Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A t dawn the next morning, they were up dressing and preparing for their trip. Tadhg had decided that as few people as possible should know they were leaving so early, nor that Alana was going with him. He had been down to the kitchens the night before and asked the cook for some provisions to take with them on a picnic the following day. No questions were asked, and he arranged for the supplies to be delivered to their chamber later that evening.

"I'll take our things down tae the stables," Tadhg told Alana as he packed their spare clothing in his saddlebags. "We should leave a soon as possible."

"All right. I'm just gonnae run up and see Moira. We need tae take a few medicinal herbs and supplies with us with us, just in case of any emergencies," she replied. "I'll nae be very long."

"I'll meet ye in half an hour in the courtyard," he called after her as she went out the door.

Alana ran up the stairs to the infirmary. The hour was very early, so she was not surprised to find Moira still in her night things, enjoying a cup of tea by her fire.

"Hello there, Alana," the old healer said, greeting her unexpected visitor with a welcoming smile. "Why, ye're certainly up with the lark. What brings ye here at the crack of dawn?" She eyed Alana's warm outfit and riding boots. "Off somewhere, are ye?"

"Good mornin', Moira, I'm sorry tae disturb ye so early, but me and Tadhg are going' out fer the day, fer a picnic," Alana replied. She did not like lying to the old lady, but that was the cover story she and Tadhg had agreed on. They did not want anyone, least of all Blaine, preventing her from accompanying Tadhg.

"A picnic, eh? Now, that's a romantic man ye have there, lassie. Ach, I envy

ye, I admit. 'Tis a long time since old Moira had any romance in her life." She gave Alana a comically wistful look which made her laugh.

"I was wonderin' if I could trouble ye fer a few herbs and maybe a salve tae take with us," she said. "Better safe than sorry. Plus, the midges are very troublesome at this time of year."

"Very wise, me dear. Always be prepared, that's what me old maither used tae tell me, and I've never had cause tae disagree. Help yersel' tae whatever ye need. Ye never ken what might befall ye, even on a picnic."

"Thank ye, Moira, ye're very kind," Alana thanked her and went to the shelves, picking out a few essentials she thought they might need.

"There's some cloth bags on the back of the door," Moira told her. "Ye can put yer things in one of them."

"Och, that'll be grand," Alana replied, going to fetch one of the bags and then packing the items she had chosen inside.

"'Tis terrible that we've heard naethin' about the laird, is it nae?" Moira suddenly asked.

"Aye, terrible," Alana said, though she was unsure if she agreed or not.

"He'd love tae meet ye," the old healer went on. "Ye ken he's been searchin' fer ye and yer maither fer years?"

"Aye, I heard that." Alana packed the last of the supplies and turned to thank the healer. She felt a little bad because it was obvious Moira thought highly of John MacIver even if she did not. "I hope he comes home safe, and I get to meet him," she said, wishing to soothe the old lady's concerns.

"Aye, lassie, me too, but with every day that passes, I have tae admit, me hopes are fadin'. But still, we must keep prayin' fer his safe return, eh?"

"Aye, we'll keep prayin'. Now, I must run. Tadhg's waitin' fer me. I'll see ye later, Moira, and thank ye again fer yer help."

"Goodbye, dear, and enjoy yer picnic. Give that big, braw husband of yers a wee kiss from me!" the healer called laughingly as Alana left.

She hurried upstairs to gather her last few belongings for the journey, wondering what would happen if she kissed Tadhg and then claimed it was not for her but for Moira. The very idea made her smile as she skipped down the stairs and out of the keep, on her way to meet him.

The courtyard was deserted but for him, holding the reins of their horses, and Knox Stewart. As she went over to join them, she noticed the laird had his bulging saddlebags slung over his shoulder and realized he too was leaving the castle.

"Good mornin' tae ye, Laird Stewart," she said, returning his smile. "It seems yer off early this mornin' as well'."

"'Tis Knox," he told her. "Aye, I'm off home at last. The documents I was waitin' fer came last night. It turns out there's nae need fer me tae stay here any longer."

"Ye dinnae sound too pleased about it," Tadhg observed.

"Ach, I'm disappointed. What with things as they are, it looks as though the treaty between me and Laird MacIver is off the table, fer the time bein' at least. I just hope John's all right and he turns up in one piece before too long. Blaine will keep me informed of any developments." He looked at Tadgh. "Speakin' of which, I wish ye every success on yer mission. Mayhap ye'll be able tae solve the mystery of what's happened tae John."

"Ye told him where we're really goin'?" Alana asked Tadhg, surprised.

"Aye, I trust him tae keep his mouth shut," Tadhg assured her. "Anyway, he owes me."

Knox laughed as Alana looked at them both in puzzlement. "What fer?"

"Ach, I'll let him explain it tae ye," the laird replied. "I must be on me way tae the stables and tae get goin'." He put out his hand to Tadhg and they shook heartily and clapped each other on the back in a manly fashion.

Then he turned and bowed gallantly to Alana and kissed her hand. "Goodbye tae ye, me friends. It's been a real pleasure tae meet ye. Take care of yerselves, and make sure tae come and visit me when ye get the chance. I'd be delighted tae have ye as me guests."

"Thank ye, Knox, I hope we can take ye up on that kind offer sometime soon," Tadhg said.

"Aye, it's been grand tae make yer acquaintance, Knox," Alana added.

"All right. I'm off. Hope tae see ye soon again," Knox called over his shoulder as he strolled off in the direction of the stables.

"Have ye got everythin' ye need?" Tadgh asked her.

"Aye, here's the medicines, and here's a few of me things," she replied, handing them over. He stowed them neatly in her saddlebag and then handed her up onto the mare's back. He swung himself up onto his stallion.

"Are ye sure ye still want tae come with me?" Tadhg asked suddenly.

"Aye, of course. Did I nae say so?"

"I just wanted tae make sure ye hadnae changed yer mind."

"Nay, I havenae." She glanced uneasily around the courtyard, wondering if prying eyes were watching them. She could see nothing, but for some reason, she felt safer going scouting with Tadhg than she did staying at her father's castle. "Come on, let's get out of here before the whole place sees us leavin'.

"Aye, let's go," Tadhg agreed. They gently kicked up their mounts and trotted out of the castle gates side by side.

"How far is this place we're suppose tae be headin' fer?" she asked when they were underway.

"Over a day's ride. We'll have tae find somewhere tae camp overnight tonight and carry on tomorrow."

She looked up at the sky. The sun had not long come up, but its warmth was being blocked by scudding clouds driven by a stiff breeze. "It looks like we might have some rain later, so I hope we can find somewhere tae shelter where we willnae get wet."

"I'll find us somewhere, dinnae worry yer head about that. I'll nae let ye get wet," he promised.

She had to smile. "I appreciate that ye always have me back, Tadhg, but even ye cannae control the weather."

"I'm nae stupid enough tae think I can. I cannae stop the rain from fallin', but I can find us somewhere dry and warm tae sleep."

"I'm curious, what is this business with ye and Knox? How come ye said he owes ye?"

Tadgh laughed and then explained what had happened and the reason why he had not recognized Knox at first.

"So, ye really saved his bacon by the sound of it," Alana observed when he had finished. "Ye're a bit of a hero, eh?" she said teasingly, secretly impressed by his bravery.

"That's me, the big hero," he said, waggling his eyebrows and making her laugh. They rode in companiable silence for a while, and Alana was surprised to find she felt quite relaxed in his company.

"This reminds me of old times." she said, feeling a little sad as she recalled their former happiness. "D'ye remember all the times we used tae go riding together?"

He glanced over at her. "D'ye really have tae ask? They're engraved in me memory, Alana."

That touched her deeply. "Aye, mine too. I tried tae forget them, but it seems they willnae go away," she confessed.

"We could have them again if ye were nae so stubborn," he said matter-of-factly.

"But I am," she replied. "Very stubborn. And with good reason. I've nae wish tae get me heart trampled all over again by ye."

"Aye, so ye've said a hundred times," he replied, with sigh so heavy with regret, she could not help but feel a bit sorry for him. But she reminded herself of the pain he had once caused her. He's a good man, and he takes care of ye, but he's nae the same man ye used tae love.

"Let's nae talk about past, it makes me feel said," he said after a while. "Tell me what ye made of that business at the council meetin' yesterday."

"'Tis nae different tae when we first arrived. It seems tae me that neither Blaine nor his council have any idea what tae dae about me faither. If I was Blaine and I was as anxious tae get me faither back safe, as he says he is, then I'd be out searchin' fer him mesel' night and day. Rather than finding him, all they seem tae care about is who's gonnae replace him."

"Aye, I think so too. And 'tis obvious I'm naethin' more than a big inconvenience tae them. They'd like tae get rid of me if they could."

"Well, they cannae. Ye're me husband, and ye're nae goin' anywhere," she said, feeling defensive on his behalf again, though she was confused as to why she should feel that way.

"I'm glad ye seem tae be gettin' the right idea at last," Tadhg replied jokingly. But then he added more seriously, "This is why I suggested we pretend tae be wed. There's nae doubt that if ye'd come here a single lass, they'd have had ye married off ate Blaine at the drop of a hat, whether ye would have wanted it or nae."

"What! Ye think they could have forced me tae wed him? I'd have refused."

"Alana, sometimes I worry that ye're a wee bit na?ve about certain things."

"And what exactly d'ye mean by that?" she asked, offended.

"These are nae ordinary folks like us. Well, like ye used tae be. Now, ye're a laird's daughter. As far as the council is concerned, yer life's nae yer own. Ye ken how it is. Look at Maddison and Odhrán."

"What about them? Odhrán's been in love with Maddison ever since Laird Murphy kidnapped her and kept her locked up at Lennox Castle."

"Aye, he loved her, and she hated him. But she still had tae marry him," Tadhg clarified. "She was forced tae marry the man she thought had slaughtered her father by order of the King, fer political reasons."

"But she loves him now."

"Aye, but it took them months tae get through it, and if Odhrán had nae been so much in love with her and stuck it out, it could have been a disaster for them both. He was miserable fer ages. I ken because me and Liam had tae commiserate with him. And there were times when he almost gave up.

"But me point is, as a laird's daughter, ye're a playing piece on a game board, tae be moved about at the whim of powerful men tryin' tae carve out more power fer themselves. And if we had nae pretended tae be man and wife, ye can bet that's what would be happenin tae ye right now with Blaine."

"D'ye really think so? Even if I refused tae go through with it," she asked, the reality of her situation sinking in.

He gave a bitter little laugh. "What ye want wouldnae come intae it. This council, all they care about is blood lines, legitimacy, legacy. Yer happiness is inconsequential tae them. And make nae mistake, Blaine wants it too."

"Because he's adopted, nae of me faither's blood, ye mean?"

"Of course. Tae wed the laird's daughter would give him all the legitimacy he needs tae take over as Laird MacIver."

Alana felt slightly sick. "Ye ken, Tadgh, when ye first convinced me we should pretend ye were me husband, I didnae really take in the danger I could be in. Now, I can see ye were right tae be afraid fer me. I'm beginnin' tae think I made a big mistake comin' here. I was just curious about John MacIver, the man who abandoned me and maither. I didnae bargain on any of this."

"I'm sorry it's turnin' out like this fer ye. But dinnae give up yet. Mayhap we'll track yer faither down and the matter will be resolved."

"I certainly hope so," she murmured in reply, "but I'm nae convinced things will ever be resolved between me and the man claimin' tae be me faither."