Awakening Her Soul to Destiny (22 page)

“
I’m glad to meet you, Bacchas. I’m Kaitla,” she cordially replied to the living statue. “Would you mind telling me why we’ve been surrounded?” She struggled to keep her voice calm, hoping to be able to reason with the massive man standing in front of her.

“
I mean ta keep ye here ‘til Laird Ravon arrives,” Bacchas grimly replied.

“
We’ll simply change to birds and fly out of here. Come, Kaitla!” Macvorn ordered alighting quickly from his saddle.

“
Fine with me, ---but I dare say ye canna carry yer fine horses with ye.” Bacchas drolly observed. “’Tis been quite awhile since I’ve tasted horsemeat, but as I recall, I liked it weel enough.”

“
I
will not
contribute to a horse barbecue, Macvorn!” Kaitla stated flatly, patting her nervous mount with reassurance. Enraged at the idea of the torment of her animal, Kaitla’s fear was quickly replaced with anger.

Unsheathing his dhundare with a flourish, Macvorn quickly responded, “Then we’ll destroy this traitor who chooses to serve the evil one.” Macvorn raised his hand to strike Bacchas to the ground, barely holding back the attack as Kaitla rode in front of him.

“
No! Wait!” Shouted Kaitla. She had been studying Bacchas closely, and sensed there was more to this situation then first appeared. Clambering down from her horse, she approached Bacchas cautiously, gazing into the gray depths of the stony eyes. “He’s suffering, Macvorn. He’s not serving Ravon willingly,” she quietly observed as she laid a gentle hand against the cold stony cheek. At her revelation, Bacchas’ gaze dropped to the ground as he raised a trembling hand to his head.

Stunned into silence, Macvorn carefully sheathed his blade, stepping protectively to Kaitla’s side. “How d’ye know, Kaitla?” he asked quietly, cocking his head with doubt at the huge living boulder before him.

Placing her hand on Bacchas’ great stony shoulder, she asked Macvorn, “Can’t you see his sorrow?” To Kaitla, Bacchas’ pain was clear…his entire being seemed to be crying out in torment.

Macvorn slowly shook his head as he studied the man before him. “I dinna have that gift,” he finally admitted reluctantly. All he saw in front of him was the defeated figure of the man, who just moments ago, had been threatening their own safety.

“
Why are you doing this?” Kaitla softly asked Bacchas as he wearily sat upon a nearby ledge of rock.

Without a word, Bacchas slowly raised his hand, pointing to the other side of the clearing. Gradually, two of the largest boulders shifted apart, revealing a young graceful oak tree. As Kaitla stared at the little tree, she began to make out the faint image of a child; arms raised as though begging to be picked up. The little upturned face was pitiful, eyes filled with fear and mouth open, forever frozen in a silent plea for help.

“
Your child?” Kaitla gently asked Bacchas, as she approached the little tree with curiosity.

“
Aye, m’lady, little Fina is naught but three years old,” Bacchas whispered as he and Macvorn joined Kaitla beside the imploring little oak. “Ravon said he willna’ free my wee bairn until he holds yer lifeless heart in the palm of his hand.”

“
Macvorn, there has to be a way that we can help her,” Kaitla urged, searching Macvorn’s face for hope. If only Etain were here, she would surely know what to do. Hesitantly, Kaitla gently stroked the trunk of the small tree. Detecting no change or improvement, she embraced the little tree, concentrating on the little child within. Little Fina was still trapped but Kaitla was positive she had felt her tiny heartbeat and heard the frail voice crying pitifully for her father. Frustrated with her unsuccessful attempts, Kaitla turned to Macvorn demanding, “Help me!” The thought of the frightened child trapped within the tree was unbearable. Kaitla had to find a way to free her.

Shrugging his shoulders in hopelessness, Macvorn shook his head in defeat, “Ravon’s curses are strong, Kaitla. There are only two ways to overcome another’s curse ---satisfy the curse’s request or find the curse’s weakness. I dinna want to provide Ravon with your heart and I dinna have a clue to the weakness. The child is lost,” Macvorn stated grimly, as he turned away from the tree.

“
There
must
be a way and I intend to find it!” Kaitla retorted, determined to save the child. She paced back and forth in front of the little tree, searching her memory for the tiniest scrap of information that might help. If only she’d been able to spend more time with Etain. There was so much she still didn’t know.

Bacchas watched Kaitla silently, afraid to even hope that she might be able to free his daughter. Macvorn shook his head sadly, seating himself on a nearby rock to wait for Kaitla to give up. She was going to have to learn that she couldn’t always save everybody. Sometimes it had to be enough just to save yourself.

As Kaitla paced back and forth, she wearily rubbed the side of her neck. A faint raised spot slightly behind one ear caught her attention and her fingers returned to investigate. Thoughtfully tracing the outline of the tiny oak leaf tattoo, a smile spread slowly across Kaitla’s face. Closing her eyes in concentration, she gently rubbed the tattoo, “Nissyen, I need your help. Please hear me!”

“
I’m here, Mistress Healer. Ye have need of me?” tiny Nissyen asked, as he hovered at Kaitla’s eye level. As he had promised when she first entered the realm, Nissyen had appeared immediately at Kaitla’s desperate call.

“
The child’s soul is trapped within this tree, Nissyen. Can you help free her?” Kaitla asked hopefully.

Nissyen quickly flitted over and around the tree, examining it from every angle. Rubbing his tiny chin with one hand, Nissyen eyed the little tree thoughtfully, “Aye, m’lady, I simply must lead the wee lass to the doorway. She’s but lost her way,” he replied simply, smiling as Kaitla nodded excitedly.

Nissyen disappeared in a silvery cloud. Soon the small oak began to tremble, the leaves rustling with the vibrations. Very faintly, they could all soon hear a small child’s laughter, overjoyed from at last being found. Gradually the laughter grew louder until suddenly, tiny Fina seemed to burst from the center of the tree, laughing to be caught up into the arms of her overjoyed father.

“
Da! The li’l bug hepped me out!” she gurgled with joy, shrieking with happiness as her father swung her in his arms.

“
Aye, lassie, I know…I know!” Bacchus laughed, tears streaming down his cold gray cheeks. Whirling her above him, Bacchus danced around the clearing with his daughter in his arms.

Nissyen soon reappeared on Kaitla’s shoulder; “I am NOT a bug!” he whispered sharply in her ear. Disgruntled, he soon forgot the unintended insult as he watched the joyful reunion of father and daughter that had been made possible by his own intervention.

“
No, Nissyen, you’re a miracle worker,” smiled Kaitla as she carefully kissed the tiny man on top of his head.

Blushing to the tips of his wings, Nissyen tucked his head, “Weel, the wee bairn didna’ belong trapped within the tree. ‘Tis not the proper place for a mountain child,” Nissyen grinned with pride as Kaitla wiped a tear of joy from her cheek.

Returning to Nissyen and Kaitla, Bacchas gently placed Fina back on her feet. “I canna thank ye enough and will forever be indebted to ye both.” He carefully knelt at Kaitla’s feet and bowed his head solemnly, “I swear to ye upon the head of my restored child that the mountains shall forever serve ye. If ye are to ever need sanctuary, we will shield ye until the winds of time have worn us away.” Extending a finger for Nissyen to stand upon, Bacchas continued with a smile as he said, “That includes any wee
bugs
! I am most grateful to ye both!”

As Bacchas pledged his loyalty, the surrounding rock walls quietly slid back to their resting-place beneath the ground. The path down the mountain was once again restored so the travelers could pass. Bacchas turned to Macvorn before leaving with Fina; “Ye would do well to learn from the Mistress Healer. Ye may pass through the mountains of this realm freely but ye shall have no protection.” Respectfully bowing once more to Kaitla, “Farewell, Mistress Healer. Keep safe.” Nodding with respect to Nissyen, “Farewell, Brave Nissyen.”

Lifting Fina to his shoulders, Bacchas turned and disappeared into the mountain wall as his daughter waived happily goodbye from her perch upon her father’s shoulder.

Nissyen eyed Macvorn with disfavor, silently wondering what had happened to Jared. Turning once more to Kaitla, he quickly bowed gallantly, “I must leave ye as well, m’lady. Call to me if ye should need me further.” Then without another word, he rapidly zipped away leaving a trail of silvery dust in his wake.

Mounting their horses wearily, Kaitla and Macvorn resumed their journey in uncomfortable silence. Unable to bear the tension any longer, Macvorn finally spoke in his own defense, “It’s not that I dinna wish to help the wee lass…I simply felt there was no way to intervene!”

“
You gave up too quickly,” Kaitla rebuked quietly. She had sensed a cold streak running through Macvorn and his lack of concern over Fina had only confirmed it. If he expected to become a true friend of hers, he would have to learn to be a little more selfless.

“
Perhaps you’re simply not stubborn enough, Macvorn,” Kaitla mused idly. “My own stubbornness doesn’t always serve me so well. So, I’m not so sure I’d classify it as an asset all the time. But today it worked and for that I’m thankful.”

“
It seems wee Nissyen may be right…perhaps I can learn from ye, Lass,” Macvorn noted quietly. “I shall do better in the future, Kaitla…I promise ye.” Lightly scanning his thoughts as he spoke, Kaitla was mildly surprised at his sincerity.

“
Just keep Etain’s words in mind,” Kaitla instructed seriously, “Things are not always what they seem.”

Chapter X

Jared and Hobart materialized in the middle of Jared’s private chambers within Cuchailard Keep. Sighing deeply as he looked around the room, Jared noticed it seemed much colder then it had before…but maybe that was just because Kaitla was no longer with him. Running his hands through his dark hair, he eyed Hobart sadly, “Well, auld man, we’re home,” he announced bleakly as his eyes roamed restlessly around the room.

“
Aye, Laddie, that we are,” Hobart agreed quietly. “I believe I’ll have a look about ta’ see that the place is in order.” He shuffled slowly to the door, his head downcast at his godson’s unhappiness.

“
Suit yourself, man, ye ken why we were sent here as well as I.” Jared sullenly walked to the window, staring through the glass with sightless eyes.

Hobart sighed, as he watched his godson pining at the window. He wished there were some way that he could make the Laird see what a good lad Jared was. Hobart had feared Laird Caymber would never grant permission for his daughter to marry a descendant of Ravon. He had hoped, though, the Laird might overlook the lineage when he saw how Kaitla felt toward Jared. There was no doubt in old Hobart’s mind that the two were destined to be together…there was just too much emotion and fire between the two for it to be any other way. But he realized these hopes were in vain when he learned of Jared’s orders to travel alone to Cuchailard Keep. “Perhaps ye’d best try an’ forget the lass,” he offered quietly to Jared’s bowed head. As Jared’s head snapped around to face him, he regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

Eyes narrowed to a deadly glare, Jared turned from the window. “Perhaps ye’d best check the Keep, auld man,” he snapped coldly in reply.

Head dropped in dismay; Hobart left the room, softly closing the door behind him. Hearing the latch click, Jared instantly felt guilty at the harsh tone he’d taken with Hobart. God knows it wasn’t the old man’s fault. But it wasn’t his fault either. He had no control over who his grandsire was, no more then he could control how much he loved Kaitla. When she arrived in a week’s time, surely the Laird would listen to them and allow their marriage.

“
But what if after a week with Macvorn, she no longer wants to wed ye?”
asked the tiny voice of uncertainty inside his heart
. “After all, ye did lie to her. D’ye think she’ll be able to ever forget that?”
Covering his ears and closing his eyes, Jared shook his head to still the thoughts.

“
Kaitla, ye’ve made me daft with the wantin’ of ye,” Jared softly moaned to himself, as he pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the window. A light tap at the door interrupted his internal struggle, “Enter,” Jared grudgingly called, turning from the cool comfort of the window. The door opened, slowly revealing a familiar and unexpected face.

“
Elsbet!” Jared’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in surprise. “What are ye doing here?!” he asked bluntly, causing Elsbet’s welcoming smile to slowly fade from her face.

Brows raised at Jared’s greeting, Elsbet shook her head with aggravation. “I dinna want to see ye here alone, Jared. Ye know how I feel for ye,” she murmured softly, as she sauntered across the room to place a hand to Jared’s cheek.

Gently removing her hand and taking a step back from her, Jared replied coldly, “And ye know where my heart lies.”

“
Aye, but ye canna blame me for tryin’,” she whispered. Smiling sadly, Elsbet dropped her hand to her side. “At least I can keep ye company until everyone arrives.”

Studying her intently, Jared asked, “How did ye come ta’ be here so quickly, Elsbet? Etain transported Hobart and m’self….it’s at least a hard three-day ride on a fast horse over land.” Scowling, Jared impatiently waited to hear her answer. Something about her presence here was just not right.