Chapter 25
Elsea stood at the window, as she had for most of the morning, with the empty gray-blue expanse of the sea spread out before her.
She willed the galleys to sail into view, but they didn't. The sun hung high in the sky, and the mist had vanished.
The small islands sat resolute in the distance, too far away to see any galleys.
Brodie was out there. Was he alright? Everyone had said he'd left at dawn.
Why would he risk it so soon after his injury?
He was not yet well enough to swim that far, even though Finnian had told them he'd removed his stitches and saw that the cut was well closed.
Mayhap as a seal, Brodie could swim that far. If so, why hadn't he returned?
The memory of the previous night took possession of her mind. Surely, she had shown him how much she loved him. How could he doubt it?
Gavin and Torr and several men from all three clans had taken galleys out to find him, to see if he needed help. She prayed they would find him unharmed.
Had Talnaroch attempted another selkie raid? Not knowing anything that was happening near drove her mad.
A knock sounded at Elsea's bedchamber door, startling her. She turned. "Come."
Cat hurried in, her face pale. "Three of your brothers are here. They wish to see you forthwith."
"In truth?" Elsea hadn't expected them.
"Aye."
"Blast! How did they learn my whereabouts?"
"They did not say." Cat wrung her hands.
"I wager William is angry," Elsea grumbled.
"He did nay appear happy."
Thankfully, Elsea had dressed hours ago, and the maids had styled her hair. She followed Cat down the turnpike stairs to the great hall, her heart palpitating. Not that she feared any of her brothers, but Will could make her life miserable.
She had been right—her oldest brother was scowling.
"Is there somewhere we could speak in private?" he asked, with no greeting.
"Nice to see you too, brother," she said dryly. "Where are Corran and Kieran?"
"Outside." Will clenched his jaw.
"I'll have the maids take ale outside to them," Cat said. "I'm certain they're all thirsty."
"They'll survive," Will muttered.
"You may use the solar." Cat led the way and opened the door.
Elsea entered and then Will. This room reminded her of Brodie, and she wished he could be here now. He would say something wry and scathing to Will, no doubt provoking him further.
Cat started to close the door on her way out.
"Can you stay with me?" Elsea asked her.
Looking at Will, Cat paused. "If you agree, m'laird."
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth.
Cat remained and closed the door.
"We've been searching for you for a week!" Will snarled. "Where is MacCain?"
Elsea's stomach dropped. "Out at the island."
"Did he take you hostage?"
"Nay." Elsea glared at him. "He saved my life."
"How? Why did your life need saving?" His jaw tightened.
"'Tis a long story." Elsea didn't feel like relaying all of it right now. Besides, he would be even more vexed about her slipping onto the earl's galley. "How did you ken I was here?"
"Talnaroch told me. Why did you or MacCain nay send a missive informing me where you were? That could've saved us several days of searching."
Ignoring his question, she asked. "How did the blackguard earl know I was here?"
"Blackguard?" Will challenged. "Why are you calling your future husband a blackguard?"
"'Tis what he is," Elsea said firmly. "He's a knave, a bastard, and a whoreson." Besides that, he was not Elsea's future husband, but she would keep that to herself for now.
Will's face reddened. "Where did you learn such language? From MacCain?"
"Nay, from you and our brothers."
Will blew out an annoyed breath, for he could not deny it.
"I wager the witch told Talnaroch where you are," Cat said. "We know they're working together."
"Of course," Elsea said. "She's known I was here since the beginning."
"How long have you been here?" Will asked.
"Since the morning after I left Kincreag. Why did you sign the betrothal contract behind my back?" Elsea demanded.
"How did you ken?"
"Talnaroch told me," she said, echoing his earlier words.
"Well." His brows shot up. "'Twas clear you wished to wed him."
"Nay, 'twas not. I told you I required a fortnight to decide. If Da were here, he would not attempt to force me to marry the earl."
"Well, Da is nay here, and I'm the chief now. I must do what I think best for the clan."
"What about what is best for me?" she asked.
"You're being selfish again. You string along too many men.
We've all grown tired of your changeable moods and indecision.
Not to mention the scandals. The earl demands that I bring you home.
If you do nay come with me, he'll lay siege to this castle.
Plus, he will charge me a massive fine in recompense—your dowry plus three thousand merks. "
Elsea gasped. "The bastard!"
Will glared but did not mention the insult. "He said you went to Dunrhyne and told him you wish to marry him soonest."
"I was lying and only pretending."
"Why?" Will demanded. "Why the hell did you follow him?"
"He is kidnapping female selkies out on the islands to sell to wealthy aristocrats. You can imagine what for."
Will scowled, his face coloring. "Selkie females?" he asked doubtfully.
"Aye, selkie tribes exist, and the females are extremely beautiful.
Somehow the knave saw them and devised a way to make a massive profit.
He's greedy and desperate. Selkies are people, just as we are.
At Kincreag, before I left, I heard the earl's men talking about making a raid and kidnapping them.
That's why I followed him, to stop the bastards and help the women.
And I did. I freed several of them before a man kicked me down, knocked me unconscious, and I fell in the water.
Then Brodie found me and dragged me from the sea, saving my life. "
William's eyes widened and his face turned pale as he looked to Cat.
She nodded. "'Tis true."
"Thank the saints you're alright, sister," Will said.
"But we still have a problem. Refusing the earl now would turn him into an enemy and ruin us.
The entire clan will suffer. He demands the whole fee at once.
'Twill impoverish us all. He has a larger force of men that I do, and larger than MacCain. "
"Nay if everyone bands together," Cat said. "The MacTavish clan is here, along with several from the MacPherson clan."
"Where?" Will asked.
"Out at the islands," Elsea said. "And the earl might have fewer men now, since Brodie and the selkies fought against them at Dunrhyne when they rescued some of the females. A few of the earl's men were killed, and some fled."
Elsea thought of the females the earl had kidnapped before she'd gotten involved. She'd wanted to see if they were at Glenhaish. If she went home now, and if she could slip out, mayhap she could check the castle without her brothers knowing.
"I'll go home."
"Elsea," Cat whispered, face blanching. "Are you sure?"
"I must. I would never want to put all of you here at Farspag in danger. Will said the knave would attack. I wouldn't wish Brodie to have to fight him and be injured again."
"But he is nay even here to tell you goodbye."
Will frowned. "Do nay tell me you're betrothed to MacCain again!"
"Nay. I'm not."
"But—" Cat began.
"I wish Brodie to stay safe." Elsea gave her a meaningful look.
"'Tis not his fault Will signed the blasted betrothal agreement.
" She then glared at her brother, wanting to tell him she would break the contract, but she did not want to anger him further.
If she kept him in the dark, he would let down his guard, and she could do as she pleased.
"Since Torr and Gavin are both here helping Brodie and the selkies," Elsea said. "And you're on the earl's side, you have made an enemy of our own cousin. The earl is lower than a worm. How can you support him? Would you also support him if he raided Kincreag and kidnapped all the women?"
"Nay, of course not," Will growled. "But I will not allow you to break the betrothal."
"Indeed?" She lifted a brow.
"Do nay challenge me, Elsea," he warned.
She gave a faux smile. She must not appear too contrary, or he would lock her up. He was nothing like their father. He was weak, being pushed around by the earl. Da would not have stood for it. In fact, he would not have gotten them into this situation to begin with.
"Da would've allowed me to sign my betrothal agreement in person."
"I am not Da," he grated.
"Clearly."
Will gave Elsea a narrow-eyed glare. "He coddled and spoiled you the whole of your life."
"The earl will likely punish and abuse her for even being here," Cat said.
"I'll keep her safe at Kincreag."
"After you force her to marry him?" Cat challenged.
Will blew out an exasperated breath as if the women were the daft ones. "Nay."
"Well then, after they are married and she moves to his castle, he will beat her," Cat said. "You cannot protect her then. He's only marrying her for the dowry, anyway. He does nay care about her."
"I ken you have a love match with our cousin, Lady Cat," he said.
"And you have a love match too, do you not, m'laird?"
"I do, but 'tis rare, you must admit."
"Exactly. And you are the only person who can ensure Elsea has a love match and a happy life."
"She had her chance with your brother, but she ruined it. 'Tis on her head."
Elsea rolled her eyes. "When do we leave?"
"Now," Will said.
"But, 'tis midday," Cat said.
"We can reach Kincreag in six hours," he said, his tone stern.
"I'll get my things." Elsea headed toward the door and climbed the stairs.
Moments later, Cat showed up in the open doorway of her chamber. "Please, Elsea, I beg of you," she whispered. "Stay until Brodie returns."
Oh, how she wished she could. She craved seeing him. "He'll argue with Will, mayhap even challenge him."
"Exactly. He'll nay let you go," Cat said with a militant expression.
Elsea shook her head. "I refuse to wait here until Talnaroch attacks Farspag.
'Twould put all of you in danger. I'll go to Kincreag and deal with him.
My brothers and clan will help me. 'Tis Will's responsibility since he signed the contract.
" She knew Will wouldn't help her, but maybe her other brothers would.
"Promise you won't marry that beast," Cat said, her irritation clear.
"Of course, I won't. But I may kill him."
"In truth?"
"In self-defense, of course. He does nay ken of my training."
"But he's an earl, a high-ranking official. 'Twould garner the attention of the king."
Elsea shrugged. "I'll figure that out later.
" She would not tell Cat her true intention for going home—to ride to Glenhaish and see if the selkie women were being held there.
If they were, free them. Her brothers certainly wouldn't expect it.
"I'm concerned that Brodie left early this morn, and we have nay inkling if he's alright or not. "
"I'm certain Torr and Gavin will find him and help him if he needs it."
"Can you send me a missive tomorrow, letting me know if he's well?"
Cat nodded. "But he may follow you when he finds out you've gone."
An image of Brodie confronting her clan and the earl's huge garrison flashed in her mind. "Nay! Tell him not to come."
Cat blew out a breath. "Do you think he will listen to me?"
"Tell Torr to convince him not to follow until after I have broken the betrothal to the earl. 'Twill put him in extreme danger."
***
IN THE BAILEY, ELSEA glanced around as her clan was mounting.
"I'm glad you're alright, sister." His long, tawny-blond hair windblown, Kieran led a frosted roan gelding to her.
"Kieran." She hugged him. "Where's Freya?" she asked.
"At Kincreag."
"Is she well?"
"Aye. Talnaroch brought her home when he told us you had followed him and then disappeared."
"Well, I'm glad he took her home, at least, and that she's alright. I worried over her."
That was probably the only nice thing the earl had ever done for her.
"And we worried over you, searched night and day," Kieran said.
"I'm so sorry," Elsea said. Being the youngest two siblings, she and Kieran were close.
Elsea and her clan left the coast behind and rode through the glen. Since the autumn frosts, all the heather flowers were dull brown, much like her mood.
Last night with Brodie had been unbelievable, both the passion and his forgiveness. Not being able to bid him farewell shattered her. Was he safe?
He had not told her he loved her. And maybe he didn't. She must accept it, for she'd done her best to show him her true feelings. No one could force him to feel something he didn't. Now she must do all she could for the selkie women.
With the sea far behind them, the salt air vanished, replaced by damp earth, decaying moss, and dried plants.
Snow-frosted granite mountains jutted from the earth, lit by a golden glow.
Pausing, she turned, gazing back toward the west. The sunset blazed orange, rose and violet, speared through by the beaming fingers of God.
So beautiful. Where was Brodie? Was he fading from her reach like the sunset?