Sacrificing his Highland Heart by Kenna Kendrick
Chapter Seventeen
“What do ye think, my lady?” Susan was standing beside Rose by the giant bonfire that had been lit on Laird’s Hill. She could see the shining faces of the villagers surrounding it, waiting with anticipation. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. The whole festival had an energy she’d never experienced.
Of course, in the Bible, she’d read about animal sacrifices, but she’d never seen one before in real life. There had been sheep and cows strewn with flowers, laid out for the pagan goddesses of old to take as sustenance. Susan had explained it all to her.
“‘Tis a celebration of life, my lady. We must celebrate and thank the Heavens for what good they will bring us this year. We hope for a good harvest. It is the only way we can keep our way of life.”
Susan looked so hopeful and happy, even though the entire village had been affected by the ravages of war for many years. Had they celebrated even during those times when most of the men were gone fighting her people? Did they remember to be thankful and even hope for another good harvest? She didn’t like the thought of Englishmen seeing such a display of frivolity, hinting at former paganism. She knew just what they would think and say, what they had always thought and said: Scotsmen were utter brutes and savages.
Now, the thoughts of her own people embarrassed her. While the festivities were strange and new to her, she wasn’t afraid, nor was she horrified or ashamed. In the past weeks, despite the strangeness with Euan, she had accepted Clan Rede as her people. It was her home now, and she should treat it as such, with great respect.
“I think that it is…breathtaking, Susan.” Susan beamed and clasped tightly to Rose’s arm. Breathtaking was the only word she could use to describe it. It was the most enormous bonfire she had ever seen in her life. The people on her father’s land would light fires, of course, but none had come close to such a height, even on the Christian holidays they celebrated.
“I am glad ye think so. These are yer people now, my lady. They will be happy tae ken that ye like the celebrations. I was worried ye wouldnae wish tae come. But ye look very bonny, and I ken that the laird has noticed it.”
Even in the darkness, Rose blushed, and her hand went to her hair. Susan had helped her to dress with care. She wore a green gown, representing the new life of the harvest, but it was her hair that was the real masterpiece. Susan had braided it in intricate patterns, and fresh flowers, picked by the edge of the forest, were threaded throughout. It was a mass of beautiful blooms, and as soon as she’d stepped out of her chambers, everyone complimented her. It was the look of a clan lady ready for a festival.
“Thank you, Susan, you have done well. Now, you must tell me what happens next.”
She could see the men passing around a cake on a plate and looking at their piece before putting it into their mouths. Susan seemed to relish the chance to explain, and she leaned a little closer to Rose. “The strongest men of the clan each take a piece of the Beltane cake. They are searching for the spread of charcoal that is on one of the pieces. That is the one who will be sacrificed.”
“Sacrificed?” Rose shouted, her eyes wide. Susan giggled.
“Aye. Tae the fire and tae the goddesses. But donnae worry. It is nae that way anymore. Now, the man who is chosen must nae die upon the flames. He has another duty instead.”
“And what is that?” Rose replied, her heart slowly returning to rest after the initial shock.
“The chosen man must run and jump over the fire as best they can. It is the way every year.” Susan turned her eyes back to the men who were slowly passing the cake around, doing the same, looking, and then eating. Even though the men wouldn’t really be sacrificed, she watched in fear as each of them took their piece of cake, hoping it wasn’t them who would be the one to jump. She couldn’t imagine any man being able to make such a leap.
Finally, she saw her husband lit up by the bright flames. He took the plate and then a piece of cake. “I did not know that Laird Rede would participate,” she whispered roughly to Susan.
“But of course! He is the laird and must follow the same traditions, or else he could put a curse upon the harvest.”
Rose nodded, but then she put a hand on Susan’s arm and squeezed when she saw Euan pause as he looked at his piece of cake.
No, it cannot be. Surely, he would not be chosen.
But then, he held up the cake, and with the bright light of the fire, she could see the piece of charcoal streaked along its white side. “So, I have been chosen as a sacrifice!” he called out in his deep, manly voice.
The crowd cheered, and Rose nearly had to cover her ears; the sound was so overwhelming. He was smiling. How could the man be smiling? He wandered closer to her, trying apparently to find his place before he made his impossible leap. He was removing his woolen jacket and rolling up his sleeves. The men crowded around him, pushing him to the right place. Even though other strong and tall men were around him, Euan seemed to dominate them all in height and strength. The fire lit up his features and the sinewy muscles on his arms where his skin was exposed. Walter was at his side for a while, but then all the men pulled away, and he stood alone, looking at the fire. Rose was afraid. He would never survive such a jump. Even if he did, he would be badly burned.
How could his people make him do such a thing? I must put a stop to it if I can.
In an instant, she tore out of Susan’s grasp, and she hurried to Euan’s side. The crowd seemed to grow still around them, and everyone was silent. She reached out and grasped his arm.
“Euan,” she said and met his beautiful eyes. “Please do not do this. You cannot do this. You will be hurt!”
“Come, Rose,” he said in seriousness, his smile gone. “It must be done. I am the chosen sacrifice. If I donnae do this, then the harvests will be bad, and I will be the one tae blame.”
They locked eyes for a few moments, and in their shared gaze, she hoped she could get across her pleading. She didn’t know why she didn’t want him to do this. She would be free again and live as she pleased, perhaps even return to England if he died. But still, something deep inside her begged him to reconsider. He couldn’t die. The thought made her feel strange and loose like she was swaying in the sea, victim to the waves.
“But,” she began again, but he shook his head and pulled out of her grasp. She breathed in swiftly as she watched him move back against the crowd and then rush forward, leaping over the flames.
* * *
The fire jumping at the festival had exhilarated Euan ever since he was young. He always loved to watch the strong man be chosen and then take their turn to leap up and over, reaching the other side safely to the bellowing cries of the villagers. His father had been selected once, and he remembered watching his father in awe as he jumped far higher than he had seen any man jump before. Euan would do the same now that he had been selected. He was nervous yet excited, and his thrill grew even more, when he felt Rose clutching his arm, begging him not to do this.
His new, kidnapped wife was concerned for his welfare! And he didn’t understand it, but he relished the fact. It made him even more determined to prove to her his strength and viability as a husband. He also enjoyed teasing her, and he kept his expression solemn as he backed away from her and took his leap over the fire. It seemed to last both seconds and a lifetime as he jumped up through the flames, which licked at him until he was on the other side. He landed on his feet with a resounding and confident thud.
There was a moment of silence before the villagers raised their arms and, with drinks in hand, cheered loudly, even clapping for him. He grinned and jogged back around the circle of the fire and found Rose standing on the other side, her arms crossed.
He couldn’t stop smiling. In the light of the fire with the flowers in her dark hair, she looked more beautiful than ever. “Ye see?” he said cheerily as he approached her. “Nae harm was done. And now the harvest will be bountiful.”
“You should not have scared me so. I thought my heart would stop when I saw you attempt to jump over such a high fire.”
“Attempt? I believe I made it quite successfully.” He lifted a brow, his smile still firmly in place.
“You are not hurt? Not there?” Her eyes drew downward towards his nether regions. Despite the fire’s brief touched, his groin heated, and he needed her to stop looking there or else the whole village would know what was going on in his mind.
“Nae,” he shook his head and pulled her close, his hands on her waist. She gasped a little as he lowered his head close to hers and whispered, “But I am glad tae ken that ye are concerned for that area of my body. Rather concerned for me at all.”
Then he kissed her, unable to control himself any longer. There was only slight hesitation until she kissed him back, reaching up and over his shoulders, her hands pulling down on his neck to pull him closer. His lips moved across hers with a heated passion, despite the others around them. He had wanted to kiss her last night, but she’d rejected him. Now, she was most certainly not rejecting him, and he wished he could lift her up into his arms and carry her to bed right then and there. When he felt the first timid touch of her tongue against his own, he had to stifle a groan. Around them, the people began to cheer again for their laird and lady, and to his disappointment, Rose pulled away.
She was breathless, and her lips were beautifully swollen from their feverish kiss. Her green eyes, lit by the fire, watched him intensely. She almost looked surprised at herself. “It is a good thing ye didnae have yer blade with ye this time,” he teased, and he watched her swallow.
“Yes, but you have not yet taught me how to use it.”
“A fact which I will remedy soon enough. Other than that, I thought ye would prefer it if I was fed tae the flames. It is a comfort tae ken that ye donnae. Enjoy yer evening, wife.”
With that, he turned away and returned to his men, leaving a surprised Rose behind him. When he made it to Walter’s side, the festivities continued anew, and the music began again. Dancing started, and the sounds of the people drowned out the wild beating of his heart. Walter handed him back his mug of ale.
“I see things have improved between ye and yer wife, then. Since last eve.”
“Apparently, they have. At least for a time. I think she was far too surprised tae fight against me at that moment. But I may hear an earful later.”
Walter chuckled. “Why do ye grin at such a prospect, my friend? Ye would like tae get an earful from yer young wife?”
Euan threw back a swig of his ale. “Well, that would be better than silence at this rate. Tonight, she showed me that she cared about my welfare, attempting tae stop me before I made my jump.”
“Most unusual, and enough tae give ye a barrelful of pride,” Walter teased. Euan saw his friend’s eyes move over the crowd.
“Have ye spoken with Siobhan yet?”
Walter groaned. “Nae ye too. Has yer wife infected ye with the thought that my dealings with Siobhan should be dictated and analyzed?”
Euan laughed loudly. “Nae at all. I only wish tae give ye the push that ye are giving me.” He spied Siobhan speaking to one of the villagers. Tentatively, her gaze sought out Walter but then turned away. The man didn’t even notice. Euan smirked. “I donnae think ye will find yer suit rejected, but then again, what do I ken of such things? My wife is wont tae reject me at every turn. Especially after tonight.”
Walter took a breath and looked up at the stars. “Perhaps the goddesses of yore will give us the luck we need, Euan.” Euan watched as one of the village women handed Rose a cup of ale. She took it with both hands; it was so large. She looked at him for a moment before Susan distracted her with a few words.
“Perhaps they will, Walter.” He clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder before the two of them returned to the festivities.
