True Love Brides 02 - The Highlander’s Curse (37 page)

His thoughts settled into a clarity of purpose that did not bode well for Annelise.

Lightning cracked overhead, the resonant boom revealing that it struck the land nearby.

But Annelise smiled at Garrett, confident in a way he was not. “His intent is clear, but only because he does not know all of the truth. Garrett, you must tell Orson what you can do.”

“What you can do?” Orson demanded. “What does she mean?”

Annelise was right, although Garrett would have preferred to not ever use this skill.

Garrett walked toward the knight with measured steps, his own heart in his throat. Had Mhairi been right about this, too?

Orson would have stepped back but his back was against the wall. He leapt up to the top of the parapet, taking Annelise with him. Garrett heard the stone crumble beneath his heel. “No closer!” Orson said. “Or I will cast her to her death. Stand there and tell me what she means.”

“She refers to my curse, which she believes to be a gift.”

“What can be both gift and curse?” Orson demanded wildly.

“You have only to ask,” Garrett replied.

“What can you do?” Orson shouted with impatience. “Tell me: what can you do?”

Annelise pulled herself away from Orson with a jerk and jammed her fingers into her ears. His knife grazed her throat but Garrett spoke quickly.

“I can hear the thoughts of mortals, both men and beasts,” he confessed. He had never done this before, and his heart raced at his audacity.

Orson stiffened.

As Garrett watched, Orson’s skin turned grey. A large rock took his place behind Annelise, one perched on the stone lip. The stones crumbled beneath its weight, and Garrett heard Annelise’s fear as the parapet shifted beneath her feet.

Garrett leaped forward and snatched at Annelise, catching her hand in his. The stone that had been Orson begin to tip toward the sea and Annelise went with it. Garrett held fast to her hand, even as the rock plummeted downward.

He had her, but only just.

Annelise held on tightly, dangling at the end of Garrett’s grip. The falling rock crashed against the stone cliffs, then splashed as it landed in the water. The rain made Annelise’s skin slick, and for a moment, he feared he might lose her. Garrett locked his hands around her wrists and hauled her back up to the parapet. She clung to him in relief and he felt how she trembled.

Garrett pressed a kiss into her hair, then cleaned the blood from her throat with his fingertips. He was horrified by what he had done, but knew he could have done no less. He realized he had not truly believed it possible, even though Mhairi had warned him of it, not until he saw the stones in the forest. Even the memory of their potent silence made him shudder.

Garrett would use that gift sparingly indeed, if ever again.

But Annelise was safe. He touched her beneath the chin, compelling her to meet his concerned gaze.

When Annelise looked up, Garrett saw alarm light her eyes. He spun to find Andrew in the highest window of the tower, watching them with a smile. He held up a ring that glinted in the light. “I have the signet ring and the seal,” he taunted. “Who then is Laird of Killairig?” With that, he pivoted and disappeared into the shadows beyond. A heartbeat later, he leapt out the window on the opposite side of the tower and began to run down the sentries’ walk.

This battle was not done.

*

“Annelise, descend with care,” Garrett said. His gaze was fixed on the fleeing Andrew, and she knew he desired that signet ring and seal.

She barely had time to nod before he raced away. Stairs descended to the bailey on either side of the gates, and the stables were on the far side. Over the top of the walls, she could see the rain pouring down on the village of Killairig. The town gave every indication of being abandoned.

“Here, boy!” Stewart cried. Annelise saw that he was hastening up the stairs, waving an unsheathed sword. Garrett laughed and plucked the blade from Stewart’s grip, barely slowing his pace, then leapt back up to the walkway and raced toward Andrew.

The pair met at the summit of the other staircase in a clash of steel so loud that it made Annelise wince. Garrett drove Andrew back from the stairs with a fury of blows, and the knight recovered from his surprise to battle back.

Annelise had no intention of missing any detail. She hurried along the top of the wall, stepping with care as the stones were slick and the rain fell in punishing volume.

“Have you a knife, my lady?” Stewart asked when she reached the stairs. She saw that he hovered in the shadows, avidly watching the fight even as he spoke to her.

“My eating knife,” she admitted and he rolled his eyes. He drew the dagger from his own belt and handed it to her.

“But—”

“The battle is young yet, Lady Annelise. Remain alert.”

“Aye, Stewart. But what of you?”

He smiled. “I can fend for myself.”

Annelise did not doubt it. She tightened her grip on the knife, feeling its weight, and nodded. “I thank you, Stewart.”

With that, he was gone, disappearing down the stairs. Moments later, Annelise saw him creeping up the second staircase, a larger knife in his grip. He kept his back pressed against the wall, as if to ensure that the men above could not see him.

Did Garrett know Stewart was there?

Andrew and Garrett meanwhile fought back and forth, so evenly matched in power and skill that Annelise feared Garrett could not readily triumph. What could she do to aid him? She did not doubt that if she stumbled, Andrew would be as glad to use her against Garrett as any other weapon.

Garrett moved with sudden vigor and his blade flashed.

“Fiend!” Andrew cried and Annelise saw that Garrett had nicked the knight’s cheek. Annelise remembered Garrett’s claim that Seamus had taught him to fight.

“Worthless fiend,” that knight declared, his voice dropping low and his tone turning malicious. He slashed at Garrett repeatedly, driving him back over the gates to the bailey. The walkway was more narrow there, plus they came closer to Annelise. She gripped the hilt of Stewart’s knife, knowing that if she had to help, she would have but one chance.

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed from close proximity. Andrew would back Garrett off the curtain wall, and send him plunging to his death.

“You are no better than a worm, Garrett MacLachlan,” Andrew continued, punctuating his words with blows. “You are a man unworthy to set foot in my father’s holding, much less to claim his estate.”

Garrett cried out and winced, then his grip faltered on the sword. One hand rose to his temple, as if he would compel his thoughts to be silent. Annelise was sure she saw him shake. Andrew laughed and lunged forward, stabbing at Garrett so that Annelise screamed in her fear.

Then she saw a shadow move on the opposite stairs. Stewart climbed to the wall behind Andrew stealthily, the sound of her cry undoubtedly helping to disguise any sound he made.

Garrett dropped to one knee, apparently in great pain.

Was he in pain? Or did he feign illness again? Annelise was so fearful for him that she could not think.

Andrew, in contrast, was gleeful and sure of victory. He bounded forward and made to thrust hard at Garrett, and even Annelise saw he moved too far too fast. He anticipated triumph before it was his, and she had seen her brothers defeated in practice by the same error.

Andrew lifted his sword over the fallen hunter, in the same moment that Garrett abruptly drove his blade upward with force. Annelise knew he meant to leave no doubt as to who won this battle. Just as she had resolved to make a first blow count, Garrett had done as much.

He stood, his blade yet buried in Andrew’s chest, as the blood flowed. Annelise could see Andrew’s shock and pain as he fell to his knees. He looked to be astonished, even as his own sword fell from his hand and blood flowed to mingle with the rain. He dropped to brace his weight on one elbow, his hand moving to his wound as if he had to touch it to know it was real. He touched the pool of blood with his fingertips, as if he had never thought to see it flow so readily. In that moment, Stewart stepped up behind the fallen knight, his blade at the ready. Garrett bent to pluck the sword from the stone, where it lay beside Andrew’s limp hand.

Andrew looked between them and shook his head in wonderment, then coughed. There was blood on his lip and pallor in his cheeks. He coughed again and could not support himself any longer. He fell to his back and his eyes stared blindly into the rain as the breath left his body for the last time.

“We were brothers,” Garrett said softly. “It did not have to be this way.” Then he turned and flung Andrew’s sword from the high wall, as if to cast away the horrors of the past. He bent to take the signet ring and seal from Andrew’s grasp, even as Annelise watched the blade fly end over end through the air.

Lightning lit the sky again, just when the sword was over the village, and she covered her eyes at its brilliant flash.

“It hit the blade,” Stewart cried, even as the loud boom of the thunder made the wall shake beneath their feet. When Annelise looked, there was only the darkness of night again.

In the village, a light was struck and a lantern’s glow shone out into the night from some previously darkened window. Silhouetted against it was the smoking ruin of the sword, its tip buried in the roof of the chapel.

Killairig’s chapel had a new crucifix. It was a sign that all here would be well.

The three of them stared at the sight wordlessly, then Stewart nodded at Garrett and turned away.

Garrett offered his hand to Annelise and led her toward the stairs. “Are you hale, my lady?” he asked and she wanted to welcome him to her bed that very moment.

“Indeed, for you are well,” she said, and it was true. She smiled up at him with shining eyes. “I love you, Garrett MacLachlan.”

Garrett smiled down at her. “And I love you, Annelise Lammergeier. Will you exchange vows with me at Kinfairlie and be my wife forevermore?”

“Even before our year and a day?”

“Even before.”

“I thought you would never ask.” She had no chance to say more for despite the onslaught of the rain, Garrett kissed her thoroughly and at leisure. There was a cheer from the bailey below and they parted to find Stewart applauding their embrace. Garrett’s mother stood in the doorway to the hall and even Percy gave a wolf whistle of approval. The sentries and guards looked about themselves in wonder, but more than one cheered for Garrett.

There would only be more men happy to serve beneath his hand, and Annelise knew it. Garrett now knew the truth of his own tale and his mother was returned to him. Killairig was his own, and Annelise was more than happy to be his bride. Even his curse had proved to be a blessing and Annelise knew that her hunter would never leave her side.

The passion of his kiss persuaded her that their thoughts were as one in that.

Annelise and Garrett rode to Kinfairlie for the harvest. The days were cool and the sunlight was golden, the weather seeming to echo the joy in Annelise’s heart.

Already there was improvement at Killairig. Many residents had returned when they had heard the tidings, and most had remained to help Garrett to rebuild. Annelise had been happy to learn the affection they had for Florine and even happier to see that loyalty transferred to Garrett. Garrett’s ability was a boon to him, not a curse, for it aided him in ensuring that justice was done. No man could lie to the Laird of Killairig, and Annelise liked that well.

Florine had remained with them, and Garrett’s mother was as kind and good as Annelise might have hoped. They had seen Coinneach buried in the cemetery at Killairig, and Florine had wept at the service. Flowers now bloomed in abundance at Killairig, growing most thickly in the places Florine favored.

Percy had asked to stay with Garrett and had proven to be a most diligent worker. Stewart had taken the boy into his care until they all departed to ride east and it was clear the boy admired the old warrior. Annelise had been surprised that Stewart had stayed so long with them, but Murdoch had approved and Stewart had been enthused about aiding in the restoration of the estate.

Alexander’s plan to meet at Inverfyre at midsummer had come to naught, for Annelise had no longer been a maiden by then. Also, Murdoch had not wished to travel so far with Isabella pregnant. He was protective, for Isabella was more robust than he believed, but Annelise could not fault him for that. She had missed the chance to visit Inverfyre and their family there, but hoped Garrett might take a detour to that holding on their way home to Killairig.

She wanted everyone to meet her hunter.

The entire party paused at Seton Manor to visit, and Annelise carried her sister’s good wishes home to Kinfairlie, as well as news from her to her siblings. Murdoch surrendered a letter for Alexander to their care, and Stewart remained there when Annelise and Garrett left for Kinfairlie. Florine told stories as they rode, and Annelise knew they could not have had a better companion for their journey.

Annelise’s heart soared when Kinfairlie itself came into view, for the holding looked most fine. Alexander’s pennant snapped from the top of the square tower and the sunlight made the sea behind the keep sparkle. The fields were golden with the ripened grain as they drew near. Many of those working in the fields paused to look and then wave at Annelise, and she found her anticipation rising.