Chapter 8
“Yer daughter is safe and sound, Laird Gallach,” Callum said, placing a fist over his heart and bowing.
“The bandits are out in a glade. One of them escaped without tasting my sword. The others may well hae fled by now, but getting Islay back tae ye was a priority. I would suggest ye dispatch a group of guards, just in case they are still there, or in case ye can catch them.”
“Thank ye for yer service, Callum. The people of Kilin thank ye as well. Ye are as honorable and as brave as yer father, and I’m sure he would be proud of ye. This shows the strength of our relationship, and I’m glad that we can show how strong we are. It is a good sign for the future.”
Callum bowed again and bid his farewell.
He flashed a smile at Islay, who blushed.
Although they had spent a little time together and had gotten to know each other, she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about him.
The thought of getting married wasn’t one that settled naturally in her mind.
It still seemed as though a weight weighed heavily upon her.
Callum left with his entourage in tow. Cinaed gave Islay a pointed glance and arched her eyebrow in a suggestive manner.
Perhaps she thought Callum had done more than rescue Islay.
The young woman blushed at the thought and averted her gaze.
Kirsten and Iona rushed up to Islay to welcome her back.
They hugged her tightly; Islay was grateful for the warmth and affection.
She shared a meaningful glance with Kirsten, although they did not have the opportunity to speak properly.
She had been open about her intentions to run away with Callum, but Islay wasn’t sure how to talk about things with her father.
He was not going to look kindly on her fleeing her home, but she found it difficult to lie to him, even if she could think of a credible lie.
Her mind was still so muddled and the only lie she could think to tell was one where she claimed the bandits had taken her.
But it didn’t make sense that they had made their way into the castle or even her chambers without anyone else noticing.
Although she tried to pay attention to her cousin and sister, she could feel her father staring at her.
Her insides churned. It was almost a worse fate than being captured by bandits.
“I’m sorry that yer birthday was ruined by the bandits,” Islay said to Iona, who was smiling and still had the flower in her hair from the previous day.
“It was exciting! It was the best birthday ever. Everyone was rushing through the castle, and people said there was gaeing tae be a big battle. But when we learned that ye haed gone, we were all scared. I prayed hard for ye, Islay. Please never leave again.” Iona took Islay’s hand.
Her tone was beseeching and the look in her eyes was plaintive enough to break Islay’s heart.
Islay smiled and pulled her sister in for a tight hug.
In the background, Laird Gallach barked an order to a group of guards and told them to go and hunt the woods for any remaining bandits.
He wanted them brought to him alive so he could look into their eyes and tell them what their actions had cost.
People began to filter away from the keep after staying overnight.
They loaded their carriages and wagons and traveled back to their homes, although Kirsten told Islay quickly that she was going to stay until the wedding.
Islay was pleased for this as she didn’t know how often she would get to see Kirsten once she was married, if indeed the wedding was still going to go ahead.
“Kirsten, would you take Iona, please? I want tae hae words with Islay,” Laird Gallach said.
The tone of his voice made Islay try to swallow the lump of fear that resided in her throat.
Kirsten offered her a reassuring smile, but they knew that Islay was in trouble.
Laird Gallach walked away, and Islay knew that she was expected to follow.
They went into a small room that was filled with shelves of books.
There was a musty smell, and it was one of the few rooms that had not been used as part of the ceilidh.
There was a small desk with a chair, where Laird Gallach ordered Islay to sit down.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking just as he did when she was a child and had misbehaved.
The same inkling of fear crept up through her spine as well.
“Da, before ye say anything—” Islay began, but Laird Gallach held his hand in the air, his palm facing straight towards her.
He closed his eyes slowly and breathed out deeply, as though he was trying to calm a raging wind.
Islay bowed her head and pressed her lips together, not wishing to anger him further by speaking out of turn.
“What on earth were you thinking, Islay? What got intae yer head that this was a good idea? Why would ye ever think that walking around the woods at night is safe, especially when ye just heard that bandits are about? Why dae ye hae such a hard time at daeing yer duty? Would ye really hae ran away without even saying goodbye? Is that how little we mean tae ye?”
Islay was taken aback. She had expected him to be angry, but he seemed hurt more than anything.
“Yer behavior was reckless. Ye cannae dae things like this. Ye could hae been killed.”
“I know, Da. I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.
“Well, what were ye thinking?” he asked.
Islay wished that she could have remained quiet, but she was always the type to speak her mind and wasn’t going to let it remain silent here.
“I thought that by running away, I wouldnae need tae get married. I hate this life of obligation and duty. I never asked for it. I never asked tae marry this man for the sake of the clan. I know it’s important, and it can help keep people safe, but that doesnae mean I hae tae like it.
For once, I’d like tae know what life is like when I hae control over my actions. ”
“Aye, well, now ye know. Ye end up getting captured. Ye could hae been killed!” He looked as though he was going to say something more along those lines, but he stopped himself.
There was no need to mention all the other terrifying things the bandits could have done to her.
“I hope ye hae learned yer lesson now,” he added harshly.
“I still dinnae like it.” Islay folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
Laird Gallach sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He sat on the edge of the desk and looked down at his daughter.
“Ye know, I hae half a mind tae lock ye in a tower until the wedding just in case ye are foolish enough tae try anything like this again. It seems about the only way I can make sure ye dinnae get intae trouble. But then again, I hae always haed trouble disciplining ye girls. Every since yer ma died…it’s difficult tae know what tae dae with ye. I hae tried my best.”
“I know, Da,” Islay replied with sympathy.
Her heart went out to him as she remembered how difficult it was when her mother had died, and how her father had tried to ensure that life had remained as normal as possible.
“I know I hae nae always been the easiest child, and I’m sorry for that.
I just wish…sometimes I just wish that life could be different. ”
“Aye, I know, lass. I’m sorry that I cannae change the world.
It’s nae easy for any of us, ye know. Ye just hae tae make the best ye can of life.
I know that ye hae this idea that other people are free and living their best lives, but none of us are.
The peasants and commoners have tae deal with plenty of things that are out of their control, like the weather.
Merchants cannae control who buys their wares.
Soldiers are told where tae fight. Everyone in the world haes their own obligations and duties, and I believe that a good person does what is required of them.
People who try and break free of the rules that govern us…
that’s when ye get bandits. They think the law doesnae apply tae them and that they can dae anything they want without consequence. ”
“I’m nae a bandit!” Islay protested.
Laird Gallach offered her a small smile. “I’m nae saying ye are, lass. Just that ye arenae the only one struggling, and that ye dinnae need tae fight against it. Sometimes ye might want tae fight for the sake of fighting, but what kind of fight is that?”
“I suppose,” Islay said, just about sure she knew the meaning of his words. “But it all gaes back tae Ma. I’m afraid that I’m nae gaeing tae see everything I want tae see in life.”
“Ye arenae; that’s one of the cruelties of life. But just because ye stay in one place doesnae mean ye cannae be happy. There are always miracles tae be found. When I was yer age, I never wanted tae stay here in the castle.”
“Ye didnae? Islay asked, her voice rising with curiosity.
Her father shook his head and swiped his hand through the air.
“Ach, no. I wanted tae roam around the land and fight monsters, and be a great hero. I wanted tae emulate the warriors of the past and forge a name for myself, but I haed a duty here. I haed a woman who was intended tae become my wife, and a clan tae lead. And just think, lass, if I haed shirked that duty and gone off by myself tae wander the land, ye wouldnae hae been born. Just think about that. There are babies waiting tae be born that might never be born if ye decide tae leave. I’m nae trying tae make ye feel guilty.
I’m just trying tae make ye see that there are other consequences ye hae tae keep in mind. ”
Islay nodded, but remained silent. It harkened back to what Callum was saying about keeping the clan safe.
It seemed as though her life didn’t just belong to her, but that it was a part of other people as well, and she was required to help them by getting married.
The thought of holding a child filled her with fear, anticipation, and an odd sense of contentment.
There were things in this world that seemed to be so wonderful, and she almost didn’t want them because she was told she must have them; sometimes, her stubbornness irritated her.
But she was slowly beginning to realize that this marriage wasn’t just about her wishes.
“I know ye want yer freedom, lass. I like tae think that I hae given ye more than a taste of it over the years. Perhaps that’s why ye are like this.
Maybe I gave ye tae much of a taste. But I cannae let ye hae yer way on this.
Ye are the eldest daughter, and the agreement was made years ago.
Tae break that oath now would be a taint on our honor.
I would ask ye tae understand why I demand this of ye, and I need tae make sure that ye arenae gaeing tae try and escape again.
I hae tae put my foot down, Islay. Ye need tae get married tae Callum.
Will ye promise me that ye are nae gaeing tae leave, or dae I hae tae lock ye up? ”
“Ye dinnae hae anything tae worry about, Da. After what I hae just been through, I’m nae gaeing tae gae out in the woods at night. I wouldnae dare tae risk getting caught by bandits again. I know how lucky I was for Callum tae come and save me. I may nae be sae fortunate next time.”
Laird Gallach nodded solemnly. “I hope that ye hae truly learned yer lesson. Ye are still young, but ye will grow up quickly, and ye will learn that there is more tae the world than just what ye want. I think ye might also find that a marriage is nae something disagreeable either. Ye might find that ye like it.”
Islay offered him a smile, but deep inside, she couldn’t confirm it was true. She had spent so long now despising the idea of marriage that it was a tough ask to bring herself to look forward to it, and yet when she thought of Callum, there was a warm tingly feeling that spread through her body.
She left her father, thankful that he hadn’t shouted at her or locked her in a tower. Still, when she thought of those initial moments when she realized how much she had disappointed him, her heart broke. He must have been worried sick, and she felt ashamed of what she had done.
As soon as Islay left the small study, she went upstairs and found Kirsten relaxing in her chamber. Kirsten rose as soon as she saw Islay and flung her arms around her again.
“I was sae worried about ye!” Kirsten said in one breath.
“I’m fine. It takes more than a few bandits tae get the best of me,” Islay said with false confidence. They sank onto the bed.
“I dinnae know if he told ye or nae, but I was the one who told Callum that ye haed gone. I slipped a note under his door. I’m sorry…I couldnae bear the thought of ye out in the woods alone. I’m glad I did now.”
“Aye, me tae. Ye dinnae hae tae apologize. I know ye only did it because ye were worried about me, and ye haed a right tae be.”
Kirsten placed a hand upon her chest and drew in her breath. “Why Islay, are ye actually admitting that ye were wrong?” She laughed.
Islay narrowed her eyes. “I wouldnae gae that far,” she said. “But I think it was a mistake tae leave at night. The woods were…well, I would rather hae company.”
“I just couldnae bring myself tae leave my family,” Kirsten said.
“Aye. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if ye or Iona aren’t more suited tae being married.”
“Surely ye arenae still thinking about getting out of the wedding?”
In all honesty, Islay wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but she knew she wanted to exercise some control over her life, especially after at the mercy of the bandits.
“I dinnae ken, but it is still an obligation that I hae tae think about. All I want is tae hae a choice, that’s all.
I want someone tae actually ask me if this is what I want rather than telling me this is what I must dae. ”
“I think ye are being a wee bit picky,” Kirsten said, rolling her eyes. “I just hope ye dinnae get intae any more trouble. The more chances ye take, the less likely it is that anyone is gaeing tae save ye. If ye dinnae marry him, ye cannae count on Callum tae come tae yer rescue.”