Timeless Mist (5 page)

Nevertheless, 't
was
also true
that
Raibert
had
a
very
suspicious nature and
did
n't
have
much trust in anyone or
anyth
ing
, now more
than ever with the events over the past half a year or more. He did
n't
believe in coincidences.
Iain
had
learned over
the past few years to trust Raibert's judgments as well as his own instincts. And
his instincts said there
was
someth
ing
not
right about this lass,
someth
ing
he could
not
quite
put his f
ing
er
on, but it
was
there
just the same.

Elsbeth turned, nose in the air,
and returned to the bedchamber. Iain decided he would try again later, and
headed for the door. Before he could make his escape, Elsbeth reappeared.

"Your
màthair
would
like
to speak with ye. Sit
ye down whilst I help her to dress." She smiled at him and turned away.

"Why is it, Elsie, I seem to
be able to command respect from e
very
other soul in my clan and ye will nay give me an ounce?" Iain's question
stopped her before she opened the door.

He
was
surprised when she chuckled.

"Ye most certain
ly
have
my respect, as ye
have
since the day he became Laird."

Iain humph.

"'Tis just I'm nay afraid of
ye the way most are."

"And why is
that
?" Iain cocked
eyebrow at her.

"'Tis a difficult th
ing
to be afeared of a mon
when ye changed his swaddl
ing
,"
Elsie walked over to him and patted his cheek, "and ha'e seen his wee
bottom too many times to count."

Iain grunted and turned away from
her, feeling an unaccustomed heat on his cheeks.

*          *          *

Iain tapped his f
ing
ers on the arm of the
overstuffed chair in impatience. If he did
not
know better, he would suspect his
màthair
sought to annoy him by tak
ing
her time. 'Twould be just
like
her to keep him there for an entire afternoon.

He looked up at a noise from the
other side of the room. His
màthair
stood in the doorway dressed in her finest gown, her tartan wrapped around her
and pinned to her shoulder with the clan crest his father
had
given her on their wedd
ing
day. Her dark hair,
pulled back in a chignon, showed her high cheekbones to their fullest.

"
Màthair
, ye look love
ly
as usual." He rose from his chair and
leaned down to kiss her upturned cheek.

"Dinnae think to patronize
me, Iain MacGregor, for all I will no'
have
it. And do
not
try to
evade my questions either." Her blue eyes shone
like
cobalt, the set of her chin displayed her
resolve. Sorcha MacGregor
was
indeed still a
very
beautiful woman. Underneath all
that
beauty, however, Iain knew she
had
the heart of a warrior. She would defend the MacGregor land from any spy
ing
Campbell's, even if it
meant her life.

"I would ne'er dream of it,
màthair
."

"I hear we
have
a visitor," Sorcha
sat in the chaise by the fire. "A female visitor, Elsbeth tells me. Do ye
have
any idea who she
maybe?"

"Nay, Elsbeth will no' let
me question her yet." He sounded
like
a petulant child denied a treat. He noticed his
màthair
's
lips twitch, but ignored it, as well as the pah he heard from Elsbeth that came
from his
màthair
's
bedchamber.

"She
has
a bump on her head and must nay be
disturbed at the moment," Elsie interjected from the doorway.

"Humph." Iain fidgeted
in his chair, uncomfortable as usual of late in his
màthair
's presence. He knew where the
conversation would end, and he did
n't
want to go there yet again. "
Was
that
all he wished to
speak to me about,
màthair
,"
he asked, beginn
ing
to
rise. He prayed he could escape before she could question him on matters he
had
no answers for yet.

"Nay, and well you know it,
Iain."

"I
have
no answers for ye about Cait
ly
n’s disappearance,
màthair
," he returned
to his chair with great reluctance, know
ing
what
was
to come. He
tried to stop it before she could go further "At least no' yet."

"What do ye intend to do
about
that
?"

"I intend to keep do
ing
what I've been do
ing
for the past six months.
I will keep look
ing
for her." Would he never cease to feel guilt about his sister's
disappearance? 'T
was
doubtful.

Not
that
he could
have
been much help. He'd
been sent by his father to speak with K
ing
James about the battle at Glenfruin. His father
had
gotten wind
that
the
widows of some of the men killed
were
on their way to the k
ing
,
bloody tunics in hand. Alistair
had
wanted someone from the MacGregor's there as well to tell their side of the
tale. He'd been certain Iain could make K
ing
Jamie see reason if he
had
the entire tale and get him to forego further punishment upon the clan.

Bah! It
had
been a fool's errand from the start. By the
time Iain
had
arrived,
the k
ing
had
already left for London
and the proscription had been put into effect. He'd been lucky to make it home
without losi
ng
his
life.

"Cait
ly
n is more than
likely
off seeking a
not
her of
her adventures. 'Tis no' as if she
has
nae
done the
like
before. The
stubborn wench is fore'er runn
ing
off on one risky venture or a
not
her.
Ye of all people should know this and understand it. If I recall correct
ly
, I ha'e heard a story or
two from your own lips about the escapades ye
were
e'er look
ing
for."

Sorcha nodded then sighed. From
frustration, sadness, or both, Iain could
n't
be sure.

"I know what ye say is true,
Iain. But as a
màthair
,
I can
not
help but
worry about her. And she
has
ne'er been gone this long before. I cannae help but think someth
ing
terrible
has
befallen her, just
because so much time
has
passed with
not
even a
word from her."

"I know, M
àthair
," Iain reached
over and awkward
ly
patted her hand. "and I promise ye I will continue to look for her. Ye
must try
not
to worry
o'ermuch."

"I'll do my best." Sorcha
offered him a weak smile and tugged at the high neck of her gown. The high
collars she insisted on covered the marks she still bore from be
ing
captured by several
Campbell's and branded because she
was
a MacGregor.

A
not
her
stab of guilt tore at his heart as he remembered it as if it
had
been on
ly
yesterday. It
wasn't
as if he
had
been there to prevent
it, but he still could
n't
help the guilt
that
plagued him.

His father
had
not
yet received word of the proscription and
had
been unaware of the
danger fac
ing
any
MacGregor, so
had
let
her go outside the gates to collect herbs. Before she'd known what was about,
she'd been surrounded by half a dozen men, held down, and branded like a piece
of cattle. She
had
eventually
been able to use her wits and her dagger to their full advantage, tak
ing
the men by surprise with
her skill and finally escap
ing
back to the keep with Elsie. She'd informed the clan of what
had
transpired and of the k
ing
s edict upon anyone named
MacGregor,
not
just
the men, but the women and children as well.

Iain
had
arrived home from his
was
ted trip in the midst of
the mayhem. Women and children yelled and scurried back and forth, while men
saw to their horses and the pack
ing
of carts.

His father had made certain Iain
was watched for and pulled him aside into the laird's study to speak in
private.

"We must leave here as soon
as it can be arranged, Iain." Alistair poured two goblets of ale, hand
ing
one too Iain. "Ye
know of course, of the k
ing
's
edict."

"Aye." It
wasn't
a question, but Iain
ans
were
d it anyway,
not
able to keep the disgust
from his voice. "I know of it. 'Tis why it took me so long to return home.
I traveled most
ly
at
night and on little used roads, avoid
ing
the main roadways and villages as much as I could."

"'T
was
wise to do. Otherwise ye might
ha'e
found yourself dangl
ing
at the end of a
rope."

"I
was
verra careful, father. And when I could nay
avoid people, I
was
careful to no' wear my own plaid, which would ha'e given me away to easi
ly
."

"Good," he clapped a
hand on Iain's shoulder, "pilfered one from a Campbell I see." He
smiled, "well done."

Pleasure
was
hed over Iain at his father's praise, but he
forced himself to pay attention. He
was
a score and eight for pity's sake, his father's approval should
not
be of such import to
him, but it
was
nonetheless.

"As I said, we must leave
here. We will head deeper into the highlands, into the hills and mountains
where we will be able to use the incessant mists to help hide our
whereabouts." He gave Iain a long look, "ye heard what happened to
your
màthair
?"

"Aye, the scouts who met me
told me of it. 'Tis lucky she escaped before they did anyth
ing
worse to her."

"Aye, although be
ing
branded
like
an animal is bad
enough."

"I hear tell she did a bit
of damage herself, though." Iain couldn't help but smile as he envisioned
his
màthair
in action.

"Oh, aye,
that
she did." Alistair
nodded with pride then shook his head. "Marry a lass wi' spirit, Iain. Ye
will ne'er regret it. Ye wouldnae appreciate some mild lass who knows on
ly
how to bow and scrape and
do as she is told."

Like
Beathag, Iain thought, but did
not
say. She
had
not
been will
ing
to marry him in the
first place,
had
on
ly
acquiesced because her
father threatened her with dire consequences. In the end, she'd run off anyway.

"I ha'e already spoken wi'
your
màthair
about
this, and though she isnae happy about it, I ha'e made up my mind
that
this is the last
recourse left me. I alone am the one who can straighten out this matter,
so," he took a deep breath before he continued, "I myself must go to
London and speak wi' K
ing
Jamie."

"Nay." Iain gasped.

"Aye," Alistair
persisted, "'tis the on
ly
way, Iain. All the arrangements ha'e been made. As soon as I see the clan safe
ly
settled, I will go to
meet wi' Archibald Campbell." He held up his hand to stop Iain's expected
outburst at
that
news.
"I ha'e his word as a Highlander
that
he will see me delivered safe
ly
to England."

"And ye trust him?"

Alistair's laugh held no mirth,
"nay, of course
no'
,
nay tru
ly
. But I do
ha'e his oath. And a Highlander, e'en one such as Archibald prides himself on
his sworn oath. There arenae many I know who would break their word. No matter
how tempted."

"I dinnae
like
it." Iain shook
his head, "I think it is a mistake."

"Whether it is or no'
remains to be seen."

"Ye willnae be say
ing
that
when ye wind up dead, father."

"I doonae think e'en Argyle
will go
that
far.
That
is neither here nor
there at the moment. I wish to exact your word
that
ye will nay on
ly
care
for the clan in my absence, but ye will care for your
màthair
and your sister as well. If anyth
ing
should happen to me,
until one of your elder brother's returns, ye shall be laird."