Chapter 11 #2
“Aye. The arrow barely missed my head. Praise the saints, I havenae had to look over my shoulder since I have remained inside the castle walls. I pray there isnae anything more to worry about, given that naught untoward has happened since, but I am still verra unsettled. I donna know who would want to kill me.”
“Father has many enemies. I donna know who—”
“Donna be so quick to judge our father, Colin. More than likely the MacDonell has also made a few foes along the way. And whatever ye do, please donna concern Father with this. My husband has me verra well protected. There is naught Father can do that Alexander hasnae done already.”
“I give ye a word of caution nae to walk outside the castle gates alone.”
“Cease your lectures. I have already had my fill of them. Howbeit I will make sure that I have an escort,” said Sybella with an appeasing tone.
“We donna know who is responsible for taking aim at ye. I will have your word that ye will be careful, even within your husband’s gates.”
“Ye have my word.” She raised her hands in mock surrender.
Colin reached out and grabbed her hand. Unspoken pain was alive and glowing in his eyes.
“What is it, Brother? I have a feeling there is something more that ye arenae telling me.”
A gentle smile played on his lips. “Ye know me too well.” He sat back in the chair, looking uncomfortable. “We have battled so many years with the MacDonell.”
Sybella squeezed her fingers over the bridge of her nose. “How many times must we have the same conversation?”
Ignoring her words, Colin continued. “There has always been reiving between us. We take something, they take something. We burnt the MacDonell’s stable to the ground, and in retaliation, they burnt our church.
” When she remained silent and didn’t question him further, Colin stood and walked over to the stone fireplace.
He placed his hand on the mantel, and for a moment, he was quiet, searching.
She’d never seen her brother quite so unnerved.
“There are certain matters of politics which I have sheltered ye from for your own protection.” He remained still, weighing his words.
“His Majesty’s forces make their way to Lewis, and Father wants ye to find the stone within a sennight.
If the king’s men arrive at Lewis and find the MacLeods arenae under control, His Majesty will strip Father of his power over the isle and mayhap even his position in the Highlands. ”
She sat back, momentarily rebuffed.
When Colin spoke again, his voice was calming. “Our conquest on Lewis was the last our seer foretold. Father doesnae want to take the chance of making another move without the seer’s sight and doing something to permanently seal the fate of our clan.”
“Colin, who is this seer?” Sybella stood and approached him.
“I told ye before, it doesnae matter, and for your own safety, ’tis better that ye donna know.
” When Sybella scrunched up her face in annoyance, Colin continued.
“I know I told ye to wait until ye earned your husband’s trust, but we nay longer have time on our side.
Ye can nay longer leave Glengarry without an escort and are now given the perfect opportunity to search for the stone within the walls of the castle.
“Take it room by room, one at a time, and leave naught unturned.” He made a circle with his hands.
“Remember the stone is of brown color and about this big around with a hole in the middle. ’Tis also small enough to keep in a jewelry box, a desk drawer, or a hollowed-out book.
Search every chamber, everywhere and everything. ”
She took a deep breath and straightened her spine.
“Colin, ye and Father are wrong. Alexander is a good man, and I’ve seen naught to tell me otherwise.
He is kind and has a verra compassionate soul.
Ye should see the way he cares for his aunt.
” Sybella shook her head. “I cannae deceive him, MacDonell or nae. And frankly, I have had enough secrets between us. I am taking my leave with ye to Kintail. And I will speak with Father. I will nae do this.” She opened her trunk at the foot of the bed and pulled out her sack.
Colin whirled around, his mouth set in annoyance.
“When will ye open your bloody eyes, Ella, and see the truth of our father’s ways?
Father is the one who sent me here to make ye search for the stone!
If ye didnae wed the MacDonell, your beloved sire was going to ship ye off to Lewis to marry the damn MacLeod on that desolate isle! ”
She threw up her hands in the air. “Lies…Ye speak naught but lies. Father told me he would ne’er wed me to the MacLeod. Why would ye say such hurtful words, Colin? Ye are my brother. I donna understand why ye are doing this. Are ye angry because Father entrusted me to find the stone?”
He looked offended and lowered his voice.
“I would ne’er do anything to hurt ye, Ella.
Whether ye realize it or nae, I have always protected ye.
Father wants the seeing stone returned to us and will do anything to recover it.
Ye must find it. Ye donna have a choice.
Ye cannae travel to Kintail and tell Father ye will nae do this.
Trust me, ye simply cannae. Ye seem to have developed a certain…
fondness for your husband. The MacDonell doesnae have to know ye look for the stone.
Ye can be discreet. For if ye donna, Father will plot something against the MacDonell and I will nay longer be able to hold our sire at bay. ”
When she sat down on the bed with the sack on her lap, she tried to mentally rein in her temper. She never thought she would see the day when a MacKenzie killed another MacKenzie under the roof of a MacDonell.
There was sourness in the pit of Sybella’s stomach. “I am such a fool. Ye must help me. I know I agreed to search for the stone, but things have…changed.”
Colin’s expression was almost regretful.
“I see ye care for him.” When she did not respond, he continued.
“I want ye to think upon my words. Father will ne’er let ye continue with your new life—nae until ye recover the stone and return it to our clan.
I donna want to see ye hurt by refusing our father’s command.
Ye have nay idea what the man is capable of.
Ye have to do this whether ye like it or nae.
Once ye are alone with your thoughts, ye will see reason. ”
When she scowled at him, he quickly added, “Ye are a MacDonell in name only, and MacKenzie blood runs thick through your veins. I have faith that ye will do as our father commands.”
Sybella was so angry that tears welled in her eyes. “An diobhail toirt leis thu. Mach a seo!” The devil take you. Get out!
Colin merely walked out and closed the door behind him.
Fury almost choked her. Her marriage was nothing more than another MacKenzie scheme.
If Alex ever found out, there would be a bloody war.
And reiving would no longer be an option.
It would be man against man, sword against sword, to see who could shed the most blood between them.
She closed her eyes.
Sybella had spoken the sacred vows that bound her and Alex as one.
MacKenzie blood or not, she was now a MacDonell.
She had pledged her troth. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks.
Her misery was like a weight upon her shoulders, a stab of guilt buried deep in her breast. How was she supposed to get herself out of this situation?
Alex had preached words of honesty and trust. Perhaps she could find a way to speak with him without making him angry and without blood being shed.
She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d say, but she’d figure it out.
She always did. She had started this marriage under a false pretense, and now it was clearly time to right that wrong.
Sybella wandered aimlessly through the halls in search of her husband. She would need to proceed cautiously and think about her words before they escaped her lips, lest she find herself on the pointy end of Alex’s sword.
She reached Alex’s study and was lifting her hand to knock when raised voices sounded from within. She had to admit that she was curious if Colin had taken his leave or if he had again sought out her husband.
Sybella looked around and then placed her ear to the door.
“’Tis good to have ye again under roof, MacGregor. I grow tired of the damn MacKenzies.”
“Ye still donna trust them?” asked a deep voice.
Alex smirked. “As much as ye trusted the bloody Campbell.”