Chapter 1 #2
Iona was given a position of privilege at the head of the hall, and she delighted in all the attention.
She clapped her hands as people presented gifts.
Islay looked on with an amused smile, and found herself wondering why life had never seemed as simple as that for her.
She had always looked to the horizon, always looking beyond what she had, never able to enjoy the present moment.
To her, time was like a predator, hunting her relentlessly.
It was a hunt that would always end the same way.
Nobody could escape it. The only way to win was to make the hunt last as long as possible—not to sit in one place and wither and die.
She was amazed that nobody else saw it, and she was tempted to leave there and then, but she had to wait a little longer, for darkness to set in at least. Although she was a good rider, she was not well versed in the surrounding lands as much as her father’s men were, and they would no doubt be able to track her well.
If she was going to be successful then she was going to need to put as much distance in between them as possible.
She stood towards the back of the room, with her hands folded across her chest and an inscrutable gaze surveying the room.
Through the dancing crowd, a man came striding up to her...
Callum. As soon as Islay realized he was walking directly towards her, she straightened, and a flush of crimson bloomed upon her cheeks.
The people danced away from him as though they were a moving tide, and before she knew it, Callum was standing in front of her.
She tilted her head up slightly to look at him; she could not deny that he was handsome.
His face was strong, his hair thick, and the way he looked at her was as though he was staring directly into her soul.
For a moment, she felt afraid, exposed, as though all her secrets were revealed to him.
“It’s been a long time, Islay,” he said. His voice was smooth and deep. The rumbling burr made something swim in her stomach. She suddenly felt hot now that she was in close proximity to him.
“Aye, it haes indeed.”
“Well, soon enough, the time for that is past. I hae just been speaking with yer father, and we both agree that it is time now tae seal the pact that was made sae long ago. Next week we shall be married. Would ye like tae dance tae celebrate?” he asked, holding out his hand.
Islay was panicked and frozen. Her eyes widened, and a lump formed in her throat, although she tried her best not to show any outward sign of this.
“Next week?”
“Aye. I’m sorry ye hae haed tae wait sae long.
I shall make sure yer patience is rewarded,” he said, mistaking her surprise for annoyance that they hadn’t been married already.
He pushed his hand towards her again, gesturing for her to take it.
She knew it would be rude to decline her offer, and she could already hear the harsh rebuke from her father if she did so.
Islay let him take her palm. His skin was callused and rough, but also so warm it seemed to ripple through her.
When he guided her to the dance floor, it was as though she was floating.
They joined in with the rhythm of the music, their hands pressed flat against each other before they stepped back and put distance between them.
When they drew close together, Callum wrapped his arm around her and placed his hand on the small of her back.
The pressure was pleasing. She spun around, and the hall blurred around her.
Golden hair fanned out like the rays of the sun before settling back over her shoulders.
When the dance was over, Callum bowed and smiled widely. When he did so, his eyes twinkled; for a moment, she found herself wondering what mysteries were behind those eyes.
“I would like tae meet ye taemorrow morning for a wee stroll. Perhaps ye can show me around Kilin and we can talk? I would like tae get tae know ye better,” Callum said.
“Of course,” Islay agreed. She had no hesitation in agreeing because she knew she wasn’t going to be around to meet him.
He wasn’t going to tie her down to marriage, and she wasn’t going to have to pretend to like him or fall in love with him.
She couldn’t deny to herself that he was more attractive than she remembered, and that her reaction to him had changed, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent her from searching for her freedom.
As Callum returned to his entourage, Islay glanced across the room and saw Cinaed glaring at her. Islay left before Cinaed could say anything. Islay didn’t want to get into another debate about how desirable Callum was.
When night fell, but before it got too late, Islay searched out Kirsten, hissing at her from the shadows to join her.
Islay had put together a pack filled with water and food, and slung it across her back.
They skulked out of the castle while everyone else was still enjoying the ceilidh.
Fires had been lit to light the way, and they crackled in the distance, making it look as though small burning balls of fire were hanging in the evening twilight.
The sounds of the ceilidh lingered in the castle, but they receded as Islay and Kirsten moved outside.
The stars twinkled above, and the moon was large and sensual.
“Are ye sure about this?” Kirsten asked, her voice trembling with nerves. She was a few months older than Islay, but the way the two acted, anyone would have thought Islay was the eldest. She was more commanding and liked to lead rather than follow.
Islay rolled her eyes in response to Kirsten’s question. “Yes, I’m sure. How can ye nae be? We hae been talking about daeing this for a long time now. My wedding haes been scheduled for next week. If I dinnae escape now, I never will.”
“But would it be the worst thing in the world for ye tae be married?” Kirsten asked. “Callum certainly doesnae seem like a cruel man. I was speaking tae some of his entourage and they all spoke highly of them.”
“They’re hardly gaeing tae badmouth him in front of company,” Islay said, annoyed at Kirsten’s naivety. “Ye dinnae hae tae come, ye know, although I wouldnae know why ye’d want tae stay.”
Kirsten paused. “I just…whenever we spoke about it before, it was always something fun tae think about without ever haeing tae take it tae seriously. But when I start tae think of actually leaving, I dinnae just think about where I’m gaeing, but the people I’m leaving behind tae.
I think of my family and I…I dinnae know how I feel about never seeing them again. ”
Kirsten’s words drove a dagger of emotion deep within Islay’s heart.
In her mind, thoughts of her father and sister whirled around.
All the memories she had made and cherished would be just that—memories.
She would never get to see Iona grow up and become a woman, but nor would she have to see her father grow old and die.
She hardened her heart, though, not willing to let weakness decide her actions.
“We can see them again, eventually. We just need tae leave for enough time for them tae realize that we are nae gaeing tae be pawns in their plans. We are nae gaeing tae hae our futures decided for us. The wind will take us wherever it blows, and it might well blow us back home in time, but we hae to forge our own path first.”