Silent Vows (27 page)

****

Silent Vows

occasional choking breath. Liz knew he listened, but she didn’t want to yell at him to get him to let her in.

“I’m going to sit here in the hall until you open up.”

Nothing.

“It’s cold out here in the hall.” She tried a slight laugh to lighten the mood. “And dark.” He knew she had a slight fear of the dark.

Beyond the door, she heard a rustling of feet and Simon’s grunts as he moved furniture. His footsteps retreated and were followed by a plop of a hundred pound boy flopping on a bed.

Liz slowly turned the handle and found the resistance she had met before gone. The heavy door creaked slightly when she pushed it open. She eased herself into the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

Simon lay on his side facing the wall, she would be talking to his back, but at least she was in the room where they would have some privacy.

She took her time lighting a few candles and stoking the fire set by one of the servants. With the shadows chased away, she took a seat in the room’s only chair. “Do you want to tell me why you ran away?”

Simon took a deep breath before he spoke. “I didn’t want you fighting over me. Either of you.”

“We weren’t fighting over you.”

“Oh, yeah, you were.”

“I know it seems that way, but—”

“You don’t want me running the horses and Fin thinks it’s fine. He trusts me.”

Shit
! His words cut close to her heart. “I trust you, Simon. I don’t trust the horses.”

He turned slightly. “But I’m good with them.

They don’t want to hurt me.”

“You can’t know that. Horses are unpredictable.”

“Not for me they’re not. I know when they are tired or hungry. I don’t push them where they don’t 235

Catherine Bybee

want to go.”

He spoke with absolute conviction. Liz had to keep from smiling at him and giving away her disbelief in his words. “How can you tell if they are tired?” she quizzed.

“Well.” He tucked his legs under him and sat up.

“Meg pulls to the side when she’s tired, and bites her bit more when she’s hungry. I’ve never ridden Durk, but he shifts his eyes right before he takes off. And Auntie Tara’s horse shakes her head when she isn’t happy with what you ask her to do.”

“You’re very observant to notice those details.”

“It’s more than that, Mom. It’s like they talk to me. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Sometimes I think they understand what I’m thinking. Right before I kick one into a run, they tense up and sometimes they run before I do anything.”

Simon’s sincerity was difficult to ignore. “I don’t know, Simon.”

“Fin believes me.” He lowered his eyes to the blankets he sat on and started picking at the balls of lint. “You told him this?”

“Yeah.”

“And he believes you talk to the animals?”

He nodded.

Liz closed her eyes and shook her head.

“See I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”

“People don’t talk to animals.”

“Some Druids do. Fin told me. Maybe that’s my gift. Remember the falcon at Renaissance Times?”

She did remember, but she was stuck on how many times her son referred to Fin. They had already formed a bond, a bond she should have stopped.

“Don’t you think talking to animals could be my gift?” he interrupted her thoughts.

236

Silent Vows

“Maybe. All this magic and power stuff has me a little confused.” She stood and moved over to the window. The sun had set and she couldn’t see a thing. The cool air that found its way through the cracks helped clear her head.

“Mom?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to leave. Even when we find the stones, I don’t want to go back.”

“Simon, our place isn’t here.”

“Yes it is. Laird Ian said we could stay forever.”

“That doesn’t mean we should.”

“Why not? It isn’t like this house isn’t big enough.” His big blue eyes melted her heart.

“What about your friends? Remember your skateboard? What about a toilet that flushes?”

He bit his lower lip. “I have new friends and a whole new family. Horses are better than any piece of plywood with wheels. Besides, Fin has almost finished the bathroom. It won’t be like our old one but it should work.” Singing Fin’s praises wasn’t something Liz wanted to hear from the mouth of her son. A knot formed in the back of her throat, she worried for the day she would have to remove her son from this life. This was Tara’s life, not hers. The knot thickened when her thoughts drifted to Fin and his future. When Fin went on to marry and have sons of his own, he would push Simon aside. It was only natural.

“Will you at least think about it?”

She gave him a half smile and pushed her rebuttal aside for now. “Yeah, I’ll think about it.”

He pushed further as any teenage boy did when they thought they could. “And the horses, can I ride them like Cian does?”

Liz’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t push it, buddy.”

“But...”

237

Catherine Bybee

“No buts. Let me get used to all of this. It isn’t like there’s an E.R. around the corner when you break your neck. You’re all I’ve got.” She headed to the door.

“Hey, mom?”

She turned; he shifted his gaze to the floor, uncomfortable.

“If you and Fin wanted to...you know. Get married or anything, I’d think that was kinda cool.”

Her hand flew to her mouth to keep the ache inside when the magnitude of his words hit her. “Oh, Simon, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“Why not? You like him and he likes you.”

“It’s complicated,” she told him.

“Grown-ups make everything complicated,” he declared.

She turned away so he wouldn’t see the tears.

238

Silent Vows

Michael stumbled upon her during his routine surveillance. He had stopped searching for more Druids, let alone virginal ones, for Grainna to rape them of their powers and youth.

He was busy talking with a merchant when he skimmed over the young woman with little more than a glance.

His fair hair and muscular build caught many eyes from the women he passed, from the innocent to the more knowledgeable. The girl took notice of him when they accidentally bumped into each other.

“Forgive me. I wasn’t watching where I walked.”

In an instant, he felt her power. A slight prickle of awareness one feels when in the presence of something familiar. His head ached slightly, a sure sign someone looked inside of it. He quickly shut the girl out, but not before she sensed his interest in her.

Silly chit, she didn’t know what drove his curiosity.

Are you a virgin
?

Michael flashed white teeth, and the dimple he had been born with, and always knew when to use.

“’Twas my fault. I was so taken in by yer lovely eyes I let ye run right into me so that I might learn yer name.”

She wasn’t particularly pretty, and her body didn’t have the curves he preferred on a woman, but her eyes were a deep shade of blue that had a 239

Catherine Bybee

piercing effect which caught his attention. She was well-spoken for a village girl, and even if her outfit was made of muslin and wool, it smelled clean.

She hid her grin. The scarlet of her cheeks spoke volumes about her virginal status. “They call me Margaret,” she giggled.

“’Tis a pleasure.” He captured her hand, brought it to his lips. He didn’t think her face could turn a brighter shade unless it was on fire. Margret wasn’t used to this kind of attention, even though she wanted it. That innocent desire would give him what he wanted.

Michael kept hold of her hand once he removed it from his lips. He studied their clasped hands, gave a gentle squeeze, then released her.

“I am sure yer husband must be looking for ye.”

“I have no husband.”

“A fiancé then?” he smiled.

“No man has spoken for me.”

“Well then.” He took her elbow and led her out of the merchant’s store. “Allow me to escort ye home.

The hour is growing late and yer beauty might attract the wrong sort.”

Margaret’s smile showed slightly crooked teeth.

“That is not necessary, sir. I have been in this village the whole of my life. I am verra safe here.”

He sent her a pout. “Ye wound me, Margaret, for I only want to spend a few more minutes in yer company.”

“What is yer name?” she boldly asked.

He offered her his arm and walked her down the relatively deserted street. “Jones. Michael Jones,” he lied. Even though he was in the village of Lancaster’s domain, he didn’t need his real name returning to the neighboring MacCoinnichs.

He toyed with what he should do with the girl.

He knew he would pay dearly if Grainna knew he found a virgin and didn’t return with her 240

Silent Vows

immediately, but it wouldn’t serve his purpose for Grainna to regain complete power yet. If anything, his continued concern with Grainna’s sporadic behavior made him question if he should show the Druid woman to her at all. Maybe if she knew her salvation was only a breath away, she would concede and give him the eternal life he craved. Either way, he wouldn’t force Margaret to go away with him now. Perhaps with some time she would go willingly.

Then no alarm would be raised.

“Are ye a knight? Are ye Sir Jones to the Lancasters?”

His lies came easy. “A knight, aye, but not to the Laird of Lancaster. I am only traveling through.”

Her eyebrow rose. “Then ye are not staying?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

He placed a hand over hers that rested in his arm. “On if ye are asking me to stay—for a time.”

She stumbled. Michael caught her.

“How could I ask such a thing? I do not know ye.” “But ye want to. I think.”

She warmed under his touch and his words. “I would entertain the idea of getting to know ye, properly supervised of course.”

A virgin, no doubt. “Of course.”

She stopped in front of a cottage where smoke rose from the stack. “Perhaps tomorrow ye could come for our midday meal. My mother would enjoy having a knight at her table.”

“Until tomorrow.” He bowed over her hand and locked her eyes with his when he kissed it again. He heard her pull in a sharp breath and felt the tremor in her hand. He smiled at how easy she was.

How very easy she would be.

****

Catherine Bybee

servants had retired for the evening. Her father placed an extra guard at the gates and another on the highest tower to sound an alarm if needed.

Every family member made his or her way to Liz’s room. A few chairs were brought in for extra seating, and despite the size of the room, it was crowded.

Myra and the rest of them were apprehensive about showing the men what they did. Until now, they had this to themselves, a complete no-testosterone zone is how Tara referred to it. Now it would be what Lizzy called a co-ed experience.

Once everyone arrived, Lizzy took the cord and book from her hiding spot, and placed the cord around the handle of the door. Ian glanced at the oversized string, then darted his eyes to his daughter and Todd.

Myra purposely directed her gaze to anywhere but Todd. She really didn’t want her father questioning anything right now.

Lizzy hugged the book to her chest, and encouraged everyone to get comfortable.

Tara waddled to the chair, the others sat on cushions.

Myra noticed when Amber smiled at Simon whose eyes grew wider when his mom started talking.

“Okay guys. I know you’re going to have questions, but wait until we’re done before you ask.

If you have a suggestion during, speak out but don’t come into the circle.”

“Why?” Fin asked.

“The circle is opened and closed by us, breaking it voids what we’re doing, not to mention it hurts”

“Hurts?” Duncan stared at his wife. “What hurts?”

“The energy shocks the one breaking the circle, and we fall.”

242

Silent Vows

Todd scanned the faces of the women, “What do you mean fall?”

Myra smiled, more confident by the second.

“You’ll see.”

“But since you’re here, why don’t you and Duncan stand behind Tara.” The men exchanged creased brows, but didn’t question them.

“Ready?” Amber sounded anxious to start. With the others taking their places, Amber spread the lavender and cast the circle.

Lizzy started. “It’s time we peek and use our sight, and look within the other’s plight. Use our circle to hide our task, keep us silent, is all we ask. If the Ancients will it so, let us see so we will know.”

With hands clasped in one another’s, the candle flames reached five and six inches in height.

“Since Tara and I are the only ones who have seen Grainna, you both will have to open your minds to retrieve the image.”

They closed their eyes, took slow breaths. Myra felt Tara squeeze her hand harder. Her pulse quickened, and the memory of Simon within Grainna’s grasp merged with Myra’s mind.

“I see it,” Amber said.

“Me too.” The image made her nauseous, which was probably a memory of either Lizzy or Tara.

When they started to elevate above the floor more than one gasp came from the men in the room, but none of them said a thing.

“Do you have it?” Lizzy asked.

“Aye,” Amber said.

“Aye,” Myra agreed.

“You okay, Tara?”

“I’m good.”

“All right, let’s find the witch.” Myra glanced over, saw Lizzy opened her eyes, and stare at the paper where she had written down the spell. “Take our minds across the land, to find the witch and the 243

Catherine Bybee

man. Let us look so we can see, what will be our destiny.”

“Clever,” Myra told her.

“Only if it works.”

It was only them in the room. Even though the family watched in fascination, the women only saw one another. “Which way?”

“The village first. We can all picture it.”

As if they were astride a horse galloping at a fast speed their minds soared over the land. A small gust of wind brushed Myra’s hair back from the center of the circle. As quickly as the image of the village wiggled into focus, it soared past.