Celtic Fury (24 page)

This was the Wolf of the Highlands. No wonder he was able to strike fear into the hearts of men. He was all power and strength and he was deadly, but oh, he was so very beautiful even in his warrior visage. Still, he was the most handsome man she had ever beheld; lethal killer or not. God help the man who faced him today.

Brielle hurriedly dressed so that she could see him off. He was meeting his brothers and their men in the main hall for a quick breakfast and then they were off. He hooked his arm around Brielle. He smiled down at her; his heart swelling with pride and love. She had donned one of his plaids in the fashion of the women of his clan. She was his woman! And that thought offered him solace. Finally he had a reason to come home. Finally he had a reason to dream about the future. He swallowed hard, his larynx pushing downward as he fought the impact of that emotion.

His voice was husky when he said, “Ye’ are so beautiful Brielle. Thank you…” he kissed her and she blushed.

“I look a mess,” she said raking her fingers through her tousled locks.

“Nay, ye’ are delicious. Thank ye’ for donning my colors.”

A small smile played on her lips.

“I was hoping ye’ wouldna’ mind, me being Campbell and all.” He kissed her strongly and he said, “Ye’ are MacCollum now.
I
t
is absolutely right for ye’ to wear those colors.” 

She felt his arm around her and as they entered the hall it was a bustle with activity. Many of the clansmen had mustered for the fray. Caleb and his brothers were seated when they entered the hall. They rose to greet Rory. She had met most of the brothers on and off, but never had Brielle seen them all together. Dear God, they were an imposing lot. Each one was handsome in his own way. Each one was lethal, including Caleb. Brielle was again reminded of their deadliness. She said a silent prayer that they would return safely. Caleb looked at Brielle and leaning close to her he said, “Ye
’
honor my son by wearin’ his plaid. Thank you. T’will give him the will to return home to ye’….
Y
er
’
prayers will be answered.” 

Dear God, can all the MacCollums read my mind?
He winked at her and said, “N
ay
, just the ones that love ye’.” 

Brielle looked into the Laird’s eyes, astonished, but as she met his kind gaze, she knew. These men were tied to the ancient world. There were things they knew that others did not. Instead of filling her with fear and dread, that realization comforted her. Many of her people had these ancient ties. Her brothers had forsaken those ways for selfish evil long ago. The Old Ways appealed to her. She supposed she had her own aptitude for it, having that special way with the beasties. Brielle came out of her reverie. The men were finishing their meal and were starting to gather in the bailey to arm and ride. Morning was hastening quickly, soon to carry her love away from her.

Caleb and Shawn were not joining the forces. Shawn’s wife was about to
give
birth
to
their second child any day and Caleb was needed to oversee the m
atters of the keep and village.
Brielle could see the longing in his eyes. She knew he wanted to be part of the force to set the raiders to rights, but sometimes a laird of a clan had to face matters at home.

Rory took Brielle in his arms and kissed her deeply.

“Wait for me, my love. I willna’ be over long.” 

It was hard to find her voice she suddenly was so filled with emotion but she whispered, “Please be safe.” She was trying not to cry. Touching her fac
e with the back of his fingers,
Rory said, “These MacDougals are no match for me. Dunna’ worry.” Kissing her again, he said, “I love ye’.” 

“I love ye’ too, Ruiri.” 

He winked at her and strapped his sword to his back and added dirks to his belt. He leapt onto his horse and joined the top ranks of men riding. Brielle took Caleb’s arm and leaned into him. She put her head against his big shoulder.

He said, “There, there girl. He will be back afore ye
’
know it. He now has a reason to return. Ye
’
have made him so happy, lass.” Brielle nodded, quietly. She sniffled back the tears that were so very close to the surface.

“We have only just found each other.”

“I know, Lassie.” Caleb took the girl’s arm and led her back into the keep.

She swiped at the tears and said, “I am sorry. I know ye
’
wished ye' could join them.”

“I am an old man, Brielle, I am best left here.”

“Bah! Ye' are not aged at all. Ye' stand straight and ye
’
are as strong as yer
’
sons, if not more so.”

Caleb cracked a smile and said, “Ye' are a sweet angel to fan an old man’s ego, but as Laird, sometimes my duties keep me home.”

She hugged him and said, “Still I think the MacDougal would run with their tales between their legs if ye' had joined the ranks of MacCollum this day.”

Caleb kissed the side of Brielle’s face. “Thank ye’, lass.”  He had grown so fond of this unlikely mate for his son. He hoped Rory would want to stay on once they were officially wed. He just adored this girl and enjoyed what she brought to their home.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nearly a week had passed and Brielle realized Rory was not going to return in time for their formal wedding. With as much of a smile as she could paint on her face, she approached Caleb, not wanting to alarm him or burden him with her heavy heart. She asked, “Might I beg a word with you?” 

“Of course, Lass.
What’s troubling ye’?” With a trembling smile, and head bowed she took a deep breath.

“Oh, yer’ worried about Ruiri.”

“Aye, of course, but I think he is safe, else I would feel it in my heart. T’is just that…tomorrow we were, well it was to be …”

Caleb wanted to slap himself. He had been so consumed with the events of the keep and the village that he had clean forgot about the wedding. Shawn’s wife had given birth to their son and there was so much a’ foot with all the other sons gone, the wedding slipped to something that was still to be planned.

“Oh lass, the wedding…With all the confusion, it had nearly slipped my mind.” 

Raising her eyes and meeting Caleb’s gaze, she said, “It seems ye
’
are not the only one. I was thinking, I should go into town, to tell Father Duncan that we need to make it another day.” Caleb didn’t want the girl to do this by herself so he said, “Aye, lass, alright. I will go with ye’.”

“Ahh, that won’t be necessary. Ye’ have many duties to keep ye’ here. I can go myself.” 

“Brielle, I will go with ye’. Besides, I need some provisions from the village.”

Caleb saw the look of broken disappointment in Brielle's eyes. He was reminded how she had been treated by her brothers and was pretty sure her life held many disappointments. He had hoped that now being with Rory, all that would be in her past, but Rory’s absence could not be helped. She had the look of sad acceptance like this was the norm and that she should not hope or dream too much.

“
Brielle, he would have been back if he could.” Again her eyes lowered and she nodded.

“Lass, ye believe me, don’t ye?”

“I suspect if the want was great enough, he would have found a way. T’is not an uncommon thing. It is the way with men.” 

“Not Ruiri, Lass. Not him!  He is a man of honor.”

She just nodded and said quietly, “Alright, Caleb. I will ready myself to go to the village.” Brielle went to grab her cloak for the ride and Morag eyed Caleb.

He said, “Woman, dunna’ give me that fish eyed stare.”

“She is right. Ruiri should have known how important this was to her.” 

“Aye, but perhaps he has been detained. Do ye
’
see danger?  Is there danger for my son?” 

“I sense danger, but I dunna feel it on him. Not for him…for the girl. Something shadows her. It is apart from her, but it shadows her just the same.”

“But Ruiri is safe.” 

“For now,” the old woman said mysteriously.

Closing her eyes and drawing into herself, Morag tried to feel the man who had been so much like her own son. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and said, “I dunna’ sense harm to him. He is deep in the Highlands, that’s all. Caleb, the girl is fragile. Her trust is too new. She doesna’ believe in her worth to Ruiri. She is yet to understand how much he needs her to fight the darkness that stays locked inside of him. Even now, that he is somewhat healed, it remains buried deep, ready to surface. He needs more time with her. She is his light. In time, her light will quell the darkness, but not yet. Only, she thinks she is of no value to him. We must protect her, body and soul, at any cost. For in losing her, we will surely lose Ruiri.” 

Caleb understood about the darkness and despite the treatment Brielle had endured, there was only light about her. She had not let the evilness of her kin put out her light. He knew that now, after these weeks getting to know her, Caleb could only see that Brielle had a pure and loving heart. When Caleb caught the glimpses of the poison inside of Ruiri, it even frightened him at times, not because he feared Ruiri to be dangerous, but he feared that his son’s soul would never heal and no one could live with that sort of anguish. It was less about the sorrow and more about the guilt Rory carried like a banner before him. Brielle was so very good for him.
Caleb knew in time, Brielle would heal and banish all the darkness within his son.

“I will convince her of her worth, Morag.” 

******

During their ride to the village, Caleb noticed how very quiet Brielle was. Usually, she chatted easily but today, she was subdued and withdrawn.

After a time, Caleb said, “Brielle, the binding rite is a powerful thing. Ye
’
are
really
already married to Rory.”

Brielle just answered, woodenly, “I know…it doesna’ matter. I was already a bride and that day was no more joyful than any other. I just miss him and want him to come home.” Caleb agreed and decided to share a secret
with her.  He knew she needed to hear it
.

He said, “Ye
’
know, lass, he has ne’re spoken those sacred vows to anyone…not even to Caitlyn.”

Brielle faced him and said, “Truly?”  Caleb could see her sitting taller at that revelation.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to have loved Caitlyn as much, but it meant so much to her that he had saved the Sacred Binding for her.

“As far as I know, girl. He was hand-fasted
only
, but the vows were not spoken. He was very young…mayhap
even too young to be betrothed.
He had not weathered a full nineteen years at the time. They had grown up together, from when they were children. But he is a man now. He
has
spoken those vows to ye
’
. I can assure ye', lass, those vows were not lightly given. Nothing Rui
ri does is ever lightly done.”
Brielle nodded; she had brightened visibly, although not completely.

“I just…just want him to come home safely.”

“Ach, Lassie, we all do.” 

Caleb and Brielle went together to the old kirk in the middle of the village. Father Duncan’s smile helped soothe the hurt he knew Brielle would have felt in postponing the wedding. He joked about men and their warring ways. Brielle tried to smile but felt she had failed miserably, even
after
what Caleb had disclosed about their sacred vows. The elderly priest patted the crestfallen lass’ hand and assured her that when Rory returned, she would be a bride to be sure. Upon leaving the kirk, Brielle told Caleb she wished to visit the beasties in pasture. She wanted to spend time with the Brindle stallion again. Caleb tried to convince her to go with him to the village, but she insisted she wanted to have some time alone with God’s creatures. Caleb actually thought it would do her good to see to the beasties. He did not want her slipping into despondency, and he realized the fresh air and the visit with those beautiful animals was just the tonic for her. He agreed and told her that he would only be a short while and that he would meet her on his way back to the keep. He had yet to pick up some provisions and he wanted to see how Mara MacCollum was faring. His clansman had passed a year ago, leaving the beautiful Mara a widow. Caleb and Mara had forged a friendship born from shared knowledge of the grief that widowhood brought. The visit with Mara would give Brielle enough time to herself and him time to have a cup of tea with his kin’s widow.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rory was tired. The MacDougals were proving to be a crafty lot. He and his brothers had chased them deep into the highlands and then when they had nearly caught up to them, a meadow had been torched. Rory was furious that they would waste perfectly good grazing land just for spite. They had spent most of the night trying to contain the blaze so that no other land would be devastated. By God, he was tired; bone achingly tired. Damn, he wanted to go home. Brielle was probably furious with him. Today he was supposed to have married her before God in the Christian Rite. He sat down to rest for a moment, leaning against a trunk of a tree. Running a hand through his soot streaked hair, he sighed. His brother Liam approached him and handed him a wine skin to drink from.