Chapter Twenty-Nine
September
“My father is dying.”
Cam looked up from the leather satchel he was packing as his wife made the announcement. Standing in the doorway of their cottage, she had just come from her father. With a grin, he turned back to his task.
“Clova said the same thing,” he said. “She’s been trying tae prove it for days. She lies abed and demands I sit with her. When I leave, she tells me she needs the priest for last rites. She thinks that if she’s dying, we willna leave.”
“What does her husband say?”
“My grandfather tells her that she is being foolish.”
“And she doesna listen?”
“Not really. But what about Niall? What is his affliction?”
“His heart, he says. He says he hears my mother calling tae him.”
“Should we plan for their joint funerals, then?”
Isadora snorted as she entered their cottage, shutting the door behind her.
“Between those two, we’ve got enough tae deal with,” she said.
“Who needs a bairn when we already have two of them? He’s behaving worse than he did when I told him how we first met in the Gathan Gadainn.
Do ye remember how angry he was? He told me it gave him a faint heart tae know he raised such a daughter and he’s saying the same thing now. ”
Cam laughed softly, reaching out to put a big hand on Isadora’s gently swollen midsection. “This one will be easier than that pair, I’m sure,” he said. Then he paused as he set his satchel aside, sobering dramatically. “Are ye sure ye want tae go, Issie? With the bairn coming in a few months…”
She waved him off as she moved to her satchel, half packed, as it sat upon their bed. “We’ve discussed this,” she said evenly. “Where ye go, I go. The only thing I’m sad about is leaving my new birdhouse behind. We’ll not see the chicks come in the spring.”
“My grandfather said he’d tend it. Besides, I’ll build ye another one.”
“Aye, ye will, so dunna think leaving my birdhouse will keep me from going with ye.”
“I never thought that.”
“But ye’re trying tae talk me out of going.”
Cam smiled faintly. It was a touchy subject with her because he was concerned about traveling with a pregnant woman.
He had promised to return to the Ludus Caledonia to finish his training and become a trainer himself, and he intended to fulfill that promise and he wasn’t going without Isadora.
It was a future for him and for his wife, a chance for them to establish a life and legacy of their own.
They were looking forward to becoming part of the world of The Cal and then perhaps returning to Auchnacree at some point. But he’d thought to postpone until after the birth of their child and she wouldn’t hear of it.
She wasn’t going to let him delay his future.
“I’m not trying tae convince ye tae stay behind because I would never go without ye,” he said, coming up behind her and wrapping her up in his big arms. “All I’m suggesting is that we wait until the wee bairn is born and go when he’s old enough tae travel.”
Isadora collapsed against him, drawing on his strength. They were so symbiotic in their relationship that she couldn’t remember when she’d been without him. It seemed as if they’d always been of one heart, one mind.
But she wasn’t going to let him sweet-talk her out of this, as he was so adept at doing.
“We’ll go now,” she said firmly. “I know ye’ve been anxious tae go.
Ternan Lindsay has kept good on his promise and our lives have been peaceful, which means ye have nothing tae do here.
Ye came tae Auchnacree as a warrior and ye’ve served yer purpose.
I willna see ye languish for the winter and be useless. ”
There was something to that and Cam nodded reluctantly. “Mayhap ye’re right,” he admitted. “I have a horse and a weapon tae return tae Clegg, as he was kind enough tae loan both tae me. But mostly, I’m looking forward tae seeing my friends again, especially Galan. I’ve missed the dolt.”
“Then we must return right away.”
There was no deterring her and Cam kissed her on the side of her head before releasing her. “As ye wish,” he said, returning to his satchel. “But just know I’ll not let ye push me around like this all the time.”
“Who says? I’ve been doing it since before we were married.”
He snarled at her, but it was good-natured. “Ye’re a brash woman, my bonny lass.”
“And ye married me knowing full well that I was.”
“Then I must like a brash woman.”
Isadora giggled as she continued with her packing. “It’s hard tae believe how things have changed for us,” she said reflectively. “It seems like another world since ye came tae Auchnacree and since the Lindsay has welcomed us. Sometimes I have difficulty believing everything that has happened.”
Cam sat down on the bed. “For me, also,” he said. “My life has changed more than I ever believed possible. Now, I return tae The Cal tae resume my training and become a teacher myself. Before the destruction of Netherton, I couldna imagine such a thing. I feel like…”
“A different man?”
“Aye. Completely different.”
She looked up from her satchel. “Ye’re not the same man I met in the vale, the meek smithy who wasn’t a warrior. I loved him, but I love more the man ye’ve become. Ye’re strong and confident and wise. Ye’ll make an excellent father tae our children.”
Cam reached out and took her hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a kiss. “The smithy is part of my past. It was a very big part, but in losing him, I found a new purpose. My life is better than I could ever have imagined.”
She paused in her packing, standing between his legs as he sat on the bed. Arms around his neck, she looked at the man who had become her sun and her moon.
He was her everything.
A knock on the door distracted them and Cam, frustrated that he’d been deterred from a sweet moment with his wife, went to the panel and shoved it open to see a collection of people standing there. Surprised, he opened the door wider as Isadora came to stand next to him.
Niall, Ewan, Ossian, Nikolaus, and, most surprisingly, Clova were gathered in the coming twilight. The old woman was leaning heavily Nikolaus and her ever-present burning weeds were gone. She’d given up the habit the day Nikolaus had returned to her.
But she was still a bit eccentric, which only added to her character. Not an hour earlier, she’d been in her bed, announcing the approach of death. Cam and Isadora looked at her, and at Niall, with some astonishment.
“God’s Bones,” Cam said with a straight face. “The Lazaruses have arisen.”
He was looking at Clova when he said it and the old woman wasn’t pleased with the comment.
“Ungrateful,” she muttered. “Ungrateful, ye are.”
His smile broke through. “Is that what got ye out of yer deathbed? Ye’re angry because I’m ungrateful?”
“I’m angry because ye’d leave us!”
“Because I am tae fulfill a vow? I canna believe that ye would begrudge me my honor.”
“’Tis not yer honor I begrudge ye, but the fact that ye’re taking Issie with ye, too. What kind of life will it be for her at a fight guild?”
Isadora stepped forward, putting herself between Cam and Clova as if to protect her husband from the old woman’s wrath.
“It is my choice,” she said firmly, looking to her brothers and father also. “Cam is my husband and I go with him. I dinna wait all of these years tae find such a man only tae let him leave me.”
Clova simply scowled, though deep down, she understood. When Nikolaus patted her arm, she backed down.
“I thought ye came tae bid them farewell,” he said to her. “Had I known ye were coming tae berate them, I would have kept ye at home.”
Clova scowled as Nikolaus fought off a grin. He looked at his grandson. “We wish ye well, in spite of what the old woman says. God be with ye on yer journey. Isna that what ye wanted tae say tae them, Clova?”
Clova grunted. “Aye,” she said. “I wish them well, but I wish they werena going.”
Isadora went to her, kissing her on the cheek. Clova accepted it, but she still turned away, muttering unhappily. Nikolaus moved to catch up with her, but not before reaching out a hand to Cam.
“Godspeed, lad,” he said. “We said our farewells earlier today, but I want ye tae know how proud I am of ye. Imagine: my grandson a trainer at the Ludus Caledonia. I can hardly believe it.”
Cam grinned, squeezing his grandfather’s hand before the man headed off, shuffling after Clova. He watched the pair head off in the direction of their cottage as Niall spoke up.
“She’s concerned for ye, Issie,” he said. “But none of us wants tae stop ye from going with yer husband. We understand that Cam has a vow tae fulfill.”
“If it is about the money ye spent on me, I’ll pay ye back,” Cam said before Isadora could respond.
“I know ye spent a good deal on a warrior for yer clan, so it doesna seem right tae return tae The Cal without promising tae pay ye for what ye spent, considering I’ve not been with ye for very long. ”
But Niall shook his head. “It was worth every penny, lad,” he said. “Ye did what I brought ye here tae do. Ye brought us peace. And, ye married my daughter. That alone was worth the price I paid tae rid me of that old spinster.”
Isadora frowned deeply as her brothers, and even Cam, grinned at her expense. Niall chuckled when he saw the unhappy look on her face. Reaching out, he took her by the hand.
“Ye know I jest with ye, Issie,” he said, his eyes glimmering at her.
“Ye know it hurts my heart tae see ye go, but I know deep down that it is something ye must do. I dunna blame ye for wanting tae go with yer husband. But for yer old da’s peace of mind, I’m sending Ewan and Ossian with ye tae ride escort.
I want my grandson well protected. Will ye let them go with ye? ”
He was asking gently, which broke down Isadora’s resistance.
She didn’t want her brothers tagging along, but she could see that it meant a good deal to her father.
They had always protected her, even if that protection had been peppered with brotherly harassment.
She looked at Cam for his response and when he simply shrugged, letting her know that it was her decision, she returned her attention to her father.
“If it’ll stop ye from weeping intae yer pillow every night, I suppose they can go,” she said, eyeing her brothers. Her next words were directed at them. “But my husband is in command. Ye’ll listen tae him or I’ll send ye home.”
Ewan and Ossian nodded solemnly. They had become accustomed to Cam over the months and had grown to respect him a great deal. The feeling was mutual, so Cam took no issue with them accompanying him and Isadora to Edinburgh. In fact, he welcomed it.
“They’ll behave,” Cam told her, giving her a squeeze. “If they dunna, then once we reach The Cal, I’ll tell Axel tae put them in the arena with the trainees. Those lads have something tae prove.”
Isadora bit off a grin as Ewan’s eyes widened. “Ye wouldna dare!” he declared.
Cam shrugged lazily. “I am going tae train men,” he said. “I’ll need men for them tae train against. Just stand there and look frightened, just as ye are now. That’ll feed their bloodlust.”
Ewan opened his mouth to retort but Isadora’s soft laughter stopped him. He knew Cam was jesting, but the very idea of that threat was terrifying. Still, a smile tugged at his lips.
“Not if I can outrun them,” he said. “The more frightened I am, the faster I run.”
They were all laughing now. Cam returned his attention to Niall. “I’ll take yer offer of an escort and welcome,” he said. “But we intend tae leave before sunrise. Make sure yer lads are ready.”
Niall nodded. Now that their business was concluded, his focus inevitably turned to his daughter. His expression was bittersweet. “I was hoping my grandson would be born in Auchnacree,” he said, putting his hand over his heart. “I was hoping tae see the lad before I pass on.”
Isadora simply shook her head. “Ye’re the healthiest dying man I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Off with ye, now. We must finish packing if we are tae be ready on the morrow.”
“Can I at least come in and keep ye company?”
Isadora was going to deny him, but considering she really didn’t know how long it would be before she saw him again, she relented.
“Come in, then,” she said.
As Cam headed back into the cottage, Isadora caught a glimpse of the old couple in the distance as they headed to their cottage. Niall stood next to her, seeing where his daughter’s attention lay.
“What is it?” he asked softly. “Why do ye look like that?”
Isadora shook her head. “I’m not sure,” she murmured. “I feel as if… as if this is the last time that I will see Aunt Clova alive. I dunna know why, but I do.”
Niall put his hand on her shoulder. “I dunna know why ye worry,” he said. “She never liked ye.”
Isadora looked at him sharply before breaking down into laughter. “She’s a contented woman now ever since Nikolaus returned tae her. I dunna think I’ve seen a bad day with her since. Did she ever tell ye the full story of her and Nikolaus?”
Niall nodded. “When ye married Cam, she felt as if she finally could. With my grandfather dead, there was no reason tae keep her secret. It was quite a story. Nikolaus is quite a man.”
Isadora smiled faintly. “So is his grandson.”
They headed back into the cottage shared by Isadora and Cam, and as Niall perched himself on a stool by the hearth, the pair finished their packing listening to Niall tell stories of the first time he ever saw Isadora’s mother and how proud the woman would have been of her daughter.
Speaking of Isadora’s mother wasn’t something Niall did very often, so it made Isadora quite emotional.
When the packing was finished, Isadora and her father stayed up long into the night speaking of Isadora’s mother.
Your mother would have been proud of ye, lass.
She believed her father. But the one thing Isadora was most proud of in her own life was the blond warrior sitting by the hearth, sharpening a dirk on a whetstone.
Cam sat silently through Niall’s reflections, looking up once in a while to smile at his wife, who would smile in return.
Isadora was certain her mother would have adored Cam, as they all did.
The best thing she’d ever done in her life.
Thu fhèin.
Words spoken from his heart to hers.