Gavin took a furious step toward him. “That’ll never happen.”
“Kill yourself.”
“What?”
“Take your sword and run yourself through.”
“Never.”
“Do it or I kill her.”
Heather squirmed in Keir’s grip. “Don’t do it, Gavin.”
Gavin looked at the sword. “And if I do this, you’ll let her go?”
“You have my word.”
“Don’t do it!” Heather cried out. “Gavin, don’t you listen to him.”
“Do it,” Keir snapped. “Either you die or she does.”
“Heather,” Gavin said, looking her straight in the eye. “I want you to ken that I love you.”
“Don’t do it,” she said again. “Please!”
“I love you with all my heart and before this ends I need you to do one thing for me.” He glanced at the ground in front of him, taking a deep breath, steadying himself.
“Get on with it,” Keir snapped.
“Do me one thing. Promise me you’ll do this for me.”
“What is it?” Heather asked.
“Duck.” As he said it, he dipped into a forward roll, grabbing the arrow Keith threw over to him. By the time he straightened up he had the arrow notched on his bow. He didn’t pause to aim, firing so fast Keir barely had time to work out what was happening.
Heather stamped on Keir’s foot in the same instant, loosening his grip on her enough to drop to the ground. The arrow flew through the air, brushing the top of her head, throwing Keir backward as it struck him in the chest. He looked down at the arrow sticking out of him, unable to believe what had happened.
Gavin ran forward, grabbing Heather as Keir fell to the ground face first. “Are you all right?” he asked, running his hands over her dress. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, throwing her arms around him. “Thank you.”
He kissed her, holding her face in his hands, hardly able to believe it was over. Around him the outlaws were running, chased off by the Frazers. The battle was over.
The men began cheering. From the cave, people emerged looking bewildered then happy. They smiled as they saw Gavin standing with Heather. Behind them Mungo was climbing up the hill, cheering as loudly as the rest. “You did it,” Mungo said, slapping Gavin on the back. “The fight is done.”
“Thanks to this one,” Gavin replied, shaking Keith’s hand. “You’re becoming a squire, my lad.”
“Thank you, my laird.” Keith grinned so wide his eyes were watering.
“It’s not over yet,” a woman’s voice said from the darkness of the cave. Gavin looked as Tanya emerged, looking sorrowfully at the dead bodies stretched out on the ground. “There is one more battle left to fight.”
“The old crone,” Gavin said. “Where is she?”
“She ran when the tide turned your way.”
“Where’s she gone?”
“To her cave. You must finish this, Gavin. You and Heather.”
Bruce held up a hand. “The old crone cannot be killed by a mortal blade. I say we let her stay in the cave, maybe block the entrance up.”
“She will return,” Tanya said, shaking her head. “We must deal with her now.”
Bruce shook his head. “How? There is no mortal blade that can harm her.”
“The knife Gavin holds in his hand is no mortal blade.”
Gavin looked down. It looked like any other dagger. “This?” he asked, waving it through the air. “What’s so special about it?”
Tanya came over, lowering her voice so only Gavin and Heather could hear. “Forged by the druids who made the six keys. That’s why Tony wants the knife. He is what the witches call a collector.”
“He said it was to stop people dying,” Heather said, sounding shocked.
“It was to get the knife. With it he can slice through time. Go wherever he wants.”
“Why not come back and get it himself if he’s that bothered about it?”
“The key wouldn’t work for him. It had to be you, Heather. Now listen. The two of you need to go deal with the old crone. The knife is the only thing that can hurt her but remember, there are more ways of dealing with people than through bloodshed. Go now before she moves elsewhere.”
“Dinnae go,” Bruce said. “You have done more than enough. Let someone else deal with her.”
“This is my responsibility,” Gavin replied, shaking his hand firmly.
“Our responsibility,” Heather added, placing her hand on top, looking at Gavin. “Where you go, I go.”
Bruce looked as if he was about to say something but then he merely shook his head. “You always were a stubborn one.”
“Taught by the best,” Gavin said with a smile. “Take the clan back to the castle. We will see you there if God wills it.”
He whistled and Lairdkiller came trotting up the hillside a moment later. Turning to Heather he held out a hand. “Ready?”
She nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s do this.”
He helped her onto the horse before climbing up behind her. “Just one thing,” he said, looking down at Tanya.
“What?”
“Where are we going?”
Tanya laughed. “You have seen her cave already, remember?”
Gavin thought hard. “Where she was talking to Jimmy the Snout?”
“Exactly.”
“Then we’ll see you soon.”
“Hopefully.”
He urged Lairdkiller down the hillside, leaving his clan behind.
“How long will it take to get there?” Heather asked.
“We should be there by this evening if we ride hard,” he replied.
He made his way through the battlefield, making sure to avoid the bodies. “So much bloodshed,” he said, noting the MacGregor dead among the outlaws. “All because of me.”
“No,” Heather replied. “This was not your fault, it was hers.”
Gavin nodded, not sure if he believed her. He wanted to, but it was hard. He had sworn an oath to protect his clan and he’d failed them. He could only hope that he could right that wrong with this final fight.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.
Heather was silent for a while before answering. The light faded as they reached the wood and began to weave between the trees. “Do you remember what you said when Keir was holding me?”
“Perhaps.”
“You said you love me.”
“Aye.”
“Did you mean it or was it just to distract him?”
“I meant it, Heather. I love you. I’ve loved you for longer than I realized. I think since the first moment I saw you.”
“Really?” She looked back at him, a smile spreading across her lips.
“You sound surprised.”
“No, it’s just. I…” She stopped for a moment before continuing. “I love you too.”
It was his turn to smile, leaning forward to kiss her, not easy on horseback. “Will you marry me?” he asked. “Cement the alliance between the MacGregors and the Frazers?”
“Ask me afterward,” she replied. “I don’t want to tempt fate after all it’s done for me.”
He tried to keep the disappointment from his face. “Very well.”
“Tell me something,” she said as an awkward silence fell. “What are we going to do when we get to the cave?”
“I have a plan.”
They talked for the entire journey. Once the plan was decided, she asked about him running off from the cave. Gavin told her about his trip to the castle. He explained what had happened with Mungo, the spell he was under.
Heather in turn told him all that had happened while he was gone. After they had caught up, the talk turned to the future. It was not easy to talk about as he knew much was riding on what happened when they reached the cave.
The sun was setting when they finally arrived. Gavin tied up Lairdkil
ler at the top of the glen, leaving him to stamp his feet nervously as they headed down toward the cave. The sense of evil was as strong as last time.
The remains of the fire was still there as was the man he’d killed with the bow last time. The smell of his moldering body made Heather retch as they passed by.
“Are you ready?” Gavin asked when they reached the cave entrance. “You can stay here if you wish. I will go in alone.”
She took his hand in hers. “I will not leave your side no matter what the danger.”
A mocking laughter echoed out from the cave. “You bring me the key,” the old crone said, her voice coming from far in the darkness. “After all this, you simply bring me the key.”
“It’s right here,” Heather shouted, bringing it out from her bag as Gavin turned and ran. “Come and get it.”
19
Heather stood alone at the mouth of the cave. No sooner had she called for the old crone to come out than Gavin had run off.
From far within the cave the mocking laughter grew louder. “Left you alone,” the old crone called, her voice shrill. “Never mind, my dear. I’ll look after you.”
Heather stood perfectly still, hoping she looked braver than she felt. From the darkness in front of her a figure emerged. The old crone was shuffling slowly forward. She looked much older than she had before. “How old are you?” Heather asked as she appeared at the mouth of the cave.
“You should know better than to ask a woman her age,” the old crone replied, wagging her finger as she came out. “Where is the key, my dear?”
“I have it,” Heather replied. “Will you tell me something before I hand it over?”
“Very well,” the old crone sighed, hands rubbing greedily together. “I will answer one question. You better make it a good one.”
“Why do you hate the MacGregors so much?”
The old crone threw back her head and laughed. “The clan that locked up my husband all those years ago. The clan that sealed my son up in a tomb from which he can never escape. You want to know why I hate them so much? Why do you think?”
“I think you’re afraid of them.”
She laughed even louder than before. “You think I’m afraid of the MacGregors?”
“You ran away when the battle turned. You didn’t fight. You’re afraid of them.”
“If I’m afraid of them, why did I take their castle?”
“You didn’t take it. Mungo Frazer did.”
“I told him what to do!” She looked furious, the first flash of color appearing in her cheeks. “How dare you question me. You have no idea what I’ve been through to get my hands on one of those keys.”
The anger faded from her eyes and she seemed to shrink, looking awful pitiful as her shoulders sagged. “All I want is to embrace my husband again. Is that too much to ask?”
“What then?”
“Excuse me?”
“Once you have the key and you free your husband from captivity, what then?”
The old crone took a step forward, a smile playing across her lips. “Why then we kill every last MacGregor so that their bloodline fades from the world forever.”
“And then what?”
“Then we take our rightful place on the throne on top of the world. Enough questions. Give me the key.”
Heather took a step back. She was almost in the right place. “Come and get it.”
The old crone shuffled out into the dying light. “Don’t make me run after you,” she hissed. “I’ll take both your feet off for your cheek. Give me the key, now. I’ve waited long enough.”
Heather didn’t move.
“You hate the MacGregors too,” the old crone said, reaching out with her hand. “I can feel it in your bones. You’ve hated Gavin MacGregor all your life. This is your chance. Work with me and together we can rule this world. Your mortal enemy will be gone. Your family line will be restored. How good will that be? Don’t you want your family to be happy? Just give me the key and the Frazers will be given all of the highlands.”
“I don’t want all the highlands,” Heather said, pulling the key out and holding it in front of her face. “I just want him.”
“Who? Gavin? The great coward who ran off the first chance he got?”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Heather said, keeping the old crone’s attention on the key. “He didn’t run off.”
“Where is he then?”
“Right above you.”
The old crone looked up in time to see Gavin plunging the dagger into a crack in the rocks above the cave entrance, pushing down with all his might. There was a rumble and at once the boulders began to fall straight toward the old crone’s head. She lunged for the key, screaming with rage.
Heather felt bony fingers brushing her palm but then in the blink of an eye they were gone. The entrance of the cave was no longer there, it was buried behind a pile of rubble.
“Where did she go?” she asked, coughing as a plume of dust rose from the ground.
“Under there,” Gavin replied, emerging from the dust cloud, brushing himself down as he came.
“She tried to reach the key.”
“Aye and that was what killed her. If she’d moved the other way, she would have survived.”
“Do you think she’s really dead. You heard the stories about her.”
“She’s dead. Look.”
Heather looked where Gavin was pointing. A foot was sticking out from under one of the boulders. It twitched three times and then fell still.
“Talk about the wicked witch of the west,” Heather said. “Or was it the east?” Gavin frowned at her. “Never mind. Is she really dead do you think?”
Gavin nudged the foot. It didn’t move. “Aye. She’s dead.”
“Then let’s get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
Gavin whistled. Lairdkiller appeared at the top of the glen, neighing loudly and tossing his head from side to side.
“Can we ride him in the dark?” Heather asked.
“He kens the way back to his stable. He’ll get the finest oats tonight. He’s earned them.”
As they rode back down the mountainside, the light died. The moon emerged from a cloudless sky, illuminating the way in shades of gray and black. Heather leaned back, Gavin’s arm around her. She nestled into his chest, hardly able to believe it was all over.
“Happy?” he asked as she looked up at him.
“Very,” she replied.
“Then perhaps you might answer my question.”
“I just did, didn’t I?”
“Not that question. The other one.”
“Refresh my memory.”
He smiled down at her. “Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will, you great oaf.”
He kissed her then, the noises of the night fading away around them. Only the moon bore witness to their first kiss as husband and wife to be.
They made it back to the castle in time for breakfast. Already the Frazers and MacGregors were working together, clearing the rubble from ruined buildings, clearing the courtyard of the remains of the siege.
A cheer went up as Gavin and Heather rode in through the open gate. Tanya and Bruce were standing outside the chapel, watching as they dismounted. Lairdkiller was led to the stable as Tanya came over, throwing her arms around Heather. “You’re alive.”
“You thought I might not be?”
“I had my doubts.”
“What happened?” Bruce asked.
“She came out of the cave and tried to get the key.”
“And? Don’t keep us waiting. What happened next?”
“Gavin hid above the cave and used the knife to slice through the rocks above the entrance. They crumbled at once, crushing her underneath.”
Tanya beamed. “I knew you could do it. Heather Frazer, you’ve saved us all.”
“He helped,” Heather replied, nodding toward Gavin. “A little bit, I guess. Mostly me though.” She stuck her tongue out at Gav
in as he mock scowled back at her.
“Tell them the other thing,” Gavin said. “Or do you want to keep it secret?”
“You tell them. You’re the laird.”
“What is it?” Tanya asked. “What happened?”
“We’re getting married,” they said at once.
The entire clan seemed to hear. An enormous cheer went up around the courtyard. Heather felt a hand slapping her shoulder and turned to find Mungo Frazer smiling at her.
“So you’re marrying this old fool then?” he asked.
“Hey,” Gavin replied. “I may be a fool but I’m not that old. Not disappointed I didn’t pick Catherine or Amelia?”
“Good God, no. They both hate you.” He turned to Heather. “I hear you’re a Frazer. I’m not sure I’ve seen you before. Are you from my castle? Or somewhere more distant?”
“A bit more distant,” she replied, seeing Gavin trying not to laugh behind Mungo.
“So we’re family. Frazers and MacGregors united. This calls for a celebration. A feast must be had!”
“Any excuse to eat my food,” Gavin replied.
“Are you saying I’m fat?”
“Not at all, I’m just saying I can’t see the keep behind you.”
“Why, that’s just like a MacGregor.”
They all laughed as Gavin said, “Come on, let’s go see what’s left in the kitchens.”
The feast went on long into the night. Heather lost all track of time. One course followed another, all of them accompanied by copious quantities of wine and ale. It felt as if every member of the two clans congratulated her personally on the engagement. She tried to remember their names but there were just too many of them.
Gavin went around the room, talking to one group of people after another. She watched him, unable to stop smiling. She had never felt so happy. They’d gone from a morning where she was certain she would die to a night where all was well with the world. There was only one thing she felt sorry about.
She slipped the key into her hand, looking down at it and thinking hard.
“I know what you’re pondering,” a woman’s voice said behind her. She looked up to see Tanya slipping into the chair next to hers. “Now is not the time.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything.”
The Key to His Castle: A Clean Time Travel Romance (Clan MacGregor Book 5) Page 18