Shadow Highlander

FIFTEEN

It was the pain, the excruciating, stomach-rolling, body-twisting pain, that pulled Reaghan out of her sleep. She wanted to curl into herself, to let out the cry that built inside her.

Instead, she lay as still as she could, her eyes squeezed tightly closed as the agony took over. Her brain burned, and every beat of her heart made the throbbing even worse.

Reaghan tried to think of something pleasant, something which would help to ease her. Her mind immediately thought of Galen, but not even the memories of him holding and kissing her could help with the pain in her head.

The only thing she could rejoice in was that it happened while everyone was still asleep and she was already lying down. She didn’t want Galen to see her like this and think her weak. He was a Warrior, an immortal with the power to read minds. What would he think of a woman who was brought to her knees by an ache in her head?

A tear spilled from between her lids and rolled across her cheek to her nose. Why were the headaches plaguing her? And why were they getting worse?

Every sound, however minuscule, echoed like a drum inside Reaghan’s head. She winced at the call of a bird nearby that made her head feel as though it were cracking open. The soft crunch of a footstep nearly made her heart stop from the anguish.

She knew it was either Logan or Galen, and she prayed it wasn’t Galen. Another tear joined the first, and soon the pain became too much to bear. Reaghan fell into the blackness that surrounded her, the pain beating at her from all sides, drowning her in an abyss of misery and grief.

Galen studied Reaghan. Her body was too stiff as she lay on her side, her back to him. She was curled into herself, her legs drawn up close to her chest. If he didn’t know better, he would think she was in pain.

“What is it?” Logan whispered.

Galen thrust his chin out toward Reaghan. “Something is wrong.”

Logan watched her a long moment before he shook his head. “Maybe she’s just having a bad dream.”

“Nay. It’s more than that. It’s as if she’s in pain.”

“They are all likely sore this morn. She didna hurt herself yesterday, did she?”

“No’ that I saw,” Galen answered.

“Go to her then.”

Galen started to do just that when he recalled Mairi’s visit the night before. “Mairi said Reaghan wasna meant for me, but she wouldn’t tell me who Reaghan was meant for.”

Logan snorted. “From what I’ve seen, Reaghan is like a daughter to Mairi. Mairi wants to protect her, just as any mother would. The fact that Mairi doesna trust us just pushes her to protect Reaghan more. If you want Reaghan, let her decide for herself.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” Logan said with a wide smile. “Now go see to her.”

Galen didn’t hesitate a second time. He walked softly, his boots making nary a sound as he wound his way through the sleeping Druids.

The sun was rising, though its light had yet to break through the darkness. On the horizon Galen could see clouds reflecting yellow and deep orange from the sun. It was time to rouse the Druids, but first, Galen wanted to check on Reaghan.

He didn’t go to her. Instead he made sure he was far enough away so he could see her face. She looked to be sleeping, but her eyes were squeezed shut and her hands were fisted tightly.

Was it a nightmare as Logan had speculated? Or was it something more?

Galen took a step toward her when something flew over him. He glanced up and saw a falcon. His gaze narrowed on the bird. It was odd to spot a peregrine similar to the ones at MacLeod Castle and Loch Awe.

Once the bird had disappeared over the trees, Galen lowered his gaze and found Logan staring after the falcon. In Galen’s life of Druids and magic, he had learned there was no such thing as coincidence.

Logan turned back to him, his eyes hard and his jaw set. Galen gave him a nod to track the bird and see what he could find. Hopefully it was nothing, but they couldn’t be too careful. Not with Druids in their care.

When Galen looked again at Reaghan she was leaning on her elbow and wiping her face with her other hand. Her hand shook, and she was pale as death.

She sat up and reached for a water skin from which she drank deeply before splashing some of the liquid on her face. The others were waking, leaving Galen no time to talk to Reaghan privately.

Oatcakes were soon passed around. Holding an oatcake between his teeth, Galen bent and covered the embers of their fire with dirt. As he stood, he took a bite of oatcake before turning when he heard Logan approach. “Anything?”

“Nothing. The bird went off to hunt.”

“What do you think?”

Logan shrugged and took an offered oatcake. “This wasn’t just a twist of fate. I still feel as if I’m being watched. Something is afoot here.”

“I agree. We’ll keep our eye to the skies.”

Once the Druids had eaten, Logan got them on their feet and ready to begin the day’s journey. Only Braden groaned aloud, but Galen could see the other’s faces, and they weren’t looking forward to it any more than wee Braden.

Logan once more took the lad and tossed him into the air. Braden laughed heartily, the sound brightening the mood in the camp. Only then did Logan lift Braden to his shoulders and set out.

Galen and Logan had both scouted ahead on their watches to look for places they could be ambushed or spots that were perfect for others to trap them.

Neither of them had slept, instead going over the safest routes they should take with the Druids. Some routes meant adding extra time, but they had little choice knowing Deirdre would be after them.

As Logan led the Druids off, Galen stayed to make sure no one left anything behind. He tried to catch Reaghan’s gaze to ask her to stay to the back of the group so he could speak with her, but Mairi linked arms with Reaghan and they set off together.

Galen sighed, his worry settling like a stone in his gut.

The worst of the pain had faded, but Reaghan’s body was shaky and weak. Mairi had known instantly what had occurred and gone to her. Reaghan wasn’t about to push aside her offer of assistance, not when she could barely walk on her own.

“How bad is it?” Mairi whispered.

“The worst has passed.”

“You are still in pain.”

It wasn’t a question. “Only a little.”

Mairi’s lips flattened in a tight line, her brow furrowed in concern. “You need to rest. Let me speak to the Warriors.”

“Nay,” Reaghan replied more forcefully than she intended. “Leave it, please. I will be all right.”

“As you wish,” Mairi said, but there was doubt in her tone.

Reaghan didn’t care that the elder disagreed with her. She would get past the headache without Galen knowing. It was foolish, she knew, but Reaghan wanted him to see her as strong and capable. Not weak and sickly.

She had known Galen wanted to speak with her. It took all her control not to turn her head to him and drink in the sight of his muscular form in the glow of the morning sun.

He had worn his dark blond hair loose ever since the battle with the wyrran. It fell in waves around his face, accentuating his square jaw and bringing out the bronze color of his skin. She itched to run her fingers through the thick strands again as his arms held her tightly against his chest.

Reaghan took a deep breath and tried to quell the desire that awoke in her body with just a thought of Galen. It warmed her blood and made her heart race until it settled between her legs in a pulsing ache.

The pain that had clouded her vision and weakened her began to abate. Reaghan let her arms drop from around Mairi, no longer needing to lean on the elder.

“When did the pain begin?” Mairi asked.

Reaghan shrugged. “It woke me from my slumber. I didn’t have any pain yesterday, so I thought it might be going away.”

“Nay, my child,” Mairi mumbled. “I’m afraid that isn’t so.”

Reaghan frowned and turned her head to Mairi. “How do you know this?”

“The headaches have been coming on for over a month now. I don’t think they would just go away so easily.”

Since Mairi had her head down Reaghan couldn’t see into her eyes and discern if she was lying. Reaghan wanted to believe the elder, but she wasn’t sure she could. Mairi’s reasoning was plausible, but there had been something in her voice that told Reaghan the elder knew more than she said.

Reaghan decided a direct approach would be her best strategy. “You wouldn’t keep anything from me about this, would you, Mairi?”

“All I want is for you to be safe from Deirdre. I would never endanger you.”

Reaghan’s heart fell. Mairi hadn’t answered her question, and that in itself was all the response Reaghan needed. The higher the sun rose the more sadness crept over her. Because she realized that something about her past, something about the pain in her head, was being kept from her.

It made Reaghan begin to analyze everything Mairi had ever told her. She knew the elder cared for her, of that there was no doubt. But why did Mairi persist in keeping things about her past hidden?

Reaghan continued to keep her distance from Galen, since she wasn’t yet ready to talk to him. She suspected he had seen she was in pain and would want to know why. Even if he hadn’t seen her this morning, he would know something was wrong now. Though she longed to confide in someone, Galen had enough to worry about with getting all of them to MacLeod Castle.

After their first rest, Reaghan positioned herself near Odara. The elder was having a difficult time of it, her small frame barely able to keep up. Reaghan gave her a drink from the water skin and wrapped an arm around her.

“You are good to me,” Odara said.

Reaghan smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’ve always been kind to me.”

“Mairi tells me you had another headache this morning.”

“Aye.” Reaghan looked into the kindly green eyes. “Why do I feel as though Mairi knows more about my past than she is telling me? Why do I feel as though she knows what is happening to me, but refuses to help?”

Odara sighed, her wrinkles becoming more pronounced as she frowned. “Mairi just wants what’s best for you. We all do, sweetling.”

“I want an honest answer. Why can’t anyone tell me what I want to know?”

“Sometimes not knowing is for the best.”

“Only those with that knowledge would dare to speak those words.”

Odara narrowed her gaze at Reaghan. “You think I enjoy keeping secrets? It kills the soul slowly and surely every day those secrets are kept.”

“Then tell me. Tell me why my past is such a secret,” Reaghan pleaded.

“If only it were that simple.” Odara released a pent-up breath. “Reaghan, all I will tell you is that your past is better left forgotten.”

Her words made a thread of fear wind around Reaghan’s spine. “And the headaches? You know what is causing them, don’t you?”

“Not exactly. I would love to take the pain from you, but I haven’t that kind of magic. The headaches will end soon.”

*

Brenna pulled back her magic and dropped her head in her hands as the fatigue pulled at her. She sat surrounded by the Druids of her village, their hands linked, murmuring ancient words to give her magic added strength.

“Well, daughter?”

Brenna lifted her head and looked into her father’s dark eyes. “The peregrine is still willing to allow me to use her vision and hearing. I’ve seen the Warriors once again. They are taking the Druids to MacLeod Castle.”

Her father, Kerwyn, was head of their village. He walked around her slowly as if digesting her words. He always took his time formulating things in his mind. Her father was never hasty about anything.

Until it came to asking her to use her magic to connect with a falcon and spy for him. It had begun as a favor to fellow Druids to ensure that a man once considered their ally no longer leaked their whereabouts.

But once her father learned just how great her power was, and how long she could stay connected to the falcon, he had bid her use the bird to observe the goings-on at MacLeod Castle.

Brenna, like most in her village, wasn’t sure if the rumors about the MacLeods being at their castle once more were true. One look, though, and she had not only seen the MacLeods but many other Warriors.

And Druids.

When the two Warriors had set out on a journey, Brenna had bid the peregrine follow them. Thankfully, the bird had done as she asked.

Brenna wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to use the falcon. Not only was the peregrine eager to return to her home, but the Warriors had noticed the bird and were becoming suspicious.

“When can you connect with the falcon again?” her father asked.

“Give the child time to recover,” Daghda, one of the elders, stated.

Brenna met Daghda’s eyes and gave the woman a nod of thanks. Brenna could have connected with the peregrine again, but with rest she could keep the connection far longer.

Kerwyn stared at Brenna for several moments before he turned and walked out of the circle. Brenna was glad to know that she had been given a respite, but she was certain her father would return soon.

His need to know about the Warriors was more than interesting. From all Brenna had seen of the Warriors they were protecting the Druids.

It hadn’t taken the rumors long to reach the Isle of Skye about Warriors attacking Cairn Toul and Deirdre. Brenna hadn’t believed a word of it. Until she had listened to a conversation between the Warriors Logan and Galen.

It appeared they had not only attacked, but had succeeded in killing Deirdre. Except Deirdre wasn’t dead after all. She was just without a body.

“Brenna?” Daghda said as she knelt in front of her. Her gray hair was kept away from her face by intricate braids that joined together at the back of her neck to form one thick braid. “Are you well?”

Brenna smiled and patted the hand atop hers. “Aye. Just tired.”

“Kerwyn asks too much of you.”

“It is my obligation to help our village any way I can.”

Daghda snorted. “Not at the price of your life, child. You should tell your father you need your rest. If not, he will continue to push you until you are drained of all your magic.”

Brenna licked her lips as she rose to her feet. She helped Daghda to stand and together they walked out of the circle. “Why is my father so concerned with the MacLeods?”

“Ah,” Daghda said with a frown, her intelligent green eyes seeing much. “He doesn’t believe the MacLeods fight Deirdre. He fears they are there to draw Druids to them in a false plan to keep them from Deirdre, only to eventually turn all the Druids over to her.”

“Do you believe that as well?”

Daghda let out a long breath. “Child, at my age, I’ve learned not to jump to conclusions. Of all of us, you’ve seen the MacLeods and the Warriors at their castle the most. What do you think?”

“I’m not sure,” Gwynn murmured.

“Don’t think to lie to me.”

Brenna’s head jerked to the elder. The tone had been sharp, and Daghda’s eyes were soft as they stared at her. “I’m not sure anyone wants to hear my opinion.”

“I do,” Daghda said. “Now tell me.”

Brenna swallowed and glanced around to make sure no one was near as she walked Daghda to her cottage. “I believe the Warriors are fighting Deirdre. I watched as the two Warriors at Loch Awe battled the wyrran. If they were working with Deirdre, why not just let the wyrran take the Druids?”

“Good question. One I think you should pose to your father.”

But Brenna knew better than to question her father. On anything.