Secret of the Wolf (Silver Wolves MC Book 2) by Sky Winters (28)

The party was getting ready to move out when Kareena slipped into the stables. She waited till they had mounted their horses and started for the gates before she saddled Frazier and joined them. She stayed at the back with the horses, keeping her head down and eyes sharp for anything that might give her away. Earnan Baird was leading the small group and Kareena prayed that he was not an observant man. Just to be safe she had a dagger hidden in the waistband of her britches.

As they passed through the keep, she could feel the castle’s shadow looming over her in farewell. Just as they were passing through the gates Kareena looked up and caught Meghan’s eyes fastened on her. She gave her a small smile of farewell.

“Be safe,” Meghan mouthed.

Kareena nodded as she passed through the castle’s gates, leaving it behind forever.

 

Chapter Five

 

They made excellent progress. By twilight, the party had travelled well into the forests and they were only a day away from reaching Elsick castle. Kareena did not wish to disengage herself from the group until they had cleared the forests. She was impatient to be away from them but common sense told her that to separate now would put her at risk. The forests were quiet but they were dangerous. Wild animals prowled the land, especially at night and Kareena did not wish to be alone if she happened upon one of them.

The forest was alive with the soft ever-changing glow of the sun’s last rays before it disappeared for the day. Kareena was starting to believe that she could escape without anyone ever noticing her. The horses were a great means of camouflage.

“That’ll do for today,” Earnan called out gruffly as he held up his hand, halting the group. “We’ll make camp ‘ere and head out early on the morrow.”

The men grouped together while the horses surrounded them. In the chaos of setting up camp, Kareena managed to avoid notice. She helped where she could and made sure the horses were properly fed and watered. The men were exhausted and that meant Kareena was safe. They were just about to sit down to an early supper when a noise in the distance caught their attention. Earnan Baird sat up; his face wore an expression of intense concentration. He was almost completely bald, making his translucent eyes that much more prominent.

“Shut it the lot o’ ye,” he barked and everyone fell silent. “There’s something in the woods this night.”

“Tis just a wild animal,” a younger man said with casual indifference.

“I thought I told ye to shut it,” Earnan shot back. “Shut your mouth and open your ears. Those aren’t paws you hear, those are wings.”

A sudden panic caught a hold of Kareena. Her eyes strained into the distance trying to catch some movement but she could see little in the fast fading light. Earnan rose slowly. He was slightly hunched, but he still looked deadly. He reached for his bow as his eyes darted around the forest.

“There,” Earnan said suddenly, pointing east, a few metres away from where the group had set up camp. Kareena stifled a gasp as she recognized the dragon that had crossed her path only days before. “Hurry up,” Earnan shouted. “We might be able to catch that dragon once and for all.”

Earnan mounted the nearest horse in one quick move and raced after the dragon. His men mimicked him and Kareena was forced to do the same. She knew she should have stayed back and bided her time, but she could not bear to think of that dragon cold and lifeless. It was not the type of animal that should fall prey to a hunter’s arrow. It was the kind of animal that deserved to live wild and roam free.

“It’s him, the beast,” Earnan roared from the front of the pack. “And we are going to be the ones who catch him.”

Kareena spurred her horse faster. The further in they moved, the thicker the growth of trees became. Darkness came creeping in and at some point during the chase Earnan slowed, until the small party were bunched together. Kareena hoped that the dragon had lost them, but she could smell it close by. It was hiding.

“I think we lost it,” one of the men said cautiously.

“No,” Earnan said confidently. “It’s here. This animal is a smart one, but I’m smarter.”

Kareena caught sight of the dragon at the same time that Earnan did. His body stiffened immediately as his face broke out into a wide grin. “We’ve got it now.”

Slowly, he reached back towards his quiver and pulled out a long arrow. He aimed for the dragon; Kareena could see the rise and fall of his chest. She acted without thinking. Instinct was all it was, she screamed as she rode her horse directly into Earnan’s. Startled, his horse bucked, sending him and his bow and arrow flying onto the forest’s musky ground. The riders that surrounded him scattered in obvious shock and confusion, allowing the dragon the opportunity to fly out of sight into the darkness.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Earnan all but bellowed.

He stood fast, his eyes darting around frantically for the person who had toppled him. His translucent eyes fell on Kareena and she felt a shiver of fear race through her. Earnan came forward and before she could stop him, he had pulled her off her horse. His hand was painful around her wrist as he pulled her towards him.

“You look familiar,” he said angrily as his eyes studied her face.

Kareena tried to turn her face away, but Earnan grabbed her jaw and pulled it up to face him. He frowned at her before then realization dawned. He pushed her back, releasing his hold on her wrist. Then he grabbed the coat that was wrapped around her shoulders and pulled it off her.

“Well, well,” he said with a growing smirk. “We have a runaway lass on our hands.”

Kareena tried to back away but she found herself surrounded. “You stay away from me,” she said threateningly.

“You’re a plucky lass if ever I saw one,” Earnan said with a leer. “Let’s see how brave you really are.”

He came forward and tried to grab at her but Kareena put her hands on his chest and shoved as hard as she could. He stumbled back but he didn’t loose his footing. “Grab her,” Earnan barked to the men that surrounded the both of them. They descended around her. Knowing she was surrounded and outnumbered, Kareena reached for the dagger she had hidden earlier that day.

Earnan came forward again and this time, Kareena let him get a hold of her. He had just relaxed when she swiped at him with the dagger. He jumped back but Kareena knew she had managed to cut through his shirt. She might even have managed to give him a flesh wound. Either way, she didn’t hesitate to find out. Taking advantage of his shock, she pushed him back and jumped over him as she ran into the dark forests. Almost immediately she heard an enraged scream and the sound of running footsteps just behind her. Thankful for her britches, Kareena ran faster than she had ever run before.

“Split up and find her,” Kareena heard Earnan scream.

Kareena knew that at least one man was on the right track. He was directly behind her and gaining quickly. The moon gave her some measure of light, but her eyes were already tired from the long day and straining as hard as they were able. She screamed as her foot caught on a large stone that she had not seen, sending her flying, face first onto hard, dry earth.

Kareena moaned as she realized that her left ankle was twisted. She forced herself into a standing position but she realized immediately that she wouldn’t be able to run. Still, Kareena limped forward, trying to put as much distance between her and the party. Her breath caught as she heard thick footsteps just behind her. She turned in time to see one of the men step between the trees. He was one of the younger ones, with a short dark ponytail and buckteeth.

“Got ye,” he said giving her a smile. “Lucky me.”

“Stay away from me,” Kareena hissed as she backed away slowly.

He laughed darkly. “Earnan is waiting to get his hands on you,” he said. “But since I was the one who found you, I think my hands should be first.” With that, he tore at her blouse exposing her supple breasts to the night air. He licked his lips as he ground his body against her, and began to lift up her skirt. He began to fumble with his trousers.

Kareena still had her dagger on her. She was about to reach for it when the sound of a firestorm made her jump back. From the roving darkness came the large form of a great dragon. Kareena could see the sharp points of the dragon’s mane as it bent its head and charged straight for the man advancing on her. Kareena watched in shock, as the dragon sent him running back the way he had come, screaming at the top of his lungs. Before she could process what had just happened, the dragon re-appeared. 

“Thank you,” Kareena said under her breath automatically.

The dragon bowed its head in answer and came slowly towards her.

“This is so… strange,” Kareena muttered, as she looked the dragon in the eye.

The dragon turned and walked back into the thicket of trees and instinctively, Kareena followed it. They walked for a short while before the dragon led her to a little grove that was shielded by trees on one side and rock on the other. The rocks were arranged into the opening of a cave. 

The dragon stopped right outside it and looked at Kareena pointedly. By this point, Kareena’s leg was throbbing with pain. Her body ached with fatigue and her palms were slightly bruised from when she had tripped over and fallen. Kareena did not have the energy to think about it. She lay down inside the tiny cave, realizing that moss had been used to create a soft bed. She lay her head down and within minutes, she was fast asleep. The last thing she was aware of before she lost herself to her dreams was the dragon standing over her like a sentry.

Chapter Six

 

Kareena woke up the next morning with her thoughts in a scrambled mess. For a moment she thought she was still at Northwick castle and then in slow fragments, the previous night started coming to her.

She sat up fast, taking in the grass and moss that she was surrounded by. Her body still ached but it was significantly better than the night before. The bruises on her hands ached, but she could easily ignore the pain. She crawled out of the cave and stood carefully before she realized that her twisted ankle had been bandaged expertly so that there was barely any pain attached to it.

“Where am I?” Kareena asked out loud.

“Quite close to the Elsick mounth actually,” a deep voice replied, startling Kareena.

She looked to her side and saw a tall man in a blue kilt and white shirt, standing there leaning against a tree. He had broad shoulders but he was lean, almost panther like. His face was long, drawn in at the cheeks, highlighting the prominence of his cheekbones. His eyes were a deep, summery brown that was the exact same colour as his wild, sightly overgrown hair that hugged the lines of his neck. He straightened himself and walked towards her. His movements were graceful and strangely familiar.

It hit Kareena all at once and her eyes roved over his face trying to make sense of what her head was telling her. “It can’t be,” she whispered.

He smiled. “It’s nice to finally speak to you.”

“This can’t be,” Kareena repeated again.

“My name is Lysander,” he said gently.

“Were you… is it possible that you…. were the dragon from last night?”

“Aye,” he replied. “’Twas me.”

Kareena took a deep breath and stepped back. “How is that even possible?”

“You’re a Scottish lass,” he replied. “Don’t you believe in magic?”

Kareena shook her head. “Those are only myths.”

“Every myth contains a wee bit of truth,” he said, his eyes twinkled when he spoke.

“You… turn into a dragon?” Kareena said, trying to wrap her head around the remarkable reality.

“Aye,” Lysander nodded. “Every night as the sun sets.”

“This is unbelievable.”

Lysander smiled. “Ye get used to it lass.”

“It’s Kareena.”

“Well let’s get some food in your belly Kareena,” Lysander said. “Or you’ll keel over.”

He turned and started walking, forcing Kareena to follow him. After a short time, they came to a large river. Despite its size, the water coursing through flowed at an even pace, it was peaceful and extremely clear. As they approached, Kareena spied fish swimming downstream. Kareena noticed the remains of a used campfire next to the river. There was a spit hanging over the dead fire.

She watched in amazement as Lysander waded into the river. His hand flashed into the water at lightning speed and when he withdrew it, a plump silver fish was struggling in his palm. He walked back out and speared the fish with the spit before laying it over the dried logs and tree bark. He grabbed two sharp stones and struck them together, igniting a spark of fire almost immediately. Kareena lowered herself down as Lysander joined her.

She examined the fish on the fire, but every few seconds she stole glances in Lysander’s direction. He was a handsome lad, well built and strong. He instantly intrigued her but she was also intensely aware of the strange intimacy that sat between them. Her own emotions confused her. She had just met this man, and yet, sitting opposite him in the cold morning air, opposite a gently burning fire, she felt as though she had known him for years.

“Did I thank you?” Kareena asked.

“You did,” Lysander smiled. “But I haven’t yet thanked you. You saved my life. If it hadn’t been for you, I would have been mounted on a wall.”

Kareena nodded in acknowledgement.

“Can I ask you a question?” Lysander asked.

“Aye.”

“Why did you do it? You obviously needed to keep your identity hidden. Saving me cost you your cover.”

“Aye,” Kareena nodded. “But I couldn’t just let them kill you.”

“But why?” Lysander persisted. “As far as you knew, I was just an animal in the wood.”

“There was something different about you,” Kareena tried to explain. “Something that made me want to protect you.”

Lysander smiled. “Curious.”

“What is?” Kareena asked.

Lysander shook his head. “Nothing,” he said as he checked the fish roasting on the spit. “Are you going to tell me why you were in disguise?”

Kareena sighed. “I was leaving Kinross, and I wasn’t going to be able to leave without covering up my identity.”

Lysander’s eyes rose in a question. Kareena hesitated for a moment but she answered his unspoken question. “My last name is McNeil of clan McNeil.”

“Why would Lord McNeil’s daughter wish to leave her home and family?” Lysander asked curiously.

“Because I am not really apart of the family,” Kareena replied. “I am illegitimate.” The words tasted bitter as they came out of her mouth but Lysander’s expression did not change and that gave her some measure of comfort. “I was tired of being an outsider in my own home. It was only then that I realized Kinross was never going to be my home. That was when I decided to leave. The night I first met you was the night I made the decision.”

“Do you regret leaving?” Lysander asked.

“No.”

“Then ‘twas the right decision.”

Kareena smiled. “Are you going to tell me…?”

“About my condition?” Lysander finished for her.

“Aye.”

“It is a tale fit for legend,” Lysander said making light of the story before his face fell into seriousness. “Before my mother, my father was betrothed to another. She was a lady from a noble family and she was said to possess great powers. My father believed none of this however, which was perhaps the reason he allowed himself to fall in love with another.”

“Your mother?” Kareena guessed.

“Aye,” Lysander nodded. “He cast aside his betrothed because of the love he held for my mother and they were married instead.”

Kareena was beginning to understand. “She cursed you?”

“She cursed my mother,” Lysander replied. “Not only would her first born transform into a monster each night, but she would never have any more children. She wanted to make sure that Clan Maclver would die after my father. She knew that I could never lead the clan in my condition.”

“Clan Maclver?” Kareena breathed. “You are…”

“Lysander Maclver,” he replied. “Of clan Maclver.”

Kareena nodded as she processed that, realizing just how much was at stake for Lysander. In one sense she felt a kinship sit between them. She might be illegitimate where he was not, but they were both outsiders who had no control over their fates.

“That must be a great weight on your shoulders,” Kareena breathed. “Can nothing be done?”

“They took me to see a healer on the other side of Scotland when I was a boy, and my transformations had just begun. She took my father’s money and gave me potions that changed nothing. Then she turned up at the castle threatening to tell the clan of my plight if we did not give her money and land. After that, my parents were so terrified that people would find out that they kept my condition a secret.”

“What happened to the false healer?” Kareena asked.

Lysander turned his head down. “I have a fairly good idea, because she disappeared for good after that.”

“And now?”

“And now my father is ailing badly,” Lysander said his eyes growing distance, weighted down by sadness and worry. “I don’t know how long he will linger… but it won’t be for long. And then…. I don’t know what will become of us. Clan Maclver will perish and another will rise in its place.”

Kareena saw the look on his face when he said the words and she knew that the loss of his clan was a knife in his chest. She wondered how he felt, knowing where he belonged and yet being barred from the future that was rightfully his. She watched as he leaned forward and gingerly removed the fish from atop the fire. It was obvious he had years of practice.

“Do you know who you are?” Kareena asked. “Even when you’re a dragon?”

“I do,” Lysander nodded. “It is part of my curse. I can never forget who I am.”

Kareena had never been given many choices in life. She was born as the daughter of a great lord and though he had not been unkind to her, he had never treated her as he did his other children. No matter what she did, she could not change that. Looking at Lysander now, she wondered if she had the power to help him.

“Lysander?”

“Aye?”

“Do you want to be clan chief after your father?” she asked seriously as their eyes locked onto one another.

He nodded. “Aye, I do.”

Kareena nodded. “Then I will try to help you,” she said with determination.

He wrinkled his brows, surprised at her bold claim. “How can you help?”

“I have a book that might help me,” Kareena admitted. The moment the words were out of mouth she realized that her bag was strapped to Frasier’s side and she had left both behind when she had raced after the men on the hunt.

“What’s wrong?” Lysander asked immediately.

“I left my things back at the campsite,” Kareena said shaking her head in frustration. “The book among them.”

“Don’t worry lass,” he said. “I’ll make sure you get that book back.”

His smile was wide and uninhibited, Kareena found it hard to turn her eyes away from him. She kept trying to make sense of the charged atmosphere that surrounded the both of them but she was scared of what she might discover.

“What’s on your mind lass?” Lysander’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Just dreams I’ve been having of late,” Kareena replied honestly.

“Dreams of a dragon?”

Kareena looked up fast. “How did you know that?”

He smiled. “I’ve been having dreams myself of late.”

“What are they about?”

“A beautiful lass with flaming red hair,” he answered.

Kareena felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. She accepted the piece of fish he passed to her without meeting his eye. “Have you really been dreaming of me?”

“Aye,” Lysander replied in all seriousness. “I thought they were just dreams… and then I saw you in the forests that day and I knew it was you I had been dreaming of.”

“How is that possible?” Kareena asked. “We’ve never met before.”

“Aye,” Lysander nodded. “But perhaps we were always meant to.”

“I never believed in fate,” Kareena said as she chewed on her fish. It was salty and warm and smelled of home.

“I would reconsider lass.” Lysander asked. “Fate is sitting at this campfire between us. How else could you explain our strange meeting?”

Kareena smiled absentmindedly as her thoughts flitted over the last few days. “Perhaps you’re right,” she conceded.

“I am right,” Lysander said as he rose. “And I’ll prove it to you in time. For now, we should get moving.”

“Where are we going?” Kareena asked.

“To Elsick castle,” Lysander replied as he held out his hand for Kareena.

 

Chapter Seven

 

Elsick castle was similar to Northwick castle. It had high walls, towers, crenelated battlements and walls that were made of grey stone. The keep was considerably larger however and its construction was slightly more sophisticated. Kareena could tell immediately that Lysander was intensely proud of it.

They walked through the castle’s wide, airy corridors until they reached the apothecary. It was larger than the one that Kareena was used to but it was significantly more disorganized. Kareena walked around the tables and store cupboards realizing that they had been severely neglected.

“We haven’t had luck with our healers,” Lysander explained. “They stay but a moon’s turn and then they’re gone.”

“You’ve got a wealth of ingredients here,” Kareena pointed out. “More than we had at Northwick Castle.”

“It means nothing if there’s no healer here to make use of them,” Lysander said looking around. “Sometimes I wonder if that wasn’t a part of the curse too.”

Kareena turned to him. “I can’t promise to get rid of this curse completely, but I can at least give it my best try.”

Lysander smiled. “Thank you Kareena.”

Kareena dipped her head down in response.

“What do you need?” Lysander asked as he moved closer.

Kareena felt her nerves creep up on her and she wondered momentarily what had given her the courage to offer to come up with a cure for Lysander’s condition. Her own resolve surprised her and she wondered if her infatuation with Lysander’s wild features did not have something to do with it. She shook the thought from her head and focused her attention on Lysander’s warm, brown eyes.

“I’ll need garlic and oxgall,” Kareena replied. “The oxgall will need to be fresh.”

Lysander nodded as he took in her instructions. “What else?”

“Rosemary leaves and anise seeds,” Kareena said after some thought. “I don’t know if I’ll use them… but I’ll need them here if I decide to.”

Lysander shuffled around the space. “I think we have everything but the oxgall.”

“Good,” Kareena said as he handed her a jar filled with anise seeds. “I will have to work blind. I’m going to use ingredients based on the remedies I’ve worked with before. Rosemary to ease pain, anise seeds for resilience and oxgall for physical strength.”

“That sounds… like a difficult job,” Lysander said as he eyed the ingredients Kareena had laid out in front of her.

“Aye,” she nodded. “But there is no other way.”

Kareena spent the rest of the day sorting through the apothecary and arranging everything into their respective store cupboards. Lysander stayed with her, acting as her helper as he spoke about his life and all the complications that came from living with his condition.

“I could never get close to anyone,” Lysander said. “I knew I could never share my secret with them and that meant I spent most of my life alone.”

“I know what that feels like,” Kareena said. “Loneliness is the worst feeling in the world.”

“Aye,” Lysander nodded. “It can easily turn you bitter if you let it. It might have nearly consumed me if…”

He trailed off making Kareena curious.

“If...?” she nudged.

“If I hadn’t started dreaming of you,” he finished, a shyness creeping into his tone.

Kareena wrinkled her brows together. “How long have you been having those dreams Lysander?”

“Nigh on two years now,” he replied.

Kareena could only stare at him in shock. “That long?”

“Aye,” he nodded. “They kept me sane.”

“Is that why…” Kareena said mostly to herself.

“What?”

Kareena looked up. “I feel as though I have known you for years.”

Lysander smiled. “Tis exactly how I feel as well.”

Kareena didn’t bother asking how that was possible. Her belief had expanded greatly in the last day or so. It was amazing how much more mysterious and intricate the world seemed to her now. Around midday, Lysander excused himself and disappeared into his large castle. Kareena tried to ignore the creeping feeling of emptiness that snuck up on her the moment he left the room, as though all the light had been sucked from her world.

Kareena shook her head and chastised herself harshly. Lysander was a Maclver; he was heir to his clan and son of a great Lord. She was just the bastard daughter of one and that difference could not be overlooked. She threw herself into her work, repeating to herself that their dreams meant nothing. It was just wishful thinking on the part of two young people whose loneliness had all but consumed them.

When Lysander came back that evening, Kareena noticed a tired old bag hanging from his shoulder. She darted to him in amazement. “How –

“The delivery party from Kinross just arrived,” Lysander, replied.

“Of course,” Kareena said having completely forgotten about the supplies and horses they were bringing down for Lord Maclver. “How did you manage to get it away from them?”

“I made sure the men had plenty of ale after their long journey,” Lysander replied with a smirk. “They didn’t notice a thing.”

Kareena removed the book from her underskirt and flipped through its pages. She happened upon a remedy that would prevent a foreign illness from taking hold. “I didn’t understand this when I first saw this remedy,” she said to Lysander. “But I’m hoping this is exactly what you need.”

She moved to the table where she had set out all her ingredients and examined everything. “I should be able to make a batch of the remedy in a few days.”

“You’re a Godsend,” he said with a smile. “And I wish I could stay –

“You’re not staying?” Kareena asked in surprise.

His smile grew sad. “The sun will set soon Kareena,” he reminded her.

The reality of his situation settled over Kareena. “I’m going to save you,” she said suddenly, filled with renewed determination.

Lysander came closer. “You don’t understand lass… you already have.”

Then he leaned down and kissed her.

 

Chapter Eight

 

Being with Lysander was the single most intoxicating thing that Kareena had ever experienced. It was a frustrating contrast of thrilling passion and choking disappointment. When he touched her, she felt waves of pleasure scale up her body, but it did not last long, for dusk settled over them soon enough and he was forced to leave her side.

The remedy took Kareena longer than a few days. She stayed in the apothecary, mostly hidden from the eyes of the castle, struggling to find the perfect balance between the book’s instructions and her own experience and instinct. Lysander spent as much time with her as possible and though she loved his company, he tended to distract her from her task.

It amazed Kareena how familiar being with Lysander was to her. From the way he liked to play with her hair while she worked or the way he kissed the nape of her neck in the mornings when he first saw her, everything was new but there was a familiarity there born of a relationship far older than theirs. Kareena was not sure if that was because of their shared dreams or their shared isolation, but the intimacy she experienced with Lysander made her believe in both fate and magic.

The euphoria she felt when Lysander was around, dissipated immediately after he left her side. It was only then that Kareena could think rationally and it was in those moments when she realized that while Lysander’s situation may change, hers never would. If she was successful, Lysander would be the next clan chief but she would always be a Lord’s bastard and that was no fit match for Lysander Maclver of Clan Maclver. Kareena kept her thoughts to herself. She said nothing to Lysander, resigning herself to the inevitable doom of their relationship. She kept her word and continued to attempt to find a cure, but as the days flew by her heart grew heavier.

 

Chapter Nine

 

“What?” Lysander asked again.

“It’s done,” Kareena replied. “I think I’ve got the right combinations at last.”

“Kareena…”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she replied gruffly. “First we must see if it works.”

They walked outside into the fading light of the sun. Open meadow and lush green fields surrounded Elsick castle. Lysander and Kareena entered the thick range of trees where they knew they would not be spotted. Slowly Lysander turned to face her and Kareena handed him the vial she had filled earlier that day with the thick grey potion that had taken her almost three weeks to construct.

He took the potion but his eyes were fixed on Kareena.

“Drink it Lysander,” Kareena said softly, hating herself for wishing that it would not work.

He looked like he was about to say something, but then he pulled out the stopper and drank the contents of the vial in one large gulp. Kareena held her breath struggling with competing emotions as the last rays of sunlight disappeared from the Highlands.

Lysander’s eyes lost focus for a moment as he swayed on the spot. Kareena took a step forward but he held up a hand to stop her. “Wait,” he said, his voice sounded different.

Kareena froze in place wondering if she had made everything worse. “Are you alright?” she asked breathlessly.

He leaned forward as though he were in pain. After a short while that seemed like an eternity to Kareena, Lysander straightened and his face smoothed out.

“Lysander?” Kareena said tentatively.

He looked up at her and smiled. “I think it worked lass.”

Both of them looked up at the sky above them. An army of clouds shielded the moon, but a wealth of stars winked at them from their midnight blue canvas. Kareena turned to Lysander with a gasp that was also a laugh. “It worked.”

“Aye,” he said softly. “You did it.”

“It’s will only work this one night Lysander,” Kareena reminded him. “You will need to take the potion for as long as you live.”

He nodded as he came forward. “Tis only a small thing.”

“Lysander –

She was silenced by Lysander’s lips and after a moment she had forgotten what she intended to say. She felt the need to pull away but his arms held her against him in a grip that she could not fight against. Once she was out of breath, his lips moved down to her jaw and then her neck.

“Lysander –

“Hush my lass,” he said softly. “Let us enjoy this night.”

“Yes,” Kareena thought to herself. “Let me have this one night.” She gave herself over to him as they sank onto the musky earth floor entwined in each other’s arms. Lysander pulled off her dress and her breasts became exposed to the midnight air. Her nipples hardened as Lysander descended upon them with kisses. Soon his hands had found their way up her thighs, and she moaned as they entered into her dripping folds.

Kareena had never experienced such ecstasy before and found herself carving him, all of him. She opened her legs and pulled him into her. He unleashed his drawstring and his long shaft emerged from his trousers. Kareena’s eyes widened in amazement, every inch of his body was perfect.

He looked at her with such an intensity she grew dizzy, until finally he penetrated his shaft into her. Tenderly at first, and then quickening with wild abandon. Until finally their muscles release in a unifying orgasm, and Lysander let his seed drip deep inside of her.

 

Chapter Ten

 

Kareena was in the apothecary mixing a new batch of the remedy when Lysander walked through the door, his face ablaze.

“What’s wrong?” Kareena asked.

“We have just received word from Kinross Territory,” he replied immediately.

Kareena put aside the motor she was holding and turned to him. “What news?”

“Your father is looking for you,” he said. “They’ve been searching for weeks, now they are asking clan Maclver for help.”

“Why does he even care?” Kareena demanded. “He has his real children.”

“I can’t tell you his reasons lass,” Lysander replied. “I can only tell you what I’ve heard.”

“I do not intend to go back to Kinross,” Kareena said firmly.

Lysander smiled. “I do not intend that you go back either.”

Kareena looked at him carefully. “What is your intention for me?”

Lysander looked around. “This is where you were meant to be Kareena.”

Kareena looked around the apothecary, unable to deny how comfortable she felt there. “Aye,” she nodded. “I would love to stay here and be healer to Clan Maclver.”

Lysander laughed. “That you can be if you choose lass,” he said amused. “But I am not asking you to be my healer.”

“Then what are you asking?”

Lysander reached out and grazed his fingers across her cheek. “I am asking you to be my wife.”

Kareena looked at him in complete shock and she said the first thing that popped into her head. “I am a bastard.”

His eyes flashed. “Aye, and I can transform into an animal at night. These are things we cannot change. My father will leave this world soon and when he does it will be up to me to lead. I can do it alone, but I would rather do it with you by my side. As my wife you will be under my protection.”

“Your father will have no claim on you. Others have determined our circumstances, but this… this is something we can decide for ourselves. This is your choice and mine. And I have chosen you.”

Kareena looked up at his soft brown eyes. He was a handsome man, but what made him truly beautiful was the kindness that fell over his rugged features.

Kareena pushed her past from her mind. She would not allow her birth to dictate how she felt about herself. If Lysander could see past it, then she certainly could. 

Kareena took Lysander’s hand in her own. “Then I choose you,” she said with conviction.

Epilogue

 

The party was small. There were only eight riders in total with her father leading the group. Kareena noticed her stepmother immediately. She sat atop her horse, just behind her husband. She was dressed in her finest silks and Kareena suppressed a smile as to her reason.

“Good day my lord,” Lysander spoke first, pulling his horse to a stop.

Lord McNeil nodded his head in response but there was no smile and no inkling of friendship in his stance. “Whom am I speaking to?” he asked gruffly.

“I am Lysander Maclver, Lord of Clan Maclver,” Lysander replied.

“Lord?” Kareena noticed that her father looked both disgruntled and affronted. “Your father is not yet dead.”

“Aye,” Lysander agreed. “But he has passed the mantle to me. He wants to spend the rest of his days in peace without the burden of leadership weighing on him.”

“So you are the new clan chief?” Lord McNeil clarified.

“Aye my lord, I am,” Lysander replied.

“Reports say that you have my daughter.”

Lysander smiled. “I do not have your daughter my lord,” he said respectfully. “She chose me.”

“What does that mean?” Lady McNeil asked loudly as she rode up on her horse.

Kareena spurred her own horse forward so that she could answer her Lady McNeil’s question herself. The riders parted ways so that she could pass. The moment Lady McNeil’s eyes landed on her they went wide with surprise. Even Kareena had to admit that she looked different, dressed in blue silks and silver furs with her red hair flying loose around her shoulders.

“It means I chose my own path my lady,” Kareena said coming forward. “One where I don’t have to feel ashamed of myself.”

“Kareena,” her father’s voice was booming and filled with shock. “You are not of clan Maclver. You are a McNeil.”

“Actually my lord,” Kareena said formally. “My name is Kareena Saoirse Maclver of clan Maclver.”

She had the satisfaction of seeing both her father and her stepmother share dumbfounded expressions of disbelief.

“It’s true,” Lysander said as he gave Kareena a secret smile that was just for her. “May I introduce my wife – Lady Kareena Maclver.”

The End

 

Bear Heart

“Why are you crying?” the little boy asked, looking down at the small girl sitting on a rock by the river.

“I fell.  My knee is bleeding,” Aileen said, brushing away the tears from her bright blue eyes as she squinted up at him, her vision impaired by the bright sunlight beaming down from behind him.  She could see his shock of red hair falling all around his freckled face and wondered where he had come from.  He had not been in the village before.

“Let me see,” he told her, getting down on the ground in front of her.  He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at her knee as she sniffed, trying to not cry again, even though it hurt.

“There.  It stopped bleeding now.  You’ll be okay.  Come with me down to the river and we will finish washing it off,” he told her.

“But I don’t know you,” she said.  You are a stranger in the village.

“I’m Thomas!” he said with a huge toothy grin.  My family brought me here to stay with my uncle because they are sick and cannot take care of me.  I am sad, but I guess it is just the way life is.  Anyway, now, you know me.”

“I’m Aileen,” she told him.

“Well, Aileen, now we are friends,” he told her, helping her to her feet and smiling broadly at her.

The two children walked down to the river, where Thomas carefully washed off her scraped knee.  Aileen watched as his messy red hair blew all over his head.  His large green eyes twinkled as he smiled at her happily.  It was the first time Aileen McCarthy and Thomas Mulgrady ever met and the last time they would ever be apart, or so they would come to believe.

“Why are you crying?” Thomas asked.

“I’m just so happy,” Aileen said as he pulled out a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and dabbed at her eyes.  Thirteen years had passed and still, Thomas was tending to Aileen’s tears as he had that first day when they were five years old.  They had both grown into young adults and with that transition into adulthood, their love had continued to grow just as much.  Anyone in the village could tell you that they had become inseparable and that they would one day marry.

“Your eyes are so blue when you cry,” he told her, admiring her beautiful face and brushing away a few strands of her flaxen hair.  His hand paused for a moment on her cheek, caressing it softly.

“You want to make me cry so that you can see them this blue all the time, then?” she asked playfully.

“No.  They are blue enough already.  I never want to make you cry,” he told her, pulling her to him and kissing her there in the meadow.  It was the same kiss he had been giving her for years now, but it always felt new.  Each time he kissed her, it felt like butterflies escaping into every fiber of her being.  There was a longing for Thomas that she couldn’t deny, though they had agreed to wait until they were married before having sex because that is what was proper.

Thomas was no longer the skinny little boy he had once been.  He was tall and broad shouldered, his wild red hair tied into a thick braid and the beginnings of a beard beginning to tickle her face.  He was beautiful to her and she loved him now as much as the first day she had met him.  She had no doubt that she would love him forever.

“Let’s get you home before your father has my hide for keeping you out too long,” he told her.  “I don’t even want to be on the receiving end of a tanning that man will give me if he thinks I am anything less than proper with you.”

“I wish we never had to go home.  I want to just stay here together forever,” she said.

“We will, very soon, my darling Aileen.  You and I will spend all of eternity together,” he told her, looking at her lovingly.

“I can’t wait!” Aileen told him, raising up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek.  He was a good six inches taller than her, towering over her as they lingered there in the meadow.

“You are going to have to, but just for a little longer until I can gain your father’s blessing,” he said.

“Let’s just run away, Thomas!  We don’t have to worry with my father’s blessing.  We can start our own life elsewhere,” she said.

“No.  I won’t take you from your family.  We will do this the right way.  Your father just doesn’t like my family’s history.  The rumors of their ways bother him, but I will show him that he can trust me and then he will give me your hand,” he said.

“Okay, Thomas.  I love you and trust you.  We will wait until you tell me the time is right,” she told him reluctantly.

“I love you, too,” he replied, kissing her again before they began making their way out of the meadow and back to the village.  She felt his kiss all the way down into her toes as she leaned into him, holding on to him as if her life depended on it.  Finally, he pulled away and smiled at her, taking her hand and leading her back toward their village.  Aileen was so thankful for the day that Thomas had come into her life and even more thankful that they had remained together for so long after.

They spent the evening cuddling by the fire, listening to one of the chieftains tell them the latest news of the battle from which he had recently returned.  Their village was full of warriors, though some of the best had disappeared over the years without explanation.  It was assumed by many that they had met their fates elsewhere, but eventually, many of them would return with stories of their travels.  Tonight was filled with one such warrior, the father of Thomas’s cousin, Caleb.  He went on for quite a while, a riveted gathering around him as he expounded on his adventures.

Eventually, it began to get late and the fire died down, signaling that it was time to get some rest.  Aileen always hated the end of the day when she had to part from Thomas.  She had even tried to sneak into the hut he had taken for himself in the night and give herself to him, but he had refused to let her do so, telling her that only when they were married would he allow her to give herself to him.  Aileen had felt both hurt by his rejection and overjoyed that he cared so much for her reputation.  As everyone parted for bedtime, Thomas gave Aileen a light kiss on the cheek before sending her off to her parent’s hut and returning to his own.

In the wee hours of the morning, Aileen woke up with a start.  Something was wrong.  She could feel it.  Jumping up and dressing quickly, she slipped quietly out and made her way across the village to where Thomas lived.  He was gone.  She told herself that he had just gone out on an early hunt, but there were no signs that he had taken anything to do so.  Her heart thudded heavily against her breast as she lay across his bed and waited.  She could smell him on the covers there as she lay wide awake until the dawn, waiting.

When Thomas didn’t return, she went from hut to hut in the village asking for anyone that might know where he had gone, but no one would say they knew.  Perhaps they didn’t, but Aileen had a feeling some of them did know.  For days, she was inconsolable.  Not even her parents could comfort her.

“Aileen, honey, you have to snap out of this,” her mother told her after weeks had passed and Thomas had not returned.

“He will come back for me,” Aileen told her.

“He’s gone, Aileen.  He ran off and left you behind,” her mother told her.

“No, he didn’t.  He wouldn’t.  Something happened,” Aileen told her.

“You are a fool, daughter.  You need to stop pining for this boy and find another,” her mother said.

“That will never happen.  I love Thomas . . . now, forever, always,” Aileen yelled at her, storming out.  She returned to Thomas’s empty hut where she already had spent countless hours just lying in his bed, crying.  His scent was fading from the covers, but he was not fading from her heart.

Rather than returning to her family hut, Aileen stayed in Thomas’s from that day on.  Many of the villagers deemed her unstable, the victim of a broken heart so bad it had driven her mad, but Aileen paid them no mind.  Thomas would come back for her.  She was sure of it. 

A year passed in the blink of the eye with no word from him, no sign of him.  Aileen remained steadfast in her belief that he would come for her.  Then, one day, she saw a man watching her as she washed clothes in the river nearby.  He was tall and dark, foreboding looking.  His clothes were fine and he never took his eyes off of her, not even when she scowled at him from where she stood.

“Who is that man?” she asked one of the girls nearby.

“Lord Robert MacAulay,” the girl replied.  “I saw him looking at you.  You should talk to him.  I hear tell he is looking for a wife.”

“Then he’d best look at someone else,” Aileen told her.  “My heart and all that surrounds it belongs to Thomas.”

“You’re a fool, Aileen,” the girl told her, returning to her wash.  Aileen shrugged, doing the same.

Aileen noticed that though Lord MacAuley had moved on to talk to some of the men of the village, he still stole glances her way from time to time.  She could feel his eyes on her even when he was behind her and she found it completely unnerving.  There was something dark about him, she could sense it.

“Who is that girl?” she heard him asked one of the men, though she pretended not to hear.

“Aileen?  Oh, you wouldn’t be interested in her, Sir.  She is quite the loon, that one,” the man told him.  Aileen recognized his voice as that of Caleb, one of Thomas’s kinsmen and she had to wonder if he meant it or perhaps was keeping her out of harm’s way, because he also expected Thomas to return.

“Nothing a strong hand and a lack of tolerance for such nonsense won’t cure.  She’s quite the beauty,” Lord MacAuley responded.

“Perhaps, Sir, but she is not eligible for marriage.  She has a betrothed,” Caleb told him.

“That is too bad then.  I quite fancy her,” he replied.

Aileen drifted away from the conversation making a mental note to thank Caleb for trying to steer the awful man away from his pursuit of her.  Hopefully, he was successful in his efforts.

In the days that followed, Aileen wasn’t so sure.  It seemed that Lord MacAuley was constantly looking at her whenever she was within his view.  She made every effort to stay far from him, unsuccessfully.

“Hello, Aileen,” he said to her as she pulled clothes from the line by Thomas’s hut.

“Hello,” she said, being as short and unfriendly as possible so as not to encourage conversation.

“We haven’t met.  I’m Lord Robert MacAuley.  It is a pleasure to finally meet such a beautiful young woman,” he said with a smile that gave Eileen inexplicable chills.

“You already know my name,” Aileen replied unpleasantly.  “So, no need to introduce myself.”

“You are a feisty one, I see,” he smiled.  Then, leaning in closer to her, “That will make it all the more my pleasure to break you in.”

Aileen flinched as if he had slapped her, but then gathered her resolve and looked him in the eye defiantly.

“That is something you will never be doing.  I am betrothed to another,” she said venomously.

“You see, I keep hearing that, but where is this intended of yours?  I have seen him not once since I’ve been here,” he said knowingly.

“Thomas is away for the moment.  He will be back,” she smiled.

“I don’t think so Aileen, my petal.  From what I hear, he ran away and left you behind a year or more ago.  It seems to me that you are waiting on someone who is not waiting on you,” he said.

“You don’t know what you are talking about! Thomas will be back.  He is my true love and I will wait,” she said.

“Don’t be so sure about that,” he said with a sickening smile.

The following day, Aileen overheard Lord MacAuley, but I’m sure you are aware of her delicate state of mind,” her father was saying.

“I am not concerned with that.  It is just the remnants of a broken heart.  Nothing that won’t pass with time,” he told him.

“Still, she is not my only daughter.  My sons are all away or lost to the reaper.  I don’t feel I can let her go so lightly,” her father replied.

“I see.  It is payment you seek,” Lord MacAuley told him.

“Now, that is not what I said,” her father replied.

“Perhaps not, but it is what you meant.  You will find that I am a man who does not mince his words.  You will also see that I can be incredibly generous in order to get what I desire,” he told her father.

“What is going on out here?” Aileen’s mother said, apparently overhearing the conversation, as well.

“Nothing you need know of, woman,” Aileen’s father replied.  “Get back in the house.”

“I’ll do no such thing.  My daughter is not a commodity to be bought or sold like an ox,” she said angrily.

“Our business does not concern you, woman,” Lord MacAuley roared at her.

“My daughter is of the utmost concern to me.  You are not the man whose hand she seeks,” her mother replied stubbornly.

Aileen cowered around the corner.  How could her father even consider bartering with such a vile man for her hand?  Thank goodness her mother had intervened.  Still, there was a chance she wouldn’t dissuade them.

“Do you always let your woman make your decisions for you?” Lord MacAuley was asking her father.

“Of course not, but it is her only daughter too and I’ll not be breaking her heart by letting Aileen go with you,” her father told him.

“You are a bigger fool than I imagined then,” Lord MacAuley spat back at him.

Aileen could hear Lord MacAuley’s boots stomping away and her parents arguing before they retreated back into the house.  She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped around the house, only to find herself standing face to face with Lord MacAuley.  Where had he come from?  Hadn’t she heard him going to other way?

“I see you are a curious little thing,” he replied.

“Leave me be!  I’ve already told you that I belong to another and my parents have declined your request for my hand,” she said haughtily.

“Don’t be so sure about that.  I never lose a negotiation,” he said, flashing her that same unsettling smile as before.

“Perhaps that is why you cannot find a wife, Lord MacAuley.  Women are not something to be traded or bought.  Only love will bring you a wife who will be by your side no matter what falls,” Aileen told him.

“So sweet and foolish, you are.  Women are indeed possessions and you will be mine very soon.  I can give you every luxury” you can imagine.  No more sleeping in the abandoned hut of a man that has forsaken you.  You will have jewels, richly threaded clothing and people to serve you as you wish.  You have only to submit to me,” he said

“I will never submit to you!  Thomas is my only love,” she yelled at him.

“I do adore your spunk,” he laughed, turning to walk away.

Aileen was shaking as she walked away, returning to Thomas’s hut and laying down in his bed until the sun was falling from the sky.  She had hoped to sleep during her rest, but instead had only stared at the ceiling, longing for Thomas.

Rising, she sat at the small table and ate an apple and a handful of nuts, all she could manage at the moment.  She had begun to drop weight rapidly in Thomas’s absence and the villagers had done their best to take care of her, always bringing her portions from the meals they prepared for their families or leaving things like the apples and nuts on the table inside her hut when she was away.  It was no unusual to find new items each time she returned home and she did her best to eat what her appetite would allow though she didn’t usually feel very hungry.  She knew Thomas would want her to take care of herself, to be healthy when he returned to her.

“Where are you, Thomas?  I need you.  You’ve been gone so long and I am afraid,” she had said to the empty air around her.

Now, she returned to his bed and lay there crying until she fell asleep.  Thomas came to her in her dreams, his red hair aflame in the sunshine like that first day she had met him.

“Aileen, I need you to leave here,” he told her softly, putting his hand on her cheek.

“Thomas, where have you gone?  I need you to come home.  I won’t leave until you come for me,” she said.

“Listen to me.  You are not safe.  Get out of her, Aileen.  Now!  I will find you.  I will find you.  Wherever you go, I will find you.  I love you!” he said, fading before her eyes.

“Don’t go.  Please don’t . . .,” she began to say, but it was too late.

It took a moment to register what was happening, but Aileen quickly realized there were hands over her mouth and hands pulling her up from the bed.  She tried to scream, fighting whoever had hold of her.  The laugh that cut through the darkness terrified her as she recognized the blackness of the depths from which it rose.  Lord MacAuley was taking her, snatching her away in her sleep lie the evil monster that he was.

She fought him, trying to bite and kick him, but it was no use.  She was too weak and he was much larger, stronger.  He made quick work of having her bound, gagged and tossed across his shoulder and then onto the back of his horse, carrying her away into the night.

It seemed that they rode for hours.  She felt bruised and exhausted as her tiny frame bounced up and down on the back of the horse, her hands secured to the saddle to prevent her from jumping.  She closed her eyes and sent herself far away to a place that wasn’t filled with the terror she was feeling at this moment.  Her last day with Thomas unfolded in front of her, how he had kissed her in the meadow and looked at her calmed her a little as she was lead towards whatever horrors awaited her.

“Ah, we’ve arrived, my dear.  Home Sweet Home!” Lord MacAuley said out of the blue.

Aileen could not speak for the cloth he had placed in her mouth.  She looked forlornly up at the large castle that came into sight in the distance.  It was not her home.  It never would be.  Her home was only with Thomas.

“You are going to love it here.  I’ve already had the servants prepare your quarters.  You will be most comfortable in them until we are wed and you come into my bed,” he told her.

Tears fell down Aileen’s cheeks at the thought of being forced to give herself to such a despicable man.  How could she ever face Thomas when he returned having given up her innocence to another man?  Truly, all was lost.  Thomas had not come for her.  He was never going to return.  Perhaps he was dead.  For all she knew, he would never forsake her like this.

“Don’t worry, I will be gentle with you and I will let you adjust to your new life while we plan a wedding fit for a King.  I don’t care for such things, but it is what is expected from a man of my stature.  I wouldn’t want to appear unseemly, after all,” he said, laughing in a way that made Aileen’s skin crawl.

As they entered the castle walls, Lord MacAuley took a small corridor just inside the entrance that led around and down through the tunnel.  She could only assume he didn’t want anyone knowing his future bride was arriving bound and gagged.  After a few minutes, they entered an underground area and he stopped the horse to remove her from the saddle before escorting her to a small room.

“You’ll be okay in here while I stable the horse,” he told her, pushing her roughly inside.  She heard the door latch behind her as she sat in a corner and wept.

“Why have you forsaken me, Thomas?” she whispered into the darkness, but there was no answer.  Curling up into a ball, she lay shivering on the cold stone floor.  It seemed like she was there for hours, though it was probably much less.

“Alright, my beloved, we need to talk.  I am going to take you upstairs now, but you need to understand that if you utter a word to anyone about not having arrived here under your own free will, you will not enjoy the consequences.  You can also rest assured that they will not only extend to you, but to all your villagers.  I will burn them to the ground for your disobedience,” he told her.

Aileen looked at his shadowy figure standing in the doorway between the near darkness of the room and the little bit of light that shined inside the door from behind him.  She had managed to stop sobbing before he had returned and now only felt numb.  Cowering still in the corner she could say nothing.  Her mouth felt dry from the gag and her hands ached from being tied to the saddle.

“I am going to untie and ungag you now.  You won’t want to be screaming or any such senseless thing.  Do you understand?” he asked, pulling the gag from her mouth.

“Yes,” she croaked with what voice she had left.

“Very good.  Now, let’s get you to a room more suitable for my blushing bride,” he said as he placed his hand on her arm and led her up a steep staircase into ta hallway that led to the sleeping quarters of the castle.

“Can I have some water, please?” she managed.

“Of course, my darling.  Let’s get you into your room and I will send up a servant to get you anything you want,” he told her.

Aileen nodded as she tried to keep from crying.  She had no idea what he would do if she let anyone see her face wet with tears.

“This, of course, is my room.  It will be our room once we are married,” he told her, showing her the large opulent room filled with very fine linens and draperies of expensive silk.  She could imagine sharing a room like this with Thomas would be a joy, but the thought of spending even one night in this horrible man’s bed repulsed her.  Tears fell down her face before she could bid them to stay away.

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake!” he exclaimed, obviously annoyed by her weeping.  He grabbed her hand and yanked her down the hall, showing her into a room only a few doors down.  “This is your room.  Get yourself together before the servant arrives.”

With that, he turned and left, locking the heavy iron doors behind him.  It was dark in the room.  Rather than looking for candles, she felt her way around until she found the bed.  She lay staring at the ceiling, tears still falling down her face.

“Please, Thomas.  Please save me,” she pleaded into the darkness that surrounded her.  Hearing the door lock turning, she quickly brushed away her tears and sat up on the edge of the bed, waiting.

“Miss?” came a soft voice, closing and locking the door behind her.  A young woman, not much older than Aileen entered with a lantern.  She lit a pillar candle near the bed and another on the opposite side.  Aileen said nothing.

“My name is Hannah,” the young servant continued.  Lord MacAuley sent me to attend to you,” she told her, pouring her a glass of water from a pitcher in her hand before setting the large metal vessel aside.  She extended her arm toward her and Aileen accepted the glass.

“Can you help me get out of here?” Aileen said, once she had consumed the water.

“Best not to say such things,” Hannah told her, looking incredibly nervous.  Her head nodded toward the door as a warning before she leaned closer and whispered, “He would kill both of us, then our kin.”

“Wretched man,” Aileen said beneath the breath.

“What do you need that I can do for you?” Hannah asked.

“I need something else to sleep in.  My clothes are dirty from the travel here,” Aileen told her.

“There are garments for you in the bureau over there,” Hannah replied.

Aileen looked at her curiously.  “Whose clothes?” she asked.

“Lord MacAuley told us you would be coming soon and had everything you should need put into the room for your arrival,” Hannah said, leading her to the large wooden bureau that held her things.  Aileen looked at the contents as the young servant opened it for her.  It was full of beautiful gowns, stockings and dresses.  There were even shoes in her size.  How long had he planned this?  Feeling ill, she reached for a nightgown and pulled it free

“I don’t feel well.  I don’t think I need anything else tonight.  If you could just leave the water, I will be fine until morning,” Aileen told the girl.

“Yes, M’lady,” the servant replied.

“Please, we seem to be almost the same age.  Call me Aileen,” she replied.

“I’d prefer to keep it formal, if you don’t mind.  Lord MacAuley requires it,” she added, saying the last part much more quietly as if to let Aileen know it wasn’t her choice to be standoffish.

“I understand.  Goodnight, Hannah,” Aileen told her, watching as the girl left. 

She waited for the lock to turn before changing into the night gown and walking slowly around the room to see what her options for escape might be.  She was quite surprised to look out one of the windows that overlooked the dark forest just beyond the castle walls and see a large bear standing at its edge.  It seemed to almost be looking at her as she stood there wondering what it was doing out in the open like that.  Several more joined the large reddish brown animal, all seeming to look toward her and then they disappeared into the woods again.  Stepping away from the window, Aileen dressed for bed and fell asleep quickly, more from mental and physical exhaustion than anything.

In the following days, Lord MacAuley kept his word.  He did not attempt to come into her room without announcing himself or, more to the point, into her bed.  She was well tended by servants and given whatever she asked for, within reason, but she remained locked away in the room.  Having found no way out of it, she decided the only way was to win MacAuley’s trust.  If she could make him believe she was content here and had no intentions of running away, perhaps he would give her more freedom and that might give her an opening for escape. 

“Good Morning, My Love,” he told her as he stepped inside that morning.

“Good Morning,” she replied with a soft smile.  He looked at her suspiciously.

“You seem in high spirits this morning,” he told her.

“I am feeling better.  I have come to see that it is not so bad here.  I do enjoy the finer things that it has to offer,” she replied.

“It is good that you do,” he told her.  “It is only going to get better.  We’ve only two weeks left to our blessed nuptials.”

“I am looking forward to the day,” she told him. 

“It is very good to hear that.  I am glad you are finally coming to your good senses and putting this childhood love of yours behind.  I have so much more to offer you in life,” he replied.

Aileen smiled, trying not to do so without it looking as bitter toward him as she felt.  He would never be able to give her the love Thomas had.  Instead, she focused on her goal.  She wanted to ask to leave the room, but knew he was a shrewd man and would see through her farce immediately if she did.  Instead, she left it at that.

“It will be a good day when we marry,” she said, trying not to choke on the words.

“It certainly shall.  You’ve no idea how good it is that you’ve reached that conclusion.  I really do need to begin introducing you around to some people.  That was a bit hard to do before, given your rebellious nature,” he said with a laugh.

“I’ve no rebellion in me now,” she replied.

“So, it would seem,” he told her.  “I will see you a little later in the day.”

Aileen watched as walked away, locking the door from the outside as was usual.  She sighed deeply and hoped her plan worked.  It wouldn’t be easy to build up his trust, but she would do all she could before the wedding day.  If that failed, she had already decided she would take her own life.  He had barred the windows, she assumed to prevent anyone from entering and most certainly to keep her from exiting, but there were other ways.  No matter how horrible it might be for her in the end, it was better than being bedded by the likes of him.

The days passed with Aileen continuing to tell Lord MacAuley what he wanted to hear.  Still, he had not taken the lead and offered her any reprieve from the solitude of her room, where her only company was the servants that were allowed to pass and the books she pulled from the shelf on one side.  She was pulling one such book when she came across a small dagger hidden beneath it.  Where had it come from?  Aileen had to wonder if someone before her had occupied this room, planning to escape or die, as well.  If so, who were they and what had happened to them?

“Miss, I am here to draw your bath,” Hannah told her, entering the room a bit later.

“Bath?  A bit early for a bath isn’t it?”’ Aileen asked.

“Lord MacAuley said you will be accompanying him to dinner in the dining hall this evening.  He has gone out on a hunt, but will be back before the evening meal,” Hannah replied.

“He is letting me leave the room?” she asked.

“Yes, just down to the dining hall, but I know you will be glad of it,” Hannah replied.

“I will.  It gets so boring being in the room all the time and I really miss the outdoors.  Is there nothing more glorious than the smell of the trees and grass or flowers in a meadow?” Aileen told her. 

She hadn’t quite decided if Hannah was friend or foe.  She might just be too scared to help her or she could actually be feeding Lord MacAuley anything that was told to her.  On the off chance that it was the latter, Aileen wanted to make sure she shared the things that would be beneficial to getting her out of the castle walls or at least close enough to make her way out.

“No, I don’t believe that there is,” Hannah told her before making her way toward the large bathtub that stood to one side of the room and filling it with hot water from the two buckets she had brought with her.  She made several trips, each time locking the door behind her when she left, much to Aileen’s dismay.  Getting out while he was gone would have to be the best time to go.

After a nice bath, Hannah helped her dress and prepare her hair before painting her face.  Looking into the large silver handled mirror she was provided, Aileen scowled.  She looked like a court jester, in her opinion.  Still, she knew this is how women of stature did things and she would not argue.  Thanking Hannah for her help, she returned to her reading while the girl tended to cleaning up around her.  Just before dusk, she heard a growl from outside the window and went to look out.  There, just beyond the castle walls stood the bear that had become a common sight each night.  Looking down upon him, it was if he had come to call to her and once she had shown herself, he returned to the woods.

“Why do you haunt me, bear?” she said quietly.  The sound of the lock turning disrupted her thoughts.  Turning, she saw Lord MacAuley entering the room.

“Don’t you look positively ravishing, my love,” he said, his eyes roaming over her in a way that she found completely unnerving.

“Thank you, My Lord.  I understand we are going to dinner tonight,” she replied sweetly.

“Yes.  I am trusting that you will behave yourself, darling,” he told her.

“You’ll have no problems from me,” she replied, her mind adding “yet” to the end of the statement silently.

“Very good, then let’s go, shall we?” he replied.

Aileen took the arm he offered and left the room with him, acting as if she were exactly where she wanted to be.  Dinner was pleasant enough with a large roasted pig and all sorts of decadent delights.  As meals go, it was like no other she had enjoyed before.  It was unfortunate that the price for such finery in life was to be wed to a repugnant barbarian like Lord MacAuley.  With less than a week to go before the wedding, she was running out of time.  This could very well be one of her last meals.

“I enjoyed having dinner with you this evening,” he told her as he returned her to her room.

“It was a beautiful meal,” she replied, perhaps the only honest thing she could say about it.

“There will be plenty more of them.  Very soon, we will be intertwined for all eternity, my love,” he told her before leaving the room.  Aileen was disheartened by the sound of his key locking the door before his footsteps trailed away.  He was never going to leave the door unlocked for her to just slip out.  She had to work on Hannah.  Surely she could appeal to the heart of another woman like herself, make her see that she loved another and needed out of this place.

When morning fell, Hannah entered her room to assist her with her daily routine.  She was building the courage up to broach the subject when Hannah surprised her with an unexpected revelation.

“Lord MacAuley has decided to take you for a walk outside the castle walls this morning,” Hannah told her.

“You told him I wanted to go out?” Aileen asked.

“Of course.  I thought he might take pity this once and let you get some fresh air if he knew how forlorn you were in this room all day alone,” Hannah replied.

“Oh, thank you, Hannah!  Thank you!” she cried out, hugging the girl tightly.

“It is not I that is taking you out, M’lady.  Here, let me help you get dressed,” Hannah told her.  Aileen puzzled at Hannah’s choice of clothing for her walk just a bit.  Very somber shoes to be wearing with a dress, but they were practical, for walking in rough terrain . . . or running.  Was Hannah helping her without being obvious about it?  Even the undergarments she provided her were not the usual things you would wear beneath a dress.  They were the type things you would wear if you planned to shed the dress and perhaps relax alone in the fields . . . or hide in the woods.

“Thank you, Hannah,” Aileen told her once she was fully dressed.  She looked into Hannah’s eyes knowingly and almost shed tears, but then Lord MacAuley was at the door.  She quickly pulled away.

“What is this then?” he asked, noting how close the two women were.

“What do you mean?” Aileen replied.

“Are the two of you up to something?” he asked.

“Yes, getting dressed.  Hannah was checking the lacings on my corset.  You are lucky that you don’t have to wear so many garments, my future husband,” she smiled at him.

“I suppose I am.  Hannah, please have Aileen’s room cleaned when we return,” he said dismissively, holding out his arm toward his future bride.

Aileen panicked for a moment.  This is it and she didn’t even have a chance to procure the dagger she had meant to slip out with her.  She might need it to make her escape.  Trying to get it now would only raise suspicion.  Well, she would just have to manage the best she could.  Putting on her best smile, she accepted his arm and they strolled leisurely through the castle and out through the front yard.  The people working there all stopped and tipped their hats or greeted them with smiles that she had no doubt were just as fake as her own.

As they made their way out toward the meadow, Aileen’s hand fell by her side and she noted that pockets had been sewn into the large skirt of her dress.  Not only that, but there was something in it.  Her hands curled about the object and she had to stop herself from breathing a huge sigh of relief as she felt the metal blade of the dagger there.  Hannah was a friend.  It was she who had put the dagger on the shelf and she who had moved it into the pocket of the dress in hopes she would find it if it was needed.

“This is an absolutely stunning day, I have to say, my love.  I am glad that you picked this day for a walk with me,” Lord MacAuley commented.

“I agree.  I think it is a most glorious day!” Aileen replied, keeping her hand on the dagger.  She was quietly taking inventory of their surroundings, trying to figure out the best route of escape when the bear she had seen from her window repeatedly suddenly stepped out of the woods and made its way toward them. 

“Stand very still, Aileen,” Lord MacAuley instructed her. 

Aileen did as he asked, keeping her hand on the pocket of her dress and trying to fish out the dagger without being observed.  The bear was unexpected and she now wasn’t sure which was the biggest threat, him or MacAuley, nor if the small weapon would be enough to do any damage to such a large animal.  The bear made no effort to charge.  It merely stood there and looked at the two of them, then it slowly began to inch forward.  As it grew closer, Lord MacAuley suddenly grabbed her and stuck her in front of him between himself and the bear.  When the bear began to charge, Lord MacAuley turned and ran, shoving her toward the rampaging beast. Aileen screamed and ran toward the woods with the bear in close pursuit.

Tripping over a branch, she fell, hitting her knee on a rock that ripped right through the dress and undergarments.  She looked around and found that she was deep into the woods and the bear was no longer behind her.  Carefully, she got up and made her way further into the woods, before Lord MacAuley managed to retrieve the people he employed to hide the fact that he was a coward and returned to look for her or for her remains.  She quickly peeled off the heavy dress, retrieving the dagger from the pocket, and set out further into the woods in the plain men’s clothing Hannah had dressed her in underneath.  Once she felt she had gone far enough to put some distance between herself and MacAuley, she stopped to rest on a flat rock. 

Tears fell down her face as she sat dabbing at the blood on her knee.  She was free, but still in terrible danger.  She had no idea which direction to go, how far behind Lord MacAuley would be or if she would encounter more wild animals out here.  Perhaps he would look for her for a while thinking the bear had gotten her and at least leave her village alone.  She had to get back there.  She had to warn them.

“Why are you crying?” came a voice from above her.

She looked up to see his red hair shining like copper as the sun beamed down upon it through the opening in the trees that surrounded them.  He wasn’t real.  He couldn’t be, not out here in the middle of nowhere.

“I fell, my knee is bleeding,” she responded, knowing he was just a hallucination.

“Let me see,” he told her, kneeling in front of her and placing his handkerchief over the wounded area as she looked into her eyes.  He felt so real.  He smelled real.  She reached out her hand and put it on his face.

“Thomas?” she said, barely able to speak his name.

“Yes.  I’m here, Aileen,” he told her.

Aileen’s heart felt like it would burst as she suddenly threw her arms around him and held him close, afraid that if she let go he might disappear.  He finally pulled her arms away and looked at her, pulling her close and kissing her.  She felt the butterflies take flight as his lips met hers and they became consumed in one another.  She wanted him to take here, right then and there, married or not.  Aileen needed him in a way she needed no other man except this one, but he pulled away.

“Aileen, we have to go,” he told her.

“I know.  There are bears in the woods.  One chased me in here,” she told him.

“I’m not worried about the bears, Aileen.  Let’s go,” he told her, grabbing her by the hand and weaving his way through the trees as if he knew them like the back of his own hand.  After a while, they came to an open area where there were men and women rapidly packing up things as if to move.

“Where are we, Thomas?  Who are these people and where are they going?” she asked.  She had so many more questions for him, but those were the immediate ones.

“We are going back to our village.  When Lord MacAuley doesn’t find your body, he will come there to look for you.  Even if he doesn’t find you, he will destroy the people there thinking they are hiding you,” he said.

“But if you take me back there, he will find me and kidnap me back to that awful place.  I can’t go back there, Thomas.  I can’t go back!” she wailed.

“No one is ever going to take you away from me again, Aileen.  I spent far too long without you to ever do it again,” he told her.

“Okay, Thomas,” she replied, knowing that she could trust him.  They hurriedly helped those around them finish packing up and then began the trip toward her village.  It was well past nightfall when they arrived and were greeted with open arms.  Looking around, Aileen realized that she recognized many of the men and some of the women from the camp.  She had been so confused by everything when she had arrived there, that it hadn’t dawned on her.  Then her eyes fell on one young lady wearing men’s clothing and their eyes met.

“Hello, Aileen,” Hannah smiled.

“Hannah!  I don’t understand,” Aileen told her.

“You will, in time,” Hannah told her, giving her a hug before making her way to a nearby hut where Aileen assumed her husband or other kin resided.

“Come on, Aileen,” Thomas told her.  “We need to get you out of sight.  You’ll need to stay with me tonight.”

“I have been staying in your hut anyway, but what about my parents?” Aileen asked.

“They have been sent away.  Their hut and mine are the first places he will look for you when he comes,” Thomas told her.  “We will be staying just outside the village in a cave I’ve prepared for our arrival.”

“Prepared for our arrival?  How did you know about all this?” Aileen asked, then it dawned on her.  Hannah had been her friend all along.  She just had not been able to let on that she was helping.  Still, some things were awfully strange.

“First things first, Aileen.  We need to go see Parson MacGregor,” Thomas told her.

“The Parson?  But why?” Aileen asked, but Thomas was already taking her hands, looking into her eyes.

“Aileen McCarthy, will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!  Yes, Thomas!” she squealed, jumping into his arms again.

“I know it isn’t how you imagined us getting married, but I won’t sully you without being your husband and I’m afraid I’ve been without you far too long to merely sleep by your side tonight or any other night anymore,” he told her.

“It’s perfect.  I don’t care about all that.  Being your wife is all I ever need,” she replied.

That night, in front of everyone in the village, Aileen McCarthy and Thomas Mulgrady were joined in matrimony.  Thomas wasted no time in scooping Aileen up into his arms and kissing her passionately in front of all that attended.  A loud round of cheers followed them out of the village as they made their way to a large cavern in the side of a cliff not far from the village, but secluded from view for all but the most seasoned eye.

Thomas lit a small lamp to give just enough light for them to see in the darkness of the cave and then pulled Aileen toward him near the makeshift bed he had made for them on the cave floor.  He was so much bigger and stronger than she remembered as she ran her hands over his bulging arms and across his chest.  His lips found hers again, kissing her, drinking her in.  It felt like the earth moved beneath her feet having him in her arms, touching her like this once again. 

“I love you so much, Thomas,” she murmured into his mouth.

“I love you too, Aileen,” he replied, pulling away as he began to undress her, devouring her heated skin inch by inch as he peeled away her clothes.  Aileen felt a longing like she had never felt before as his warmth spread through her body and into her center, making her legs weak and her womanhood fill with moisture and desire.  He took his time with her, touching her in places they had never gotten to explore together before he had disappeared for so long. 

She watched as he stopped long enough to get undressed, his manhood bulging stiffly from his person as he pushed against her and began kissing her again.  His hand slipped between her legs, parting the pink lips that lay there and slipping through them as she moaned loudly and leaned against him, unable to control the trembling in her legs.  Aileen felt like she was in heaven as he lay her down across the bed he had made for them and kissed his way along her skin, starting with her lips and slowly moving downward along her neck.  Her hips rose to meet him as he drifted across her breasts and stomach, trailing downward across her stomach and pausing just above the area where her legs met. 

She drew in a sharp breath as his mouth covered parts of her she had not known could be so joyous and tangled her fingers in his beautiful red hair as he lapped at her rapidly increasing wetness and sucked on the tiny bobbin that protruded just above.  She moaned loudly, listening to it echo through the cave as she let herself enjoy what he was doing to her.

“Oh, Thomas.  That feels wonderful.  What are you doing to me?” she panted as he pulled at her pink nub with his teeth and then sucked it into his mouth over and over until she didn’t think she could take it anymore.  It seemed he would go on forever as her passion continued to grow and then something most incredible happened.  The pressure that had built and built up within her body, driving her insane with wantonness seemed to reach a crescendo and then just explode into a thousand pieces, leaving her weak with pleasure. 

“That was so beautiful to watch and feel,” Thomas told her, returning to what he had been doing even more aggressively until she had shattered violently several more times against him, her body contorting with the force of her orgasms.

Then, Thomas was moving upward, kissing his way toward her lips the same way he had kissed his way downward.  She could taste her own passion on his lips as he kissed her urgently, his erection pushing into her hip before he pulled slightly away, repositioning himself to enter her.  She looked up at him, their eyes locking as he pressed into her, the large bulbous head of his cock parting the entrance to her virgin sanctum.  Bit by bit, he pushed further into her.

“Are you okay,” he asked as she shifted and let out a groan against his chest.

“Yes.  Don’t stop,” she breathed.  It hurt but she knew from talk from the other girls that it was normal to feel some pain at first as her new husband took his maidenhead for his own, never to be given to another.  The pressure of having him inside her felt exquisite and then he was slipping from her, rocking his body slowly back and forth as he made love to her so slowly she felt like crying from happiness.

“You feel so good.  I’ve waited for this for so long, to give ourselves only to each other.  There’s been no one but you.  There never will be,” he told her.

“There never will be for me either,” she told him, kissing him as he continued to plunge into her more and more aggressively until he couldn’t hold back anymore and filled her with his seed.

They lay there in the darkness, just enjoying the way their bodies felt against one another, but were disrupted by shouts and loud growls from the village.  Thomas was up and on his feet in seconds, running from the cave toward the sound.  It took Aileen a moment to realize that he had left completely naked and she began getting dressed as fast as possible as she watched his naked figure disappear across the clearing.

And then, just before he entered the bank of trees that divided the clearing from the village, she saw it.  His body contorted, growing and changing.  He was no longer Thomas, but had somehow changed into something completely different, something she recognized instantly.  The large reddish brown bear that had repeatedly watched her from the woods at night and that had accosted herself and Lord MacAuley as they were out walking.  Had that just happened?

Aileen crept closer, trying to watch through the trees at the carnage that was unfolding.  Her heart raced as she worried about whether Thomas and her family were okay.  It seemed to go on forever and she grew more and more afraid that she might lose Thomas again, this time forever.  The sounds of screams and growls filled the night air, but she was having a hard time seeing anything as she crept closer. 

“Well, look who we have here?  If it isn’t my soon to be blushing bride,” she heard Lord MacAuley say from behind her in the clearing.  She turned to face him.

“Why aren’t I surprised that you are out here rather than in there in the fight, you coward!” she said defiantly.

“You’ll want to watch that wicked little tongue of yours, my pet.  If you plan on speaking to your future Lord and Liege like that in our home, it might just have to be cut out.  Pity that would be though.  I would surely hate to miss your screams of pleasure when I take your precious virginity as my prize,” he sneered.

“I’m afraid you’re a bit too late for that, you spineless little worm.  You see, I told you my betrothed would be back for me.  We were married this very day and I’ve already given him what was rightfully his to take.  Such a pity,” she told him.  She could tell he was surprised.

“You filthy whore!  How dare you lie with another man when you are my intended.  I can’t very well have a harlot as a bride.  It’s none the less though.  I shall have you in any way I desire and just relegate you to the brothel when I’m no longer in need of your services,” he told her.

“My Thomas will tear you apart, limb from limb if you so much as try to take me from this place again,” she told him, though she knew Thomas was otherwise engaged and might not be able to save her again.

“You are a foolish one.  Where is he?  I see him no more now than I did when you told me he existed before.  You’re full of nothing but lies.  I’ll have my doctor check you for purity and then we will decide your fate from there,” he told her, climbing down off his horse as she turned to run.  He was almost upon her when a deafening growl filled the night air around them and the reddish-brown pair landed squarely upon him, literally ripping him apart and then snatching him up to return to the village.

Running through the trees behind him, she could see Lord MacAuley’s body lying on the ground, along with many others of his people.  She watched as his men began to run away from the village, seeing that their Lord was dead, they knew they would only be staying to be slaughtered for no reason and rapidly retreated from the pack of bears that prowled the village and took them out, one by one.  When it was all said and done, Thomas returned to the woods toward her, changing again before her very eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to see any of that.  I know you may feel differently about me now, knowing what I am, seeing what I have done.  This is why I had to leave you.  I didn’t want to, Aileen and when I learned that Lord MacAuley had you, I couldn’t let anything happen to you.  Hannah has been working there for a while and I knew she could find a way to get assigned to attend you.  She reported back to me daily and helped me get you out to where I could save you,” he said. 

“You frightened me nearly to death,” Aileen exclaimed.

“I know.  I’m sorry for that too,” he said.

“I think I can forgive you,” she told him, kissing him softly on the lips.  “Can we go back to bed now?”

“Shortly.  We have to help with the mess in the village.  Let me get my clothes and I will be there in a minute,” he told her.

The two worked side by side through the night helping sort out the mess left in the village.  By the time all was said and done, they were both exhausted and badly in need of rest.  Walking back to the cave hand in hand, they retrieved their things and brought them back to Thomas’s hut, where they began their lives together anew.  Over the years, Thomas would sometimes have to leave for long journeys with his clan, who Aileen now knew were all were bears.  Even Hannah was a bear.  It had been pretty unbelievable at first, but she had gotten used to the idea now and accepted it.

The one thing that remained constant, is that Hannah was always happy to see Thomas return.  Their love spanned a lifetime of almost seventy years, four children and 20 grandchildren.  When the time came for Hannah to pass, Thomas wept by her side knowing it would be years before he could join her on the other side due to the extended life from his were bear metabolism.  He had her buried just outside the cave where they had first made love and he hibernated there during the winters.  During the warm months, he could often be found lying beside her grave, talking to her in a soft voice and he could hear her speaking back to him.  Always she would say, “Why are you crying?” as the tears streaked his face.

But one day, in a dark winter many years down the road, Thomas fell asleep in the cave and when he awoke, it was warm outside and the flowers were blossoming.  He could hear the sound of Aileen’s voice, singing softly in the meadow outside and he stepped out to see her, grateful that she could come to him in his dreams if nowhere else.

“Hannah, you look so beautiful,” he told her.  “I’m so glad for the time that I can see you when I sleep.”

“No, Thomas.  You are not sleeping.  Your time has come and you’ve drifted off to me while you slumbered.  We are here together now and we’ll be together always,” Aileen told him, taking her in ere arms and kissing him.  Thomas felt like everything was finally okay again and tears of joy fell down his face.

“Why are you crying?” Aileen asked.

“Because I found the love of my life when I was only five years old and now, she has come back to me once again.  I love you, Aileen,” he told her.

“I love you too, Thomas.  Always & Forever,” she replied.

The End

 

Bear of the Highlands

 

“Go faster, you infernal beast,” Lady Murdina yelled at the horse she had stolen from the stables of her childhood home. 

Though it was already furiously galloping through the thickest parts of the forest, causing her to duck branches, it just wasn’t fast enough.  She could see the knights her brother had sent closing in on her from behind.  They would be on her in no time if this animal didn’t go faster.  Her only hope was to lose them in the trees before the clearing up ahead.  If she failed, she would be dragged back to her brother’s castle and handed over to Lord Cannon as his betrothed.  She had rather die on the cliffs than have that happen.

Lord Cannon was well known to be a sadist.  She would be his sixth wife in only five years.  The first had not survived the night, it is told.  Two of the others were locked away in the mad house and one had disappeared.  Whether it was the woman’s own doing or his remained a speculation, but a body had yet to be recovered.  It was commonly believed that she escaped, but no one knows to where. Talk of a dungeon and cruelty beyond measure was said not to be embellished, but rather watered down for the innocent ears of those who knew naught of such things. 

Just ahead she could see a clearing, she headed towards it, but quickly banked left and ducked back into an adjoining section of trees, heading southeast at an angle.  Hopefully, the knights would be well across the clearing before they realized she had changed course and was long gone.  She barked at the horse to move faster as it continued its dangerous pace through low hanging limbs and treacherous footing.

As the forest grew darker and thicker, she slowed and paused the horse, letting them both catch their breath as she listened for hoof prints.  Hearing none, she began walking the horse slowly through the blackness of the obsidian woods.  It would be daylight soon and she would be more visible to those who followed her.  The further she could get away in the darkness, the better, but she needed to give the horse a break.  Unfortunately, the turn had resulted in her becoming a bid disoriented and she was no longer sure which direction she was headed.  The tree cover prevented her from seeing the moon and stars above, so she had no guide other than instinct.

“Okay, we can’t keep walking fellow.  Just hang in there with me and I promise that you will be the most spoiled horse in the land for getting me out of here alive,” she whispered to the stallion beneath her, smoothing the hair on his neck with her hand before digging in her heels and sending him charging forward again.

There were no sounds that she could hear as they rode, so she thought she was in the clear.  Still, they made their way quickly along toward a part of the woods with which she was unfamiliar.  There was no hesitation in charging right into it.  Whatever was in there was still bound to be better than the cruelty that awaited her at home.  Speed was of the essence now.

“What is wrong with you?” she said to the horse as she suddenly pulled short and side stepped what appeared to be a clearing in the woods.  Murdina climbed down and looked ahead of them, discovering that they had reached a deep chasm that could not be seen for the thick woods that grew all the way up to its very edge.  The horse had seen it and stopped.

“Good boy, but we can’t stay here,” she said, smoothing his nuzzle as she looked around and listened.  Not too far off, she heard the crunch of branches.  It could be anything, including her brother’s knights.  There was no doubt they would pursue her until there was no hope of her being found.  Their fate in returning to her brother without her in their clutches would be decidedly final in nature.

She climbed back on the horse and followed the forest along the edge of the deep ravine until she arrived at a clearing in the trees.  There was no sign of the knights as she cleared the woods and began galloping quickly across the meadow ahead of her.  She topped a slight ridge and her face fell.  Facing her were a good portion of the knights, apparently having figured out what she had done and fallen back to track her back into the woods.  She turned, too quick, and the horse came out from under her.  It stumbled away as she struggled to get out from under its faltering feet.

“Well, look who decided to turn back up,” Sir Hooson said, climbing off his horse to retrieve her.  Murdina scrambled toward the edge of the chasm.