Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Aedan woke with a pounding head and sore limbs, and the feeling that he’d been dragged over half the countryside by wild horses. There was a foul taste in his mouth as well, and his thoughts were slow, as if his head were stuffed with cotton.

He forced himself to think. He’d been in a meeting with Mac. The woman had arrived, spouting some nonsense about visions and impending doom unless he went to Ross’s Yule. Then he’d gone to his chambers, and she’d come to him. They’d kissed, and then…

The haze in his thoughts fled as he recalled what had happened, fury filling him as he realized how he’d been duped. The girl had drugged him.

He tried to rise, only to realize that he was in a wooden chair, bound hand, foot, and chest with sturdy ropes. The last of the fog cleared from his mind.

He was in a small room - what appeared to be a cottage of some sort. There was an air about the place that suggested it wasn’t inhabited, and a stillness in the air that suggested they were a decent distance from any village. The storm had blown itself out and all he could hear was the soft whisper of wind in the trees, and the crackle of the fire that had been inexpertly laid in the hearth.

The door creaked open, and all Aedan’s curiosity turned to a mixture of amazement and fury as Thora MacTavish walked in, her arms full of wood for the fire. “What have ye done?”

“Kidnapped ye.” Her reply was straightforward as she bent to set the wood by the blaze.

“Why? Dae yer comrades wish tae ransom me?” That was the most likely scenario, though, if that was the case, he might be in trouble. Clan Cameron could ill afford to pay any sort of ransom, much less the amount of gold most brigands would demand for the return of a laird.

“I dinnae have any companions, and I dinnae wish tae ransom ye.” She paused, head tipping to one side as she considered him with those deep blue eyes. “Nae that ye could pay it if I did have that sort o’ plan in mind.”

Aedan froze. “What dae ye mean by that?”

Thora stepped closer to him, her eyes holding his rather like he imagined a snake’s might try to mesmerize a mouse. “I mean yer clan doesnae have the gold tae even pay yer own troops, let alone pay a ransom fer ye. Ye’ve nay money, and ye’ll be lucky if ye can manage enough supplies tae last the remainder o’ the winter, let alone through the spring raids and whatever else may come.”

How does she ken all o’ that? Is there a spy in the castle? Or did she somehow overhear me talking tae Mac?

However Thora had gained her information, it was clear it would do no good for him to try and pretend she was wrong. “Say ye’re correct. What business is it o’ yers? And if ye didnae tak’ me fer a ransom, and ye dinnae have any compatriots lying in wait…” That was hard to believe, given the difference in their sizes. “...then why and how did ye kidnap me?”

“How is simple. I’m nae some weak highborn maid, and ye werenae putting up much o’ a fight after ye’d drunk a dose o’ valerian potion.”

Valerian. In the mead, so he wouldn’t taste it. He was more susceptible to it than most, but how had she known that? Or had she simply been lucky in her choice of potions?

Thora continued speaking. “As tae the why o’ it… because ye werenae listening tae me, and I couldnae think o’ any other way tae force ye tae hear me out.”

“Hear ye out?” Incredulous wrath filled him and temporarily banished the lingering ache in his head. “Ye did all this fer yer so-called visions?”

“Aye, fer me visions, which I ken are true, and for the clans which will fall if ye continue tae be stubborn.” She folded her arms and glared at him. “The future hinges on what ye dae, Laird Aedan Cameron, and I’ll nae see yer clan and others fall tae ruin because o’ yer pride.”

Aedan scowled at her. “Ye kidnapped a laird… dae ye ken what that means fer ye?”

“Aye. I ken what it might mean fer me, but I dinnae care. I told ye afore, ye must listen tae me. And if this is what it takes, then so be it.” She stared back at him, showing no trace of fear or regret. “And I’m prepared tae dae more if ye willnae heed me warnings.”

“What more?” He raised an eyebrow. “Ye think ye could dae worse than kidnapping a laird?”

“Aye. I think I could kill a laird, if it came tae it.” Thora’s jaw clenched. “And I will, if I cannae make ye listen.”

“Ye’re nae serious.” Aedan studied her face. She was pale, but her expression was resolute. For the first time, he felt a flicker of doubt. She was bold enough to intrude in his castle with her strange tales, then to falsely seduce and drug him. She might be bold enough, or mad enough, to take his life.

“Why would ye dae such a thing?”

“Tae avert the fate I saw in me dreams. If ye willnae tak’ me advice and dae as I told ye afore, then I must kill ye. ‘Tis the only other way tae avert the fate that lies ahead for the clans Lachlan Ross will oppress if I fail. And me family will die because of it, so believe me I’m crazy enough tae dae everything in me hands tae save them.”

Her voice was firm, full of conviction. Despite his skepticism, Aedan had to admit that, whether the visions were truth or delirium, Thora certainly believed in them. She also appeared ready and willing to do anything she had to in order to fulfill her beliefs.

“Ye’d kill me, is it?” Perhaps she was bluffing.

“Aye.” From the folds of her skirt - a borrowed skirt, he noted - Thora produced an unsheathed dirk, the edge glinting in the firelight. “Bound as ye are, ‘tis nay difficulty tae put a dagger in yer heart.” She stepped close to touch his chest with it, and he felt the cloth part under the blade edge. “Easier still tae cut yer throat.”

The blade drifted upward to set against his collar. It didn’t touch his skin, but he felt the cold steel of it nonetheless, and the threat it implied.

He might think she was crazy, but he couldn’t ignore her determination. “All right lass, if it means that much tae ye, then I’ll listen tae what ye have tae say.”

“And ye’ll attend the Yule celebration at the castle o’ Lachlan Ross?”

“If that’s what ye demand.”

“And ye’ll help me avert disaster fer the clans, nae matter what it is I ask o’ ye?”

“Tae a point. I’ll nae tak’ an innocent life, or act against another man or woman without proof o’ his or her ill intentions.” There were some points of honor Aedan wasn’t willing to compromise on, not even with a knife to his throat.

To his surprise, she looked rather indignant that he’d even think to suggest such a thing. “I’d nae ask ye tae dae either o’ those things.”

“And yet, ye wish me tae believe me neighbor and ally is plotting against me, and invade his home, fer a mission which a lass I have just met cannae or willnae tell me more about.” He raised a challenging eyebrow. “What guarantee have I, that this isnae some foolish assassination plot, which ye wish me tae undertake, and then tak’ the blame fer?”

She started to speak, and Aedan interrupted her before she could say the words he expected she intended to offer. “Yer word doesnae mean much tae me, given the circumstances lass.”

She paused, then slowly lowered the dirk from his throat. “Well, if ‘twill ease yer concerns, I ken how tae perform a ceremonial binding oath that willnae allow either o’ us tae betray the other. A geas”

Aedan blinked. “A geas, really? A binding oath?”

“Aye, me maither taught me an oath tae summon the spirits as witness and bind two parties tae specific actions, which means that neither party can deliberately cause harm tae the other fer the duration o’ the oath.”

Aedan grimaced uneasily. He had no faith in prophesy or vision, and very little in higher powers, or even luck, but even he wasn’t fool enough to invoke the spirits lightly. To make light of what powers might exist in the universe was to invite misfortune. “Ye want tae invoke the spirits?”

“’Tis only a problem if one o’ us breaks the oath, and I’ve nae reason tae.” Thora arched an eyebrow at him in turn. “Ye profess yerself an honorable man, so it shouldnae pose any danger fer ye either.”

It was a valid argument. Aedan sighed and gave in. “Very well. Untie me, and I’ll tak’ the oath with ye, provided I agree with the terms.”

“And ye willnae try tae escape or harm me if I free ye?” Thora tipped her head.

Aedan inclined his head in agreement. “Me word as the Laird Cameron.”

To his surprise, she set aside the dirk without further comment, and began to undo the ropes wound around him. Within a minute, he was free to stand.

Aedan rubbed his wrists as he watched Thora move about the small cottage. It would be easy to slip past her, or overpower her and leave. However, he had given his word not to do so. Besides, he was far from certain where they were, and there was no way to tell what the weather was like outside, not with the windows tightly shuttered. He wasn’t even sure what time of day it was. It might still be late at night, or it might be well past dawn.

Thora laid out a small, flat stone, a twist each of fir and fennel, and lit some heather in the fire, filling the air with a sweet scent. She also poured out a single cup of wine. “Come here.”

Aedan moved to stand across from her. Thora made a small cut in her hand, and Aedan reached across to grab her hand before he could think better of it. “What are ye doing?”

“A blood oath. ‘Tis a variation on a marriage ceremony, meant tae bind two people taegether without the ties of matrimony.”

“A marriage ceremony?” That was when Aedan recognized the shape of an Oathing Stone. He stepped back. “I’ll nae be marrying ye!”

“I told ye, ‘tis a different ceremony with some o’ the same components.” Thora huffed at him, and offered him the knife. “Will ye tak’ the oath or nae?”

“Nae without kenning the terms ye plan tae set fer me and ye.” He was wary enough of this ‘ceremony’ to begin with - he certainly wasn’t going to cut his hand open and bleed for an oath he hadn’t understood more about beforehand.

Thora considered. “I wish ye tae aid me in stopping the disaster that will befall the clans without our intervention - and tae that end, ye will go with me tae Laird Ross’s Yule celebration and help me thwart whatever plans he has. At nae time will ye attempt tae attack me or harm me in any fashion, through word or deed.”

That was about what he’d expected, given her earlier insistence on attending Laird Ross’s Yule gathering. And the precaution about doing her no harm was a sensible one. “What promises dae ye give tae me?”

“At nay time will I intentionally dae ye any harm, in word or deed, fer the entirety o’ our partnership. And when the threat has passed and the prosperity o’ the clans has been assured, I will leave and ye will never see me again, if that is what ye wish.”

At the moment, he could think of little he would wish for more. “Nay more kidnapping and drugging me?”

“Nay more.” She nodded. “If ye agree tae tak’ this oath, then there will be nae need fer such actions going forward.”

Aedan nodded and reached out toward the stone. He froze when Thora thrust the knife in his direction. “What?”

“As we’re nae doing a wedding ceremony, ‘tis a blood oath we’re taking, and if either o’ us breaks the oath, the curse o’ it will settle in our blood.”

Aedan winced. “What sort o’ curse?”

“Whatever the spirits who preside over the oath deem fit. Me maither said it could dae many things, often mak’ someone ill, or even leave them permanently disabled. Fer a deliberate and severe offense, it might kill, but I dinnae think either o’ us has tae worry about that.”

He wasn’t planning to do anything to invoke such a curse, even if he wasn’t sure about the existence of spirits. He’d rather not risk being struck blind or permanently lamed. But he also had no wish to be stuck in this little cottage for any longer than he had to be.

With a sigh, he gave in. “What dae we have tae dae?”

“Cut yer hand, as I cut mine, and place the blood on the fir. I’ll do the same tae the fennel.” Aedan nodded. Fir for honor and fennel for honesty. A fitting combination.

“Then we’ll lay the bloodied plants on the stone and hold them in place while we recite our oaths. Once the oaths are spoken, we’ll each drink some o’ the wine. Then herbs and wine will be tossed in the fire, and we’ll bury the stone when we leave.”

Blood and wine to bind the oath and seal its truth. Fire and smoke to carry the oath to the spirits, and earth to ground it and seal them to it. He recognized the elements, though it still seemed like nonsense to him. “And ye’re sure the oath is binding?”

“Aye. Me maither swore by it.” Thora nodded and offered him the knife again.

With a grimace, Aedan took it and nicked the back of his hand, so it wouldn’t interfere with his ability to use his weapons. Carefully, he smeared the blood across the fir branch, then placed it on the stone. “Who speaks first?”

“It can be either o’ us.”

Aedan nodded. “In that case, ye can speak first.” He had no intention of swearing an oath, only to have her change the terms when it was her turn to speak.

From the amused tilt of her lips as she began to recite her oaths, Thora knew quite well what he was thinking. Still, he needn’t have worried. Every word she spoke was exactly as promised. She would do him no deliberate harm in word or deed, and when the task was over, she would leave him alone forever if he so desired.

Aedan took a deep breath when it was his turn. Now that he was the one to speak, it was more tempting than he’d expected to refuse to take the oath, or to change his promise to something else, or even to demand more stringent conditions for Thora.

He resisted temptation. “I swear tae go with Thora MacTavish tae the Yule celebration o’ Lachlan Ross, and tae dae whatever she asks o’ me in regard tae securing the prosperity o’ our clans and others their future, within the reasonable bounds o’ honor. At nae time will I intentionally dae her any harm, in word or deed, from now until the task is done.”

Thora nodded, evidently not surprised that he’d added the final term stating that he was no longer bound to avoid harming her at the end of their shared task. Instead, she offered him a smile and, without lifting her hand from the stone, took up the cup between them and drank a deep draft of the wine. Then she offered him the cup.

Aedan took it and sniffed. It was a red wine, not one of his preference, but palatable enough. There was no scent of herbs or potions, and he could see no ill effects on her from drinking it. With a sigh of resignation, Aedan offered Thora an ironic smile and drank.

The wine tasted of nothing but wine. As she had promised, there were no drugs. Aedan drank it almost to the dregs, then stopped, mindful of what she’d said about tossing the remnants of the wine in the fire.

Thora’s hand wrapped around the cup just below his, her slender fingers just brushing his own. Despite his anger, Aedan couldn’t deny the tiny spark of desire that danced through his veins at her touch. In spite of her actions, she was still a beautiful woman, and he wasn’t made of ice.

Together, they cast the branches into the fire, and inhaled the scent of fir and fennel, mingled with the heather and pine of the fire. The wine was poured on the coals, sizzling as it hit. As the last of the steam from it disappeared into the smoke, Thora straightened. “There. The oath is spoken and witnessed. Once the stone is buried, ‘twill be as binding as chains.”

“The sooner, the better. Mac’s likely tae be raising the alarm by now, unless I slept fer less than I thought.” Aedan shifted his limbs, feeling the stiffness of them. He’d probably been asleep for several candlemarks.

“Ye didnae. ‘Tis just past midmorning.” Thora smiled sheepishly. “Ye were more susceptible tae the sleeping potion than I kent.”

So she hadn’t known. She’d simply given him a potion and hoped for luck. Aedan swallowed back a flare of resentment and a desire to do something that might violate his newly sworn oath.

“There’s a horse outside waiting tae tak’ us back tae yer castle.” Thora indicated the door. To his surprise, she offered him a radiant smile. “I’m glad ye were willing tae agree tae aid me. I truly didnae wish tae hurt ye.”

She was gone, stepping out into the overcast morning, before Aedan could form a suitable response. With a soft growl of frustration, he grabbed the stone to bury and followed Thora out into the cold morning air.

It was going to be a long Midwinter and Yule festival season.