Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A s they crested a rise, Ciara got her first look at the Isle of Skye from high up and Dunvegan Castle. Though she’d never admit it to her captor, the sight was breathtaking. The castle, made of light and red colored stone, was large and imposing. Set among a field of snow, although she could imagine it green in summer, splashed with a riot of colors from wildflowers, the castle was beautiful. Magical. It was nothing like her father’s keep, which was large, but dark. Dunvegan reminded her of the castles from the fictions she’d loved so well as a child.

Magnus let out a heavy breath and he wore an expression of relief on his face. He was happy to be home. Ciara, on the other hand, felt anxious. Terrified. She had no idea what awaited her once she got inside those castle walls. It might look like a magical place from the outside, but she didn’t know what kind of horrors awaited her within.

“Let’s go. We’re almost home,” Magnus said.

“Ye’re almost home. I’m almost tae a cell,” she grumbled.

If Magnus heard what she said, he gave no indication. Instead, he ushered her down the path that led from the hill to the edge of the village that was nestled in front of the castle. As they passed through the village, Ciara couldn’t help but notice the number of people who greeted Magnus as they passed, offering well wishes and welcoming him home. She also couldn’t help but notice the number of women who looked at him as he rode by faces. Though Magnus returned everybody’s greeting with a curt nod and a few words, he didn’t seem to notice the admiring stares of the women who were practically swooning at his feet.

As they crossed one of the several rock formations to where the castle stood, she recognized Kai as he rushed toward them. The look of relief on his face was palpable as he clasped Magnus’ forearm in the traditional warrior’s grip.

“When ye didnae turn up on the road, I feared the worst,” Kai said.

“We were… delayed,” Magnus said with a pointed look at Ciara. “Then the storm caught up with us so we sheltered in the old lodge.”

“Good thing ye did. The old ones say they havenae seen a storm so cold in an age.”

“Aye. Felt like it,” Magnus said.

Kai turned to Ciara and offered her a small smile. “Greetings,” he said. “I hope yer travels werenae too taxing. Havin’ tae be around this one is tryin’ enough, I ken, so ye have me sympathies.”

“Shut it,” Magnus said.

She laughed despite herself. When Magnus glanced at her though, her smile melted away and she lowered her gaze. Laughing was the last thing she should be doing given what was about to happen to her. But she had to admit, it wasn’t the sort of greeting she had been expecting. She had been anticipating armed soldiers taking her down to the dungeon below the keep and throwing her into a cell to await the torture she was certain was looming.

“Where is Domhnall?” Magnus asked.

“In the hall, waitin’ fer ye.”

“All right, let’s go.”

Kai fell into step beside her as Magnus led them the rest of the way across the land bridge then through the portcullis that guarded the entrance to the castle. Up close, she thought it was even more beautiful. The stones were smooth and etched with what looked like a family crest and as they walked through the yard and into the castle proper, she saw that everything was clean and bright. Servants bustled through the halls, looking as if they were putting up decorations in preparation for a Yule feast and celebration.

Her own father hadn’t celebrated Yule in many years—not since she was a girl—and Ciara missed it. Yule had always been her mother’s favorite celebration and she had always made sure to go all out with decorations, feasting, and the joy she spread to everybody in the village beyond the keep. Her father had tried to curtail the expense of feasting with the common people, but her mother refused to hear of it, making sure everybody was invited to celebrate with them. Seeing the unbridled joy and love her mother had spread had quickly made Yule Ciara’s favorite feast day.

Ever since she’d died though, and her father had canceled all feasting with the common folk, Yule had made the absence of her mother all the more pronounced. It was a memory that sent fresh pangs of grief through her heart.

“Ye have a lovely home,” she said, genuinely impressed.

“Thank ye,” Kai replied. “Our maither, God rest her soul, believed in keepin’ a home warm, lively, and clean. Especially around the feast days. Yule was always her favorite.”

“Mine too,” Ciara said with a small, sad laugh.

“Is yer maither?—”

“Gone,” Ciara answered.

“I’m sorry tae hear that.”

“Thank ye.”

They arrived at a pair of large, wooden doors and Magnus brought them to a halt then turned to his brother.

“Escort her tae me chambers. And dinnae let her out of yer sight. She’s a clever one,” Magnus said then stopped a pair of serving women who were bustling down the corridor. “Fetch her some hot water tae let her bathe and some clean clothes, please.”

“Right away,” said the woman who looked at him with undisguised affection.

“Kai, also make sure she eats,” Magnus ordered. “And I’m serious, keep a close eye on her. Dinnae let her get the drop on ye.”

“Aye,” he said with a grin then turned to Ciara. “Made him look a fool, did ye?”

Ciara shrugged. “A couple of times.”

“Good on ye.”

Magnus glowered at them both for a moment then fixed his brother with an icy glare. “Just dae what I say. Be sure ye’ve got eyes on her at all times.”

“Aye. Aye,” Kai replied. “Go and see Domhnall.”

Magnus’ gaze lingered on her for a moment and Ciara felt her heart flutter, recalling the feeling of being in his arms in that icy river. She couldn’t say it was horrible—no more horrible than waking up in a tangle of limbs with him on the floor of the lodge—but she couldn’t admit that, so she fixed him with a haughty glare instead.

With a curt nod, Magnus turned away and stepped through the large doors then closed the door behind him. Kai turned to her and frowned.

“These willnae dae anymore, methinks,” he said and motioned to her hands. “If I unbind ye, will ye give me yer oath tae behave?”

“I suppose it depends on what ye mean by behave,” she replied. “I promise I willnae kill ye.”

Kai’s laugh was warm and infectious. His demeanor was easygoing and even kind. It was hardly the sort of treatment she had been expecting from the family who’d abducted her. Ciara couldn’t help but smile along with him.

“I suppose that’ll have tae dae,” he said as he started to untie her hands, then paused. “Ye’re bein’ true, eh? Ye’re nae goin’ tae dae anything clever?”

“Right now, I’d like a hot bath and some fresh clothes,” she replied. “I’ll worry about bein’ clever after that.”

“Fair enough.”

He unbound her hands then tossed the rope to the ground and ushered her down the corridor. As they walked, Ciara took in her surroundings. There was just something about the place and the smiling faces of the servants they passed that told her something was different about Dunvegan and the MacLeod family. They had abducted her, yes. But given the circumstances and what they believed she was, Magnus had treated her kindly. He’d been gentle and even solicitous. Perhaps she was na?ve, or just foolish, but Ciara was getting the sense that they never meant her any true harm.

“Why dae ye look so surprised?” Kai asked.

Ciara shook her head. “I just… I had been expectin’ tae be thrown intae a cell given that ye all think I’m a traitor.”

“Ahh. That,” he said. “So, Magnus told ye, did he?’

“He did.”

“And ye were expectin’ us tae throw ye on a breaking wheel or maybe flog ye until ye confess?”

“Well… yes.”

He laughed softly. “We dinnae torture, lass. That’s what the English dae. Domhnall sent us tae catch up with ye because he wanted tae talk tae ye before we decide anything.”

“So… there’s a chance ye’ll all still decide tae execute me fer bein’ a traitor?”

He shrugged. “Anythin’s possible. But that’s nae normally somethin’ we dae. Domhnall isnae a big fan of execution.”

“So, I’ll spend me life in a cell then.”

Kai arched and eyebrow as he looked at her. “Tell me somethin’ and be true about it. Are ye a spy? Are ye workin’ with the English?”

“Nay. A thousand times nay.”

“Then ye’ve got nothin’ tae worry about.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Because Domhnall likes tae look a person in the eye and ask the question himself.”

“And if he daesnae like me answer?”

Kai gave her a smile as he stopped before a large, rounded door. The pair of serving women she’d seen before were walked in with buckets full of water so warm, Ciara could see the tendrils of steam curling off the surface. Another woman walked into the room carrying a tray stacked with an array of hot food that it made Ciara’s stomach rumble.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, lass,” Kai said. “But right now, ye should just take a bath and get intae some fresh clothes and have somethin’ tae eat. Also, I’m goin’ tae post a couple of men outside the door here, so dinnae be clever. We’ll come fetch ye when we’re ready to talk tae ye. Is that all right?”

He flashed her a grin as a pair of men in leather armor with swords on their hips and spears in their hands walked over and took up position on either side of the door. Despite how warm and friendly everything seemed, looking at the two armed men made Ciara feel as if she was indeed being thrown into a cell—albeit one with water and food.

Ciara nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis fine.”

“Good lass,” he said and turned away, then paused and turned back. “Dinnae worry, lass. Everythin’s goin’ tae work itself out. Everythin’s goin’ tae be all right.”

“If ye say so.”

“I dae say so. And as ye’re goin’ tae learn, I’m the smartest in the clan.”

Ciara laughed in spite of herself then nodded and walked into the room. The serving women were just finishing filling the tub with hot water and laying out a fresh dress on the bed. Although somewhat plain, the deep green dress was lovely and looked to be finely made.

“If ye need anythin’ else, just let one of the men at the door ken and they’ll come fetch us, Miss,” the serving woman said.

“Thank ye.”

The woman curtsied then rushed from the room, softly closing the door behind her. Ciara immediately strode to the window and saw she was two stories up. If she tried to escape, she would have to drop from a great height and hope she didn’t break something when she landed.

“Bollocks,” she muttered.

Then she turned and wandered over to the tray heaped with food and began to eat. She grabbed a piece of bread and topped it with spiced meat and cheese, then slathered it with brown sauce and took a bite. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she groaned. It was delicious. She chewed then popped a couple of grapes into her mouth as well.

Ciara stripped down and left her clothes in a pile on the floor and slipped into the steaming water inside the tub. She leaned back and reveled in the warmth of the water as it seeped into her bones. After the long, hard road to Dunvegan, it felt like heaven. And since she was trapped in the castle with nowhere to go, she might as well enjoy the amenities. At least for a little while.

She would figure out how to escape later.