The Laird of Stonehaven (28 page)

“Calm down, lad,” Father Lachlan advised. “Let us return to Stonehaven and think this through. No matter how Niall obtained this document, it appears legal.”

“Is Blair still at Gairloch?”

“Nay, MacKay took her away.”

“MacKay! Nay!” Drawing his sword, Graeme thrust it into the air. “To the MacKay stronghold!”

“Listen to reason,” Heath advised. “We will be cut down without mercy if we try to storm the keep. ’Tis near impregnable.”

“Are you suggesting I give my wife to MacKay?”

“She is no longer yer wife,” Heath reminded him.

Graeme turned to Father Lachlan, his expression grim. “Did Blair’s brother wed her to the MacKay?”

“Not to my knowledge. I was told she went willingly with MacKay. When I questioned one of the guardsmen, he said Blair accompanied MacKay because MacArthur threatened to execute us if she refused to go with him. The fellow knew naught about a marriage.”

“What does MacKay want from her?” Graeme muttered. “Why did MacArthur want our marriage set aside?”

“I can answer the last part of yer question,” the priest replied. “MacArthur doesna want to part with Blair’s dowry. Once her marriage was dissolved, he regained control of her wealth. As for MacKay, yer guess is as good as mine.”

Graeme stood upright in the saddle, turned his face toward the MacKay stronghold and shouted, “Death to the MacKay!”

“Nay, lad, be easy,” Father Lachlan urged. “There has to be another way. Violence will gain ye naught. Only one person can give ye back what ye lost.”

“The king!” Graeme spat.

“God, not the king,” the priest replied.

“I refuse to sit back and wait for divine intervention,” Graeme said. “God helps those who help themselves.”

“The men grow anxious, Graeme,” Aiden said. “Do we ride to the MacKay stronghold or return home?”

Graeme knew what he
wanted
to do but realized it wasn’t the wisest choice. Blair was a resourceful lass; he had to trust her to prevent MacKay from harming her. After all, her powers couldn’t help MacKay if she were injured or dead. Then again, she might not have any powers left for MacKay to exploit.

“We’ll return to Stonehaven,” Graeme said woodenly. “Somehow, some way, I must convince the king to reinstate my marriage to Blair.”

Blair had been locked in a sparsely furnished chamber upon her arrival at MacKay’s stronghold. She had no idea what MacKay wanted from her and was impatient to find out. At least she hadn’t been starved or mistreated. That thought led to another. Had Niall released Graeme’s clansmen as he’d promised? Did he fear her magic enough to honor her request?

If Niall had kept his word, Graeme would have been told that he no longer had a wife. Would that make him happy? She sincerely hoped not. There was nothing he could do about the king’s edict. She and Graeme were no longer husband and wife and could never be so again without the king’s approval. But that wouldn’t stop her from returning to Stonehaven and becoming Graeme’s leman, if he would have her.

Blair spent an entire day and night in confinement before MacKay called to her through the door and entered her chamber. Blair rose to greet him, her chin raised in defiance.

“What is it you want from me?” she challenged.

“Lower yer chin, lass. A wee thing like ye doesna frighten me.”

“Do you not fear my magic?”

MacKay retreated a step. “Mayhap. But I warn ye, unless ye have a death wish, dinna use yer evil spells on me.”

“Tell me what you want.”

He strode to the window and looked out. “Many years ago, during my great-grandfather Connor’s time, the castle came under siege. The keep wasna as well fortified as it is now, and my ancestor feared it would fall to the enemy.”

“What has that got to do with me?” Blair asked.

“I am getting to that. During the siege, Connor hid the wealth he had accumulated through the years and told no one where he had hidden his riches. He trusted no one with the location of the hiding place, ye see. Unfortunately, Connor fell beneath his enemy’s sword. The treasure has never been found, though not for lack of searching. There isna a nook or cranny in the keep and outbuildings that hasna been searched since Connor’s death.”

“You want me to tell you where your ancestor hid the treasure,” Blair surmised.

MacKay grinned. “I knew ye were smart, lass. Locating the treasure should be an easy task for someone with yer talents. Use yer magic, lass. I care not how ye do it, just give me what I want.”

Blair shook her head. “I have no powers, no magic. I am naught but a healer.”

“Ye lie! I saw ye work yer magic on yer brother.”

“ ’Twas a farce. I lied about the spell.”

A fierce scowl contorted MacKay’s face. “I dinna believe ye! Find my treasure, witch! If ye fail, ye willna like the consequences.”

“Will you let me leave if I find your treasure?”

“Aye, ye have my word. After I have my treasure, ye can go, and good riddance to ye. My kinsmen dinna want ye here.”

Blair sighed and let his remark pass. If she had to explain one more time that she wasn’t a witch, she would go mad. “I’ll need time to find your treasure. And I must be allowed to explore the castle.”

“Do ye give yer word ye willna try to escape?”

“Aye, you have it.”

“Verra well. Yer door will be left unlocked, and ye can take meals with my kinsmen in the great hall. Heed me well, lass. Dinna try to trick me. Find my treasure in a reasonable length of time, else I will find a way to punish those ye care about. Niall swore ye had powers—now use them.”

Blair slumped down on the bed. What would MacKay do when he learned she had no powers? She had lost them when she fell in love with Graeme. The only power left to her was her intelligence. She had bought some time from MacKay and intended to use it. She would begin by searching the castle from top to bottom. If the treasure existed, she would find it.

Blair smoothed her skirts, dragged in a deep breath and left her chamber. When she reached the hall, all conversation stopped. People turned and stared at her. She felt their fear reach out and surround her. Their combined aura was dark and menacing. They did not want her here any more than she wanted to be here. She wanted to go home . . . home to Stonehaven and Graeme, even if he was no longer her husband.

Blair took a seat at one of the lower tables and helped herself to food from the tray that was being passed around. Immediately those around her rose and moved to other tables. Chagrined, Blair ignored the insult and continued eating as if nothing was wrong.

While she ate, she noticed a man with a swollen jaw. She knew immediately the poor man had an abscessed tooth and wanted to help him.

When he passed nearby, she said, “I can help you if you let me. An herb posset placed on the tooth will bring down the swelling, and a tea of the same herbs should ease the pain.”

The man recoiled in fear. “Ye’ll use none of yer witchcraft on me, mistress.” Then he turned and hurried off.

“Silly man,” Blair muttered as she finished her food. “Let him suffer.”

No one spoke to her, and everyone gave her a wide berth. Then Blair took matters into her own hands and sought out the housekeeper. Her name was Hilda, and though she didn’t flee, Blair could tell she was frightened.

“I willna hurt you, Hilda, nor any of your kinsmen. I am a healer, not a witch. While I am here, I would gladly treat any of your kinsmen who need my skills.”

“I . . . I dinna know about that, mistress,” Hilda stuttered. “MacKay said ye were a witch. He brought ye here to find the treasure his ancestor hid.”

“Do I look like a witch?”

Hilda stared at her. “Nay, ye look like an angel.”

“I canna change your mind or those of your kinsmen, but I want you to know I am not evil. The reason I sought you out is because MacKay said I could search the castle, and I would like you to show me around.”

“Duncan would be the mon to ask,” Hilda said. “He’s the laird’s steward. I will fetch him for ye.” She hurried off.

Blair realized that living among the MacKays wasn’t going to be easy. How could she possibly undo the years of damage that lies about her had wrought? She hoped she would find the treasure soon so she could return home . . . home to Graeme, if he would still have her. A vision of Glenda intimately entwined with Graeme appeared before her eyes.

Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling the cry that lodged in her throat. Had a tiny bit of her powers returned? Had she been allowed a look into the future, or was her vision a figment of her imagination?
Please, God,
she prayed,
let the vision be my imagination.

Hilda returned with Duncan. As luck would have it, he was the man with the swollen jaw she had offered to help.

“The MacKay said I might search the castle. I would like to start at the top and continue down to the dungeon. I want to inspect every chamber, no matter how small or insignificant.”

His face contorted with pain, Duncan gave her a sullen nod.

“Follow me, mistress.”

Blair skipped to catch up with his long stride. “Are you still in pain, Duncan?”

Duncan’s muffled response told Blair that he still suffered. If she had possessed her powers, she could have healed him with a touch. But herbal remedies would have to suffice, if Duncan would allow it.

“Will you let me look at your tooth?” Blair asked. “I dinna like to see a man in pain.”

Duncan stopped abruptly, causing Blair to run into his back. He turned to face her. “The pain is verra, verra bad, mistress. Can ye use magic to cure me?”

“I have no magic, Duncan, but I
am
a healer. Will you allow me to ease your pain?”

Duncan backed off, fear etching his features. Blair could tell he wanted the relief she promised, but he still believed the gossip that named her a witch.

“Do you know what a Faery Woman is?” she asked.

“Aye. According to legend, Faery Women are healers and possess powers mortals dinna ken.”

“I am a Faery Woman, Duncan. My life is dedicated to helping others. I work in mysterious ways, but I am not evil, nor have I ever harmed anyone.”

“So ye say,” Duncan snorted. “Follow me, mistress.”

“Duncan.”

He turned slowly. “Aye?”

Blair approached him gingerly. Reaching out, she touched his jaw, running her fingers along the swelling. She felt her fingers tingle, felt the rush of familiar heat up her arm, followed by a jolt of pain. Her eyes grew round. How could this be? She had lost her powers. Searching Duncan’s face, she saw no difference in Duncan’s expression. Her imagination must be working overtime. Duncan merely sent her a strange look and continued on his way.

For the next several days, Blair poked about in every chamber in the castle and continued on to the outbuildings. Nothing she saw aroused the slightest awareness in her. Her senses remained dulled. Without her powers, she had not the slightest idea where to find the treasure, though she spent days poking around unused chambers and filthy outbuildings.

Of MacKay she saw little. He came and went about his business of reiving his neighbors’ livestock. A sennight after she arrived at Castle MacKay, the laird barged into her chamber and demanded answers. Of course, Blair had none and begged for more time.

“I need that treasure now,” MacKay growled. “The king is demanding money from the Highland chieftains to help pay his ransom, and my coffers are empty. If James doesna get the money he needs, a war seems likely. Ye have two more days to find the treasure. Then I leave to join the king at Hawick.”

Blair immediately thought of Graeme and prayed for his safety. She knew he was a seasoned warrior, but even warriors fell in battle.

“Will all the lairds answer the call for arms and money?”

MacKay snorted. “I doubt it. They are displeased with James. He went too far when he executed five of their number.”

“Six, if Graeme had gone,” Blair reminded him.

“Aye, six. Graeme Campbell has more luck than sense. Consider yerself warned, lass. If ye dinna find my treasure, there are those here who would like to see ye burned at the stake.”

Blair paced the chamber after MacKay left, racking her brain for an answer to her dilemma. She hadn’t the slightest idea where MacKay’s treasure was hidden. A knock on the door brought her from her reverie. She opened it to find Duncan standing on the threshold. The cloth was gone from around his jaw and the swelling was no longer evident.

“Mistress, forgive me,” Duncan said, wringing his hands.

“For what?”

“For doubting ye. Ye healed me. The swelling is gone and my tooth no longer pains me. Ye cured me with a mere touch. Ye are indeed a Faery Woman, and I am sorry for doubting ye.”

“When did this healing take place?” Blair asked, confused. How could her powers have returned when the spirits would not speak to her?

“After ye touched me.”

“Why did you wait so long to tell me?”

“I was afraid, lady. At first I didna want to believe yer touch healed me, but I can no longer deny it. Thank ye, lady.”

Blair couldn’t speak, could only nod as Duncan took his leave. What did it mean? Had her powers returned?

Blair went to bed that night with a troubled mind. Sometime during the darkest part of night she awoke to voices echoing through her head. She was confused at first, but eventually she made out the words. The spirits wanted her to go to the window.

Ignoring the chill that seeped through to her bones, she rose and padded barefoot to the window. The moon was full, illuminating the courtyard below with brilliant light.

“ ’Tis there,” the voice whispered.

“What? What are you trying to tell me?”

“The treasure. ’Tis there beneath the rowan tree, buried at the bottom of an abandoned well.”

A wave of dizziness swept through Blair. Blackness closed in and she knew no more.

Graeme, Heath, Aiden and Stuart were discussing the action that should be taken against MacKay when a message arrived from the king. Graeme sent the messenger off to the kitchen for food and drink while he perused the missive.

“What does the king want now?” Stuart asked when Graeme spit out a curse and pounded the table with his fist.