Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
S eated in the kitchen yard near the pond that kept the castle with a supply of fish, Eventide was sewing a blue silk dress. It was among the finest goods she had, a color she’d seen at a merchant stall in Inverness about a year earlier, and the merchant swore the blue was the same color as her eyes. Though she had no use for silk dresses, the man had managed to talk her into buying a dress length with her hard-earned money. Athole had a fit when she saw it and tried to convince her to take it back, but Eventide wouldn’t. She’d tucked it away and hoped to make a fine dress out of it someday.
Today was that day.
Things were quiet this morning, which was good. She felt as if she’d been walking on thin ice ever since Emelia had returned, so to have a day that felt somewhat peaceful was good for her state of mind. Darien was in the stable the last time she saw him, putting a poultice on his horse’s right front fetlock because the animal had developed some swelling since its arrival. Her mother was still in her bed, as usual, and her father was in the hall the last time she saw him. Emelia was nowhere to be found, and Eventide found herself hoping that her sister had simply run off again and would never return.
That was the dream, anyway.
Everything was so strange now. It wasn’t dreamlike, but a living nightmare. On the night Emelia had returned to Blackrock, the evening’s feast had been a horror show because Emelia immediately went on the attack once the meal started. She had some scratching and bruising from the fight she had with her sister earlier in the day, and she made a point of trying to tell everyone that Eventide had beaten her. There had been no fairness in Emelia’s argument, only the fact that she had been attacked and not why. She said nothing about throwing the first strike or the fact that her sister had only been defending herself, but Eventide made sure to bring it up. In the past, she would have let such things go and simply not said anything, but not this time.
She’d had enough of her sister’s lies.
Therefore, the two simply avoided each other, or had tried to. Even though they shared adjoining chambers, there was a door that separated the two of them and Eventide had made sure to bolt it. She didn’t trust that her sister wasn’t going to try to knife her in the middle of the night, so she made sure that the bolts on the doors were secure. Strangely, Emelia hadn’t tried to break the door down, but the week was still young. There was still plenty of time.
That was why Eventide was enjoying the quiet morning.
So, she continued to work on the blue dress, which she had cut out the day before and was now basting together. She probably should have done it inside, where there wasn’t so much dirt, but the day was so lovely and bright that she’d wanted to work outside. Even now, the majority of the dress lay on the bench beside her, resting on a linen sheet that she’d brought with her to keep the fabric from getting dirty. Eventide was excellent with a needle, so the seams of the dress were coming together quite nicely. Perhaps there was an urgency to finish it because she hoped to be married in it.
A marriage that was still uncertain.
Pausing in her sewing, she looked around the kitchen yard, thinking of a marriage that needed to happen sooner rather than later. She didn’t trust her sister not to do something drastic, and she had relayed that to Darien, who agreed with her. She hated the uncertainty of it all because with Emelia around, her father seemed reluctant to actually move forward with the wedding.
That scared Eventide the most.
With a sigh, she returned to her sewing. The stitches were very neat and tidy, and perfectly measured one after the other. She’d just finished a row on the sleeve and, after inspecting it, turned the dress over so she could work on the opposite sleeve. She was about halfway through it when a shadow fell over her.
“Ye always did have a talent for sewing,” Fergus said. “Is that the fabric that the merchant said matched yer eyes?”
Eventide looked up at her father, holding the material near her eye so he could see. “Aye,” she said. “Don’t ye think so?”
“I do,” he said. “Ye bought it and tucked it away for quite some time. I’m surprised tae see it.”
Eventide put the fabric back in her lap and resumed sewing. “I wanted tae use it for a special occasion,” she said. “I’d say a wedding is special enough.”
“True,” Fergus said. Then he indicated the empty end of the bench. “May I sit?”
“Please.”
He did, lowering himself down onto the wood as Eventide watched his face. The man seemed to be looking at everything but her, and that concerned her.
“Da?” she said quietly. “Is something amiss?”
Fergus looked over his shoulder, toward the stables and the ward. “Where’s Darien?”
“With his horse.”
The answer satisfied him, or seemed to, and he returned his attention to Eventide. “How soon will ye finish that garment?” he asked.
Eventide cocked her head thoughtfully. “Probably in the next day or two,” she said. “Why do ye ask?”
“Because I think ye and Darien should marry immediately.”
She stopped sewing and looked at him. “Why?” she said, concerned. “Has something happened?”
Fergus shook his head and started to speak, but he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Darien entering the kitchen yard. He had dirt all over his tunic and smudged on his face, but he was smiling as he approached.
“I saw ye come in here,” he said, looking at Fergus. “Did ye see the garment she’s working on?”
Fergus nodded, glancing at the fine silk in his daughter’s hands. “I did,” he said. “But ye look like ye rolled in the mud with the pigs. Why are ye so dirty?”
Darien grinned. “Because I put a poultice on my horse’s leg and he kept trying tae shake it free,” he said. “Calum and Guthrie were helping me, but the horse doesna like it when I touch his legs.”
Fergus grunted. “Are the Munro lads still here?”
“Still.”
Fergus didn’t have much to say to that. “Well,” he said, “ye’ll have tae be more clever than yer horse next time and avoid the mud bath.”
Darien snorted, but Eventide spoke up. “Father says we must marry as soon as possible,” she said. “But he’s not told me why.”
The smile faded from Darien’s face as he looked at Fergus. “What’s amiss?” he said.
Fergus took a long, deep breath, one of thought and contemplation, before answering. “I’m not entirely sure, but Emelia left this morning, very early, and rode south,” he said. “I dunna know where she went and, tae be honest, I dunna know if she’s going tae return, but I suspect she will. She dinna take an escort with her, nor did she tell me or her mother where she was going, which tells me she wants it kept secret. I dunna like it when she keeps secrets because nothing good can come from them.”
Darien took the warning seriously. “What could she possibly do?” he said. “Run back tae Luke? Or somehow involve the Cannich clan, since I hold their castle?”
Fergus shrugged. “Who knows?” he said. “What if she promises Luke and Reelig that she’ll bring ye tae them and they can use ye as leverage tae regain their castle?”
Darien frowned. “I would never go anywhere with her,” he said. “She couldna betray me so.”
Fergus simply shook his head. “All I’m saying is that I dunna trust her,” he said. Then he paused, looking at the pair of them. “I know that when she came back, I seemed sympathetic tae her. And I was. I wanted tae believe her. I wanted tae believe that she hadn’t done anything wrong, but even I could see that she was lying about the situation. But the fact that she’s returned… and people know she’s returned… I’m warning ye both that people around here may look down on the two of ye for marrying, especially if they know Emelia was betrothed tae Darien. She has a way of stirring up sympathy with those too stupid tae realize she’s lying.”
Darien’s gaze lingered on the old man. “Yet ye’ve encouraged us tae marry right away.”
“I think ye should,” Fergus said. “If she’s gone, and she hasna told anyone where she’s going, then I’ll wager she’s out stirring up trouble, no matter what it is. If the two of ye want tae be married, then do it now before she does something tae stop it.”
Darien looked at Eventide. “I wanted tae wait for my family, but not if it’ll cost us a marriage,” he said. “Are ye at peace with that?”
Eventide nodded. “I dunna need trappings or celebrations,” she said. “I just need ye. I’ll marry ye right now if ye wish.”
He smiled at her. “Yer da says I look like I’ve slept with the pigs.”
“I’m marrying the body, laddie, not the clothing.”
Darien chuckled before returning his attention to Fergus. “Then we’ll do it now,” he said. “We dunna even need a priest.”
Fergus shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “We can gather everyone at Blackrock and ye simply say in front of everyone that ye take each other for husband and wife. A public declaration is just as binding.”
A gleam came to Darien’s eye as he looked at Eventide. “Shall we do this?”
A smile spread across her face. “We shall.”
Fergus was already turning for the ward. “I’ll tell everyone tae gather near the keep,” he said. “Ye’d better go tell yer mother, Evie. She’ll want tae be there!”
Eventide jumped up from the bench, gathering the blue dress and the linen sheet it was wrapped in. “I’ll go fetch her,” she said. “Will ye at least wash yer face?” she asked Darien.
He rubbed his cheeks, looking at the dirt that came off on his fingers. “I’ll clean up,” he assured her. Then he bent over swiftly and kissed her. “I’ll meet ye at the door tae the keep. And hurry.”
Eventide’s face was bright with joy. “Did ye think I’d drag my feet?” she said. “Who do ye think ye’re talking to?”
Darien chuckled. “My future wife,” he said, watching her as she quickly walked away. “But ye’re not moving fast enough.”
Eventide took off at a run, the blue dress billowing in her arms. Once she was out of the kitchen yard, Darien went on a run of his own, but in his case, it was for a quick bath.
He had a wedding to attend, after all.
And he’d never been happier about anything in his life.
*
“How much longer?” Mabel demanded. “And why are we moving so slowly?”
Lares had been listening to his wife since they departed the Hydra and headed east for Blackrock. It was midday on the third day of travel, and Lares was about to spur his horse forward and keep running until he fell off into the sea. He loved his wife dearly, but sometimes she could be a…
“ Lares! ”
He was forced to acknowledge her shout. “Aye, my love?” he said patiently.
“Did you hear me?”
“All of Scotland heard ye.”
As their sons, riding in various positions around their father and the carriage, began to snicker, Mabel refused to acknowledge their sense of humor. She was more interested in why it seemed to be taking so long to reach Blackrock.
“Well?” she said. “Answer me.”
Lares slowed his horse so he could position himself back by the carriage and stop yelling for all to hear. “We’re not far,” he said. “Ye must be patient. Ye’ve been here before—why the rush?”
Mabel was seated next to the driver today. Zora and Lilliana hadn’t come on this particular journey, but all of the dun Tarh sons had, along with Mabel. She was supposed to be inside the carriage, but she didn’t want to be. Lares let her ride next to the driver, but he wasn’t particularly comfortable with it. Still, she had insisted.
And when she insisted, he dared not oppose her.
“I’m not sure,” she said in answer to his question. “Something feels wrong. I must get to Darien.”
Lares had a healthy respect for his wife’s intuition. “Nothing is wrong,” he said softly. “The situation has ye overwrought.”
Mabel was looking ahead, to the horizon, as if seeing a castle that had not yet come into view. “I am overwrought,” she murmured. “I’m overwrought because that girl has returned. Lares, if you had run away with a woman, would it be planned or on impulse?”
He shrugged. “It could be a little of both, I suppose,” he said. “Running away implies urgency. A lack of choices.”
“Or it means making your own choice rather than one that was made for you,” Mabel said. “But whatever it means, the ultimate message it conveys is a lack of concern for anyone else. It is very selfish.”
Lares nodded. “I canna disagree with ye,” he said. But he hesitated before continuing. “I canna help but think this is my fault. Ye know I was only trying tae do what I felt was best for Darien, but it seems I’ve landed him in the middle of a hornet’s nest.”
Mabel glanced at him. “We’ve had this discussion, my love,” she said. “ I know you were trying to do what was right for him, and so does he, but the one thing you should never overlook is the woman’s reputation.”
“I was only looking at the title.”
“A title cannot keep a man warm on a cold night,” Mabel said. “It also cannot give him the joy that a good wife would give him.”
Lares sighed. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
“I hope so. Because there are six more sons that do not wish to have you make the same mistake with them.”
Lares knew that. He was struggling with the guilt over the situation. Up ahead, he could see three of the six sons he’d brought with him. Estevan the natural leader, Caelus the Giant, Kaladin the Baby Bull… He was so proud of each of them. Any man would be proud of having just one of them as a son, but Lares was fortunate to have eight of them. Eight impeccable men.
Eight souls who looked up to him for guidance.
Eight hearts that trusted him.
Glancing over his shoulder, he could see the younger three. Lucan the Champion, Leandro the Strong, and Cruz the Invincible. Even at their young ages, they were flawless, with the exception of Cruz, who was still quite young and mostly reckless. The young man was hilarious and wild. But he was powerful—so very powerful. And he had a heart bigger than the Highlands.
Aye… They all deserved a father who wasn’t blinded by a title over character.
He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
The sun was behind them as they made their way east, and sunset was just a few hours away. They were coming up on a fork in the road, one that led south into Inverness, and they could see from a distance that there was a small party heading north on it. They would probably run into the group just about the time they got to the fork in the road. Since there was strength in numbers when traveling, Lares didn’t think anything of it. If they were going in his direction, he would simply put them in the rear of the group.
“Da!” Estevan shouted from the front of the escort. “Another party!”
He was pointing to what his father already saw. “I know,” Lares said, waving him off. “Go see where they’re headed. If it’s east, ask them if they wish tae join us.”
Estevan and Caelus took off, spurring their big horses down the road. All Lares could see were fat horse butts and flying legs as they thundered away from them, heading to the fork in the road up ahead. Everyone was watching at that point as Estevan and Caelus met up with the group in the distance, now little specks amidst the green fields.
“There’s not much this far north,” Mabel said, shielding her eyes. “I wonder who it is?”
Lares shrugged. “There are a few villages up the coast,” he said. “And the islands beyond tae the north.”
Mabel looked at him. “Have you ever been that far north?”
He shook his head. “Not me,” he said. “Too many Northmen, still. They rule those isles.”
Mabel grunted, looking back toward the fork in the road. “Northmen, you say?” she said. “They’re very handsome.”
He fought off a grin. “If ye want one, ye’ll have tae make it there yerself. They’re welcome to ye.”
She smoothed at the wisps of her hair blowing in the breeze. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll be sure to send a few Valkyries down your way to take care of you.”
“Big, beautiful women, ye say?” he said, rubbing his chin.
“How many do you want? Three or four?”
“How many Northmen are ye going tae have?”
“Probably a dozen.”
“Then I’ll take as many lasses.”
“As you wish,” Mabel said. “When I get up there, I’ll send them back to you.”
“When will that be?”
“Never, you old fool.”
Lares burst out laughing and Mabel grinned. He reached over and pulled her toward him, kissing her temple as she tried to push him away.
“I love ye, lass,” he said, kissing her again. “I’ll take ye over a dozen Valkyries any day of the week.”
She slapped at him, weakly, and he let her go. They were caught up in the gentle flirting, hardly noticing when Estevan and Caelus started heading back in their direction. But they became aware as the men came closer and Estevan left Caelus at the front as he pushed back to his parents.
“Da,” he gasped, his expression tight, “I think we’ve got troubles.”
Lares frowned. “Why?” he said. “Who are those people?”
Estevan sighed sharply. “Emelia Moriston,” he said. “And she’s got priests with her.”
That didn’t clarify things for Lares. “Why on earth does she have priests with her?”
“Tae stop Darien’s wedding.”
They rushed on to Blackrock in record time.