CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR –Sloan–
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
–Sloan–
I LOATHED EVERY minute I was apart from Willow.
Still, I had no choice but to only be a mere comforting presence in her mind as King Robert took in the ridiculously exaggerated destruction to Sutherland Castle’s dungeons.
It was clear Elspet had been busy using her magic to make the damage Willow’s dragon had done to this portion of the castle look far worse, and I didn’t hesitate to say as much.
“This isnae how ‘twas left, my King,” I swore right then and there as Dugal and Elspet so righteously tried to sell their deception. Eyeing the large, gaping hole so bad it could upset the integrity of the castle above it, I frowned and shook my head. “Ye saw Willow’s dragon with yer own two eyes, so ye know she isnae nearly big enough to cause such extensive damage.”
“Yet she clearly did,” Elspet countered, visibly shivering as if she weren’t half dragon herself and hadn’t dealt with such creatures.
“’Tis said she was most wrathful in her need to steal Sloan away and run from her obligations to my son and the pact.
‘Twas clear to all her emotions took over, and her dragon was determined to evade us, but not before she reaped as much harm as possible.”
“’Tis a wonder the structure still stands.
” Getting a better appreciation for what dragons were capable of and perhaps even the Sutherland’s magic when they enhanced it, the king frowned at the jagged remains of the ceiling to my former cell.
“It does seem quite excessive for a dragon of Willow’s size.
” He took in the strewn stones and bent bars, clearly getting a feel for the cell's former dimensions.
“Is it me, or was this particular cell considerably smaller than the others?” His brow furrowed, and he remained, as always, observant, seeing clearly that the Sutherlands tried to deceive him.
“And I would think there would be some sign of furnishings, furs, or even a random fallen torch beneath the rubble?”
“’Twas my King,” Elspet lied without flinching. “We have since tried to salvage what we could for the others who find themselves down here.”
“But of course ye did,” Robert murmured, even though I knew he wasn't buying it.
After that, little more was said as Dugal and Elspet urged Robert to return with them above stairs so he might enjoy a fine supper amongst friends, yet I could see the troubled shadows around my friend’s eyes as he continued taking everything in.
He might not be half dragon or possess any supernatural gifts, but he had a good sense and again, a sharp way of seeing things people would rather he not notice.
Not just that, but he had never trusted the Sutherlands.
“They are a necessary evil, Sloan,” he had said to me on more than one occasion. “I wish it were otherwise, but ‘tis not. They are too powerful, and I need them on my side. Scotland needs them on its side.”
I had tried to remind him he had us MacLeods as well as the Hamiltons and MacLomains, all just as powerful in our own ways, but he’d been stubborn about it, and I could see that bothered him now.
Nevertheless, he kept quiet about his assessments and remained as gracious as ever when visiting a clan, yet always beneath the surface, I knew who he really was.
A good, kind person at heart, a cunning, strategic leader when needed, but above all, he knew who he could and could not trust when the safety of Scotland’s people was truly at stake.
Although it had to bother Dugal and Elspet greatly, Robert requested that I be given back my chamber above stairs, offered a bath and change of clothing, and I was to dine with everyone tonight. I had never been more appreciative, either, because it would put me near Willow again.
While I’d had little chance to speak with her, I followed her conversation with Lilias and was relieved that Marjorie and Flame, or Blaze as the wee wolf preferred to be called, had become friends, and the wolf pup was communicating with her.
I found it interesting he was talking to a human child, who possessed no wolf blood, but I suppose stranger things had happened.
I also found it noteworthy that he was still hiding out at Sutherland Castle rather than leaving as he had before, because he clearly knew his way around.
But now I realized little Marjorie had helped him out.
Suffice it to say, I wasn’t all that surprised by what Willow learned about Lorna because it explained why she put our nuptials on hold for years. Though livid to find out she and possibly her father had spied for the Sutherlands, that was something we would deal with later.
Right now, I had to handle the here and now, which was, once more, sitting down to eat with the Sutherlands, only the guest list was far more pleasant this time, outside of the hosts themselves.
While I hated seeing Willow in Sutherland colors, her beauty struck me anew, and I could not quite pinpoint why.
Yet as she sat across from me, I realized there was a new glow about her only I could see.
“And I’ll bet it has to do with our willow tree,” she said, following my thoughts, clearly happy to see me too. Though she didn’t smile my way and risk making our situation more tenuous, I saw the warmth in her eyes when they ever so briefly met mine. “Do you see it, Sloan?”
Fortunately, I was facing the paintings, yet I saw no difference in our willow when I allowed my gaze to drift over it discreetly as everyone made idle, strained conversation, and food was served.
“At its base,” Willow prompted. “I’m sure no one else can see it, but I have a feeling you can.”
My breath nearly caught when I spied what she referred to because the shadowed man and what he carried stood out to me now.
“’Tis Grant Hamilton,” I exclaimed, certain of it because I had seen portraits of the Scottish wizard hanging in Hamilton Castle. “Holding yer ring.”
“Grant Hamilton?” she replied, sounding as surprised as I and doing well to maintain a normal conversation aloud with everyone at the table while carrying on a telepathic discussion with me, having carefully kept her ring spun around so the red gem wasn’t as obvious.
“You mean the arch-wizard you talked about when we were kids? The legendary apprentice of Adlin MacLomain himself?”
“Aye.” I sensed great hope in this. “And he’s holding your mother’s ring even as it still graces your finger, so there cannae be any doubt great things are at work because Grant is every bit as kind and good as Adlin.”
“And he’s also dead,” she reminded. “For quite a few years now.”
“Yet in death there is also life, and in life, death, is there not?” I reminded her because spirits were every bit as much a part of the rich tapestry of life as they were in death. Of all to follow and all to come. Endings were always new beginnings, and new beginnings would always have endings.
All those who dealt with magic knew it because it was the circle of life.
“So you always said,” she echoed. “But I’ll admit, having never seen a ghost, it’s a stretch.”
I bit back a smile just as I knew she did because ghosts weren’t a stretch at all in the reality we had lived from the moment she traveled back in time, and we first met in the Morrow, beneath her tree.
Since then, she had been very aware that while the world was full of cold, hard reality, it was also full of mystical things and creatures only written about in fairytales.
“I hope ye are pleased with the fare, my King,” Elspet said, drawing us back to the ongoing conversation.
“Though ‘twas short notice, we had our verra best cook prepare this meal for ye and will, of course, send wagons of choice meats and vegetables for those fighting on our behalf at the border in guarded carts when ye depart on the morrow.”
“The fare is fine, Lady Sutherland, and yer offer is much appreciated,” Robert said, his gaze skirting over Dugal before he nodded at Elspet, making a point of including Lilias, who had remained mostly silent and subservient through the meal, clearly pinned down under the watchful eye of her husband and mother by marriage.
“I am most pleased by the strides ye took to make me feel welcome. ‘Twill not be forgotten.”
“’Twas our pleasure, King Robert,” Lilias said, seeming to find refuge in Robert’s kind eyes because she managed a careful but warm smile in return. “May ye return often as ye’ll always have a warm hearth and good food to enjoy here at Sutherland Castle.”
“Many thanks, Lady Sutherland,” he returned, about to say more when a Sutherland guard rushed in and whispered something in Elspet’s ear rather than Dugal’s, yet again exposing who was really in charge.
When her expression hardened and she tensed yet didn’t stand despite it being clear enough she was tempted, Robert addressed it.
“Is everything alright, Lady Sutherland?” he wondered, lowering the piece of succulent meat he was about to eat. “For ye seem most distressed.”
“’Tis nothing to bother yerself with, my liege,” she assured, despite the slight bead of sweat pearled on her brow. “Please, continue to enjoy yer fare. I insist.”
Robert set his food down altogether and eyed her with what I knew to be mock concern, though it seemed genuine enough. “Please. I insist.”
Seeming to sense things had gone astray and unable to practice the same polite discretion and devious forethought as his mother, Dugal cursed under his breath and strode from the chamber, only giving the King of Scotland a passing apology because he was urgently needed below stairs.
“Well, now I am intrigued,” Robert declared, standing. “And would verra much like to assist if ye would be so kind as to escort me and my guests below stairs, Lady Sutherland.”
Elspet’s jaw grew so tight at her son’s impulsive actions, I swore it might snap off, but she managed a painfully thin-lipped smile regardless and nodded.
“Of course, King Robert.” She stood as well and gestured at the door.
“It seems we will be returning to the dungeons, but I dinnae think ‘tis necessary we all go.”
“Yet I do as yer dungeons are at the heart of so much fear, aye?” Robert looked from Willow and me, back to her. “And we have the potential culprits here with us now, so it seems more than fitting they witness what is so distressing.”
Although it was clear by the sneer in her obsidian eyes when she glanced our way, Elspet was as cornered now as she had hoped King Robert would be when she spun her lies earlier and had no choice but to comply.
And I was more than grateful when we arrived at the dungeons and things truly went awry for her and Dugal.
So awry, the king declared he would be departing that very night.
Better yet, he would be taking me and Willow with him.