The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher

Chapter 16

Elysia had been busy the last two days as had her husband, though if truth be told, she believed they had purposely avoided each other. The incident in the cottage had given her much pause to think and the one thing that disturbed her more than anything was that he had not told her of his true identity. It made her wonder if there were other things he hadn’t told her, things he purposely kept from her.

She frowned, realizing there was one thing Saber and Odran did share—they both had lied to her.

“Excuse me, my lady.”

Elysia turned a smile on Lendra standing in the open doorway, though it faded fast seeing her eyes rimmed red and her cheeks wet from crying. She went to her. “What’s wrong?”

“Bram is leaving,” Lendra said on a sob.

Elysia eased the upset woman into the bedchamber with a hand to her back and closed the door. “Leaving for where?”

“Clan MacBridan. Lord Odran has ordered that he serve there.” Lendra shook her head. “I will never see him again. It’s foolish of me I know, but I can’t help it. My heart has been lost to him.”

Elysia didn’t believe Bram worthy of Lendra. She was a good-hearted woman and deserved better than a man who thought more of himself than anyone else.

“Bram says it’s punishment for talking with you that day you warned Lord Odran that it was unwise of Bram to use his injured arm. He believes someone told Lord Odran about him confronting you and he is being made to suffer for it.”

Bram had been right about someone telling Odran about the confrontation. It had been one of the two warriors who followed her that told him and was the reason he had showed up at the cottage that day. Odran had been angry when she had told him how Bram had stopped her and what he had said to her. She feared he would somehow make Bram suffer for it and what better way than to see his wife’s warning adhered to.

Elysia didn’t convey that to Lendra. It would only upset her more.

“I’m sorry, my lady, I shouldn’t trouble you with this,” Lendra said, trying to stop her tears.

“Friends help friends, Lendra, and you have been a good friend to me and my sisters. I am glad you came to me with this, though I’m not sure what I can do to help you.” Her eyes spread wide, an idea striking her. “Would you consider leaving Clan Loudon and coming to Clan MacBridan as my personal servant? I don’t actually know if I am to have one, but if so I would prefer it be someone I know and someone I can trust. You keep a keen eye and ear to what goes on around you and that would help me greatly in my new surroundings.”

Lendra wiped at both her wet cheeks as if certain no more would fall. “I know well the duties of the lady of the keep. I could help you with that as well. And I would keep you apprised of all I hear and see.”

Elysia reached out and squeezed Lendra’s arm. “I will speak to Odran about it. I doubt he will deny me since I will speak truthfully to him and let him know how pleased I would be to have a friend go with me to my new home.”

“You are a generous soul, Elysia.” Lendra shook her head. “Lady Elysia.”

Elysia corrected her. “You refer to me as always—Elysia.”

“It is best I call you Lady Elysia for fear of my tongue slipping in front of Lord Odran,” Lendra said. “Besides, it is only proper and you well deserve the title.”

As far as Elysia was concerned she had not wed a tilted man and was not deserving of it, but it did little good to argue the point. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Lendra.”

Worry creased Lendra’s brow. “Is there time for this to be done. You leave in a couple of hours.”

Elysia smiled. “Then I better speak to my husband posthaste.”

“I will finish whatever needs doing here,” Lendra said.

“I was just seeing that I didn’t forget anything. You go gather your things and be ready.”

Lendra hesitated. “Are you sure of this, my lady?”

“Most definitely, Lendra. Now go get ready.” She shooed the smiling woman out the door, waited a moment, then after one last glance at the room to make sure she had left nothing behind went to find her husband.

She found Odran in the Great Hall, speaking with Chieftain Neil and to her surprise, Cybill, the chieftain’s daughter, barely two years, was in Odran’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder. She was also surprised at how content he was holding the bairn. It was obvious he enjoyed holding the little lass and it made her realize that he would enjoy having children if it weren’t for the curse, and her heart ached for him.

Her hand went to her stomach. She’d been so busy with other things that she hadn’t given thought to the bairn growing inside her. Or perhaps she hadn’t wanted to. She feared telling Odran and intended to wait as long as possible before she let him know he was going to be a da.

Roanna entered the room as Elysia approached where the men stood near the large fireplace.

“Come to Mummy and leave Lord Odran be,” Roanna said, holding her arms out to her daughter.

Cybill’s head popped up off Odran’s chest and her tiny arms went around his neck as far as they could fit and she planted a big mushy kiss on his cheek. Her arms slipped from around his neck, her tiny hand going to pat his cheek as if making sure the kiss stayed there, then smiled and stretched her arms out to her mum. Once in her mum’s arms, she sent Odran a bigger smile and waved at him. “Bye.”

Odran returned her big smile with one of his own. “Bye, Cybill.”

Silence hung heavily over the Great Hall for a few moments, all eyes on Lord Odran and his generous smile that highlighted his fine features. It was like seeing a different man.

Saber.

Elysia smiled, seeing her husband emerge and her heart filled with joy.

“Lady Elysia,” Chieftain Neil said with a bob of his head when she stopped beside her husband.

Odran’s arm went around her and she stepped closer to lean against him. “Chieftain Neil,” she acknowledged respectfully. “I see Cybill is well and beguiling as ever.”

“Aye, she is well and a charmer for sure,” Neil said with a laugh. “I’m going to have to keep a good eye on her.”

“I have a request for my husband—”

“Aye, Roanna, Cybill, and I will leave you then,” Neil said before Elysia could finish.

“No, please, it is a request for you as well,” she said and looked to her husband. “I would like to take Lendra with me to my new home. It would help me to have someone I know there with me.” She gave a quick look to Chieftain Neil. “If you don’t mind letting her go.”

Chieftain Neil nodded to Odran. “I bow to Lord Odran’s decision.”

“If that pleases you, wife, then Lendra is welcome at Clan MacBridan,” Odran said.

“It does please me and thank you, my lord,” Elysia said with a nod and a smile.

His wife’s smile always gave his heart a quick catch. If they were alone, he would sweep her up in his arms for a kiss. He’d avoided doing that for the last two days, the temptation of what might follow too much to risk. But they would be leaving soon for his home, leaving no time for anything beyond the kiss.

Cybill’s yawn had Roanna excusing herself to put the little lass down for a nap and left the room. Neil and Odran exchanged a few more words that were soon interrupted when an irritated Tavish rushed into the room.

“You deny me a chance to be part of your warriors when I proved myself worthy?” Tavish demanded. “I’m to stay and defend this poor excuse of a clan?”

Neil’s face glowered, offended by the remark. “Clan Loudon is a fine, honorable clan.”

“But lacks the powerful reputation of the Clan MacBridan,” Tavish argued and turned fiery eyes on Odran. “Afraid I’ll outshine your warriors?”

Odran stepped toward him. “You tried and failed, unable to come close to any one of my warriors in skill. You remain here where you belong.”

“I disagree,” Tavish argued.

“That makes no difference to me and do not bother me further with your nonsense.” Odran turned and took a step toward his wife.

Elysia saw it before anyone. So quick, it was nothing more than a flash, but she saw the dagger. She yelled, “ODRAN,” as she stepped around him, giving him a slight shove.

He turned as the dagger came down slicing his wife’s sleeve. His hand shot out, grabbing Tavish’s arm and twisting it before the dagger tore completely through the sleeve.

Tavish struggled with Odran, but it was no contest, Odran the far stronger one. Odran rammed Tavish with his elbow, sending him stumbling back and easily ending the encounter.

“I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE,” Tavish screamed. “Another righteous one will come and another and another. You think you’ve won but you haven’t. You and your wife will die and the curse with it.”

Odran went to step forward, ready to grab him by the throat and force him to explain what he meant, but he wasn’t quick enough. Tavish yanked another dagger from his boot and ran it across his throat slicing it. Blood shot out and he dropped to the floor, blood continuing to spill around him.

Elysia stepped forward to see if she could help Tavish, but Odran stopped her. His heart slammed against his chest seeing the blood that covered her sleeve.

When she saw his eyes deep with worry, she was quick to reassure him. “I’ve given it a glance. It is not a bad wound. I can see to it with some help. Have Lendra fetched. She will know how to help me.”

“I’ll see to fetching Lendra,” Chieftain Neil said.

“Send Finch to me,” Odran ordered and Neil gave a nod.

Elysia went to sit at the nearest table and Odran was at her side in a flash to help her.

He couldn’t stand there and do nothing but watch her bleed. “Tell me what to do to help until Lendra gets here.”

“I’ll need water and clean cloths, and if you could tear away my sleeve before the blood sticks the material to the wound that would be helpful.”

He shouted orders to the servants, their faces pale as they stared at Tavish on the floor, and they hurried to do as he ordered and leave the horror of what had happened behind.

“Soon there will be nothing left of these garments,” she said, trying to make light of the situation and ease her husband’s scowl.

“You’ll have new garments when we arrive home,” he said as he gently eased the bloody sleeve away from the wound and began to tear it away. “You can stitch more if you like. Clan MacBridan produces some fine wool cloth.”

“I would enjoy doing that,” she said, his tender ministration reminding her of how Saber had been, but this was Odran and his touch was the same as Saber’s—tender and loving.

Odran tossed the bloody sleeve in the fire, the flames devouring it quickly, then he turned a serious scowl on her. “Never again, wife.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.

“Never again will you put yourself in danger to protect me,” he ordered fiercely.

Her smile came unbidden. She couldn’t help it or the words that rushed from her lips. “You can’t stop instinct, but mostly you can’t stop love from doing what it will.”

His wife deflated the anger right out of him and that she acknowledged her love swelled his heart with pure joy. He rested his brow to hers. “I cannot lose you. I love you far too much to live without you.” He shook his head. “I cannot fathom such a thing. Life was unbearable until you came along. Your love filled a void deep within me and I never want to feel that empty again.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently.

She welcomed his kiss, her own fear of losing him when she saw the dagger ready to strike him had had her reacting without thought to herself. She loved him—Saber or Odran—it didn’t matter, she loved the man and nothing would change that.

“My lord.”

Odran ended the kiss, resting his brow to hers once again for a brief moment before turning to Finch, staring down at Tavish.

“Bring some men and get this cleaned up,” Odran ordered.

“Aye, sir.” Finch nodded and took off.

Elysia took a clean cloth as soon as a stack was deposited on the table along with a bucket of warm water and was about to dunk it into the water when her husband snatched it from her and set to work gently cleaning the blood from around the wound.

“What do you think Tavish meant by another righteous one will come?” Elysia asked.

Odran was glad to see for himself that his wife was right. The blood soaking her sleeve made the wound appear far worse than it actually was. It probably wouldn’t even leave a scar by the time she got done healing it.

He raised his head to look at her as he responded to her question. “Some believe the curse has affected more than the three clans. Some believe that it is the reason for anything that goes wrong in the area, even the recent battle.”

“I thought the battle was over a land dispute.”

“A couple of months back some crofts that sat on the farthest outskirts of Clan MacBridan land suffered fires and illnesses. Many believed the curse was spreading and feared it would reach the church that several clans had built on Clan MacBridan land. They wanted to save the church from the curse. They insisted my father surrender a good portion of the land around the church. Naturally, he refused to part with what was rightfully his and the other clans retaliated.”

Elysia scrunched her brow. “How would Tavish be involved with that?”

“The very same question I asked myself.”

Lendra entered then, hurrying over to Elysia, though stopping briefly when she spotted Tavish’s body, her eyes wide, but she asked no questions. “My lady, are you all right?”

“Aye, Lendra, I am good. A minor wound. I need you to get me some yarrow ointment from the cottage, then help me tend the wound,” Elysia said.

“Aye, my lady,” Lendra said and went to turn away.

“Also, Lendra, please gather your belongings. You’ll be going with me to Clan MacBridan.”

Lendra smiled. “I am pleased to serve you, Lady Elysia. Will we still be leaving today with you wounded?”

Odran answered before Elysia could. “You will be informed when a decision is made.”

“Aye, my lord,” Lendra said with a bob and rushed out of the keep.

Warriors entered the room along with Finch, and Tavish was removed and the blood cleaned away in no time.

“All has been made ready to leave, my lord,” Finch said. “We await your word.”

Elysia placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “Please don’t delay our departure. I’ve prepared myself to leave today. Don’t make me stay another day where the memories of what I leave behind sting my heart.”

Odran looked to her wound. “The truth. You will not suffer the journey?”

She shook her head. “It is a minor wound, the tip of the dagger catching the surface of the flesh. I will be fine. Besides, it is not a long journey. We will arrive by nightfall.”

Odran turned to Finch. “We leave within the hour.”

Finch nodded.

“Make the men aware they are to be on alert. Explain what happened here with Tavish and that others, disgruntled they failed, might lie in wait for us,” Odran ordered.

“Aye, my lord.”

“You believe we may be attacked on our journey?” she asked, her hand that had rested lightly on his arm turning to a slight grip.

“It is a possibility, though I doubt it. They retreat to lick their wounds and make plans. As Tavish said, he is not the last, more will come—the curse will see to that.”