Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

W hile Ada had said the waterfall was not too far from her cottage, it still took them an hour to get there. It would have taken far less time had they been riding, and Owen made a mental note to try and secure a horse when they returned.

They had found the river, and had been following the trail that ran beside the bank. For some time, Owen wondered if they had not taken a wrong turn, but then, after a little while, Iseabail said, “Dae ye hear that?”

Stopping on the track, he strained to listen, and sure enough, he could hear the faint sounds of thundering water.

“We’re close,” he said.

Not long after that, they came across the waterfall. Iseabail gasped, and Owen could understand her shock, for while the healer had told them where they would find it, she had certainly neglected to mention the size of it, for it must have been thirty feet high. Perhaps the old woman had thought it of little consequence, but then, she was not the one having to climb it.

Water battered down into the river, causing what looked like mist to form on the larger body of water beneath it.

“How are we supposed tae get up there?” Iseabail cried, looking at Owen worriedly.

Owen shook his head. “I dinnae ken, but we have tae try.”

After the initial shock, they continued on, the thunderous noise becoming more deafening the closer they went. The climb up to it consisted of a steep wall of jagged rocks, and upon reaching the foot of it, Owen turned to Iseabail.

“I will go. Ye stay here. It’s too dangerous.”

“Indeed, I certainly will nae stay here,” she argued. “I have come all this way. I’m nae backing out now.”

“But, Iseabail?—”

“Nay, Owen. We will climb it together,” she said determinedly.

Securing the bag across his chest, Owen went first, and while still at the lower part of the rocks, he was able to remain upright. The further they climbed, the more it became apparent they would have to use their hands and their feet. Fearing for Iseabail’s safety, he kept turning back to look at her, checking that she was all right, and didn’t need his help. He did wonder, given her stubbornness, whether she would ask for it, even if she did.

The spray from the waterfall soaked through their clothes, making the climb even more difficult. They were what looked like half way when they came to a plateau.

Turning to Iseabail, Owen said, “I think there is a cave hidden behind this waterfall. Look.”

He pointed ahead toward a darkened part of the rock that seemed to disappear into the rock face.

“All right,” Iseabail nodded. “Let’s keep going.”

Taking the lead once more, Owen moved across the precariously wet rock, taking it slow and steady. Holding on to the rock face, he turned back to look at Iseabail, but she was far too busy keeping a keen eye on her footing. He couldn’t blame her. One wrong move and the fall onto the rocks below would certainly be their end.

Rounding the edge, Owen stepped into the cave, and turning back to Iseabail, he offered a hand while she took the final steps to join him.

“God, I dae hope we never have tae dae that again,” she gasped.

“We still have tae get back down yet,” Owen replied, looking at her warily.

Iseabail shook her head. “Well, let’s nae worry about that fer now.”

She walked past him and moved several feet deeper into the hollow. It did not go much further, and so, there really were not many places they could look. As he scanned one side, Iseabail scanned the other.

“There,” she said.

But even before he turned to look, he could hear the disappointment in her voice. Sure enough, when he turned to face her, Iseabail was standing in front of a hollowed-out place that would be the perfect shape and size for a large crystal. But alas, the hole was just that. A hole with nothing in it.

Iseabail dropped her head into her hands, and to his surprise, she began sobbing. He took two steps and reached her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. He held her there and allowed her to release the despair and frustration she was feeling. He too, felt the same, but it was not his family being held captive and relying on him to save them.

She had suffered so much disappointment on their journey so far, and acknowledging the fact that many others might have given up by now, he admired her tenacity and determination. Indeed, she had plenty of motivation, for the fate of her father and brother lay at her feet, but still, one could only face so many dead ends before despair overtook them.

She finally settled herself, and sniffing, she pushed herself away from his chest.

“Are ye all right?” Owen asked.

It was a stupid question, but he felt like he had to say something. He knew well that she was far from all right, but he could think of nothing else to say.

“It feels like me world is falling apart,” she croaked. “I have spent so long already looking for this damned crystal, and we are thwarted at every turn. I dinnae even ken if me faither and braither are still alive. What if Laird Sutherland has grown tired o’ waiting? What if he’s killed them already in his frustration?”

Owen took a step closer and grabbed her shoulders. “Dinnae speak o’ such things, Iseabail. Ye cannae ken that. Thoughts like that will only drive ye mad. Ye have tae continue tae believe that they are still alive, and that all yer efforts will free them.”

While Owen gazed down at her, Iseabail remained with her head down, but she nodded, as though accepting his words.

“Nae matter what happens,” Owen continued. “I’ll be right here, by yer side.”

She gazed up at him then, her red-rimmed eyes glistening with the remaining tears. “Thank ye, Owen. Thank ye fer everything ye’ve done.”

He gazed down at her, wishing he could take away her worry and angst. “We should go. There’s nay more we can dae here.”

Iseabail turned away from him and took the few steps back to the entrance of the cave. Taking a deep breath, she took hold of the rocks at her side, and started the treacherous climb down.

Owen followed, careful of his footing on the wet rocks. The waterfall battered spray against his face as he carefully took side steps, keeping his back tight against the wall. They reached the small ledge, the only part of the rock face that offered more a than a couple of inches to step on. Iseabail turned to look where he was, and in doing so, moved her foot closer to the edge.

She gasped, losing her balance as rocks crumbled under her feet, tumbling away before they were swallowed up by the pounding water below.

“Argh,” she cried out.

But Owen’s hand flew out and grabbed her wrist before she fell. Relief washed over her face, and Owen’s heart thumped in his chest as panic washed over him.

“That was?—”

Suddenly, the stone beneath her feet gave way completely, and Iseabail slipped off the edge.

“Argh,” she screamed, as her body fell at great speed, only to crash back against the rock face with the tension of Owen’s stronghold.

The only thing stopping her from plummeting to her death was the grip Owen had on her wrist. But her clothes were wet, and he could feel her slipping.

“Hang on,” he bellowed.

“Help me,” she screamed. “Oh, God. Help me.”

Trying to get a firm footing so he didn’t fall over the edge and kill them both, Owen bent at the knee and pulled as hard as he could. She dangled precariously above the body of water, the waterfall deafeningly loud as it fell beside them from the great height before crashing into the basin at the bottom.

With all the strength he could muster, while at the same time, having barely any rock to stand on, he slowly pulled her up, inch by inch. The stone at his feet crumbled under the pressure of both their weights, and trying to keep an eye on Iseabail, as well as the loose foothold, Owen heaved her up slowly.

“Please dinnae let me die, Owen. Please.”

“I’ve got ye,” he huffed. “Ye’ll nae die this day. I promise ye that.”

Though he wanted to believe those words with all his heart, the rock beneath him continued to crumble, and he wondered, in those tenuous seconds, whether they might both not see another day. Besides that, his injured arm felt weak and was causing him a great amount of pain.

Iseabail lifted her other hand and grabbed onto his arm, but her fingers slipped against the wet cloth of his tunic. Never before had he seen her look so terrified, and while he wanted to instill her with confidence, he too was scared. Grabbing her with his other hand, now he could reach her better, and he continued to pull. Inch by agonizing inch, she rose a little at a time.

Iseabail turned her head and looked down, gasping at the dreadful drop.

“Look at me, Iseabail,” Owen yelled. “Keep yer eyes on me.”

Her body was now level with the plateau he stood upon, but there was still a way to go. Breathing through the ache in his arm, and grunting with the effort, he gave a final push of determination and brought her level to his body.

Immediately, Iseabail threw her arms around his neck, panting in fear.

“Dinnae let me go. Please, dinnae let me go.”

Owen now wrapped his arms around her body, and holding her tightly against him, he whispered, “Never.”

The two stood there for a long moment, both panting, their hearts thumping against their rib cage. Iseabail held him with a vice-like grip, and while he did not want to crush her with his strength, he too held her securely. But after another moment, Iseabail had still not moved, and Owen realized she was frozen with fear.

“We have tae get down from here, Iseabail. The ledge is breaking away, and I dinnae ken how long it can hold us.”

“I’m too scared,” she replied, her voice trembling.

“I ken. But we havenae any choice. All that effort will have been fer naught if we dinnae move.”

Painfully slowly, Iseabail eventually loosened her grip, but Owen still kept a tight hold of her, holding her against his body.

“We’re going tae move very slowly, all right?” he said in the calmest tone he could muster.

Iseabail nodded, the overwhelming fear still gripping every part of her.

“I want ye tae take a step tae yer right.”

“I’ll fall,” she cried. “I cannae dae it, Owen. I’ll fall.”

Owen shook his head. “Nae, ye willnae. I’m nae going tae let go o’ ye, I swear. But I need ye tae take that step, Iseabail.”

Even as her whole body trembled, she shifted slightly, and feeling her leg moving, Owen kept a tight grip on one arm, while she used the other to balance herself against the wall.

“Good. Now the other leg,” he said, watching her like a hawk.

She didn’t speak, perhaps because she couldn’t, but she did as he directed. She now faced the wall with her two hands against it, while Owen still had a solid grip on her arm.

“All right. Let’s keep moving. One slow side-step at a time.”

And with Iseabail facing the wall, and Owen with his back against it, they slowly made their way down the rock face. When the terrain beneath their feet became a little easier, he let go of her arm, leaving her to climb down herself. Eventually, they arrived at the very bottom, where Iseabail bent herself at the waist, blowing great breaths from her lungs in relief.

Owen placed a hand on her back. “Are ye all right?”

“I am now,” she panted.

He then moved further on and found a soft, grassy part of the river bank. Throwing the bag onto the ground, he nearly collapsed beside it. He had fought many men, found himself in dangerous situations, even battled for his life, but he could not compare any of those circumstances with the terror he had experienced today.

Iseabail’s life was at risk, and I cannae lose her.

It was true, and he could not deny it. She had found a way into his heart. Unwittingly, she had discovered a path that no other before her had found. A path Owen did not even know existed.

Several minutes later, Iseabail joined him, still seemingly stunned at their experience.

“We should eat. It’ll make ye feel better,” he offered.

“I’m nae hungry,” she replied quietly.

Owen let that comment slide and dug into the bag, retrieving the parcels of food Ada had packed for them. There was bread, meat, fruit, and wine. Opening the parcels up, he laid them out in front of them both, and leaving Iseabail the option of changing her mind, he tore off some bread and took some meat.

From this perspective, the waterfall looked beyond beautiful. Now they were safely on the ground, it was awe-inspiring, while at the same time, rather serene.

“I like the view from down here much better,” he said wryly.

Iseabail slowly turned her head and looked at him. She did not smile, however, and as light-hearted as he was trying to be, he understood why. Survived they had, but she still had a heavy burden on her shoulders.

“We’ll rest here a while, and let our clothes dry out,” he said. “Then we’ll think of a new plan and a new place to start looking. Whatever happens, Iseabail, I promise we’ll save yer faither and braither.”

Iseabail watched as Owen slept soundly. He had laid down to rest, and in doing so, had winced. It was only then that Iseabail had remembered his wound, but when she asked him about it, he had told her he was fine, and that he just needed to rest. It was not long after he had closed his eyes, that Iseabail watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slipped into peaceful slumber.

I have been so selfish. I should have waited another day, until he was properly well.

But Owen had told her he felt fine. In fact, he had been as eager as she, to leave the healer’s cottage in search of the waterfall and the crystal, for all the good it had done them. Clearly, he had not been fine at all.

Or perhaps, the strenuous effort o’ saving me caused him more harm.

Gazing down at him, Iseabail admired him, a soft smile on her lips as she drank him in. Now her fear had fully abated, she could think straight again, and at that very moment, her heart was full of love and gratitude for what he had done for her. But the smile slipped as she thought of what lay ahead.

He had said earlier, that they would find a way to save her family, but Owen could not know, because she had not told him, that saving her family involved much more than just retrieving the crystal. There was a final demand, a demand that would separate her and Owen forever.

And yet, what choice did she have? If she did not acquiesce to Laird Sutherland’s wishes, all her efforts would be wasted, for she knew the cruelty of the man. No doubt, he would not hesitate to slaughter Keane and her father, if he had not already done so.

Perhaps ye should tell Owen. That way, ye dinnae have tae carry this burden on yer own any longer.

But telling him would pain him deeply. Had he not already suffered enough because of her? How could she now, especially after he had saved her life, pain him even more?

He’s going tae find out sooner or later.

Yes, he would. And perhaps selfishly, Iseabail would prefer it was later. They didn’t have much time together, and she wanted to relish every last moment, not spend it in awkward moments, for surely, if she confessed what she knew, it would cause a rift between them.

Resting her head on his chest, she listened to the soft thud of his heart, allowing his chest to lift and fall beneath her.

“I love ye so much, Owen Sinclair,” she whispered. “But I am afraid the gods have made their choice, and me life isnae tae be spent with ye.”