Kilted Abduction (The Vikings of Skye #2)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

T he mood in the castle the last few days had lightened as everybody seemed to be growing excited for the coming holiday and getting into the spirit of things. It also seemed that, after being questioned by Domhnall at length several times, they were now satisfied that Ciara was not the spy they were looking for. He told her she was free to go if she wished but also welcomed her to stay. Ciara thought about it, and with another snowstorm bearing down on them, she thought it best to stay, at least for a little while longer.

From that day on, Ciara had been given freedom. She was able to move about the castle and even into the village without guards shadowing her every step. The MacLeods treated her well. Not that they hadn’t when she was still under suspicion, but since they’d decided she was not a peril to the clan, they’d made her almost feel like part of it. Almost like part of their family, really. She had never been made to feel more welcome anywhere, not even in her own clan’s lands.

Ciara sat and laughed with the siblings as they ate in the family hall. All the while, she kept stealing glances at Magnus, who sat at the far end of the table by himself. Enya, sitting across from her, gave Ciara a knowing glance and a smile.

“Ye’ll have tae forgive me braither,” Enya said. “He’s never had social graces.”

“Has he always been so… serious?”

Enya nodded. “Aye. From a young age.”

“Why?”

“Part of it is just how he is,” Enya replied. “And the other part is that our faither put a lot of responsibility on him when he was just a bairn. He was bein’ groomed tae be Domhnall’s chief advisor almost from the time he could walk. Our faither made sure Magnus understood that he had tae take that responsibility seriously. He was never as carefree as the rest of us, for both those reasons, I guess.”

Ciara looked at Magnus and frowned. For the first time since she’d met the man, she understood him or at least, she understood him better. To have that burden of responsibility for his clan explained why he was usually so serious. Why he seemed to know nothing but duty. It made her feel terrible for him.

“That’s sad,” she murmured.

“’Tis very sad. Me braither tends tae live in his head.”

“’Tis never too late tae learn tae laugh,” Ciara said.

“Aye. ‘Tis true,” Enya replied. “Maybe ye should go sit with him.”

“Ye think?”

“Maybe ye can teach him how tae laugh.”

Ciara giggled. “I’m nae sure I’m the right person fer that job.”

“I’m nae sure ye’re nae. There is only one way tae find out, eh?”

“Maybe ye’re right.”

“Of course, I am,” Enya said brightly. “Now, go on. Go make the lad laugh. It looks like he could use it.”

Still giggling to herself, Ciara took her plate down to the end of the table where Magnus was sitting, unaware of the rest of his family who were laughing and hooting it up. He turned as she sat down with a questioning look on his face. She gave him a smile.

“Mind if I sit here?” she asked.

“The partying nae tae yer likin’?”

“I was actually curious as tae why they’re nae tae yer likin’ and why yer sittin’ down here at the end on yer own all dark and broodin’.”

“I’m nae dark and broodin’.”

She laughed. “Aye. Ye are.”

“I’m just nae in the mood tae sit around laughin’.”

“And why is that? What has ye in such a somber mood then, eh?”

“I’m nae in a somber mood.”

Ciara laughed. “Are ye really goin’ tae sit here and just say ye’re nae whatever I say ye are?”

“Probably.”

She laughed softly as she picked at the roasted mutton on her plate and popped a small piece into her mouth then tore off a piece of bread, dipped it in the brown gravy and ate that as well. All the while, she tried to think of a way to help break Magnus out of his mood. Tried to think of a way to make him laugh.

“Come, tell me what’s on yer mind,” she said.

“Nothin’,” he replied. “I’m just tryin’ tae eat me meal in peace.”

“Oh, and am I disturbin’ yer peace then?”

Magnus’ expression softened. “Nay. Ye’re nae disturbin’ me peace. I’m sorry.”

“Ye just seem so glum. Talk tae me. I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”

He shrugged and let out a sigh as he dipped a piece of bread into the gravy on his plate then ate it. As he chewed, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. Magnus raised his cup and took a swallow of his wine, then gently set it back down.

“I’ve just got a feelin’ that somethin’ bad is comin’ our way,” he said.

“Are ye talkin’ about the storm?’

He shook his head. “Nay. Nae the storm.”

“Ye’re talkin’ about Fairfax then.”

He nodded. “Aye. I’m talkin’ about Fairfax. We’ve heard nothin’ from our scouts.”

“Shouldnae that be good news then?”

“Should be. But I dinnae think it is. I’ve got a feelin’ he’s on the move but he’s somehow managin’ tae keep it quiet.”

“I’m nae trained in the art of war, but wouldnae an army on the move attract attention?”

“Aye. If he’s movin’ an army. Ye were tellin’ it true when ye said ye were runnin’ from yer faither and Fairfax. And kennin’ what we ken about the man, he’s nae one who’s goin’ tae take that lightly. He sees ye as his property and probably the key tae gettin’ what he really wants.”

“And what is it he really wants?’

“Control. He wants control of yer family’s lands and probably all of Scotland,” he replied. “God kens he’s been tryin’ tae kill off as many Scots as he can. He willnae be happy until he’s either killed or enslaved us all.”

Ciara frowned. She hadn’t expected the conversation to take such a dark turn, but she had asked him to talk to her, so she couldn’t complain that it had. At least he was opening up to her in ways he normally didn’t. Perhaps getting him to talk to her, even about such dark matters, was the gateway that would lead to conversations that were lighter and more fun.

However, the fact that he was sitting at the end of the table with such dark, serious thoughts racing through his mind while the rest of his siblings were laughing and having a good time only underscored the enormous weight of responsibility Magnus felt for his family.

“Maybe it would be best if I left,” Ciara offered once more. “If I’m nae here?—”

“Willnae matter, like I told ye before,” Magnus said. “Fairfax has had his eye on our lands for a very long time. He’ll come for us whether ye’re here or nae. Ye’re safer here. Especially with that storm comin’ our way.”

Ciara turned to see Kai flirting with one of the serving women. She blushed and giggled as he whispered in her ear.

“Yer braither is quite the rake,” she said.

“He tries,” Magnus replied then called. “I’m nae interested in her sister, Kai,” he turned to speak to his brother just as he was approaching saying “Hey, Magnus, Shona here has a sister?—”

Kai bit off his words and frowned, then turned back to Shona and spoke quietly with her. Ciara turned to Magnus though, her head cocked, a curious expression on her face.

“How did ye ken what he was about tae say?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Because me braither is predictable. A rake, yes. But a predictable one.”

“Huh,” Ciara said.

It was a plausible enough explanation, but something about it didn’t sit right with Ciara. It seemed to her like he knew what Kai was about to say before the words had even crossed his lips. And Kai had looked away awkwardly. She had always known there was something peculiar about the brothers, ever since she had first met them but there had been so much happening that she had no longer dwelled on it.

Ciara shook it off, and turned to Magnus. “We need tae get ye out tae have some mindless fun.”

“I dinnae have time fer mindless fun.”

“Ye need tae make time fer it,” she said. “Yer whole life is rigid and structured. Me God, look at the way ye eat… it’s rigid and structured too. One bite of meat. Dip yer bread and eat that. Then eat yer vegetable. Over and over, ye eat yer food the exact same way like it’s how ye’ve been ordered tae eat it.”

A grin flickered across Magnus’ lips. “I never noticed.”

“How could ye nae have noticed. I saw it the first time I saw ye eat.”

“Ye need a new hobby if ye’re watchin’ me eat that closely.”

“There’s wasnae much else tae dae when I was yer prisoner.”

Magus chuckled. “Fair enough, I suppose.”

Magnus ran a hand over his face and let out a heavy breath then picked up his cup and took another drink. Ciara wanted to find a way through the seriousness that seemed to envelop him. She wanted, more than anything, to make him laugh. To make him see the happier, lighter side of life.

And she silently vowed to herself that she was going to help him find it.