Shadow Highlander

TWELVE

Galen was amazed at Reaghan’s courage. He knew she was frightened of him and didn’t understand everything that had happened. Yet, she was willing to trust him to keep her away from Deirdre.

“We will as well,” said Braden’s mother, Fiona, who broke from the group. Alongside her was Braden, who gave Galen a huge smile.

Slowly, others joined the growing group of Druids behind him and Reaghan. Then, to his surprise, Odara walked away from the elders and to his other side.

Eventually, all that remained of the original group was the two elders, the two remaining men and their wives.

“Please,” Galen begged. “Doona stay here. Come with us.”

Nessa shook her head. “You ask the impossible, Warrior. You have evil inside you. I would sooner take my own life than give it to you to protect.”

Galen was more hurt by her words than he let the others know. He bowed his head to Nessa and turned to face the group behind him. It wasn’t even midday yet. They could cover some ground.

“We leave in an hour. Take only what you can carry and as much food as you can find. We will be traveling fast.”

The Druids scattered to carry out his orders. Beside him Reagan paused. He saw the questions in her eyes, knew he would have to answer them soon. But she was coming with him. She trusted him enough to get her to the castle, to the MacLeods.

Once she had walked away, Logan came to stand in front of him. “Are we just going to leave the remaining six?”

“We cannot force them. Do you have another suggestion?”

Logan shook his wet head. He had cleaned his kilt and washed the blood from his body. “Deirdre will have her Druid if we leave them behind.”

“I know.”

“You did well. I couldn’t have spoken to them as calmly. It’s why I had to leave.”

“Nay, my friend, you could have.”

Logan snorted wryly. “My way is with my claws and the need for battle. I doona have the time to talk stubborn Druids into doing what is the only option left to them if they want to live.” He sighed, and then motioned toward the loch. “Clean yourself. I will guard the Druids.”

“I’ll make it quick.” Galen turned and jogged down to the water.

The wyrran he had killed was gone, most likely picked up by Logan and now on the pile waiting to be burned. The Warriors did not wish to leave any sign behind that those creatures had even been there. It was enough the lone man knew.

Galen stripped off his kilt and boots before he walked into the loch with long strides. When he was far enough out, he dove beneath the water. His wounds were healed, yet his body was coated with a mix of his blood and the wyrran’s.

He didn’t have soap to use, so he scooped sand from the bottom of the loch and scrubbed away the remains of the battle. When he was finished he retrieved his kilt and did the same.

Once he was done, he put on the wet kilt, raked his fingers through his hair, and returned to the village. Most were already gathered together awaiting him and Logan.

He nodded to them and continued through the village. Galen wanted to have another talk with Nessa and Mairi. He had to convince them to leave with him.

Galen knocked on Mairi’s door, and when the elder opened it she didn’t seem surprised to see him.

“You’ve come to change my mind?” she asked. She left the door ajar and walked away.

Galen ducked under the low door and stepped into the cottage. “We should have told you we were Warriors, but we knew how much Druids doubt us. We wanted your trust before you knew the truth. I would have kept it from you longer if I could have.”

“Would you, now?” she mumbled as she stirred a pot over the fire in the hearth. “I imagine you would have. Reaghan will not change her mind. I don’t know what you said to her, but whatever it is, it worked.”

“You heard what I said to all the Druids. Reaghan wants to live. Would you rather she stay and await the next wave of wyrran?”

Mairi sighed and set aside the spoon. “What I want is of no consequence, Galen. I do not have confidence in you, as Odara does, but neither do I think you to be as evil as Nessa does. This is the only home I’ve ever known. We’ve always been safe. Until you came.”

“What do you know of the Warriors? Do you know we are immortal? Do you know Deirdre kills most of the families so the Warriors have no reason to return?”

Mairi’s brown eyes caught his. “Is that what she did to your family?”

“What I’m trying to say is that change is a part of life whether we want the change or not. You need to decide if you want to take the chance of being brought to Deirdre or come with us. I know Reaghan would feel better if you were with her.”

“I’ll kill myself before I allow Deirdre to have me.”

Galen rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He could use the part of his power he had dared to utilize only once before. He could get inside Mairi’s mind and command her to come with him. He didn’t want to do that, but if she didn’t change her mind before they departed, he would have no other choice.

“Help us fight Deirdre, Mairi. We have a common enemy. We should band together.”

“There is so much doubt in my mind. I no longer know what to believe.”

“Trust me,” Galen urged. “I will see you to safety. I give you my vow.”

He left then, knowing it was futile to speak more of it. Mairi would make up her mind, and whatever she decided, nothing could change it.

And as much as he didn’t want to, he knew he needed to speak to Nessa as well. He was on his way there when he heard the scream.

By the time Galen reached Nessa’s cottage, Logan was there and Druids were gathered around the doorway. Galen took hold of Odara’s frail shoulders and pulled her away from the door to peer inside.

“Why?” Odara wailed and covered her hands with her face.

Galen took one look at Nessa and the two elderly couples slumped on the floor and sighed.

“What happened?” Mairi demanded as she pushed through the crowd.

“They killed themselves,” Odara answered.

Mairi pulled Odara into her arms, their tears mingling. Mairi’s gaze lifted to Galen’s, and she gave him a nod.

Galen closed the door to the cottage and walked away. He couldn’t believe Nessa and the two couples had despised him so much that they would rather take their own lives than trust him.

“I gather Mairi is coming with us,” Logan said as he caught up with Galen.

“It appears so.”

Logan halted and blew out a breath. “They must have hated and feared us tremendously to take their own lives.”

“Doona think on it. Soon we will be on our way back to the castle.”

“Without the artifact.” Logan crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow.

Galen nodded. “There’s nothing we can do about it. I’m hoping that since Mairi is now coming with us, she will bring it, and once at MacLeod Castle the others can talk her into handing it over.”

“Our travel is going to be slow. Too slow. It willna take that rider you saw long to return to Deirdre and gather more wyrran.”

“Let’s hope he has to return to Cairn Toul to do that. We will be with the MacLeods by the time he finds us.” He cursed and ground his teeth together. “I should have gone after him.”

“Nay. You did the right thing,” Logan said. “As it was, the wyrran nearly got away with Braden. I should have known they’d go after the lad first.”

Galen rubbed his hand over the whiskers on his cheek. “I’d have chased them all the way to Cairn Toul if I’d had to. I willna allow them to take any Druid, much less a child.”

They turned as one to the small group of Druids. The group was down to eighteen, but still a large enough crew that another Warrior would have been helpful.

“Do you think when the wyrran return they will bring Warriors?” Logan whispered.

Galen hid his scowl. “Pray they don’t. We’ll have our hands full if they do.”

“Then we need to get moving.”

Galen couldn’t agree more. He walked to the Druids and looked at their expectant, fearful faces. “The pace we set is going to be swift. We’ll rest as often as we can, but understand that we need to get as far away from this area as possible before nightfall.”

“We will do the best we can,” Odara promised. Her eyes were red, and tears still coursed down her wrinkled face.

He gave her a nod. “Either Logan or I will be in the lead and the other behind you. We need to stay in a tight group. The wyrran move fast, so if there’s another attack, Logan and I need to be able to fight around you.”

“Like this morn,” Braden called out.

Galen smiled at the eager lad. “Aye, like this morn. If you become too tired and begin to lag behind, let us know so we can take a break.”

“How long is the journey?” Mairi asked.

Logan shrugged and looked helplessly at Galen. Galen also shrugged. “As Warriors, we are able to run fast. That is how we came here, so I have no idea how long it will take to walk.”

“Do any of you talk to trees?” Logan questioned. “We have a Druid who can hear and speak to them. We could send her a message so other Warriors from MacLeod Castle could meet us along the way.”

Odara looked around and shook her head. “None of us have such a gift.”

Galen glanced at Reaghan, wondering if with all her magic she could somehow do it. “Then let’s be on our way.”

He led the small group beneath the ancient stones, his senses alert for any out-of-the-ordinary movement, anything that might be wyrran or someone sent by Deirdre.

How he wished Fallon were with them. Fallon could have used his power and had them all back at the castle in less than a blink. Instead, they were going to have to make the long, treacherous journey themselves.

He paused beside a steep drop. The Druids would have a difficult time descending it without help. If he called Logan to him, they would think he didn’t want to touch them. How could he tell them he could read their minds with the barest of contact? They were half afraid of him now, and if they knew that, they would never go with them to MacLeod Castle.

Galen took a deep breath and approached the drop. He held out his hand to the first Druid. “Keep going. Follow the loch,” he told them, trying his best — and failing miserably — to block their thoughts.

Even the brief time they touched him he saw their anxiety, their panic, their hopes, their dreams, and the terror which filled each and every one of them.

Each emotion filled him as if it were his own. It suffocated him until the touch was gone. He barely had time for a breath before someone else reached for his hand.

A few hesitated to touch him, but in the end they accepted his assistance. Reaghan was the last, and Galen almost sighed when he saw her. His head ached from all the thoughts he’d intercepted from the Druids.

Reaghan looked into his eyes and took his hand. There were so many questions swimming in her gray eyes, questions he couldn’t run away from.

But no thoughts filled his head. He wanted to hold on to her forever and never let her go. He didn’t know what was different about her, why he couldn’t see into her mind. He was just grateful for the relief.

“Galen,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said. “Later.”

“Promise?”

Her demand surprised him. He held her hand long after she was down the slope. “Aye.”

A small smile pulled at her lips. “I will hold you to that, Warrior.”

For the first time since his god had been loosened inside him, he liked the sound of being called a Warrior.