Chapter 15

The following day, when the first rays of sunlight streamed through the cottage windows, Jennifer and Cam stirred from their slumber. They had slept in the main living area, leaving the bedroom for Aine, who had given them pallets of blankets to sleep with in front of the hearth.

Aine appeared with a warm smile, ready to greet the new day. She beckoned Jennifer and Cam to the small wooden table where another hearty breakfast awaited them, and Jen wondered when she"d had time to make it since she hadn"t left her room as far as she"d been aware. The aroma of freshly brewed tea and the tantalizing scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, whetting her appetite.

"Come then, come eat and gain your strength for what lies ahead," the woman said.

"Thank you, Aine," Jen replied, taking her seat.

"Reminds me of my mam"s cooking," Cam answered as they looked over the meal of golden-brown oatcakes, warm and fragrant on a wooden platter, their slightly crispy exterior giving way to a deliciously soft center. Next to the oatcakes sat a bowl of creamy porridge, topped with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of toasted nuts.

Aine poured steaming cups of herbal tea to accompany their meal. The earthy aroma enveloped Jen, warming her body and invigorating her spirit.

As Jennifer and Cam indulged in the hearty fare, her gratitude for Aine"s hospitality grew. "This is wonderful, Aine. Thank you for all of this."

"My pleasure, lass. Before you leave, you should take a walk and enjoy the island. I think you will find it a nice respite afore you return."

"That would be nice," Jen agreed.

"I"d like that as well," Cam said with a smile.

Aine shooed them out the door, and holding hands, Jen and Cam started their walk around the picturesque island. The beauty of nature surrounded them, from the vibrant wildflowers that painted the landscape with bursts of color to the gentle lapping of the loch"s waters against the rocky shores.

As they walked, Jennifer couldn"t help but reflect on what she"d learned.

"Cam, do you believe what Aine said? That this Sidhe elf brought me here as some vow to the MacDonald sept?" she asked.

"Aye, lass, I do. My pa often spoke of the Dub Sith"s vow, though," he smiled, "I always thought it legend until now. But I can hardly deny you being here with you standin" before me, now, can I?"

Jen laughed, as she was sure he meant for her to. "It all seems so magical. I almost feel like I'm dreaming. But I have to admit, there was a man who came to visit me prior to me waking up here, and he seemed so strange and out of place," she said.

"And out of time?" he asked, sounding curious.

"Maybe so."

"Could have been Dub Sith, lass. Perhaps you will be shown the truth given time," he said.

"Perhaps so." Jen nodded. "The man offered me a challenge and a life-changing adventure." Her lips twisted in a wry smile. "He was right. This is definitely a life-changing challenge and adventure, just not the one I was expecting."

They returned to the cottage a short time later and said their goodbyes to Aine before heading to the rocky beach and the boat. Cam and Jen inspected the boat, assessing its condition after the storm. With a reassuring smile, Cam confirmed that the vessel was in perfect shape and ready to carry them safely back across the loch. Jennifer felt a surge of gratitude for Cam"s knowledge and skill.

Before their departure, Aine wandered down the beach and presented them with a carefully wrapped bundle of provisions for their journey back. Inside were wedges of aged cheese, hearty bread rolls, and dried fish. "I thought you might get a bit peckish before you reach the fort."

"Thank you, Aine. I hope I get to visit with you again soon," Jen said as she hugged her.

Aine seemed a bit startled by the hug but quickly hugged her back. "I know that we will see each other again soon, lass. Safe journey."

With the provisions secured, Jennifer and Cam bid Aine farewell. Cam helped Jen into the boat and then pushed it off the shore and into the water before climbing in. The oars dipped into the water, and Cam propelled the boat forward, the gentle swaying of the waves carrying them away from the island. The rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape unfolded before them as he rowed.

Leaving the island behind, Jennifer set her sights on the distant shore, her heart filled with the memories and knowledge she had gained from their time with Aine.

The journey back to the island was in stark contrast to their harrowing encounter with the stormy waters. Calmness enveloped the loch, its tranquil surface reflecting the soft hues of the sky above. They glided across the water with ease, and Jen enjoyed the trip. In less than half an hour, they reached the shore.

Cam jumped out of the boat and pulled it back onto shore before helping Jen up. She grabbed the food Aine had provided and ate before mounting their horses and returning to the fort.

After eating, they checked over the horses, who had weathered the storm fine under the canopy of trees the hitching post was next to. "I feel bad for leaving them out here in that awful weather," Jen said as she looked Mist over.

"I"m not sure that storm even reached this shore, lass," Cam replied, stroking his horse"s mane. "Jackal would have taken off and Mist would have followed at the first crack of lightning."

Jen glanced at him with surprise. "You mean we might have gotten back here to no horses?"

Cam grinned at her and nodded. "Aye, lass. 'Tis lucky they"re still here."

They mounted and started on the road to the fort, but as they made their way back, the air crackled with tension. Jen didn"t know what it was, but something felt wrong. As they grew closer to the cluster of homes at the bottom of the hill, she began to see groups of farmers and women who eyed them as they rode by.

"Cam, something"s wrong," Jennifer murmured as they rode side by side.

"That"s his lover. Heard they ran off together; wonder what they"re doin" back," one of the women said to another.

Jen"s eyes widened at her words, and she looked over at Cam.

"Malcolm said Cam didn"t want to face the Campbell"s man, and that"s why he ran off with that harlot," another whispered loudly enough for them to overhear.

Cam didn"t say anything, but Jen could tell he was angry. His jaw was clenched tightly and the muscle in his cheek twitched. He just spurred Jackal with a kick of his heels and tightened the reins as he urged the horse into a gallop away from the homes and up the road toward the fort.

Jennifer felt a surge of indignation at the injustice of the situation. They hadn"t run off for some kind of lover"s tryst. They"d gone to visit the wise woman to get answers about how she"d come to be here. She wanted to beat the shit out of Malcolm for spreading such rumors. Of course, to do that, she needed to keep up with Cam, so she nudged Mist into a gallop, too, and they raced up the hill toward the fort.

As they arrived at the fort, galloping through the gate and into the courtyard, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Eyes followed their every move, whispers hanging in the air like a heavy fog as they approached the stables. Cam squared his shoulders as they dismounted, determined to address the mounting turmoil head-on.

He made his way to his chambers with Jen on his heels and called for his closest kinsmen to assemble in the dining hall where he would address where he"d been and the rumors and accusations Malcolm had made.

"Time is not on our side, and we must quell the doubts and accusations that threaten to tear apart our community," he said to Jamie, his younger brother.

"Aye, Malcolm has been busy spreading discontent while you"ve been gone. The men weren"t expecting your trip to take so long. A day at the most."

"We got caught in a storm on the way over to the isle, and you know Aine dictates the length of the stay. Even so, we were only gone a couple of days."

"Nearly four, which gave Malcolm enough time to sew seeds of doubt in some of the men"s minds."

"Aye." Cam ran a hand through his hair. "I shall address all of that at the assembly. His accusations cannae stand."

A short while later, Jennifer and Cam stood before the clan in front of the head table on the dais. Cam"s voice rang out, strong and steady, as he addressed the crowd. "I refute these claims that have poisoned your perception of me." He glared at the gathered men who stood with Malcolm. "I didnae desert you, nor leave you to deal with the Campbells. I was seeking the wise woman"s council, as Jamie can attest. We didnae plan to be gone but a night or two, but a storm blew in and added a day."

A murmur of agreement moved through the crowds. "Aye, he wasnae gone longer than any of us would be for such a trip."

Jennifer reached for Cam"s hand to lend her support and several people noticed, looking at them with speculation. She raised her chin and stared them down. She wasn"t about to be cowed into submissive behavior because they thought she was some sort of slut.

"What did you need to bring her with you for then?" a voice called out from the back of the room.

Before Cam could answer, Jen spoke up. "I had questions that only the wise woman could answer. As many of you know, my arrival here was shrouded in mystery, and I hoped that Aine could clarify some things."

Again, there was a murmur among the gathered clansmen and women. "That be true. Aine knows about the Sidhe."

"If anyone would have those answers it 'twould be Aine," another said.

The gathered clan members seemed to be appeased for the most part, but then Malcolm encouraged more divisiveness by saying, "He abandoned us with bandits attacking our people between here and Ballygrant. He doesnae want to deliver the taxes to the Campbells. He"s a coward."

Cam"s teeth ground loudly next to Jen, and she knew he was pissed. The glare he threw Malcolm"s way looked as if it might scald. "Malcolm! You accuse me of abandoning my duties and neglecting our responsibilities. But let me remind you—all of you—that it was Malcolm who advocated rebellion, urging us to defy paying the tax."

Gasps of surprise and realization rippled through the assembly. The accusations Malcolm had leveled against Cam only held weight when detached from the context of his own actions. The hypocrisy of his words now lay exposed for all to see.

Cam continued, his voice resonating with an unwavering resolve. "We cannot afford to indulge in this divisiveness when our future hangs in the balance. The time for empty promises and idle quarrels has passed. We must unite for the sake of our clan."

Malcolm"s face reddened, and he clenched his fists at his sides, his eyes squinted in angry slits. He opened his mouth to retort, but before he could utter a word, Cam pressed on.

"You speak of bravery, yet you hesitate to join those of us who plan to venture forth and deliver the payment. Are you not man enough to face the bandits who lie in wait?"

The words hung in the air, a challenge to Malcolm"s pride and honor. Those gathered watched, their gazes shifting between Cam and Malcolm as though watching a tennis match.

"We shouldnae even pay the tax if the Campbells cannae get past the bandits themselves," someone argued.

"'Tis our duty to root out the bandits. This is our land," another put in.

"We"ve nae choice but to pay the taxes to the Campbells, like it or nae. We made an oath an" MacDonalds donnae go back on their word," someone else added.

"We need to do somethin" about those bandits!"

Amid the rising discussion, Cam raised his hands and called for silence. "Kinsmen! I pledge to you as your chief that we shall defeat these bandits! We"ve got a sennight afore the Campbell"s man is due here. We shall overcome and nae let fear and discord hinder us any longer. Our strength is in our unity and our unwavering loyalty to this clan!"

Jamie raised his fist and shouted, "Aye!"

A moment later, the others raised their fists, and the word, "Aye!" echoed around the chamber.

Malcolm sent Cam and Jen a glare and stormed from the room, followed by two others who seemed to be his cronies. Jen watched them go with pleasure.

Cam"s shoulders began to lose some of the tension that had kept him rigid next to her. "Now that that has been seen to, I say we go and enjoy the fine supper that Mira and the kitchen staff have prepared for us!"

Another round of, "Aye!" echoed through the room as the group of kinsmen and women dispersed and moved to the various tables as the kitchen staff hurried to bring in the food.

Cam drew Jennifer around to the other side of the table and pulled out her chair. Jen gave him a grateful smile as she took her seat on his right side. Jamie took the seat on his left. Errol and Murdock took the seats next to Jamie. The room was filled with various conversations, but Cam remained fairly quiet throughout the meal. Jen didn"t mind. She knew he was gauging the atmosphere to make sure Malcolm hadn"t sewn permanent dissent among the clan.

After dinner, Jen excused herself to her chambers, where she found Sally directing a group of maids to fill the tub for her. "Oh, Sally, you are a peach. I swear you read my mind." She smiled.

Sally laughed. "Nae, Miss. I jest figured after your trip to visit the wise woman, you"d be ready for a soak."

"You are right about that." Jen sank down on the bed as she watched the ladies finish readying her bath.

"I"ll jest lay out your nightdress, Miss, and then leave you to it. I"ll return in an hour with the others to drain the water."

"Thank you, Sally. You have been a wonderful friend and ally here," Jen said with a grateful smile. "You know, since I consider you a friend, you could just call me Jen."

Sally"s smile brightened. "I"d like that, Miss. I mean, Jen." Her cheeks turned pink. "I"ll be back later."

Jen watched her go and once the door was closed, she stripped out of her dress and sank into the warm water, fully relaxing as she laid her head back against the edge of the tub, letting the water soothe her sore, achy muscles.