Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I n the cave, Katherine had been swallowed up in a bubble of hers and Domhnall’s making. They had connected so deeply, it felt as though they were one and the same soul. Out there, hidden in that cave, it was as though they were separate from the rest of the world. Like they were the only two people who had, and would, ever exist again.

Once back at the castle, however, she remembered the promise she had made him as they had lay there together. She had lied to his very face, partly because she wanted to believe it, partly because she could not bear to tell him the truth.

The guilt rushed up within her, threatening to overtake her completely, especially once she was left alone in her bedchamber to freshen up and change her clothes. She had sworn to Domhnall that she would never hurt him or cause him pain, and yet, she had already done so, even be it at her brother’s hand.

In fact, what her brother was planning to do was worse than even Domhnall could begin to imagine. While her betrothed was worried about his heart being broken, since his arrival, Reginald was hell bent on destroying him and his entire family.

Pacing back and forth with worry, Katherine muttered to herself.

“I must speak to Reginald. I have to tell him to call the whole thing off. He needs to know that I’m in love with Domhnall, and that I actually want to marry him.”

Even as determined as she was, however, Katherine worried whether her brother would pay any attention to her words. But she had to try.

Leaving her bedchamber after changing her clothes, Katherine tucked the missive she had written into her cloak. She needed to contact Reginald, and she needed to do it before it was too late.

Hurrying down the corridor, she went in search of the messenger boy who had brought her the last two letters from her brother. She searched for some time, and only after asking a maid for his whereabouts, did she find the lad in the kitchen.

“I need you to deliver this for me,” she said, pressing the missive and a coin into the boy’s hand. “It is very important that it is delivered this very day. Do you understand?”

Seeing her intense gaze, the boy looked worried, but nodded his head quickly. “Aye, me lady. I will, me lady.”

“Good. Now hurry.”

Shoveling the rest of the biscuit he had been eating into his mouth, he nodded once more, and turning on his heels, he ran from the kitchen. For a second, Katherine could only watch him go, but upon noticing that she was being observed by the servants there, she too left the area as swiftly as she could.

It was as she was travelling through the corridors, her mind a worried mess about the meeting she had arranged with Reginald for that very night, that she met Magnus as he rounded a corner, the two practically bumping into each other.

“Forgive me,” he said, smiling kindly at her.

“The fault was mine,” Katherine replied.

Thank God I didn’t have the letter with me. Oh, wait. He can read my mind.

As fast as she could muster, Katherine tried to think about anything else but the letter she had sent to Reginald. But in her panic, she could not hold onto a single thought in her mind.

Think, Katherine, think!

Perhaps it was because it was Magnus who was standing before her, but the only thing she could muster were thoughts and recollections of their last sparring session.

“Are you not practicing your excellent sword skills today?” Katherine said, focusing hard on the memory of the time they shared together.

Magnus again smiled, though whether that was because he could read her thoughts, Katherine could not know.

“I was out earlier,” Magnus replied. “Ye ought tae join me again sometime, Katherine. Ye are a fine swordsman, and I am nae too proud tae admit that I found our last session rather challenging.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I would be delighted. But now, I must go, for I am meeting your sisters for a walk.”

He looked at her for a moment, the easiness still evident in his expression. “I hope I’m nae speaking out o’ turn, but I am delighted that ye have settled intae castle life. Ye are a breath o’ fresh air around here.”

Katherine blushed at such a direct compliment, and nodding, she said, “Thank you, Magnus. You are too kind.”

“Nae really. I only speak the truth.”

Once they had parted, Katherine breathed a huge sigh of relief. Based on his words and actions, she thought Magnus had not suspected a thing, though it had been far too close a call for her liking. Perhaps she ought to practice controlling her thoughts more often, for it had only been luck that had helped her out on that occasion.

After supper, Enya and Thora asked Katherine if she wanted to join them in the library that evening.

“We havenae got over the fun we had the other night,” Enya said.

“Indeed,” Thora agreed. “I havenae laughed so much in ages.”

“I’d love to,” Katherine said, pinning on a smile.

In fact, she had had every intention of returning to her bedchamber to while away an hour or two before she could sneak out of the castle, for her missive had instructed Reginald to meet her at the well after dark.

But perhaps spending some time with the twins would alleviate any suspicion. Besides, if she was with Enya and Thora, Domhnall could not arrive in her bedchamber unexpectedly, distracting her or keeping her back from her original plans.

With wine in hand, Katherine brought the conversation round to their gifts. Both sisters were a little surprised that Domhnall had disclosed their secret to her, but Enya, in her usual empathic way, had drawn her own conclusion for his reasons.

“I, for one, am delighted that Domhnall has told ye. Ye are going tae be family after all.”

“What she means tae say,” Thora smirked, “is that she’s glad she doesnae have tae spend unnecessary effort trying tae hide it from ye any longer.”

Katherine giggled, while Enya protested at such an accusation.

“That isnae what I meant at all.”

But Thora did not recant her statement, and clearly enjoyed teasing her sister, for the wide smile did not fall from her face.

When the laughter had faded, Katherine said, “Does it not feel strange, having such abilities?”

Thora shook her head. “Nae anymore. I cannae say it was like that at the beginning. I was young when I began having strange dreams. Me maither and faither thought they were night terrors, and consulting Brianna fer her advice, I was given a tonic tae help me sleep. It worked fer a little while, until one day, I wasnae asleep when they happened. It was only then, that me maither kent a gift had been passed down tae me. O’ course,” Thora smiled as she reminisced, “it didnae feel like a gift at the time.”

“I’m sure it didn’t,” Katherine agreed. She then looked at Enya and said, “What about you, Enya? When did you know you have a gift?”

“Mine came much later than the others. Ye must remember, Katherine, none o’ us kent what gifts we might receive, if any at all. It’s nae like I was putting me hands on people, expecting them tae be healed.”

“Yer gift scared ye, more than mine did me,” Thora added as she gazed at her sister.

“Aye, it did. I remember the exact moment it happened. I was ten years old, and beginning tae wonder if I was tae be the only one o’ me siblings without a gift. They had all discovered their powers by then. Thora and I were out in the gardens playing.”

“Tag,” Thora said confidently. “That’s how I fell.”

“Och, aye.” Enya nodded. “I was chasing Thora when she tripped and fell, cutting her knee. I crouched down beside her and put my hand on her leg tae tak’ a better look. Suddenly,” Enya’s eyes widened, “the cut began disappearing.”

Thora was smiling and nodding at Enya’s recollection. “Ye went screaming off tae maither, leaving me there in utter shock.”

“I did, didnae I?” Enya giggled.

“Then Maither arrived, with ye holding her hand, scared half tae death.”

Katherine listened intently, hanging onto every word of their story.

“I’m not surprised you were frightened,” she said. “You were only a little girl.”

“Maither had a wonderful comforting way about her,” Enya said whimsically. “A few days later, I was completely obsessed with me newfound gift, and went around trying tae heal the smallest o’ cuts and grazes.”

“Only, we werenae allowed tae tell anyone outside o’ the family circle,” Thora explained. “Maither and Faither were adamant about that.”

Katherine frowned. “So, no one else in the castle knows?”

She was surprised to hear that, for she was certain Domhnall had shown his abilities in front of his men. Besides, how were they supposed to keep such a huge thing a secret. It wasn’t just one of them who held a gift, it was all of them.

“They dae now,” Enya said.

“But only a few. Nae everyone,” Thora clarified. “Domhnall’s men ken, fer our brother struggles tae control his emotions, and particularly in battle, he has been unable tae contain his fearsome strength.”

Katherine was not surprised to hear that Domhnall struggled to control his emotions, she had witnessed with her own eyes his formidable and unnatural strength.

“Our gifts are nae as obvious,” Enya added, “and thus, there are only a small number o’ people in the castle who ken about the rest o’ us. The gifts Thora, Kai and Magnus possess are far easier hidden. And while mine isnae obvious, I still need tae use Brianna and the fact that I am a healer tae cloak me abilities.”

“I will admit,” Katherine said, now even more mesmerized by their powers, “until I came to Scotland, I had never heard of such a thing. There is talk of witches, of course, but it is hardly the same thing.”

Thora and Enya both gave her the same knowing look. “I wouldnae be so sure,” Enya said.

Katherine’s jaw fell open. “Really? Are they not just women dabbling with the occult?”

Thora smiled. “Is that what ye think o’ us?”

Shaking her head diligently, Katherine said, “Of course, not.”

“And yet, how are we different?” Thora continued.

While the twins gazed at her, waiting for her to answer, Katherine struggled to come up with a reply. She had been astonished to discover that the MacLeod family had powers, but now, even more so, as she realized that perhaps those poor women who were tortured and sentenced to death possessed the very same.

“I can hardly believe it,” she gasped.

The twins smiled at her, and patting her hand, Enya said, “And yet, it is so, dear sister.”

The conversation continued on; Katherine fully invested in the topics they discussed. It was only the clock striking the hour that reminded her that she had somewhere else to be, and swiftly feigning a yawn, she excused herself, telling the twins that she was tired. When they had bid her goodnight, Katherine slipped up to her room and readied herself to leave.