Conner revealed, “But this lot is from the north, and Mary is of the MacDonalds from the south.

  “And they’re not united then?” Killian concluded.

  “Och, no, they’ve no allegiance and absolutely no tolerance for one other. We’d fare better in not mentioning Mary was a MacDonald from the south.”

  “And do you suppose alerting them to the fact we are of the clan O’Brien from Ireland would see us any safer from peril?” Killian impatiently glanced at Conner, and he shook his head.

  Alainn’s face grew pained with the amount of concentration necessary to hold time at a standstill. She glanced over at Danhoul.

  “Are your powers increasing so that you may assist with the stilling of time?”

  He stared at Alainn and shrugged with some uncertainty. “I have not attempted it in many weeks!”

  “I would ask that you do so now, as I have a notion how to deal with this matter so that blood not need be shed.”

  Danhoul was most certainly aware she was not to be employing her powers to any degree, and he seemed to be focusing on doing what she suggested. She could sense he was having a certain amount of success, but she must also keep her own powers intent on stopping time as well. Danhoul might have bought her some time and a brief respite for she felt the strain in her mind lessening.

  “Tis good, Danhoul, hold it just as you are even if only for a short while.”

  With that she walked toward Mary, who was also as a statue, and she took her hand in her own. Whispering words in a mixture of druid and fairy tongue, she closed her eyes and the men watched both women disappear.

  *

  “Bloody focking hell!” Conner ranted. “Now where have they gone?”

  “I couldn’t inform you of that, for I’ve entirely no notion!” Danhoul managed, fretful of Alainn using her powers, but unable to come up with a way to contend with their present predicament without doing so.

  Before any of them had time to further ponder the endless possibilities, Alainn reappeared before them.

  Chapter Eight

  By the tense expression on Danhoul’s face, he would not be capable of holding time for much longer.

  “Where is Mary?” Conner questioned, his eyes wild with fear, but Alainn ignored his query and glanced at the man who had held Mary captor. She touched his arm and he slowly came to life once more. Though he was most certainly confused, he was also enraged and he lashed out at all around him with his dirk.

  Alainn motioned to Danhoul to release his spell and he did so, most obligingly as his concentration was surely beginning to wane.

  “Where is the woman?” MacDonald finally asked in an uncertain tone.

  “What woman?” Alainn answered.

  “Well, the one who was just here.”

  The other men from the MacDonald clan had all been reawakened. They’d charged into the clearing and now looked at their companion with doubt on their faces.

  “Did any of you see another woman?” Alainn asked.

  Some of the other men nodded but with obvious doubt and confusion on their faces.

  “The dark-haired woman, she was just here; I had her held captive for stealing our horses.”

  “Your horses have been stolen?” Conner asked as he looked toward the herd of horses grazing peacefully in the clearing.

  “No, she didna get them, not even one, for I caught her red-handed!” He spat.

  “So where is she then?” Killian quizzed the man who grew more confused by the moment.

  “She could not have gotten far for she was clearly laden with child, and I had my dirk to her throat. She could not have escaped!”

  “And are you in the habit of holdin’ women in their advancin’ term at knifepoint, then?” Killian was obviously beginning to derive some level of enjoyment in the situation now.

  The other men of the rowdy MacDonald clan seemed uncertain how to react or respond to the events or the questioning.

  “So this woman heavy with child was traipsin’ about in full darkness in this steep rocky terrain of the highlands, stealin’ horses of one of the most feared clans in all of Scotland?” Killian continued badgering the man.

  The MacDonald chieftain had listened to the exchange and must have known how unreasonable the entire account sounded. “Have ye bin at the ale then, William? Ye ken yer not to touch the brew when yer on guard duty!”

  “I’ve had not a single drop, Duncan! I swear to ye on my father’s grave!”

  Alainn knew by hearing his thoughts, the MacDonald chieftain was clearly about to forget the entire unpleasantness and believe the man was filled with drink until he uttered those magnanimously important words. She listened as he reasoned no Scot of honor would ever dare swear upon his sire’s grave, and the chieftain was now put in an undesirable position.

  If he believed the man, which he clearly had to since he had sworn on his father’s grave, he would need to accept the fact that one of his men had held a
woman in a most delicate condition at knifepoint and then would face the wrath of the Irishmen standing near him, and the Scot accompanying him. And from the size of the largely built man who was undisputedly the Irish chieftain, he well knew how to handle a sword. And though the Irishmen were outnumbered, MacDonald’s own clan had been at the drink in earnest and though they were undoubtedly skilled enough on a good day, many looked as though they could scarcely wield their swords at the moment.

  To compound the disadvantage, the man was staring at Conner and thinking he bore a striking resemblance to Conner MacLain, one of the most infamous and feared highlander outlaws in all of Scotland. She heard his thoughts as he continued reasoning about Conner. Though he might have some loyalty to Scotland, he seemed in tight with these Irishmen and there had been bad blood between the MacDonald and the MacLain clans for centuries.

  “There’s clearly no woman here, Will, and maybe it was only the lack of sleep that made you believe there was a woman here stealing our horses, perhaps you fell asleep and dreamed the entire encounter.”

  “I wouldna fall asleep when I’m the guard for the clan. The woman was here, sure as we are, and the Irishman and the other woman saw her too. How else would I know the woman was their chieftain’s cousin’s wife?”

  It was clear the other clansmen were doubtful of the man’s absurd tale, but as he elaborated and added more details, they looked at each other as though questioning whether there may be some truth to his words.

  Killian attempted to diffuse the escalating situation. “My cousin’s wife? I tell you plain if any of my cousins’ wives were here in Scotland, they would be so severely enraged, they’d possibly deal with them as unkindly as you claim to have considered for they are intolerant of such disobedient behavior and most diligent in controlling their wives, as all Irishmen are.”

  “But she was here, I swear it, Duncan!”

  Alainn was beginning to feel impatient with the man and the entire situation. She could also sense the unrest amongst the other men. It would take very little to induce a brutal battle, and she well knew the ramifications of using her powers, but to surely save many lives, she would be forced to call upon her magic yet again, to settle the conundrum.