Chapter Twenty-Three

Alaric found Maitland's sword and carried it to him, the sight of it settling the other man immediately.

"Many thanks to ye, Grant," Maitland said, trying to push himself up but failing.

Alaric cleaned off both Maitland's and his own sword on a clump of weeds off to one side. It would do for now. He had to tend Maitland's wound before he did anything else.

Alaric fetched a clean tunic from his saddlebag, tore it into strips, and wrapped them tight around Maitland's arm.

"Where are the others?" Maitland asked. He seemed less confused than he had before, and Alaric was grateful.

"Dyna's coming, and I think she has Willum and Thea with her."

"How bad is it, Alaric?" Dyna called as she hurried toward them.

"He'll survive, but he needs stitching."

"I'm fine," Maitland said. "Where are the others?"

Willum joined them in time to answer. "Tevis and Wenna are right behind us. We're only missing Eli."

Alaric's heart stuttered then raced, the sudden thunder in his chest telling him he needed to find Eli. "When did ye see her last? Thea, she was still in the tree with ye?"

"Aye," Dyna answered. "She came down with us, but I noticed she was wandering across the battlefield. I called to her once, but she didn't hear me. She's uninjured. I needed to find ye all first."

"Hell," Alaric cursed. "She's probably confused by all the injuries."

Dyna crossed her arms. "What are ye talking about?"

"She can feel injuries. If someone is severely hurt near her, she feels it in her own body. So she is probably in terrible pain, if she's walking among the bodies. I'll go find her."

A scream rent the air, and he knew it was Eli. "That's her."

He ran, following the sound of her scream. She screamed and screamed and screamed. He zigzagged through the sea of bodies, nearly running into Sir James. He didn't pause, merely nodded as he raced by.

By the time he got to Eli, her face was covered in tears and her eyes were so red they had to be sore. She called his name, and he grabbed her.

"I've got ye, love," he said, hanging tight even as she tried to push him away. It was a moment before she recognized him. When she looked at him, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder.

"Ye are hale, Alaric?"

"I am."

"The others?"

"All will live. Maitland may need stitching. None other is even scratched."

"I'll do it."

She stepped back and peered up at him. "I'll help any of the Scots who need help, but I'll no' walk through the bodies again."

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, a deep kiss to let her know that he meant what he'd said before. When he ended the kiss, he used his thumb to brush away the tears. "Ye can cry, lass."

"Don't tell anyone. I was so worried about ye and…" Her breath hitched. "And I love ye too. How do we get to the others? I cannae walk across this field again."

"Ye felt their pain, did ye no'?"

"Aye. It was horrible."

"Come, I'll take ye to Maitland."

He lifted her into his arms. "No more walking past the injured. I'll carry ye to the side."

She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. Despite his surroundings, Alaric felt as if all was right with him now, with Eli leaning on him and he supporting her. He picked his way to clear ground, then set her down. They walked around the battlefield to Maitland and the others.

By the time they got there, Eli was breathing more easily, and she dropped to Maitland's side to look at his wound. "I can sew it, Maitland. But I dinnae have good tools. And ye know how Aunt Brenna is about making it clean first. What say ye?"

Sir James came behind her and said, "I have a few who need stitching. Can ye help them, too?"

Eli nodded. "I'll try, but I need needle and thread."

Sir James said, "I know a healer not far from here. She will have the tools ye need, and we have enough injuries ye both will have enough to do. Did ye lose any, Menzie?"

"Nay. How many have ye lost?"

"A few. Not as many as the English. I thank ye for yer assistance. I'll gather our men and lead ye to the healer."

Alaric watched Sir James shout instructions to his men, sending them off to find the survivors. He stayed close to Eli, not quite willing to be apart from her yet. He spoke with Dyna while Willum and Tevis helped with the aftermath of the battle.

"How did this battle compare to others, Dyna?" he asked. His arms ached from the weight of his sword and the blows he'd dealt.

"Worse than most. Larger than most. I didnae expect to see that many English. They had more than three score. They must have had another unit join them, though they lost most of them."

Sir James gave a final order, then rejoined them, leading his horse. Just before he mounted, he turned to Maitland and Dyna. "I must say that this battle was one of the most difficult I've ever fought. I am truly indebted to ye for yer assistance. Ye were a blessing to my men."

***

Sir James led them away from the battlefield. Eli rode double with Alaric on her horse, allowing his to rest after the battle. She was too weak to ride on her own. She'd lost her strength to the battle, though she didn't understand why. She had to admit that letting Alaric take over suited her just fine. Just this once. There were a few things she needed to settle in her mind before they arrived at the healer's cottage.

First of all, she'd cried. "I cried, Alaric."

"Aye. I'd call it sobbing hysterically, but call it as ye wish. 'Tis a most normal thing to do."

"I never cry. And no one else did."

"Thea and Wenna both cried, and I believe Tevis shed a few tears also."

"But no' Dyna. I wonder why." She hated to admit she'd lost all control, but crying had helped her to release the pain and horror from her body.

"Dyna has been in more battles than ye have. Dinnae feel badly about it."

"But ye didnae cry. Why do men no' cry?" She'd never seen her father cry. She'd heard of a few times when Grandsire had cried, but no' often.

"I cry. I didnae cry today because I drained all my tears when I saw my brother lying in that bed and no' moving. The thought of my brother never awakening again was a terrible blow. I cried and I didnae care. Dinnae be embarrassed. Sometimes yer body needs it. And yer mind. It relieves the grip the fear has on yer insides."

She considered his words then said, "I suppose ye are correct."

Her next thought was on the words she'd uttered. And the ones she'd heard from Alaric. "Did ye mean what ye said before the battle started?" She didn't even turn back to look in his eyes because she feared what she'd see. Would he deny his words? Did he truly love her? Or was it something someone said before a battle?

"I did. I know ye dinnae think of it often, but we are handfasted. I expect us to be so for the full year and a day, and married for many years more. I'm sorry for denying ye before. I was upset from all that happened when I went home. The truth is, ye were the only nice thought I had since the accident. I have verra fond memories of our first night together. Ye dinnae mean yer words?"

"I did." The tension in her chest eased once he admitted his feelings were true. No doubt battle had pushed them together, but when it was all over he came for her. When everyone else had gone, Alaric was there. "I'm still trying to comprehend how frantic I felt in the middle of the battlefield. What an awful place."

"Most true. Did ye feel their wounds?"

"Aye. Many of them. I didnae expect it, since I've only felt the pain of loved ones before. I dinnae understand how it happens to begin with, or today specifically. I'm so confused."

He rubbed her arm and said, "Dinnae think on it now, lass. Think on tending Maitland and helping the other Scots where we can, then I'll take ye home to Ramsay land."

"Ye'll go with me?"

"Aye."

"Do ye have a purpose?"

"Aye, I wish to speak with yer parents. I'm no' sure if I've met yer mother."

"I'd be happy to introduce ye." She leaned back against him, content for the moment with the understanding between them.

They came into a small village, and Sir James pointed to a larger cottage that sat behind a line of smaller huts.

"That one in the back. She's always there. Her name is Agnes."

The men who needed help lined up outside the cottage while Sir James, Eli, and Alaric led Maitland inside. Eli introduced herself.

The healer was an older woman who seemed unflappable, given her moderate reaction to news of the battle. Agnes was wide in the hip but had compassionate green eyes. Her hair was black with strands of gray throughout. Her hands were a bit gnarled, but Eli could see how much the woman used them, jars and goblets of various sizes around the chamber, full of ointments and potions, if Eli were to guess.

"Ye are related to Brenna Ramsay?" she asked Eli.

"Aye, Brenna is my aunt."

"My, but ye are a blessed one. And what about Jennie Cameron?" The woman's eyes lit up when she mentioned Aunt Jennie.

"Aye, I know her too." She found a place for Maitland to sit, then worked at cleaning Maitland's wound, choosing her tools carefully before sewing it. The healer gave Maitland a small drink of whisky, which he seemed grateful for.

The first of Douglas's men came in with a large wound on his leg, and Agnes began giving instructions to Thea and Wenna, who'd come inside to assist. Alaric sat across from Maitland, and the two spoke in hushed voices.

Agnes looked over at Eli's work. "Please explain anything ye are doing. The two sisters are the finest healers in all the land. I would love to learn from them. The first question I'll ask is why ye are washing his wound. Has it not begun to clot already? Are ye no' opening it again?"

Eli explained. "Aunt Brenna said she and her sire did a test long ago and the clean wounds healed better. She has a need for cleanliness in all things. Most dinnae feel the way she does, but if ye were in her keep, ye would see that 'tis most clean everywhere. 'Tis Aunt Brenna's way."

She explained a few other things to Agnes as she worked, and she soon had Maitland's wound neatly stitched.

"Have ye planned where we go next?" she asked.

Maitland admired her handiwork. "Many thanks for yer fine care, lass. Ye and Alaric will go to Ramsay land. I am going home to retrieve my verra pregnant wife and take her to Aunt Jennie's to await the bairn. My mother is insisting, and Maeve is pleased to accommodate her. Wenna will go with me—I believe her parents are on Cameron land. Tevis, Thea, and Willum will go with ye. Not sure yet where Dyna is going. But Sir James said there is no need to patrol for a fortnight. This battle will slow the English down. They need to take stock of how many remain in the Borderlands."

"Maitland, before we take our leave, I think we should tell ye something," Alaric said, shooting a glance at Eli. She nodded her agreement. "Eli and I handfasted that night in the cave, and we intend to marry when the time is right."

Maitland chuckled. "I'm not surprised. But may I make a recommendation?"

"Please do," Eli said.

"I wouldn't tell yer sire and grandsire when it happened." He gave them both a sly grin. "I'd just say it happened because of the battle. Not a lie, but not as many details. Ye'll stave off any intense questions. Not that Uncle Logan has ever questioned any lads about his daughters or granddaughters…" He arched a brow at Alaric, then Eli.

Alaric scowled, turning to Eli. "Are ye worried he'll no' accept me?"

Maitland said, "He'll accept ye, but he'll also make yer life miserable for a while. Look what he did to poor Cailean, and he adores him."

"He'll be right happy, Alaric," Eli said. "He's been nagging me to marry ye for far too long for him to complain now."

"Just beware," Maitland said, a wide grin crossing his face. "And prepare."