Chapter 11
Islay wiped her eyes and shook her head. Water splayed out in a whirl of drops. Callum stood in the doorway and had a stern expression on his face.
“What are ye daeing out in this storm? Are ye mad?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in.
Now that she was out of the storm, Islay could breathe a little easier.
Water trickled off her clothes and fingertips, falling to the floor.
Her hair was in taut, thick knots, the golden shine dulled by the weight of the rain.
She took one thick strand between her hands and squeeze, as though she was wringing wet clothes.
A small deluge of water cascaded down to the floor.
Callum jumped back, lest his feet get wet.
“It was nae raining when I left,” she said.
“I expected ye tae come with a guard and in a carriage. Who haes been protecting ye?” Callum looked past her, as though he expected to see someone else, but there was just her. Islay glared at him, her features more pronounced, made purer by the focus of the rain.
“I dinnae need anyone protecting me,” she said with more spite than she intended.
“I know ye can take care of yerself, but what with the bandits around?—”
“Ye are starting tae sound like my da,” she said in a warning tone, glaring at him.
Callum looked as though he was about to say something, but then thought better of it and placed his hands on his hips.
He exhaled and then called to his younger sister, Jean, and some of the maids to come and attend to Islay.
“Ye are right. I apologize. I’m just glad ye are here at all.
When the storm broke I thought we would hae tae wait longer tae spend some time taegether.
Please, have a warm bath and change yer clothes.
Then we’ll hae dinner. I’m sure ye will be wanting something warm.
” He spoke kindly and smiled at her. Islay nodded, a little annoyed that she would have to wear something that was not her own, as she had chosen her clothes for a specific purpose.
But there was no way she could sit through a meal in the sodden clothes, squelching and squirming while she ate.
Jean and the maids rushed up to her and all looked concerned at her soaked state.
Islay didn’t understand the fuss. It wasn’t the first time she had been caught out in a storm, and it would likely not be the last.
They took her to a private room. Jean was of her age, although perhaps a little younger.
She was a stern girl, one of order and principle.
She wasted little time in idle conversation and was one of the few people who didn’t seem interested in hearing about Islay’s ordeal with the bandits, which Islay was actually grateful for as she didn’t want to tell the story again.
While the maids drew a bath, Jean fetched some clothes.
Islay peeled away her wet clothes and left them in a puddle on the floor.
When she took off her boots, she held them to the window and let the water flow out of them, disgusted that her feet had been settled in a river.
She continued to drip even when she was naked, but she was glad of the warm bath.
Instant relief swept over her as she slid into the warm water, which was still and pleasant compared to the aggressive rain.
Islay slid all the way down, cleansing herself of the damp rain while it still poured outside.
“Looks like the kind of storm that’s gaeing tae last for days,” one of the maids muttered as they picked up Islay’s clothes.
“Aye, a night for sure, at least,” Jean said in reply.
The maid tutted as she carried the sodden clothes out of the room, while Jean lit a few more candles and gazed out of the window.
Islay had only intended to visit this place for dinner, but it seemed as though she would have to stay the night.
There was no way she could ride back home in this weather, especially not in the death of night.
While Islay washed herself, Jean hummed a tune.
Islay enquired about the song as it wasn’t one she had heard before.
Jean smiled sweetly and said it was something her mother had sung to her when she was young.
She turned back to the window, seemingly uninterested in continuing any further conversation.
Islay lingered in the bath until the water lost its warm temperature.
She stepped out and dried herself, feeling much better for the experience.
Jean had fetched her a couple of outfits.
One was more colorful than the other, although both were rather drab.
With no real preference, Islay picked the one that was closest to her and got dressed.
The fabric was not as soft as she was used to, and it was a little ill-fitting, but it would do to last the evening.
She slipped on an extra pair of boots, which again were not perfectly suited to her, and had to adjust her steps to get used to the feeling of the new boots while her other ones dried.
Jean showed her to the dining hall, where Callum was waiting.
The last time she had visited this place, it had been filled with people and the tune of minstrels.
But now it was empty, apart from them, and seemed like a cavern.
This feeling wasn’t helped by the fact that the storm roiled outside.
Occasionally lightning flashed, and it lit up the room, burning more brightly than any candle.
But then the ambiance faded into the soft amber glow again, and shadows fell over their faces.
Callum showed her to the table, where a bowl of broth awaited her. It was a simple meal in a simple bowl, but the warmth slipped through her, and she smacked her lips together in delight, for it was the perfect thing to eat after being caught in a storm.
“Are ye getting warmer?” he asked.
“Oh, aye,” she said. She looked at him as she sipped her broth. For a moment, she thought he would never take his gaze off her, but then he twisted his body and gazed out of the window, looking at the storm.
“It’s magnificent, isnae it? We truly are humbled tae be in the presence of nature’s power.” There was an awestruck tone to his voice.
“Aye,” Islay replied, swallowing another spoonful of broth.
“When I was a lad, I used tae be fascinated by storms. They seemed tae come out of nowhere, and I found it hard tae believe that the clouds could hold such power. I used tae stand at the window and looked up, my eyes lit up by the lightning. I used tae scream as though I could be louder than the sky.” He shook his head and chuckled at the folly of youth.
“I always used tae pray that I could call down lightning with my own hands, but that kind of power is reserved for the gods.”
“Ye seem tae dae well enough with a sword. It’s nae common for one man tae defeat four.”
Callum shrugged, wearing a humble look upon his face. “Aye, well, if they haed been trained, my chances of survival would hae been slimmer. I was lucky they didnae attack as one.”
Islay stretched out her legs. To the side was a fireplace, in which a fire burned brightly.
The flames danced and curled around the logs.
Although usually fire was a violent thing, this one paled in comparison to the storm.
It showed her that sometimes water could be more powerful than fire.
Although Islay had calmed down somewhat after being caught in the storm, her hands were still a little shaky as they recovered from being at the mercy of the elements.
And, frankly, she had expected more from dinner than some broth, although she wasn’t about to complain.
She also wasn’t about to tell Callum about Cinaed’s appearance at the crossroads either.
“Yer sister seems nice,” Islay said.
Callum smirked. “She haes her way.”
“What dae ye mean?”
“I’m sure ye noticed that she is a solemn lass.
Haes been all her life. I dinnae think she haes ever learned how tae enjoy life.
The biggest passion she haes is in books.
She spends most of her time in the library, escaping tae another world.
She haes been the same since Father died.
” There was a moment of vulnerability in Callum’s voice, and Islay took a little longer to eat her broth.
Here she was, trying to run away from home and being annoyed with her father when Callum had lost his. Shame taunted her.
“I am sorry for yer loss. He was a great man.” Islay remembered the barrel-chested man. His voice bellowed whenever he spoke, and he always seemed able to capture the attention of anyone nearby.
Callum smiled softly. “Aye, that he was. This place is certainly a lot quieter with him nae around. But such is the way of life. Now then, I hope ye werenae planning on leaving taenight. I cannae in all conscience let ye leave while the storm is raging. Ye can stay here for as long as ye like. After all, it would dae ye well tae get acquainted with yer new home,” he said.
Islay paused as the thought struck her. She looked around at the wide hall, the shadows momentarily pushed back by a flash of lightning.
Could she ever get used to living in a place like this?
When she finished her broth, Callum stayed with her for a while.
The night seemed later than it actually was.
The ride through the storm had left Islay feeling fatigued, and Callum seemed amused when she yawned.
He said that he had matters to attend to and that she should get some rest. Islay was feeling unsure about what he had intended for her.
When she received the invitation for dinner, she assumed Callum would have had something grander in mind.
Still, she acquiesced to his suggestion and made her way to a chamber that the maids had prepared for her.
A nightgown waited for her, and a small lantern burned near the bed.
As she slipped into bed and pulled the sheets tightly around her, she closed her eyes and let herself be lulled to sleep by the storm.
There would be plenty of time to speak with Callum more tomorrow, and she would also explore the estate more.
Perhaps she might even find something that would ruin the chance of them getting married.
After all, a library was a place of secrets.
Although she still wanted to go ahead with her plan, she was beginning to have doubts.
Callum wasn’t a cruel man; she knew her father would not have made a bad match for her.
This place wasn’t unsuitable either. The fact was that she could have done a lot worse than Callum.
If she were to get married, then he would be one of the best husbands she could hope for.
Perhaps it was wrong of her to try and fight this.
Perhaps she just needed to let it wash over her and unfold the way it was all supposed to.
These thoughts whispered through her mind, dancing to the rhythm of the rain as it fell outside. Her breathing grew deeper as she fell into a slumber and sank into the soft pillow. The rumbling thunder and flashing lightning were not enough to disrupt her sleep.