Chapter 8
After their meal was over, Paddraig went out of his way to keep Brenna and Zeke together.
Zeke had taken note throughout the meal of the circumstances Brenna found herself in.
Greer and her sister, Gillian seemed to delight in making fun of Brenna, either loudly for all to hear, or whispering to each other and giggling like the mean girls he remembered his sister talking about from high school.
He also noted that her brothers barely paid any attention to her, brushing off her comments or ignoring them all together as if she wasn’t even there.
Zeke knew what it was like to be an unwanted child.
Abandoned by their parents, he and Sara had lived with their grandfather.
At least they’d had each other. How could this family be so cruel to one of their own?
He wished he could help her, but the only way he could would be to marry her and take her away from all of this.
It was an impossible option. He was only here to find Sara.
Once he did, he’d be on his way back to San Francisco.
Brenna would then be left alone to fend for herself.
It hardly seemed fair. If only there was another way he could help.
The family antics continued on long into the night. They were drinking heavily and were therefore free with their words. He got the impression that if he didn’t get away from them soon, he’d be hard pressed to leave without a wife.
“Paddraig, I hope you’ll excuse me. I’ve had a very long day and I’d like to retire to my room,” Zeke said.
“Zeke, ye’d make a wonderful son-in-law, please consider marrying me Brenna. I believe ye’d find the dowry would make it well worth yer trouble.”
He was getting tired of telling them he wouldn’t marry her.
How many times could he say it? “Good night.” Zeke left the room, relieved to be away from these vultures.
He’d best step up his efforts to find Sara.
He thought she was at Breaghacraig, but Edna had sent him here.
Or maybe Olwydd had taken him to the wrong place.
Either way, before he left, he was determined to continue his search and if Sara wasn’t here, he’d have to continue trying to contact Edna to find out why she’d sent him to this godforsaken place.
Zeke opened the door to his room and was surprised to see a fire blazing in the hearth. He was grateful because its golden glow lit the room just enough for him to see. He closed the door behind him and made his way to the bed.
“Zeke!” He jumped at the sound of a woman’s voice somewhere in his room. His eyes were adjusting to the low light and he peered into the corners of the room.
“Zeke, ’tis only me,” came the voice. This time he recognized it.
“Edna?” he said.
“Aye. I’m merely checking in to see how yer doing.”
“Not very good. Olwydd seems to have taken me to the wrong place,” he said.
“No. He took you to the right place.”
“Edna, I’m not at Breaghacraig. I’m at a place called Castle Treun.”
“Exactly where you’re supposed to be, lad.”
“How can that be? I was told Sara was at Breaghacraig.”
“Yes. She is. Ye, however, are needed right where ye are.”
Zeke didn’t like what he was hearing. He had a bad feeling about his. “What do you mean?”
“I cannae tell ye everything now, can I?”
Zeke held his temper in check. It wouldn’t do him any good to anger the only person who could get him back home safely.
“Can you tell me anything?”
“Nay. Just know that things are going according to plan.”
“To plan? Whose plan?” This was getting ridiculous.
“’Tis nae as simple to answer that question as ye may think.”
Getting a straight answer out of Edna was proving to be difficult.
“Are ye enjoying yer visit to medieval Scotland, Zeke? I hope so, because I thought ye might gather some useful information for your medieval martial arts studio.”
“I did spar with a warrior here at Castle Treun today.”
“Did ye now? I imagine that must have been a dream come true for ye.”
Edna was right about that. It had been great fun and he looked forward to sparring with Duff again the next day.
“Drink it all in, dear. It will be over before you know it and ye’ll be back home to yer own time.”
“So, I guess what you’re telling me is that you’ve got this all under control and that I’ll find Sara when I’m supposed to find her and not before.”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Zeke. Get a good night’s sleep. I’ll be in touch again.”
The energy charging the room while Edna spoke diminished, leaving a stillness and peace behind that allowed Zeke to relax enough to easily fall asleep.
***
Zeke spent the morning with Duff and the men.
If he looked at this like a vacation where he was totally immersing himself into life at a medieval castle, he found that he was better able to deal with this detour Edna sent him on.
He noted at one point that Brenna was spying on him as he sparred.
She was speaking with one of the servants and positioned herself in such a way that she could peek around them and watch him.
What was she up to, he wondered. The poor servant was kept in place, back to him and occasionally moved as Zeke changed opponents, giving her an unobstructed view of what he was doing.
“Young Brenna seems to be spying on ye,” Duff said, approaching him as he finished his last bout.
“I noticed that,” Zeke replied. The two men gazed in her direction and Brenna quickly moved the servant yet again to block their view of her.
It wasn’t working. Zeke waved in her direction, enjoying her little game of hide and seek and Brenna bolted for the castle with the servant following close behind.
It touched something in him to know she was watching him and that, despite her protests, there was an attraction there.
If he was being truthful with himself he’d agree that he too found Brenna attractive.
Her presence stirred feelings in him that he thought he’d lost when Helene left.
The thought of Brenna sitting close at his back, her body pressed up against his, the day he’d ridden with her back to the castle, caused his manhood to stir.
There was nothing he could do about it. She belonged here in her own time and he belonged in the future.
Of course, it didn’t hurt to enjoy her beauty while he was here.
Zeke smiled and Duff clapped him on the shoulder, clearly entertained by Brenna’s antics. Zeke didn’t wish to contribute to the treatment she was already receiving at the hands of the women of the castle and it seemed Duff understood this too.
“I think the lass has taken a liking to ye,” he said.
“On the contrary,” Zeke said. “She’s told me directly that she doesn’t like me.”
“Women,” Duff scoffed. “Always saying one thing and meaning another.”
“I don’t know. I think she says what she means.”
“What of ye? What do ye think of wee Brenna?” Duff asked.
“She’s interesting. Everyone here seems to think I should marry her.”
“Marry an interesting woman, and you will have an interesting life. That one will keep ye on yer toes.” Duff chuckled.
“Perhaps you should marry Brenna,” Zeke said.
“The laird would never allow it. I have nothing to offer him in exchange and I’ve a wife already.
” He beamed at that. “And she’s a verra interesting woman.
” He clapped Zeke on the back. “Poor Brenna. She’s lost her place here at Castle Treun.
The laird’s new wife doesnae want her here and she’s made it her business to see her married and away from here.
I was happy to see Laird Munro ride off yesterday without her. He’s a dangerous man.”
“So I’ve heard. Why would her father do that to her?”
“He wants to keep the new wife happy. ’Tis all.”
Zeke shook his head in disbelief. What a bunch! Duff seemed like an honorable man as did the others he’d sparred with this morning, but the people of the castle were another story all together. He dusted his sword off on his breeches and placed it back in its sheath.
“’Tis a beauty!” Duff said, pointing at Zeke’s sword.
“A friend of mine crafted it for me. His name’s Quinn.
He’s a master craftsman.” He pulled the sword from the sheath again and handed it to Duff, who hefted it in his hand, obviously appreciative of its weight and balance.
The design on the hilt, a wolf’s head caught his eye as did the large onyx stone set inside of a Celtic knot atop the pommel.
Zeke had to admit it was a beauty. Nick Mackall had it made especially for him and Zeke cherished it along with his memories of Nick.
“He did a fine job,” Duff observed as he examined the blade.
Zeke could see the admiration in his eyes as he spoke. “If I can find a way to get one back to you, I’ll have him craft you one when I get back home.”
“Ye’d do that fer me?” Duff seemed surprised by this.
“I would. I appreciate being here with you and learning some new things. Don’t get your hopes up. I’ll see what I can do.”
Duff’s smile was so big and bright that Zeke had to chuckle. Maybe Edna could help him make Duff’s dreams come true.
“If I’m still here tomorrow, I’ll be back,” Zeke said.
Duff nodded and waved to him as he walked away.
As he neared the castle entry, he heard Paddraig’s loud voice bellowing about something.
He wasn’t sure what it was, but he didn’t sound happy.
Closer still, he saw Brenna standing nose-to-nose with her Da in the middle of the courtyard.
Those nearby hurried away to a safe distance where they could eavesdrop on what was being said.
Zeke found himself among them as Brenna and Paddraig continued their argument.
“I willnae do it, Da. I willnae marry him and ye cannae make me.”
“I can and I will. I’ve allowed ye to do as ye like all of yer life and now ye will do as I like. Ye will marry the Laird of San Francisco or ye will marry Laird Munro. Those are your two choices.”