Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Scot’s Deception
Oh, did I get hate mail for this, but you all knew it was time. I led you there slowly, letting you down easily. And if it hadn’t happened, the angels in Clans of Mull would never have come to be!
Prologue
Maddie comes to Alex one more time, and even Alex is shocked by her words…
1314, the Highlands of Scotland
Alexander Grant closed his eyes, hoping he’d be blessed with a visit from his wife, who had passed on before him. She came to him in his dreams, something that happened no more than twice a moon. He treasured each instance, holding the feelings close to his heart.
A mist appeared at the opposite side of his chamber, and he climbed out of bed, praying it was his wife.
“I’m here, Alex.”
Her voice came to him in a soft whisper, the same voice she had used with him in bed after their lovemaking, talking quietly so as not to awaken the bairns down the passageway.
“I miss you so, Maddie.” Her voice, her scent, his memories…they nearly undid him.
“Alex, is that a tear? Oh, Alex, do not cry. ’Twill not be long now, I promise.”
“Maddie, when will you trust our bairns and grandbairns to do battle on their own, to see Scotland move ahead with the skills and sense we’ve raised them with? I’m nearly eighty summers, love. My bones pain me daily now, and I can no longer use my sword. My movements are slowing.”
“But you can still use your mind. Do you recall long ago when your mother spoke to you about the fae?” She moved closer and reached out to brush the wetness from his cheek.
Her gown was the heavily brocaded green one she used to wear at the holidays, gold thread stitched into the bodice.
She even carried the scent of the pine boughs she used to carefully arrange around the great hall.
Forcing himself to listen, he thought back to his mother’s stories. “Aye, she always told Brenna and me that the fae would help protect this land from evil, but they would sometimes need a wee bit of help from us.”
“And do you recall Avelina’s power?”
“Aye, she was chosen by the fae to wield the power in their relic, the sapphire sword, and to protect it until she passes it on.”
She stepped into his arms, her finger tracing his jawline. “You are as handsome now as ever, Alexander Grant.”
As soon as she touched him, his aches and pains disappeared.
Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her slowly, savoring her.
She was the one who pulled away, a look of regret on her face.
“Alex, the time has come for Avelina to pass along the protectorship of the sword. She will bring it to you. ’Tis up to you to choose who will hold its power. ”
“Tell me who should wield it, and I will see to it, Maddie.”
“You must determine that. I cannot do it for you, but I trust your judgment.” Her expression turned solemn. “The sword will be needed soon. A big battle is coming, Alex. If all goes well, King Robert will finally send the English back home. You’ll finally understand our grandbairns’ power.”
She moved back until their gazes locked. “But you’re needed for something far more important to me. Please be patient, husband.”
“Anything for you. What has you worried this time?”
“There are two more problems. One is that an evil force plans to overtake Grant Castle, and the other problem is much, much worse.”
“What could be worse in your eyes?” he asked, cupping her cheek and rubbing the pad of his thumb lightly across her soft skin.
She leaned into his touch and sighed. “Soon, Alex.”
“But our descendants are completely capable of protecting our castle, of attacking any force that tries to overtake our castle. You know that.”
“I believe you are correct. You’ve done a fine job training our clan.”
“We, Maddie. We trained our clan, our bairns, our grandbairns. We did it together.”
“Aye, but this new threat is too awful for me to take a chance.”
“What could possibly be worse than the last battle for the Scottish Crown or someone trying to overtake our castle?”
He watched as tears flooded her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, something he hadn’t seen in a long, long time. “What is it, Maddie?” He kissed one of her tears away. “I’ll do it, whatever ’tis. Just stop crying.”
“The Ramsays and Grants will attack each other.”
He froze, simply because he hadn’t expected that answer at all.
She was right that it was the worst outcome he could imagine.
Their descendants dead at the hands of Clan Ramsay?
His descendants killing the sons and daughters of his friends?
His head hurt from the implications. Stopping his soft ministrations to his wife’s smooth skin, he cursed.
“I didn’t think there was anything that could make me wish to stay, but you’ve done it. ”
“You must stop it from happening, Alex.”
She stepped away, moving backward, parts of her image flickering into nothingness as she moved.
He couldn’t argue this time.
He had to stay.
“Soon, Alex,” were her last words.
Chapter Five
Alex tells Dyna about a special aura…
Dyna came rushing toward Alex from across the hall. He wasn’t surprised. He’d been expecting her, and he had an odd feeling that he knew exactly what she was about to say.
“Grandsire, I’ve been having dreams again.”
He pointed to the laird’s solar, not far away.
“We’ll talk inside. I know why you’re here.
” He used the thick, wooden arms of his chair to push himself to a standing position, then grabbed his wooden stick, a new one crafted for him by his grandsons Alick and Broc.
The lads had worked on it for hours to ensure it was the perfect height for their grandfather.
She stopped abruptly. “What? How could you know I’ve been having seer dreams?”
“Inside first, then I’ll explain it to you. Just stand next to me and I’ll be fine.”
He made his way to the large chair behind the desk and indicated for Dyna to close the door behind her.
“How could you know about my dreams?” Dyna asked, clearly stupefied by his declaration.
“I’ll explain to you, if you can tolerate one more story about the olden days.”
Dyna broke into a wide grin. Many of his grandbairns teased him about his habit of telling old stories, though it was all done out of affection. “You know I will always love your stories. But I’m guessing this is not one I’ve heard retold ten times.”
“You are correct.” He sat down and leaned back in the chair. “This story is from my childhood, although I’m amazed I can remember back that far.”
“’Tis something Great-Grandmama or Great-Grandpapa told you?” she asked, her tone one of excitement. Dyna was an old soul, and she’d always cherished his stories.
“I was about ten summers, if I recall, and Aunt Brenna would have been eight then. Mama told us about the fae…”
Dyna’s face brightened. “I love fae stories.”
He nodded and then continued, “While some faeries like to taunt and tease people, the fae typically stay hidden. My mother told us they watch over our land to ensure evil never overtakes good. Sometimes they have to step in and offer tools to help guide us along. The fae have what she called chosen ones, people they empower with gifts others don’t have. ”
He paused, watching his great-granddaughter absorb this information. Dyna was more aware of uncanny things than most because she had been given the gift of sight.
“Evil, good, chosen ones… What does it all mean, Grandsire?”
“Mama told Brenna and me to be aware of the cast in the land. ’Tis a feeling, an unnatural aura created by a surge of evil.”
A strange look came over Dyna’s face. “I’ve been dreaming about storms and rain and…darkness, Grandsire. Is that what you mean?”
“Aye, it can manifest as storms.”
“Is evil here now?” she asked, her expression intent.
“I’m afraid so, and someone must stop it.”
“When did you feel it before?”
“When Gregor Ramsay was a wee bairn. It nearly killed him. But the fae came to Avelina Ramsay and granted her a powerful sword to fight off evil.”
“The sapphire sword?” Her eyes widened at the mention of the special weapon. Even if she hadn’t heard this particular story, all in the Highlands had heard of the sapphire sword.
“Aye. The fae came to Avelina Ramsay and told her what to do. She vanquished the evil force.” Alex Grant closed his eyes, saying a quick prayer to bring them through this turbulent time safely.
When he opened his eyes again, he looked at his great-granddaughter.
“The sword was hidden long ago. The cast is back, though, and Maddie has visited me again in my dreams. She tells me the time has come for the sword to be retrieved from its hiding place. Avelina is on her way, with Logan Ramsay, and we must find the new owner of the sapphire sword.”
Chapter Six
Chrissa gets her grandsire’s support to travel with the group off to assist King Robert.
Chrissa sat in on the meeting of Grants and Ramsays in the solar. The messenger had finally arrived, and she was excited to find out what action would be taken.
Would she be allowed to go or would she be forced to stay at home?
Grandsire was present, of course, and so were Uncle Jamie, Uncle Connor and Aunt Sela, plus her mother and father, Dyna and Derric, and Alick.
The small Ramsay contingent was also present.
It was a lucky thing Grandsire had expanded the solar before passing the lairdship on to his sons.
Uncle Connor started the meeting. “Jamie, now that there are no listening ears, please tell everyone what you learned from the messenger from King Robert.”