Awakening Her Soul to Destiny (26 page)

“
Lorrigan, wake up…Yer master needs company,” Ravon slurred drunkenly to the yawning black dog. Rising to a sitting position, the black beast stared at Ravon expectantly…afraid to lay back down for fear Ravon would beat him bloody. Ravon sat precariously on the edge of the chair, slowly weaving to and fro, his equilibrium long since destroyed by the massive amounts of wine he had consumed, attempting to escape his memories.

“
I shan’t allow the wee bitch to kill me before I’ve had revenge!” Ravon declared to the dark gaze of the panting dog. “If I canna destroy her…at least I can kill her father.” Frowning darkly into the flames, Ravon grabbed the dog by the ruff, pulling him close, “I’ll see to it that my traitorous mother rues the day she crossed me as well,” he spat into the dog’s face. The huge patient creature simply turned his head, waiting for his master to pass out from the wine. He’d learned long ago if he struggled against Ravon’s grasp; he would pay dearly for it in the end. To this day, he walked with a hitching gait; his back legs partially paralyzed from all the beatings Ravon had dealt him.

Eyes narrowing with sudden recollection, Ravon cruelly shook the dog until he whimpered in fear. “I suppose ye look forward to the day the lass murders me?” he sneered as he threw the dog back to the floor. Glaring at the mongrel with disgust, Ravon cruelly kicked at his ribcage as the dog tried to sidle under the table.

“
My death will break the spell, but just remember, Lorrigan…if I have my way about it, nothing ye held dear in yer natural form will exist or remember ye when ye return.” Wheezing with laughter, Ravon staggered out of the room, the echo of his demonic laughter trailing down the hallway behind him.

Once he was positive Ravon was gone, Lorrigan crawled painfully out from his refuge beneath the table. Limping over to the window, he managed to prop his front paws upon the ledge gazing with longing outside. Even though the storm was raging, the driving rain blinding as it slashed across the window, Lorrigan would give anything to be free of the castle of Clan Rheged.

Remembering Ravon’s words, Lorrigan slowly limped back to the hearth, to warm his battered bones by the fire. As he drifted off to sleep, he sent up a silent plea that the Mistress Healer would hurry and release the entire realm from Ravon’s grasp. Only then, would he have the opportunity to gaze into the eyes of his beloved son, and embrace Jared once more to his heart.

~*~

Etain and Laird Caymber arrived at Cuchailard Keep just as the worst of the storm hit. Two spindly stable lads darted through the blowing leaves and driving rain to lead the nervous horses to shelter. Clutching each other for support against the fierce wind, Caymber and Etain ducked their heads as they hurried inside the Keep. Hobart and Mistress Frann waited just inside the doorway, weary faces etched with worry.

“
Where is Jared?” Etain asked Hobart as Laird Caymber forced the heavy oak door shut against the raging storm.

Swallowing hard and shuffling his feet nervously, Hobart glanced up at Laird Caymber as he replied, “The lad has gone in search of Kaitla.”

Interrupting Hobart’s immediate confession, Mistress Frann clapped her hands and two servant girls appeared as if by magic, “Take the Laird’s cloak and Etain’s wrap. One of ye run to the pantry and fetch some tea as well,” she ordered briskly. “My Laird, ye must surely wish ta’ rest before dealing with matters of the Keep,” she vainly said, hoping to head off Laird Caymber’s inevitable tirade.

“
Jared’s orders were to remain at the Keep until we arrived,” Laird Caymber interrupted, his voice rising with his temper. He was well aware of Mistress Frann’s tactics and he was in no mood to listen to it.

Attempting to herd Etain and Caymber into the sitting room, Mistress Frann quickly countered, “Come and sit, my Laird. Ye both must be weary from the long trip.” She shot Hobart a fierce look from behind the Laird’s back while she was at it. The fool didn’t have to blurt out everything he knew as soon as they walked in the door!

Wilting under Frann’s gaze, Hobart sidled back towards the entryway, “I believe I’ll have a look ta’ the horses. They’ll be needing to be rubbed down well after traveling so far in the storm.”

Reluctantly allowing Frann to herd him into a chair, Laird Caymber pointed a finger at the retreating Hobart, “Get in here and sit!” he bellowed. “The stable boys will tend ta’ the horses. I want to know what’s going on and I want to know now!” He glared at the white faced Hobart and waited impatiently for an explanation.

Ignoring the battle within the room, Etain perched nervously on the window seat, eyeing the growing storm outside with concern. The window faced the mountains Macvorn and Kaitla would be crossing. From the look of the sky, that’s where the storm seemed to be originating. An oppressive feeling hung in the air like a damp blanket, Etain was positive this storm was Kaitla’s raging emotions.

Shrugging her shoulders in defeat, Mistress Frann motioned for the nervous Hobart to join her on the settee facing Laird Caymber. Glancing at Etain with uncertainty, Mistress Frann took a deep breath, and plunged in head first, “Jared is aware of the marriage contract ye have negotiated ta’ join Macvorn and Kaitla.”

Eyes narrowing with a wry look at Etain, Laird Caymber merely nodded for Mistress Frann to continue. He should’ve guessed Etain would warn the boy, she’d always had a soft spot where he was concerned.

Wringing her pudgy hands nervously in the apron in her lap, Mistress Frann decided to just be out with it, “Jared loves Kaitla and means ta’ wed her…marriage contract or no. We’re not sure, but Hobart and I think he’s gone in search of the lass. He left early this mornin’, a tearin’ out o’here somethin’ fierce. He probably was afraid for the lass ta’ be caught out in such a storm.”

Rising from the window seat, Etain shook her head sadly, “No. The lad knows this storm is Kaitla’s emotions. She willna’ be harmed by it. I dinna ken what has happened but the lass is in a terrible rage.” She watched the lightening explode to the ground, the land shaking with the ferocity of the impact.

Frowning as he wearily stroked his beard, Laird Caymber turned to peer out the window. “Ye must find out what’s happened Etain. If my Kaitla is this upset, I fear what may have come to pass.”

Nodding in submission to her Laird, Etain spoke quickly to Mistress Frann, “Frannie have one of your maids fetch my reflecting glass.” Turning to Laird Caymber, Etain gently admonished, “The lass may have learned of the marriage contract, my Laird.” Peering at him intently with her disturbing gaze, she continued, “I tried ta’ warn ye of her temper, Caymber…the lass is more like ye then ye realize.”

Pacing to the window, hands behind his back, Laird Caymber watched the furious storm. Lightening seemed to be pouring from the mountainside, the land shaking with each ear-splitting crash of thunder. “How could she be so powerful?” he whispered in amazement to himself. Turning uneasily to Etain, he was interrupted by the entrance of the maidservant bearing Etain’s reflecting glass.

Etain balanced the large ebony disk on the table in front of her. She gently stroked the cool smooth surface with the palm of her hand until the disk grew warm. Warmed by the friction of her touch, the disk slowly revealed a vision of Kaitla within a cave. As Etain watched closely, the vision cleared enough for her to make out the scene within the fire. As the vision of Kaitla grew more agitated, the stone disk began to vibrate. As the disk revealed Kaitla standing outside the cave vowing to destroy Ravon, the reflecting glass shattered into pieces, scattering all over the room.

Jumping back from the table with amazement, Etain slowly bent to retrieve the largest pieces of the stone disk from the floor. “Never have I seen such anger, Laird Caymber,” she whispered as she turned to face the astonished Laird. “I hope the realm can survive her rage.”

“
She’s gone to destroy Ravon,” Laird Caymber murmured under his breath. “Etain, is she truly powerful enough to do it alone?” He feared for his daughter, yet he was awestruck by the powers of his child. Never in all his years had he seen such powers in one person, not even the Auld Ones were so blessed…yet, that’s what the prophecy had foretold.

Etain solemnly turned to Caymber, “Kaitla has the power to destroy Ravon…I only fear her inexperience will endanger her.” Mouth set in a grim line of determination; Etain motioned for the maidservant to bring her cloak. “I must go to her, Caymber. I must find a way ta’ help the lass.”

Heading for the door, Laird Caymber nodded to Mistress Frann, “We go to help the lass, Frannie. Mind the Keep as ye always do.”

Hands on her wide hips, Mistress Frann watched as Laird Caymber and Etain slowly faded and disappeared. Shaking her head with aggravation, Frann turned to Hobart shaking a plump finger in his face, “Mind the Keep! Mind the Keep! They leave me here ta’ worry m’self to a frazzle with only the words…Mind the Keep!” Still grumbling to herself, Mistress Frann ambled down the hall toward the kitchen; Hobart silently trailing behind.

Chapter XII

Soaked to the skin from the driving rain, Jared urged his horse forward through the stinging wind. Vainly attempting to wipe the water from his eyes, Jared finally gave up and merely ducked his head to the flood. He’d been riding for hours, pushing his mount to the limits through the thunder and lightening. As soon as the sky began to darken with the oncoming storm, Jared’s heart had filled with dread. Somehow, Kaitla knew…she had found out about his night with Elsbet. Only it wasn’t Elsbet at all, it had been Ravon entrapping him. He still didn’t understand why. But he did understand that it would be used to drive Kaitla away from him, it didn’t matter who was using it against him. He had to find her and convince her it was all an evil trick.

He eyed the surrounding landscape with uncertainty. The wind roared in his ears as the pounding rain blinded him. The salty taste of his lips attested to the tears mixed with the rain upon his cheeks. Detecting a slight movement up ahead, Jared directed his horse toward the brief flash of color appearing with the next display of lightening. Finally drawing near enough to recognize the cloaked figure, Jared’s heart fell as he rode alongside Macvorn.

Grabbing the cloaked Macvorn by the shoulder, Jared shouted to make himself heard over the wailing storm, “Where’s Kaitla?”

The hazel green eyes leered from beneath the hood, “Grown tired of Elsbet so soon, Jared?” Macvorn sneered over the roaring wind.

Barely resisting the urge to yank him from his saddle, Jared shook Macvorn and repeated his original question through clenched teeth, “Where…is…Kaitla!”

Pushing back the hood to glare malevolently at Jared, Macvorn reigned his mount to a stand still. “I have no idea. When the lass saw ye with yer lover, she ran into the woods and I havena’ been able ta’ find her since.”

Jared’s face grew pale as he slowly released Macvorn’s shoulder. Hand dropping to his side, he hoarsely shouted once more, “How did she find out, Macvorn?”

Eyeing Jared’s weary face with disdain, Macvorn slowly dismounted from his horse. Motioning for Jared to follow him, he plowed through the slashing rain to finally crawl beneath a stony overhang sheltered from the wind. Wiping the water from his face, he crouched beneath the ledge, warming a large stone with his hands. Jared crouched beside him, imploring once more, “Tell me how she found out.”

“
She saw ye in the flames,” Macvorn replied, rocking back on his heels to sit on the damp ground. Beneath the ledge, they escaped the rain but the dampness still hung in the air thick as a curtain.

Closing his eyes and swallowing hard, Jared’s face reflected such torment that Macvorn felt a fleeting stab of remorse. Pushing his conscience aside, Macvorn reminded himself of just what was at stake by thinking of Kaitla and all that a relationship with her entailed. Positive now that he loved her, Macvorn was determined that nothing would keep him away from joining with Kaitla.

“
I must find her,” Jared lamented. “I must convince her of the truth.” He stared bleakly out into the woods; the rain soaked trees standing as blackened sentries.

“
She is to be m’wife, Jared,” Macvorn stated coldly, “I’ll thank ye ta’ stay away from her.” He had envisioned Etain and Laird Caymber at the signing of the contract. As he witnessed Caymber sign the bottom of the parchment, he’d felt jubilant at the prospects almost within his grasp.

Glaring through his rain soaked hair, Jared whispered barely loud enough for Macvorn to hear, “I’ll stay away from my Kaitla when
she
bids me to…not you.” Abandoning the shelter of the ledge, Jared mounted his horse. Looking back at Macvorn, he shouted through the wind, “Ye shan’t have her, Macvorn...Never.”

Returning to his own horse, Macvorn quickly settled himself in the saddle, “We’ll see, Jared. The lass has seen ye in the arms of another...what other proof does she need ta’ know ye canna love her alone?” Spurring his horse to a gallop, Macvorn disappeared out of the woods heading across the soggy meadow. Urging his own mount forward, Jared doggedly followed Macvorn. Peering through the driving rain, he soon realized they were heading directly for the border of Ravon’s lands.

Finally pulling his mount up alongside Macvorn, Jared glanced at the expressionless face, attempting to read Macvorn’s mind. Concentrating, all Jared could glean was a cold feeling of disdain and vague jealousy. Macvorn was totally unreadable to him. His face now reflecting a smug look of superiority, Macvorn laughed, “Did ye actually think ye were powerful enough ta’ read me, Jared?”