Chapter Ten

Eli and Alaric

Eli and Alaric worked on a section of fertile land to one side of the castle, but inside the castle wall, protected from animals and saltwater. They needed to get grains and vegetables planted. They searched the area and found a nice grove of apple trees, fortunately, and also found a grove of newly planted pear trees and berry bushes outside the wall.

They needed more than fruit and meat.

Maitland had gone back to the mainland to check on Maeve and to bring back more stores. He also planned to recruit a few guards if he could. One of their goals had been to see how many chambers they had and check out the stables and the cellars before they invited more to join them.

They were more than pleased with what they'd found. Though they were late in the planting process, they hoped to grow squash, turnips, and peas. Maitland would return with other supplies too. Hopefully, he would bring more seed, some wool for garments, and more kitchenware for cooking and eating. There was a small supply here, but if they had any visitors, they would not have enough utensils.

There were plenty of chambers on the second floor, and the tower held chambers as well. The stone stable had an extension they could use to place pallets for the guards to sleep in since it was close to the curtain wall. The wooden stable was closest to the gates and would be kept for the stallions because it was roomy and had good ventilation and storage.

The MacDougalls had built a beautiful castle.

Eli grabbed her belly and nearly wretched.

"What is it, Eli?" Alaric's face told her exactly how worried he was. Her husband was fully aware of her odd ability—the ability to feel someone else's pain.

"I feel as if I'm being punched in the belly several times. Do you see anyone around?" Bent over to protect her midsection, her gaze searched the area, making her way to the gate. "A stranger is approaching."

As soon as she stepped outside, she knew the problem. Two men on horseback were headed toward them, one carrying a lass who was either sleeping or unconscious. Once they were close enough to dismount, she could see the bruises on the woman's face.

An evil being had beaten her severely.

Alaric stepped in front of his wife and said, "Identify yourselves. What brings you to Duart Castle?"

The man who held the woman said, "I have a lass in need of your help. The healer at Clan MacVey sent me to you. Said she did not know what to do for her." He approached, holding the lass close.

"Your name? And is she your wife?" Alaric asked.

"I am Thane MacQuarie, chieftain of Clan MacQuarie on the west coast. This is my brother Brian. I found the lass near death on some rocks a distance from the coastline. And we do not know who she is, but she did speak to us after I rescued her from the rock in the middle of the water where her husband left her. She gave me her name then. We will not cause you any harm. We need help."

Alaric sheathed his sword and stepped back, allowing Eli to move forward to look at the lass. Eli took a quick glance, then asked, "Any wounds or broken bones?"

"Nay," Thane replied. "The MacVey healer said nay. Said she only handles bones, wounds, and bairns. We do not know why she doesn't awaken, but she was beaten by her husband."

"From what clan?" Alaric asked, his voice illustrating his annoyance.

Thane snorted and said, "Not our clan but one from Ulva. No one would dare beat their wife like this in my clan."

"Where is your clan again, Chief?" Alaric asked.

"We live in the west. You are new here. I was told you might have a good healer."

Eli nodded. "I was trained by Jennie Cameron and Brenna Ramsay. The best in all the land. Bring her inside, and I'll take a look at her." Eli was forever grateful that Aunt Jennie had been willing to train her. The need for a healer was paramount, and she'd always found the work interesting. Aunt Brenna had not been feeling the best, so Eli had gone to Cameron land instead to learn healer skills, closer to Alaric's family, which allowed him to visit with his brothers while she studied.

Aunt Jennie had prepared for Eli a leather bag filled with potions and ointments, linen squares, and special needles for sewing wounds. She'd already unpacked it, fortunately.

Brian stared at her, an odd expression on his face. "Are you one of those Ramsay archers they speak of?"

Eli couldn't hide her smile. She loved when their reputation as fine archers preceded them. "Aye, I am. But I am a good healer too. What know you of Ramsay women?"

Brian's hand moved to protect his private parts. "Just that you do fine work with your bows."

Eli didn't need to ask any more questions. Men were so foolish. She couldn't help but wonder how they'd heard all the way on Mull.

Alaric led them inside, pointed to a cot in a chamber off the hall to set the lass on, then motioned to the men. "I'll get you each an ale."

Brian followed Alaric back into the great hall, but the chieftain stayed.

Eli assessed the lass the way Aunt Jennie had taught her, then said, "How long ago did you find her?"

"Just after first light."

"Her bruises are still in their early stage. I suspect she is sleeping from exhaustion and pain. Will you ask my husband to find some goat's milk, please?"

Thane nodded and left.

Eli took advantage of the privacy to look at the girl's body underneath her clothing by stripping her and dressing her in a clean night rail. The poor girl was bruised from her thighs to her face, and the worst was in her belly. Then she noticed something else.

She was bleeding rather heavily between her legs. Had she delivered a bairn recently or was it her regular courses? Probing that area brought the woman's eyes open and she nearly screamed, but Eli caught her. "I'll not hurt you. I'm a healer. Did you recently have a bairn?"

"Nay. I lost the bairn."

That explained much. She was too weak was Eli's guess. Between the blood loss and the pain, she would need time to heal. Some liquid, some food, and rest to heal her bruises would be a great start. "What's your name?"

"Tamsin Garvie."

"Who did this to you, Tamsin?"

She let out a deep sigh, then replied, "My husband. I burned his dinner."

"Heartless fool. I'd like a few moments with him. Is he here with you?" Eli put the bold question to her because it wouldn't be the first time someone lied about their identity.

"Nay. He returned to Ulva after leaving me on a rock in the sea to teach me a lesson."

"Or mayhap his intention was for you to die? Have you considered that possibility? Was he angry with you?"

"Aye. I left the pottage over the fire for too long, and I gave him a daughter instead of a son. Can you tell me how to make sure the next one is a lad? I don't know how to do that."

"Neither do I. Neither does anyone. It's God's nature to decide and no one will know until the baby decides to be born. Your husband is a fool." Eli leaned in to look closer at the beautiful lass. "Are your eyes different colors?"

"Aye, but I'm not a witch or anything. My sire had to pay extra to find me a husband."

Eli sat back, a little shocked. "Your sire paid your husband?"

"Aye, double."

"The husband is supposed to pay your father."

Tamsin looked confused, her eyes misting.

"Never mind." She patted Tamsin's hand. "That is no concern of mine. Tell me where your pains are."

"Other than the bruises, my left ankle hurts. I had trouble standing on it."

Eli checked her leg and said, "I'll put a wrap on it."

"Many thanks to you. Will I live?"

Eli nodded just as the door opened and Thane returned with the goat's milk, Brian and Alaric behind him.

Thane noticed immediately. "You are awake?"

"Aye. I am thirsty and tired. Many thanks for saving me, my lord."

Eli helped her to drink the milk in sips.

Thane said, "We shall return in a couple of days. She can stay with you until then?"

Eli nodded. "Of course. She'll need time before she can travel again." Maitland and Derric had returned to the mainland, so it was just the three of them, but they hadn't uncovered any threats yet.

If she had the chance, she'd ask the chieftain why he was in such a hurry, and why he looked as if he wished to kill someone. She let him go for now, but she would learn all she could about this woman and the two men before they returned.

Something odd was going on. They had much to learn about their new clan and the Isle of Mull.