Enchanted Lover (19 page)

The man was brought forth begging and pleading not to
be sent back to his laird. “He'll kill me for sure,” he said.

Jared looked thoughtfully at the man. “Take him back.
I'll go myself.”

“No, Jared,” Liam said. “They'll kill you.”

“I'll take a chance to make my point.” Jared urged
his horse forward to the crest of the hill. Laird Innes and his men were just
riding up. It was clear Laird Innes realized he had been betrayed and was
livid. He and his men halted when Jared appeared. Jared rode steadily towards
them until they were within range of his voice.

“Laird Innes, I am here to inform you Lady Asilinn is
fine. I carry a missive from her and a tentative peace proposal. I urge you to
study it before you ruin all chances with a conflict. I wilna allow you to kill
innocent people in a fit of anger over some supposed wrong. Your daughter is
unharmed.”

Laird Angus Innes rode up to meet Jared snatching the
papers he held and ripping them open. He read Asilinn's letter quickly then
looked up into Jared's eyes. “You caught her trying to escape and chained her
up?”

“Aye,” Jared said. “But it was in the tower and no
harm befell her.”

“And now I hear they tried to stone her. Is this how
you protect her, Dragon of Dunbocan?”

A band of masked riders broke from the woods to the
right. Both sides moved closer as the mystery riders headed straight for them
swords drawn. Jared parried the first thrust from the masked attacker saving
Laird Innes from certain death.

The attack ignited a powder keg of emotions between
the gathered armies. Both clans joined the fray until the fighting became
muddled and some fought each other rather than the interlopers. The masked men
faded into the heat of a battle they had begun.

Jared cursed his luck and sought out his
father-in-law grabbing him from behind and almost being killed in an attempt to
talk to him. “Call for a retreat! Go back to Cairngorm Castle and read my peace
plan before this ends all hope!” Jared shouted. Laird Innes nodded and galloped
off trying to bring his men back under control.

A masked figure caught Jared from behind knocking him
from his horse and turning to come at him with a sword. Ian Innes rode up, drew
his crossbow, and shot the man just before he struck the final blow. “Now we
are even, Laird of Dunbocan,” he cried. “Go back while you still can!”

Jared whistled for Ailleagian. He was about to mount
when he saw Ian felled by one of the masked intruders. He rushed to Ian’s side
and dispatched the masked man before he could finish the job. Jared hoisted Ian
onto Ailleagian and climbed up behind him. Ian was bleeding profusely and the
battle was raging out of control.

Finally the Innes clan rallied behind their laird and
started to retreat at a dead run. Jared succeeded in calling back his men from
their pursuit of the retreating army. There were few losses.

Jared rode to Liam. “I must try to save Asilinn's
brother's life. I leave you in charge. There is at least one of the masked
assassins who perished under my sword. See if you can find any others. I want
to see their faces. I'll be back.” Whirling Ailleagian around he took off for Cock Bridge.

When Jared entered the village, the residents gaped
openly at Ian. They were reluctant to help Jared get the wounded man inside one
of the cottages. Ignoring them Jared carried Ian inside the nearest house and
ripped off his tunic to examine the wound. It was deep. Perhaps fatal if the
bleeding did not stop.

Ian floated in and out of consciousness. If Jared
didn't act decisively, the young man would surely die. Taking his sword Jared
heated it in the fire until it glowed. Ian awoke just in time to see Jared
coming towards him with the hot weapon.

“You betray us,” Ian murmured.

“No, Ian. I must cauterize your wound. It is the only
way to stop the bleeding.” The younger man nodded weakly.

Jared stood over his brother-in-law sword in hand.
With one sure motion, he placed the hot metal on the wound. There was a searing
sizzle followed by the smell of burning human flesh. Ian let out a tortured cry
and fell from consciousness again.

The action was successful. The bleeding stopped.
Jared turned to look into the faces of several villagers who had followed him
into the cottage.

“Watch over this man,” Jared ordered. “If any harm
comes to him at your hands, I'll have your heads. I'll be back shortly.” He
hurried back to his horse.

Jared found Liam with three masked bodies. His men
were about to unveil them when he rode up. Jared dismounted and dropped to the
ground to do it himself. The men stared in wonder at the faces of the three
dead strangers.

“Zounds, if any of you know these men tell me their
names. Have each man look at their faces and try to place them. They are not
from our clan and I must discover who they belong to.” Turning to Liam, Jared
let out a deep sigh. “This plot is more complex than I imagined. How many of
our men were killed?”

“Two, Milord,” Liam reported. “Laird Innes lost two
as well. Three if Ian dies. Each side sustained injuries. I dinna know the
extent of theirs but ours are not too bad. How's Ian?”

Jared's jaw tightened. “I canna say. It could go
either way. I plan to let him rest here until he can travel then take him back
to Dunbocan.”

“You could leave him here in the villager's care,”
Liam suggested.

“I fear his fate would be assured in such a
circumstance. I dinna want to stay away from Dunbocan too long and I wilna
leave Ian to be killed by treachery.”

“Aye, Milord,” Liam said. “All is in order here.”

“Take Laird Innes his dead and the message his son is
injured and under my protection. Tell him I'll return Ian personally as soon as
he is able to make the trip. Take three men and do this yourself. Dinna send a
messenger. Report to me when you return.”

“Aye, Milord.”

***

It had been three days since Jared and his men had
left. No word had reached Dunbocan about the confrontation, at least none
Asilinn had been privy to. She paced the floor of the tower nervously a
prisoner by order of Morven. He claimed to fear for her safety if she ventured
out.

Her body needed the sleep which had eluded her for
two tortured nights. Every time she closed her eyes, the terrible vision of her
brother being killed by her husband flashed through her consciousness. Was it
true or just another deception like the vision she had seen earlier of Jared
raping her?

She fought to stay focused on the possibility she was
misinterpreting the dream but she could find no other explanation for the
picture of Jared going towards Ian with a glowing sword. The dream had a
quality about it that frightened her. It was one of the most vivid premonitions
she ever had.

A light rap at her door brought her face to face with
Skye. The young girl looked at her inquisitively. “I havena seen you about,
Asilinn."

Asilinn gave her a grim look. “Morven has confined me
to the tower because someone poisoned my herbs. He fears for my safety if I go
out.”

“Is Morven your master? I would think 'twould be his
duty to abide by your wishes as Mistress of Dunbocan.”

“What are you suggesting, Skye?”

“If you truly need a respite from your room come
downstairs with me. We'll find some task to occupy us and mayhaps this will
ease your tension.”

Asilinn looked at the girl thoughtfully. Skye was
right. Who was Morven to give Asilinn orders when Jared insisted she was not a
prisoner? “Help me select a gown. I want to look my best.”

Skye seemed flattered Asilinn had asked her to help
with the wardrobe selection. She moved to Asilinn's gowns carefully picking
through them. Finally, she selected a deep blue velvet dress with long fitted
sleeves. “How about this one? I think it will make your eyes look blue like the
sea.”

Asilinn smiled. “'Tis perfect.” She dressed hurriedly
and pulled the top part of her hair back letting the rest flow freely down her
back.

“Why isn't Wynne helping you dress?”

“She is still not well from the poisoning. I sent her
away this morning. I did not think I would be leaving my room.”

“What kind of poison do you think it was?”

“I believe it was henbane. Since the remedy I used
seems to have been successful, I'm fairly certain I was right.”

“You know a lot about herbs and medicines,” Skye
commented, watching Asilinn with prying eyes.

“Aye, my grandmother taught me much before her
death.”

They made their way to the main chambers of the
castle seeking out Flanna to see if she needed help in the kitchen. She was
delighted to see both of them and insisted on feeding them, which was what Skye
was really after in the first place. Asilinn laughed at the amount of food Skye
ate.

“If you continue to eat like that, Skye, you may not
fit in yer lovely new gowns,” Flanna teased. “Or is it because of yer little midnight ride?”

Asilinn turned to Skye. “Where did you go last night,
Skye?”

The girl slouched in her seat. “I only rode out to
see if I could find Jared and his troops returning but it was a very black
night and…” she hesitated.

“And what?”

“I heard some strange sounds while taking the short
cut through Burnum Woods—moaning and chanting. I was frightened and I came
back.”

Flanna and Asilinn exchanged a concerned glance.
“Skye, you must stop these wild escapades before something happens to you. It
is very dangerous for a young girl to be out alone at night. Nevertheless, I
would advise you to confide in Laird Jared. Tell him what you heard. It sounds
like something is amiss.”

“But Asilinn if I tell Jared he'll punish me for my
actions.”

“You must,” Asilinn insisted. “It is something that
needs his attention.”

The girl hung her head dejectedly when Flanna nodded
in agreement with Asilinn. “All right, I'll tell him as soon as he returns.”

Toby came running through the door. “Mother, Laird
Jared returns with his men!” He spun and flew back out the door.

The three women rushed outside. Asilinn started to
move down through the crowd but Morven caught her and detained her while Skye
and Flanna went on without her. “Lady Asilinn, you must wait here. I thought I
told you not to leave the tower. My laird will have my head if you are harmed.”

Asilinn gave him an angry glare. “You profess to be
following Jared's orders but you are not my laird, Morven. I'll use my own
judgment in these matters.”

He looked at her, his face an impassive mask. “I beg
you to take my advice and wait in the upper courtyard. The crowd gathering
below makes it impossible for me to see to your protection.”

“Since you have asked and not demanded, I'll comply
with your wishes.” He nodded and moved off to a safe distance keeping her in
sight but not intruding on her space.

There was a clatter of hooves as Jared made his way
to her through the throng. Asilinn gasped at the scene before her. Jared held
her brother slumped before him on the horse. Blood stains covered Ian's tunic.
Half-blinded by tears Asilinn rushed forward.

“You promised there would not be bloodshed!” Asilinn
screamed. “And now you have tried to kill my brother. Does my father still live
or have you done away with him?”

Jared looked down at her with cold eyes. “You assume
much with no real knowledge,” he said. “I did not inflict these wounds! I'm
trying to save Ian by bringing him home to you. Are you so blinded by your hate
for me you judge me without asking what occurred?"

They glared at each other for a full minute before
Flanna broke the trance by running up with two men to carry Ian into the
castle. “Take him to the laird's old room,” she ordered. “Lady Asilinn, will
you come?” she asked. Asilinn nodded and followed the men carrying her brother
into the castle.

Jared let out a heavy sigh and headed for the stable.
He was in no mood to feel the bite of Asilinn's cruel tongue, at least not
until he had rested from his arduous journey. He glanced briefly over his
shoulder to watch Asilinn follow her brother into the castle. Would she always
think of him as the enemy?

When she examined Ian's shoulder Asilinn knew a
moment of regret for her sharp tongue. The wound had been cauterized, probably
by a hot sword. Was this full explanation of Jared's action in her vision? The
other vision she had of him was equally damning—the one she thought predicted
her rape on their wedding night. It had turned out to give a false impression.
She longed to seek him out and talk with him about what had happened at Cock Bridge, but her brother was in need of her now. She would talk to Jared later.

Ian's face was so pale it frightened her. He seemed
to linger in a haze that left him rolling in and out of consciousness. He
called out for his dead mother and brothers. It tore at her heart to see her
older brother in such a state, but she focused on the task at hand.

Stripping off his bloody garments Asilinn draped
sheeting loosely over his groin area for modesty. Just when she finished
freeing him from his filthy clothing Skye and Flanna entered the room with the
pails of hot water Asilinn had requested from the kitchen. Carefully she washed
the grime from Ian's body.

“He doesna look good, Lady Asilinn," Flanna said
in a hushed whisper.

“‘Tis only a shoulder wound but I fear he lost too
much blood. He's feverish and weak. Please go back to the kitchen and get me
some clear broth. I'll keep it by the fire up here and try to feed him whenever
possible. We must be vigilant about keeping his strength up."

“Aye, Milady." Flanna sped off on Asilinn's
errand.

Asilinn glanced over at her sister-in-law who had
just lifted the thin sheeting to peek at Ian's privates. “Skye, what on earth
are you doing?”