Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander (21 page)

Chapter 27

Katie slept entwined her lover’s
arms. All too soon, Ian woke her and urged her back into her clothes.

“Must we go?” Katie asked.

He kissed her. “’Tis time.”

“Aye, so,” she agreed. “I am
ashamed I put our mission aside to revel in your touch.”

“A renewal we both needed.”

“Our union gave me joy and hope
for the future. You brought me more fully into womanhood,” she admitted. “I am
whole now and better able to fight for my family and our lands.”

“As it should be, sweet Katie.”
Ian smiled.

Darkness surrounded them as they
left the cave. She could barely see the narrow, winding trail that wound its
way ever upward through a thick stand of towering trees. Katie drank in the
fresh smell of pine as the path took them into the woods above the falls. They
rode in silence through miles of shadowy forest. The sound of the cascading
water grew faint as they pressed on. Despite their serious mission, she found
herself reliving every moment of their time together in the cave. Each
scorching touch flew through her mind. More than ever, she knew she belonged
with Ian. Eventually they came into a clearing. Far off in the Eastern sky she
saw the first faint rays of the sun cresting the horizon.

Ian indicated a road leading
across the top of the mountain. “This way,” he said. Their horses walked side
by side on the wider trail through the tall pines. “We will reach Dunbocan
Castle soon,” Ian told her. “Are you ready to meet my sister and your soon-to-be
kinsmen?”

“I dinna ken,” she answered
honestly. “They have every reason to hate me for the pain I have caused you and
the Innes Clan.”

“They will love you as I do.”

In spite of Ian’s reassurance,
she doubted the remaining Innes warriors would welcome her into their midst.
Moreover, what of Lady Asilinn Innes MacLean, Ian’s sister, the purported
enchantress of the MacLean and Innes clans? Not to mention Asilinn’s husband,
the Dragon of Dunbocan. How could any of them accept her?

“Katie? Are you still with me?”
Ian queried through the breaking dawn.

“Aye, ‘tis just that I still have
doubts how welcome I will be in their midst. Who will be there?”

“Most of the family stayed on for
a visit after the gathering of clans. I left early because of the skirmishes
breaking out between our clan and the Blackburns. At the time, I didna ken your
father was not at the root of it.”

“Skye will be there?”

“Aye, she came with Gabriel. It
is the first time she has left the twins since their birth. She may give you a
hard time. Skye is very protective of me.” Ian laughed. “The twins have not
succeeded in changing her temperament. She is her usual spirited self.”

“She is Laird Jared MacLean’s
sister, is she not?”

“Aye.”

“Your father mentioned her. What
special interest does she have in who you marry?”

“I asked for her hand a few years
back, but she had the good sense to turn me down.”

Katie’s pulse quickened. “You
love her?”

“Aye, but not in the way you
think.” He exhaled sharply. “Skye and I became fast friends in the year Jared
stole Asilinn from my father and forced her to marry him. We are kindred
spirits, both prone to mischief and mayhem. Over the years that bond
strengthened.”

“So she was your first choice as
a wife.”

“I offered her marriage because
of a little adventure she got into. She couldna remember how, but it was clear
she had been with a man and thought she might have conceived his child. I
suggested we marry so that she would not have the shame of bearing a bastard.”

“And she wouldna accept your
proposal?”

“She had a sense it wouldna be
fair to either of us. We were friends that were never destined to be lovers.
‘Twas all for the best. Her husband showed up and she finally remembered her
marriage. It would have been a bit interesting if she had married me.”

“Remembered her marriage? How
does one forget a husband?” Katie asked.

“Perchance I will tell you the
tale later.”

“The whole bunch sound a bit
daft.”

“Who? Asilinn the Enchantress,
Jared the Dragon, and Skye the Forgetful?”

“These are your names for them?”

“You will love them all and they
you,” Ian told her. “After all, you are a bit daft yourself. You captured me,
held me captive in a dungeon, and then allowed me all kinds of liberties with
your beautiful body. You will fit right in.”

“I dinna find that comforting.”

He laughed. “You will.”

“And what of Liam MacLean and his
murderous bride?”

“So you also heard the rumors
about Devon Dunsmore Forbes and her first husband. That is the darkest tale of
all, but one with an equally happy ending. Liam saved her and she saved him
right back, yet another family love story… just as ours will be.”

They finally broke from the thick
woodland trail into the open. The sun’s rays flooded across the high ridge. Ian
led her closer to the precipice. Katie looked down and gasped. Dunbocan Castle
seemed to float above a crystal lake like a ghost fortress. An early morning
fog bank hung over the loch making the whole place ethereal. The blue-gray
stone rose out of an island in the mist. Tall towers hovered over and reflected
off the still waters. It was as if the lake were a looking glass.

“This is Dunbocan Castle?”

“Aye, a fitting place for a
dragon and an enchantress, don’t you think.”

This time Katie laughed. “I do. I
canna wait to meet them all.”

Ian leaned across and kissed her
tenderly. “They will love you and you will love them. I promise.” He grinned.
“Ready? Let us go and join those who gather to save your father and his lands.”

As they rode closer to the
castle, Katie could see the whole place waking up. In the distance peasants
moved in and out of the massive drawbridge, carting their wares to the market
set up just inside the walls. Sheep bleated as their owners herded them along.
They passed a cart and Katie got a whiff of new mown hay. Word spread quickly
when Ian and Katie approached. Their horses’ hooves clattered on the heavy,
wooden drawbridge that led into the castle grounds. The guards waved at Ian as
they entered the massive stone-walled fortress.

When Ian and Katie reached the
market, a crowd gathered around them calling out greetings. Some wore dirty,
dusty clothes while those of higher station looked neat and clean. No matter
their lot in life, Katie drew their interest. The attention unnerved her, but
she gave no hint to the gathering throng. Instead she pulled herself up
straighter and nodded demurely to the people they passed.

Ian pushed his way into the
throng and halted holding up his hand. “Greetings,” he said. “This is my
betrothed Lady Katie Blackburn, daughter of Laird Brian Blackburn, master of
Duntaigh Castle. Please welcome her into our midst.”

Dutifully the peasants offered
good wishes, slowly dispersing as Ian led Katie past them. A raised portcullis
hung over the second gate to the innermost part of the castle. Troops filled
the whole inner courtyard. Fierce-looking, Scottish warriors watched them enter
their midst. They smiled and called out greetings. Katie saw the plaids of many
clans: Innes, MacLean, Stuart, and Ravenwood among them.

“Defenders of the Highlands,
I give you my betrothed Lady Katie Blackburn, daughter of Laird Brian
Blackburn, master of Duntaigh Castle.”

“About time you took a wife,” a
tall, red-haired warrior commented. “No surprise she is such a beauty.” A roar
of laughter rumbled up from the gathering. “Lady Katie Blackburn, welcome to
Dunbocan. I am Ross MacLean and I am pledged to give my full service to free
your family from the hold of Rowan Rannoch.” He grinned and gestured to the
gathered warriors. “All of us are. We respect your father and wish to help him
regain his rightful place.” The others cried out their support.

“Thank you,” Katie managed,
fighting back tears of gratitude.

“And should you find that Ian
isna to your liking, I would be glad to take his place as your betrothed,” Ross
added, ducking quickly to avoid Ian.

“Behave,” Ian reprimanded. “No
man will take her from me.”

Katie grinned. “Ross, I
appreciate your offer,” she said, “but I do find I am pleased with my
betrothed.”

They all laughed as Ian took her
to the huge, oak door of the manse and stopped. Katie gazed at the entrance.
The Dragon of Dunbocan must take his name seriously. An intricately carved
dragon covered most of the face of the door. A large, round, wrought iron ring
hung from its mouth. Ian smiled when he saw where her eyes wandered.

“Impressive, is it not?” He
dismounted and came over beside her horse. “Allow me,” he said, helping her
down by letting her slide hard against him. With this move, it seemed he
asserted his ownership of her body. She felt no affront at his gesture. It
warmed her heart to belong to him.

They entered a cavernous chamber.
Along one wall, shelves held row after row of swords, spears, maces, shields,
and armor. A large, stone fireplace blazed at one end of the chamber taking the
chill off the air. Ten or twelve men gathered at a large table near the hearth
drinking ale. They greeted Ian then stood and bowed to Katie. “A fine choice
for a bride,” one said.

“Thank you, Milord,” Katie said.

Ian grabbed Katie’s hand and led
her up a winding staircase to the main reception hall. As they walked in, a
young servant girl ran to offer Katie a plate of bread in salt.

“Welcome to Dunbocan Castle,
Lady Blackburn,” the girl said, holding forth the traditional offering to
newcomers.

Katie picked up a piece of the
coarse, stone-ground bread and dipped it in the salt, tasting the morsel.
“Thank you,” she murmured.

Another servant arrived with mead
as Ian guided Katie into the main reception hall. Taking up the goblet, Katie
drank a hefty draught of the heady, honey-sweetened wine and felt it burn down
through her. Maybe the fiery liquid would give her strength for what lay ahead.

The chamber they were in rose two
stories high, maybe three. It appeared to be as grand as her father’s castle. A
balcony ran around the room allowing observation from the upper level.
Tapestries featuring scenes of battles and lairds hunting decorated the walls.
High above the balcony hung a series of portraits.

Seeing where her gaze wandered,
Ian smiled. “Jared’s father was patron to several artists.”

“They were very skilled,”
Katie commented, continuing her survey of the hall.

A heavy, walnut chair sat on a
raised platform at one end of the chamber. The intricate carvings on the back
of the chair caught Katie’s attention. It depicted a muscular warrior slaying a
dragon without benefit of armor. Rather fitting for the Dragon of Dunbocan, she
thought. Did he breathe fire as well?

A second more delicate chair sat
to one side. Was that where Lady Asilinn the enchantress sat when her husband
held court?

Just then, a slim woman with
waist-length, golden blonde hair rushed into the room. The woman hugged Ian.
“You live,” she gasped. “Jared should have sent you here with father.”

Ian smiled at his sister. “I had
other more pressing matters to attend to, Asilinn. How is father doing?”

“He will live, but we wilna be
the man he was.”

“How so?”

“The blade pushed deep into his
chest. It pierced his lung. With any exertion, he has trouble getting his
breath. He must learn to live with this infirmity. If it were not for Erland,
he would be dead.”

“I will go to him.”

“Not now, he just fell off to
sleep. Meet with him after he has rested.”

Ian nodded. “Aye, so, and now I
am remiss. May I present Lady Katie Blackburn, soon to be my bride.”

The Enchantress of Dunbocan
turned. Her sapphire eyes were the same shade as her form fitting velvet gown.
The gold braid trimming on the dress made her hair glow even more blonde in the
firelight. She inspected Katie with interest. Katie felt as if this woman’s
power reached through the air and surrounded her. Sort of like Sorcha’s mystic
presence, except it felt warm and loving, instead of dark and dangerous. Ian
bore a striking resemblance to his sister. They both had tawny golden hair and
bright blue eyes.

Asilinn’s face flushed. “I can
see why you found her so irresistible,” she said. Asilinn hugged Katie.
“Welcome,” she said. Stepping back, she eyed her brother. “I see the wedding
should occur forthwith.”

“What?” Ian looked at his sister.
“How….”

“How can you of all people ask?
When I touched Katie, I had a brief vision of you entwined as lovers. Would you
tell me I am wrong?”

Ian shook his head and ran his
hand through his hair. “Is nothing a secret from my meddling sister?”

Asilinn smiled. “You love her.
She loves you. This will be a grand celebration.”