The Laird of Stonehaven (21 page)

“Aye,” Heath acknowledged. “ ’Tis said the king’s treasury is depleted, and that he hasna paid the ransom England demanded for his freedom. Not even the heavy taxes he has levied are enough to fill his empty coffers and repay his debt.”

He scratched his head. “Even if Blair were a witch, I dinna ken how she could make MacKay rich. The man is a fool. Niall has filled his head with lies about Blair and what she is capable of.”

When they reached the front gates of MacKay’s stronghold, Graeme gave his name and asked permission to enter. A message was carried to MacKay. A short time later he appeared at the gate, his chest puffed up like a peacock.

“Ha!” MacKay snorted. “I knew ye would change yer mind. I will be happy to take the witch off yer hands.” He searched the ranks of Graeme’s men and frowned. “Where is she? Did ye nae bring the lass with ye?”

Graeme’s hands fisted at his sides. “I have no intention of parting with Blair. I am here on business of another sort. Are you afraid to let me inside the gate?”

MacKay’s heavy features hardened. “I fear no mon, Campbell or otherwise.” He motioned for the gatekeeper to crank open the gate and stood aside as Graeme and his party rode through. They reached the keep, dismounted and followed MacKay inside.

The ale MacKay served was sour and not at all to Graeme’s liking, and after one sip he pushed it aside.

“State yer business, Campbell,” MacKay said. “I am a busy mon.”

“The five men you sent to abduct Blair are dead,” Graeme said without preamble.

MacKay’s expression became guarded. “I dinna ken what ye’re talking about.”

“Save your denial for someone who will believe it.”

“What makes ye think the men were MacKays? Did they wear MacKay plaids?”

“Nay. I was told by one of your kinsmen that five men left the village and failed to return.”

“That proves naught,” MacKay scoffed. “Five men left the village. So what? It happens all the time. If that’s all ye’ve come to say, I bid ye farewell.”

Graeme rose, his face set in harsh lines. “Heed me well, MacKay. Dinna try anything like that again or I will retaliate.”

“Ye wouldna be so smug if ye knew the king’s plan for those like ye who supported the Duke of Albany and his son Murdoc during his captivity. James intends to vanquish all those who sought to seize control of Scotland while he was held hostage in England. Albany met his just end, but Murdoc still conspires against James, and the Highland lairds are lending their support. But the traitors will be punished.”

Graeme went still. What was MacKay talking about? “My father was cleared of conspiracy charges long ago, thanks in part to Douglas MacArthur. As for myself, I have no interest in politics. I care only for my clansmen and their well-being. Good day to you, MacKay.”

MacKay’s words did not sit easy with Graeme. His vague warning held elements of truth that could bring trouble to Clan Campbell. Should he believe MacKay? It wasn’t implausible that the king would seek revenge on those who’d tried to seize the throne while he had been held captive in England. And many of the Highland lairds
did
support Albany and his family.

Graeme didn’t have time to worry about the king. He meant what he had said. He wasn’t political. As long as James proved a good king, he had no intention of conspiring against him.

Blair was pleased she’d been able to convince Aiden to send six men with her and Alyce while they gathered herbs in the forest. The herbs were at their peak and just right for picking.

Blair found a treasure trove of puffballs, an edible fungus that helped bloody wounds clot because of the tiny spores it contained. She also found lichen, which was used for stanching wounds, dill weed, parsley and other herbs.

When they returned to the keep, Blair was surprised to find that Graeme was back and in a rage. He awaited her in the solar. She handed her basket to Alyce and hurried up to the solar to learn the cause of her husband’s anger.

“I thought I told you to remain close to the keep!” he shouted the moment she walked through the door. “When will you learn to listen to me?”

Blair stifled a smile at the realization that Graeme cared about her so much. “I was in no danger, Graeme. Six armed men accompanied Alyce and me. We didna linger overlong.”

He caressed her cheek, then hastily pulled his hand away, as if embarrassed by his concern. “Nevertheless, I shall leave orders that you are not to stray far from the keep when I am not here.”

“Verra well. I dinna want you to worry about me. What happened with MacKay? Did you see him?”

“Aye, and after our conversation, I trust him even less than I did before. The men who attacked you were his clansmen, though MacKay denied it.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I stopped at the village grog shop and spoke with a barmaid. She told me that five men had disappeared from the village.”

One delicate brow arched upward. “Barmaid? You spoke with a woman?”

“Aye. She was most helpful.”

“Humph! I suspect she was.”

One corner of Graeme’s mouth tilted upward. “Jealous, lass?”

“Not in the least. I am glad she proved helpful.”

“We will speak further about your jealousy tonight.” Then he nodded and took his leave.

Blair sank onto a bench and tried to explain the jolt of anger that had shot through her when she learned that Graeme had obtained information from a woman. Had he used his charm to gain the information he sought? What else had the woman given him?

“God’s holy blood! What is wrong with me?” she said impatiently.

“Blair . . . Heed me . . .”

Blair went still, her gaze searching the empty chamber. A breeze fluttered the drapery at the window and lifted the hem of her skirt. She felt it brush against her cheek, a coolness both startling and comforting. Blair knew immediately the spirits were trying to communicate with her. Her brow furrowed in concentration.

“What is it?” she whispered. “What are you trying to tell me?”

The words came to her on the sigh of the wind. “Beware . . . Danger stalks him . . .”

“Graeme? Graeme is in danger?”

The voice grew agitated. “If you let him leave, he will not return. Death awaits him at his destination.”

A chill settled in Blair’s heart. “What can I do?”

A strong gust of wind blew through the chamber, knocking over small objects and stirring the heavy bed hangings.

“You know what you must do,” the voice said. “You have the power to keep the one you love safe.”

“I canna love Graeme, you know that.”

“Heed me well,” the voice continued. “The man you love is in grave danger.” The voice began to fade, the parting words barely discernible.

The spirit was gone, but the chilling message still echoed in her head. Blair shivered, cold to her very marrow. Something unexpected and potentially disastrous was going to happen to Graeme if she didn’t prevent it.

She closed her eyes, striving to bring the spirit back. As she did so, a vision formed behind her lids. She saw Graeme, his lifeless body covered with blood and missing his head. She screamed and screamed, then dropped to the floor in a faint. When Alyce found and revived her a short time later, she refused to reveal the terrifying vision.

The next day Graeme received a missive from the king. All the Highland lairds were ordered to attend James at Inverness. The meeting was to take place the first day of the following month at the Court of Sessions James had instigated after he had been released from captivity.

When Blair heard about the message, she knew what her vision had meant. Somehow she had to prevent Graeme from leaving Stonehaven. His very life depended upon it.

“Must you go?” Blair asked.

“Aye. You know I canna ignore a summons from the king.”

“Dinna go, Graeme,” she pleaded, desperate to make him understand. “I have a bad feeling about this. I see danger awaiting you at Inverness.”

“Dabbling in magic again, are you?” he asked, fixing her with a censuring glare. “Dinna do this, lass. You know I must go.”

“Please, Graeme, dinna make light of my fears. You mustna leave Stonehaven.”

His fingers curled around her narrow shoulders. “Stop it, lass. Naught you say will keep me from obeying the king. Your fears have no basis. Trust me to take care of myself. We will discuss this later, after I consult with Heath. Accommodations will be scarce with such a large gathering converging on the city. Perhaps I shall send Heath ahead to secure rooms for us.”

“Please, Graeme, dinna go.”

“There is naught more to discuss, sweeting. Go to bed, I will join you after I speak with Heath.”

Closing her eyes, Blair made a solemn vow. She would save Graeme’s life, even if he hated her for it afterward.

Graeme began preparations for his journey to Inverness immediately, though he wouldn’t leave for several days yet. Heath had already been sent ahead to secure accommodations. Graeme planned to take only three men, leaving the rest behind to protect Stonehaven. He had no idea why the king had called a meeting of Highland lairds but was looking forward to meeting clansmen and allies he hadn’t seen in a long time.

One day when Graeme went below to check his weapons, he paused before the chamber that now served Blair as a stillroom. He was puzzled by her insistence that he not go to Inverness and wanted to discuss her strange behavior.

A smile curved his lips. He never tired of making love to Blair. He hated leaving her behind while he went to Inverness, but it could not be helped. Right now, however, he needed to know why Blair was so adamantly opposed to his leaving.

He pushed open the door and peered inside. Blair was seated at a bench, bending over a table piled high with . . . puffballs, of all things. He cleared his throat.

Blair looked up and smiled. Graeme had never seen a smile light up a room the way hers did. The first time he’d seen her he thought she looked like an angel, and his opinion had not changed.

“We need to talk,” Graeme began.

“Aye,” Blair agreed eagerly. “Have you decided not to go to Inverness?”

“Nay, I must go. Tell me why you think I should stay home. Your fear makes no sense.”

Blair dragged in a calming breath and said, “You know I sometimes hear and see things. What I heard and saw was . . .” She shook her head. “I canna speak of it. Suffice it to say the warning I received was terrifying. You mustna leave Stonehaven.”

“Where did the warning come from? I dinna believe in spirits, Blair. Tell me something I can believe.”

Blair shook her head. “How can I save you if you dinna heed me?”

“You dinna need to save me, sweeting. I am in no danger. What harm can come to me in the company of my king, my allies and my friends?”

“I dinna know. If I did, I would tell you. I’ve learned to heed my visions. Please, Graeme, if you care for me at all, dinna go to Inverness.”

“Thus far I have heard naught to change my mind.”

“My vision . . . The spirits . . .”

He made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Voices and spirits. Say no more, lass.” He had already seen one woman die for her belief in such things. He turned to leave.

As he went through the door, his aura changed from a pleasing blue to blood red. A startled cry left her lips and tears welled in her eyes. She couldn’t let him die. With sinking heart she realized that nothing she said would change Graeme’s mind. Her vision could not be proved and therefore was to be ignored. The time had come to use her powers to save Graeme’s life.

Alyce pushed the door open and peered inside. “There ye be, lass. Do ye need help?”

“Shut the door and latch it,” Blair said. “I am going to do something that Graeme has forbidden.”

“What is it, lass? Ye look frightened. Does it have anything to do with yer fainting dead away yesterday?”

“Aye. The spirits sent me a warning. Graeme is in grave danger. He mustna go to Inverness, but he refuses to listen to me when I repeat the warning.”

“What will ye do?”

“Did you replace the candles that were lost in the fire?”

“Aye.”

“Get them while I gather the herbs I need.”

“Are ye going to summon the spirits?”

“Aye. The candles, Alyce.”

Alyce retrieved candles from a cupboard and placed them in a circle. Blair stepped inside the circle and sprinkled dried herbs around her feet. Alyce lit the candles and melted back into the shadows to watch and wait.

Blair flung her arms wide and began to chant a silent entreaty. The candle flames flickered and elongated, taking on rainbow hues. Blair’s face was pale and her lips were drained of all color as she turned in a circle, lifted her arms high and called upon the spirits of nature to attend her.

“Spirits of nature, heed me.
Earth, moon, sun and sea,
Send torrents of rain from the sky.
Make the loch run high.”

A sudden flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a thunderous roar. Dark clouds blotted out the sun, and the wind rose to howling intensity. The warm spring day that had begun with such promise turned dark and ominous. Wind rushed through the window, snuffing out the candles. Then it began to rain, fierce, pounding rain that hammered the earth. Blair lowered her arms and sank to the floor, utterly spent.

“Lass, are ye all right?”

“Aye. Help me to a bench. I need a moment to rest.”

“What did ye hope to gain by making it rain?”

“If Loch Torridon floods and washes out the bridges, Graeme canna get to Inverness in time for the meeting.”

Alyce helped Blair to her feet and guided her to a bench. “Are ye sure the laird is in danger?”

“Aye, verra, verra sure.”

“I dinna want to be in yer shoes when yer husband finds out what ye did.”

Dread shivered down Blair’s spine. “I did what I had to do to save Graeme’s life.”

Blair suddenly became aware that someone was pounding on the door.

“Blair! Why is the door locked? Let me in.”

Alyce looked at Blair, then hurried over to unlock the door. Graeme burst inside as Alyce hurriedly gathered up the candles.

“What in God’s name is going on in here?” His harsh words echoed through the chamber and bounced off the walls.