Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

"He ran like nothin' I had ever seen before," Callum said, laughing wildly. "The old farmer thought the donkey was some magical monster coming to get 'em."

The others laughed wildly and Blair forced herself to smile along, not wanting anyone to ask her if she was alright. The whole evening, Blair had felt nothing but excitement for what was to come. However, as the sun disappeared and the night took over, nerves seeped in and it took everything in Blair to hide her shaking hands. She nibbled on the cured meats and listened to the guards telling stories around the fire.

Through the flames, Blair caught momentary glances from James, who she could tell was playing along, just as she was. He didn't look nervous though, and she couldn't think of a time through the years that he showed any kind of emotion other than calm and collected. Even if he were anxious about the evening, though, Blair knew he would hide it for her sake. He was a planner, and there was a specific map of events thought up in James' mind. Blair trusted that, but it didn't calm her nerves.

Sure, she was starting to fear getting caught, but most of her nerves stemmed in the possibility of finding the wise woman. Blair feared that they wouldn't find her, the rumors and stories turning out to be just that. At the same time, she feared they would find her, but her answers wouldn't take away the sadness or confusion she had about the past. There was no outcome in Blair's mind that didn't cause her nerves to boil and her heart to race. She wasn't sure how she was going to make it until then.

"Alright," Callum yawned. "I'm gonna get some sleep. Daley and James, you two have the watches tonight."

James nodded, standing up and brushing his hands off. "Aye. Daley will go first and I'll come in and finish up the night. Gonna get some sleep before then."

Blair finished her piece of bread and brushed the crumbs from her cloak, standing up from the branch she had been sitting on. "I'll be seeing myself to bed as well. Good night."

"Night," all four of them said in unison.

Blair made her way away from the fire to the small cleared area where she had set up her pallet for sleeping. James wasn't far from her, and she kept her eyes locked to the ground as he walked by the place he stood, propped up against a tree. She pulled at the blanket, her hands shaking. Stopping for a moment, she rubbed her hand, taking in deep, calming breaths.

"Calm yerself," James said, squatting behind her.

Blair gasped quietly, rolling her eyes. "Ye scared me."

"Ye're awfully jumpy," he chuckled. "Come on, climb in, and I'll tuck the covers around ye."

She nodded, lying down and turning on her side to face him. James pulled the covers up over her shoulders and tucked the blanket around her. He glanced over toward the fire and leaned in whispering. "I'm gonna take care of ye, like I always do. Try to calm yer nerves. Ye need yer rest as I doubt this will be an easy trek in the cover of darkness. I'll wake ye up to leave when everyone is asleep. I'll do a couple roves around, gather my horse once Daley is asleep, and come and get ye. Stay in yer bed until then, alright?"

Blair nodded nervously and gripped the blanket close to her. Just by speaking the words to her, James took away most of the nervousness she was feeling. She kept her eyes on him until he was back propped against the tree, his cloak around him, his hood up. When his face disappeared into the shadow beneath his hood, she closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the forest in, and pushing her thoughts out. James was right, she needed to sleep. She was tired from the long ride and the tossing and turning from the night before.

If she were going to do it, take off looking for the wise woman, she needed to make sure she was well rested and clear. The dangers lurking in the woods were just as real as the idea of getting caught by the guards. Being tired would be a terrible reason to get caught, or hurt.

It took Blair quite a while to finally drift off to sleep, even forcing herself to keep her eyes closed. As soon as she did, though, she could hear a distant voice whispering her name. Normally, something like that would have scared her, but that voice - it was far too familiar to her. There was something about it that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something that felt comforting and safe.

"Blair…" the voice whispered again.

The touch of a hand on her shoulder jolted her eyes open. She stared at the front of a white tunic and brown trousers. Everything seemed blurry, even her mind. Her hand flexed against the leaves and dirt, and the figure stood still. His shadow crept over Blair, yet fear still didn't strike her heart. As she looked up, the clouds cleared and the light of the moon shone brightly behind the man's head, darkening his face. Blair turned her head to the side, narrowing her eyes. Something about that man seemed so very familiar, but it wasn't James, like she thought it would be. Slowly she sat up, watching as the man stretched his hand down to her.

She stared at it for several moments before reaching up and placing hers inside of it. For a moment, her hand looked as small as a child's, swallowed in the strong, working palm. Her heart fluttered in her chest as the clouds covered the moon again, and the man's face became clear. Gasping, she jumped to her feet, rushing forward.

Blair put her hands on each side of the red bearded man's face, tears welling in her eyes. "Father…what…where…"

She shook her head and lunged into his arms, feeling him lift her from the ground, squeezing her tightly like he did when she was a child. Blair clung to him, not wanting to let go. She clung to him afraid that if she were to release him, he would disappear again. After several moments, he lowered her to her feet and she gazed up at him, wide-eyed.

"I thought you were dead…I saw you die."

A familiar warm smile moved across his lips, his skin creasing at the corner of each eye. He reached up and cupped Blair's cheek. "Sweet lass, ye're not mistaken. I am dead."

Blair furled her brow, shaking her head. "I don't understand. Ye're standin' right ere in front of me. Is this a dream?"

With the smile still on his face, Blair's father's hand slipped down to hers, gripping it tightly. "Just because it's a dream, don't make it any less real. Now, we don't have much time, lassy. The wise woman awaits ye. Take the woods by foot until ye reach far enough away to be safe. The branches are far too thick fer ye pony."

"I'm scared," Blair whispered. "Come with me. I don't want tae go alone."

Blair's father pulled her into a hug. "Don't be frightened, my sweet rose. I will be with ye the whole way. The truth can never be too far from the solution to whatever problem ye might be seein'."

Blair pulled back and nodded, smiling. Her father took a step back and reached out his hand. "Now, come along. Let's find the blue-eyed wise one, before it's too late."

The wind whipped around Blair, blowing the leaves wildly against her legs. She closed her eyes and reached for her father's hand, trying to shake the tears away. As her hand touched down, she felt nothing but cold wet soil against her palm.

Blair's eyes shot open and she sat straight up, looking around. She found herself still tucked into her pallet, her cloak up, a tear running down her cheek. She lifted her hand up and looked at the cold soil on her fingertips. Across the clearing, the fire simmered and crackled, and the guards lay propped against the trees. Sadness began to wash over Blair, realizing it was nothing more than a dream. Her father was truly gone, no matter how much she wanted him to be there.

With a sigh, Blair laid back down on her bed, pulling the cover over her shoulder. She stared at the fallen leaves around her, in some ways still feeling her father's presence. The locket around her neck almost vibrated with the rushed beating of her heart. Blair shut her eyes closed tightly, letting the tears trickle silently down her cheeks. It had been a long time since she had dreamt of her father, but his face was still so vibrant in her mind, even after all of the years that had passed.

Something inside of Blair knew that whether her father had truly visited her dreams or not, what she was about to do was right. It may have been scary, but her father hadn't raised her to be scared. She was a lion, a raging Highlander, and her father still lived on, inside of her. She wouldn't let him or her sisters down.

As the breeze dried the tears on Blair's cheeks, she drifted back to a dreamless, quiet rest, the anxiety all but faded from her chest. The next time she awoke, it was to James' comforting squeeze. She opened her eyes, finding him squatted down, his finger over his lips. He leaned toward her, brushing a leaf from her cloak.

"Are you ready?" he whispered. "The horse is just off the camp, quietly shifting in the dark."

Blair gave him a nod, quietly standing up from her bed. As James looked around, Blair quickly tucked the book back into the band of her skirts and grabbed the small satchel of food from her bag. She knew she couldn't take her things, but they would be there when she returned, if she returned.

James took Blair's hand and pulled her away from their sleeping spaces, toward the edge of the dark forest surrounding their clearing. She could hear the cool trickling of the winding stream to her right, and the heavy breath of James' steed ahead of them. As they approached the horse, James set Blair's hand on the horse's side, allowing her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the very dark space around her. Above, a thin light hovered through the tree limbs from the clouded night skies.

"You can ride if you wish," James whispered.

Blair shook her head, remembering what her father had told her in her sleep. "It will be difficult to navigate through the darkness. The forest will be thick and overgrown. We should remain on foot for now."

James nodded in agreement. "I'll lead the horse. You hold tightly to its saddle. If you release, whistle for me tae stop. Use what you've learned, Blair, after all the nights in hidin' inside the castle. Walk like ye have wings."

Blair nodded again and gripped onto the saddle, breathing in the momentary freedom she felt. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. Or at least, she had never learned to appreciate it. The journey would be long and dangerous, and they would only have one night's worth of head start, if they were lucky. Blair knew if they were caught together, they'd have no excuse, and she would be punished. She also knew it would probably mean the forfeit of James' life.