Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Thora could feel Aedan’s simmering resentment as they mounted the roan to return to his castle after digging a small hole to bury the oath stone. Had the situation been any less dire, she would have apologized. As it was, she was wondering what she should do next.

She’d convinced Aedan to attend the Yule festival with her, but she hadn’t told him the whole truth just yet. There was one more piece of the plan that they would need to put into place, if they were to succeed. And she was already sure Aedan would despise her for waiting so long to reveal it.

But if she hadn’t waited, he likely would have refused outright. Now he was bound by his oath. It wasn’t kind, and she disliked herself for it, but it was what needed to be done.

She had no desire to incur his fury, but nonetheless, she couldn’t keep silent. “I am sorry. I didnae wish tae act this way.”

“And yet ye did. Ye kidnapped me, threatened me, and forced me tae dae as ye wished. All fer the sake o’ yer visions.” Aedan spoke the last word with undisguised contempt.

“I did. And I’ll apologize for the damage tae yer honor and yer image, but nae for doing whatever it takes tae secure the future o’ the clans. I can only hope that in time, ye’ll forgive me for it.”

And fer me deceptions.

Aedan’s response was cold as the winter air around them. “Forgive ye? Nae unless these visions o’ yers turn true, fer otherwise ye’ve compromised me reputation as a warrior and a laird fer naething.”

He was right. Thora knew the truth of her visions, but Aedan had no reason to trust them. Not yet. Only time would prove the honesty of her words, and only time would permit the laird of Clan Cameron to understand that she really had taken the only path she saw available to her.

Together they rode back toward the castle, to be met by Mac at the gate. The Cameron second-in-command had a fierce scowl on his face, and it looked like it was taking everything he had not to drag Aedan away and have her thrown in the dungeons. His glare was directed at both of them.

Mac followed them to the stables, and waited until Aedan had dismounted before breaking his silence. “And where were ye? Ye disappeared in the middle o’ a storm, ye were gone fer who kens how many candlemarks, and now ye come riding back with that woman! What the devil possessed ye tae behave so rashly?”

His voice was tight with barely controlled ire, and Thora braced herself for what was coming. Aedan had no reason to defend her.

The laird waited for his second to finish his tirade, then smiled grimly. “’Twas the woman, and a fair dose o’ valerian that possessed me. The lass…” He gestured in Thora’s direction. “...was determined tae have words with me about the reason she came to visit. She didnae give me any choice in the matter.Come to me study and I will explain everything in private.”

“She kidnapped ye?” Mac looked between them. “And she’s nae bound and in the hands o’ the guards?”

“Nay. And she willnae be any time soon. But that’s a matter fer discussion later. Fer now, summon the Council. I need tae speak with them.” Aedan stretched, then scowled at the state of his clothing… and lack thereof. “I’m going fer a bath and a fresh shirt and kilt afore talking with ye and the meeting. Make sure Thora is taken back tae her rooms, and given food and fresh clothing as well. Och, and be sure tae keep two guards with her.”

She couldn’t fault either man for the caution. “Laird Cameron, there’s more we need tae speak about” She glanced at Mac. “Privately.”

Aedan felt a sense of foreboding. He suspected he wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “Very well.”

He opened the door to a room and ushered her inside. “What is it?”

Thora took a deep breath. “Lachlan Ross isnae a trusting sort. If we wish tae evade his suspicions as tae our true purpose and me identity, then ‘tis necessary fer us tae declare ourselves newly weds.”

Aedan blinked, swallowed twice, then blinked again. He couldn’t have heard her right. “I beg yer pardon?”

“Tae succeed, we must convince Laird Ross that we are wed, and happily so.”

By whatever power exists in the universe… what have I done tae deserve this mad tangle o’ affairs bein’ thrust upon me?

For a full half a minute after she’d repeated her statement, Aedan Cameron simply stared at her. Thora braced herself for the reaction she was certain her words would invoke.

“What?” he then asked, the word said in a way that suggested it would have been a roar of disbelief, had he not been half-choked by indignation and fury as well.

She swallowed hard, but stood her ground. “Ye heard me, me laird. Laird Ross must believe I am yer wife.”

“And ye think he willnae question that a laird and an ally was wed without extending an invitation?” A valid point, but Thora had an answer ready for that question.

“Tell him I didnae wish a large ceremony and that we had to wed quickly because me maither was very ill.”

“Why did ye nae tell me o’ this sooner?” Aedan scowled at her, arms folded over his chest and jaw clenched in a way that suggested he was entertaining the urge to challenge her to a bout in the combat ring, woman or no.

“Because ye likely would have refused, and I couldnae allow that.” Thora met his gaze without flinching, and tried to ignore the tingle of excitement that trickled down her spine at the intensity of his expression. “But ye made an oath tae dae what I said had tae be done tae thwart the fate in me visions, so…”

“I ken what I promised, and I ken what it means.” Aedan’s voice was a low snarl that Thora thought should have frightened her more than it did. “I’ll nae break me oath, but I dinnae think it counts as bein’ harmful tae say ye’re a deceitful, conniving, and manipulative wench who deserves a good thrashing - and I might just give it tae ye after this is all over.”

“I agree that ye speak the truth, but ‘tis the only way tae keep Lachlan Ross from suspecting that we’ve other purposes fer attending his Yule celebration.”

“Mayhap. Mayhap nae. We’ll never ken, unless I come up with a better idea, which I dinnae have at present.” His tone was still angry, but it was a controlled anger that cooled his voice to ice.

Thora winced at the anger. She still thought the path she’d chosen was the only answer, but he was right to be ill-disposed because he believed that she could have discussed it with him before asking him to swear the oath. In hindsight, it would have been more courteous. She’d been so focused on the goal she hadn’t considered that.

And if she was honest, she’d been angry that he’d laughed at her the first time she’d tried to convince him of the truth, and that might have motivated her actions as well. After a moment, she nodded, conceding the point. “I’ll try tae remember that going forward. And I apologize fer the position I’ve placed ye in.”

“I suppose ‘tis the best I can expect.” Aedan grunted. “I’ll have the steward and Rhiannon cooperate in ensurin’ ye have a proper wardrobe for Lady Cameron.”

Thora blinked. “Rhiannon?”

To her surprise, Aedan smirked at her. “Rhiannon is the castle seamstress. She’s always complainin’ I dinnae give her enough tae dae.”

Without any further word, he opened the door and with a final, unreadable look, Aedan turned and disappeared inside the castle, Mac only a few steps behind.

Two guards immediately took up places near her, and Thora sighed. She wouldn’t be doing any exploring of Castle Cameron, and she suspected if she asked to go to the healer for a headache potion - she could feel a dull throbbing in both temples - she would be refused. Of course, that was assuming that Maeve would even consent to offer her any care, if she had noticed the missing potion.

Perhaps the best idea was to retire quietly and wait for Aedan to seek her out. It would take a few days for preparations to be made for traveling. She could use that time to gather what things she needed - such as a proper wardrobe for Yule festivities - and perhaps her visions would grant her a little more clarity.

It would be better if they could show her a path that would help Aedan Cameron to believe in her gifts, but her power had never been so kind. She would have to make do with whatever her Sight was willing to show her, and hope not to make too many mistakes.

It would be a difficult task, but at least she had made a start.

With a sigh, she turned to the nearest of the guards. “I ken I need tae return tae me rooms.”

Thora made her way into the castle with a slight smile. Planning wouldn’t get rid of the dull ache in her temples, but it would be better than sitting and waiting by far.