Taken by Angeline Fortin (great books of all time TXT) 📗

“No, no.  Why would you think that?”  Dropping his hand, she took a step back, pressing two fingers to the sudden ache building at her brow.

“Och, lass,” he chided.  “Isnae it what ye said?  That ye wished ye could just get away from them all?”  Donell matched her step, catching her by the elbow just as the back of her thighs brushed the battlements and tugging her toward him.  “Och, careful now, lass. ‘Twould no’ do to fall and ruin all my efforts, now would it?”

“Efforts?  Away from them all?”  She shook her head, denying the implication of his words.  “You?  You did this?  Why?  What did I ever do to you?”

The mischief fled his gaze and concern took its place.  “Ye did nothing, lassie.  Yer nothing but kindness.  All this… ‘tis what I do for ye.  And others.  Yer no’ the only one, lassie.”

Her head still swung uncontrollably from side to side in rejection of his words.  “Only one what?  I don’t understand.”

“The only one to feel alone, lass.” he said with some exasperation.  “Ye think yer the only one who feels lacking in control?  Who feels they cannae trust anyone?”

“You think this helps?” she asked, flinging an arm toward the castle.  “You think they trust me?”

“Trust given and received needs to be earned, lass.”  His impatience was evident as he crossed his arms over his barrel-like chest but Scarlett was filled to the brim with irritation of her own.

“I don’t need you to teach me a lesson, Donell.  Send me home now!”  She stomped her foot and jabbed her finger down insistently.

Donell only compressed his lips tightly, sending out a whole new network of wrinkles to show his dissatisfaction.  “Bah, ‘tis too soon.”  He waved a hand scornfully.  “I dinnae ken what I was thinking.  I’m getting impatient in my auld age and yer no’ yet ready for more.”

“I am so ready,” she cried desperately.  “Donell… Wait!  Get back here!”

But he already turned away toward the tower.  “I will see ye again soon enough, lassie.  Ta-ra, for now.”

“What the hell?” Scarlett blinked in astonishment as he disappeared through the door with a wave.  “Oh no, you don’t!”

Dashing through the door, she found the upper hall empty but swore she heard his mischievous laughter drifting up the spiral staircase.  Snatching her skirts high, she chased after the mysterious man who claimed responsibility for her nightmare as fast as her feet could carry her but she never caught sight of him.

How could such an ancient human being be so fast?  He must be an elf to vanish into thin air like that! Down another flight and a wrong door later, she raced into the bailey just as the old man disappeared through the postern gate.

Gasping for breath, she ran after him wondering all the while how he managed to elude her when he appeared to be taking nothing more than a leisurely stroll.

Still his lead grew as he headed toward the woodlands.  Scarlett lengthened her stride as she dashed through a stand of trees but when she broke through the other side, he was gone.

Scarlett bent over, panting as she stared in disbelief.  Where the hell did he go?

Damn it, she wanted answers.

Holding her side, she continued doggedly onward around the pond, determined to find Donell make some sense out of his rambling.

24

Dusk had fallen by the time she returned to the encampment still she hadn’t seen Donell again.  It was fully dark by the time she found her way back to her tent an hour later.  Rhys was nowhere in sight, nor was Maris or even Aiden.

She didn’t worry much about Maris but where was everyone else?

“Scarlett, there you are.”  Aleizia exclaimed as she came out of the next tent.  “Where have you been?  We thought you’d gotten lost.”

It was shocking that Aleizia could scold so well when she was little more than a child herself, but the point was well made.  She’d hardly been able to find her tent and it wasn’t even mobile.  It had been like trying to find The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyworld without a map.  She wouldn’t leave it again without a GPS handy.  “I walked to the castle.  I told Rhys that.”

“You did but we never expected you to stay away so long.  Laird was worried for you.  We all were.”

“He was?”  Scarlett’s heart leapt.  “Where is he?”

“Right where he’s been all this time.  At the King’s side.”

“Oh.”  As far as excuses went, she supposed it was a pretty reasonable one.

“Come, we’ll let the men know you’re all right,” Aleizia looped her arm through Scarlett’s arm tugged her away down the tented lane.  “They’re all at the King’s table this night but I know they’ll want to see that you’re back safe and sound.”

King’s tent wasn’t far away.  The quality of the tents got more elaborate as they neared.  Aleizia explained that the clan chieftains, lairds, lords and earls would be closer to their monarch.  Scarlett equated it to the Beverly Hills of the encampment.

“…And I welcome my friends from Clan Hay and the other border lords who hae today answered the call of their King and country.”

King James voice boomed out as they reached the fringes of a clearing around the most elaborate tent Scarlett had seen yet.  Silken luxury meets the big top.  Before it, King James sat at the head of a long table with at least fifty men dining with him, though no ladies were present.  Clearly they were talking business.

“Yer King thanks ye one and all for yer service.  Tomorrow we shall cross the Tweed into England.”

Scarlett was hard-pressed to give the King even an ounce of her attention as she scanned the men lining the table and spotted Laird sitting about half way down the opposite side with Patrick, Rhys and Sir William.

His eyes lifted and met hers immediately, as if he had felt her gaze upon him.