Chapter 18

The previous evening"s meal was disappointing. Cam hadn"t shown up to the dining hall, and when Jen had gone to his private office, he either hadn"t answered her knock or wasn"t in. She also hadn"t found him in his chambers. Discouraged, she"d returned to her room and decided she would try again this morning, so that was what she was going to do at the morning meal.

The sun had barely risen when Jen dressed for the day. There weren't many people up this early, so she decided to try and get a ride in to clear her mind before returning for breakfast. The morning air was crisp and invigorating, carrying with it a touch of mist that clung to the rolling hills and ancient stone walls. Jennifer marveled at the breathtaking beauty surrounding her as she made her way to the stables.

The earthy scent of hay and horses filled her senses. Hamish, with his weathered face and wise eyes, greeted her with a warm smile. "Good morning, lass," he said.

Jen smiled and said, "Good morning, Hamish. I thought I"d go for a ride this morning."

"Aye, Mist will enjoy that." He gave her a nod and went back to feeding some of the horses.

Jennifer saddled and mounted Mist, feeling the warmth of the horse beneath her. She nudged her out of the stables and out to the corral. The rhythm of hooves against the ground mirrored the beat of her heart. She had grabbed the wooden sword before mounting Mist and decided to get a little bit of practice in while she rode.

Jennifer dismounted her horse an hour later, her muscles felt invigorated by the activity, kind of like when she got a good sparring workout in.

Hamish, who had come out to watch her, stood nearby. "You"ve come a long way, lass," he said with a beaming grin.

"Thanks, I hope Cam will think so, too," she murmured, feeling disquieted.

"I am sure the chief will be impressed; you"ve been training hard."

She smiled at him as she unsaddled Mist and began to groom him. A few minutes later, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see some guardsmen entering the stables. They spoke in hushed whispers, their words floating in the air.

"I heard a special guest is attending the morning meal," one of them said, his voice filled with anticipation.

Jennifer"s ears perked up, intrigued by the mention of a mysterious visitor. She pretended not to overhear, continuing to brush Mist with a determined expression. However, her curiosity gnawed at her.

The men exchanged glances; their excitement evident. They nodded to each other before dispersing, leaving Jennifer to wonder who this special guest might be. Thoughts raced through her mind as she imagined the possibilities, trying to unravel the mystery.

Returning to the fort a little while later, Jennifer was filled with anticipation. She couldn"t help but wonder who this guest could be and what significance they held. The corridors buzzed with whispers and excited chatter, adding to the suspense in the air.

Suppressing her eagerness, Jennifer maintained a composed demeanor as she made her way through the fort.

The scent of savory breakfast dishes wafted through the air. Jennifer caught glimpses of servants bustling about, delivering dishes and platters laden with food to the dining hall.

She looked down at the dress she wore, slightly dirty from her morning activities, and figured, since there was a special guest, she should change. She took the stone steps two at a time and entered her room only slightly breathless. She stripped out of the simple gown she wore and chose a more elaborate one for the special occasion. It was made of the MacDonald clan tartan, and she thought it looked well on her.

She undid the bun at the nape of her neck, brushed her hair out, and braided it before wrapping the braid into a more elaborate bun. With a look in the mirror, she decided she was ready to face not only Cam but also whoever their guest was.

Jen left her room and headed back down the stairs, running into Sally on the way. "Sally, where are you off to? I thought I saw you helping with breakfast." Jen looked at her curiously.

"Aye, Miss, I was jest coming to get you. We"ve a special guest here, and I think you"re going to want to meet them." Her eyes were wide as she spoke.

"That"s where I was heading. I heard someone was here while I was in the stables. So, who is it?"

Sally pressed her lips together and took her arm. "Jest come; you"ll see."

She hurried Jen down the rest of the stairs, and they moved swiftly through the grand hall toward the dining room. Jen entered the room with Sally by her side, but after a moment, Sally excused herself, heading toward another servant, but Jen barely paid attention to her.

Her eyes were locked on Dub Sith, who was seated at the head table and being treated as an honored guest. Her steps quickened, and her heart pounded in her chest as she approached.

The Donald men watched nervously, their gazes shifting between Jen and Dub Sith. They probably had no idea what to expect, but Jen didn"t care. Even though she had accepted being here and the reason for it, she had words for the man who had stolen her from her time and brought her here, and she would say them because she was still resentful he'd done all of this without consulting her.

Without hesitation, Jennifer stood before Dub Sith, her gaze unwavering as she demanded answers. Her voice carried anger and vulnerability, a reflection of the tumultuous emotions that churned within her.

"You! Why didn"t you tell me what you planned to do? Why did you change everything in my life without even asking me if I wanted this?" she confronted him, her voice laced with frustration.

Dub Sith looked at her with amusement dancing in his eyes. Now that she knew what he was, she could see he wasn"t human. The scar on his face slashed through eyes that were swirls of a piercing blue and white that was unnatural in humans. He seemed unfazed by her outburst, his demeanor betraying an otherworldly calmness. He leaned back in his chair, a smile playing on his lips as he regarded her.

"My dear Jennifer, sometimes the dance of fate requires a few unexpected steps," he replied cryptically.

Her frustration intensified, fueled by his evasive response. She wanted clarity, and a sense of control over her life, and his actions had robbed her of that.

"Do you realize what you"ve done? You"ve taken away my choices. My autonomy," she pressed, her voice tinged with defiance and desperation.

Dub Sith"s smile remained undeterred by her accusations. His gaze held a glimmer of knowing as if he saw beyond the surface of her words.

"And yet, dear Jennifer, have you not found blessings amid the turmoil? Have you not discovered a love that stirs your soul?" he countered, his voice carrying an enigmatic tone.

Jennifer"s eyes widened, caught off-guard by his directness. She couldn"t deny the truth in his words. "Yes, I love Cam," she admitted, her voice softer now. "But I also want to have agency over my life. I want to be a part of the decisions that shape my future."

Dub Sith"s smile widened, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. He seemed satisfied with her response as if her admission held significance beyond what she could comprehend.

"Fear not, dear Jennifer. The path you walk might be different from what you had envisioned, but blessings shall come. Trust in the dance of fate," he assured her as he picked up a thick piece of bread.

And then, he simply vanished.

Jennifer stood there, the weight of their conversation sinking in. Her attention shifted as she caught sight of Cam at the edge of the table about two feet from her. Embarrassment washed over her as she realized he had overheard every word, witnessing her outburst.

Turning, her cheeks hot from her embarrassment, Jen rushed from the dining hall, her appetite gone.