Chapter Twenty-One #3
Just as Moira reached the side of the man facing James, he finally noticed her.
A look of horrified surprise crossed his square face as she brought her club down on his arm.
Again she heard the horrible sound of a limb breaking.
She saw James move to take quick advantage of her attack, and decided she had seen enough.
Tossing aside her club, she raced to Una’s side and pulled the girl away from the fighting men.
“I wasnae much help,” Una complained as she tossed aside her club, shuddering as James cut down his opponent and the man’s death scream filled the clearing.
“Ye were trying to help, and that is all that matters,” Moira said, tugging her cousin toward the wounded youth. “What is your name?” she asked him as she crouched by his side.
“Malcolm,” he said, his voice hoarse from pain. He smiled grimly when the final mercenary loudly met his death. “We have won.” He managed a weak smile for Una and Moira. “Ye ladies were a great help.”
“Aye, they were.” agreed James as he and the third youth joined them. “I am ashamed to admit that we were facing men far stronger and more skilled than we.”
“Of course ye were,” Moira said, shaking her head at the downcast faces of the three youths.
“Those men held far more years than ye do, years spent fighting and honing their skills. Once they were just like you. Soon ye will be like them. Now, Una, rip me a piece or two of your petticoats so that we may tend Malcolm’s wound. James, fetch me some water, please.”
“Is it bad?” James asked as he returned with the water, frowning with concern as he studied the pale Malcolm.
“Not so bad it cannae be mended. Please remove his jupon and shirt.”
Malcolm grew even more ashen-faced, despite his friends’ care as he was stripped to the waist. Moira tried not to think of how she added to that pain as she cleaned his wound then stitched it closed. She had Una place a folded blanket beneath the youth’s head as she bandaged him.
When she was done she soaked a small scrap of petticoat in water and gently bathed the sweat from his white face. She could almost feel the pain he was in. It was impossible to ignore. He looked incredibly young, hurt and a little afraid. Moira sighed as she realized what she had to do.
She lightly placed her hands on his arm.
She could not heal him, but she could ease a lot of his pain.
The youth’s eyes widened, and he stared at her with a mixture of astonishment and a touch of fear.
Moira knew her skill was already working its magic.
She could feel the stares of James and the other boy as they realized she was doing something unusual to Malcolm.
When she was done she lifted her hands from Malcolm’s arm and slumped, a little surprised to find Una right behind her, ready to give her support.
“What have ye done?” whispered Malcolm, cautiously moving his arm.
“She just took your pain away, ’tis all,” said Una as she helped Moira drink some cool water.
“Ye have the healing touch?” demanded James.
For a brief moment Moira tensed, afraid that her kindness to Malcolm would now cause her trouble.
Then she looked deeply into each youth’s eyes.
She saw no fear or condemnation there, only astonishment and curiosity.
Moira wondered if their lack of superstitious fear was due to their association with Tavig, even though it would only have been through Mungan, or because of their youth.
“‘Healing’ isnae really the right word,” she replied, slowly regaining the strength she had lost in using her gift to help Malcolm.
“I can ease pain, help a person to rest, and even soothe a fever a little. That can lead to a cure. I really dinnae think I actually cure anyone.” Her eyes widened when they all grinned at her, and James, forgetting himself for a moment, clapped her on the arm as if she were one of his fellows.
“Sorry, m’lady,” James hastily apologized. “’Tis just wondrous.”
“Wondrous? I have ne’er heard it called wondrous before.”
“But it is. Do ye not see? Now the MacAlpins, and the Colls, for we are part of the MacAlpin clan, can claim both the sight and the healing touch within our ranks. I dinnae think another clan in all of Scotland can do the same.”
“Weel, I am glad ye are so pleased.” She stood up, Una hastily doing the same. “I think we had best move into the village.”
“But we were told to stay here, to guard the horses and both of you.”
“Aye, but that was an order given when it was thought we would be safe here. We are not. ’Tis verra clear that the rats are rapidly deserting their sinking ship, and we stand in their way.
There were only three of the men this time, but there will be more if the battle turns in Tavig’s favor.
Since the people of Drumdearg will take Tavig’s side, his enemies willnae risk trying to run through the village. ”
“That seems reasonable,” James agreed. “Howbeit, I dinnae think Sir Tavig will like it.”
Thinking of how her secret was no longer a secret and that Tavig would soon know, Moira quietly said, “I suspect that when this battle is over, Sir Tavig will discover a lot of things he doesnae like.”