Shadow Highlander

SIXTEEN

Galen was leading the group when he called a halt for the noon meal. It had taken all he and Logan could do to keep the Druids moving.

The only one not giving them problems was wee Braden. The lad had bonded with Logan, and it was obvious Logan had a soft spot for the boy. Braden seemed to sense when he could be with Logan and when he needed to stay with his mother and the other Druids.

“I fear we willna get them on their feet again,” Logan grumbled from beside Galen.

Galen shrugged and twirled a long blade of grass in his fingers as he lowered himself to the ground. “I cannot blame them. They are weary.” “We’ve taken twice as many breaks today as we did yesterday.”

“Aye, and yesterday the fear of wyrran tracking them was enough to spur them into action.”

Logan rubbed his temple with his thumb. “Makes me almost wish to spot a wyrran.”

“Does your god seek more blood already?”

“My god always wants more blood,” Logan answered cynically. “I couldna help but notice Reaghan has kept her distance from you today. What did you do to her?” Galen turned his head away before Logan could see the scowl. “Nothing. I fear it could be her magic brings on dreams that cause her to seek the comfort of her brethren.” “Hmm. That is certainly a possibility. In all my immortal years, and we know that is no’ many compared to some, I’ve no’ learned much regarding Druids.” “Just like you, I’ve gathered most of my knowledge from Cara, Sonya, and Marcail. If Isla stays at the castle, I think we will learn even more.” Logan squatted and rested his forearms on his knees. “Sonya said if a Druid holds enough magic, then the magic will give that Druid a certain gift. For Sonya it’s healing.” “And for Marcail, it’s taking away another’s pain.”

“It stands to reason Reaghan’s could be anything.”

Galen looked to where Reaghan stood talking to Braden, a smile on her lips. “I find I’m very curious to know what her magic is.” “Especially when she thinks she doesna have any.”

That was one of many things which bothered Galen about these Druids. “Do they fear her, you think? Is that why they lie to her about her magic?” “Maybe it was her magic that took her family and caused the supposed fever then memory loss. Maybe the Druids are just protecting her from herself.” Galen shrugged, but for some reason he just couldn’t imagine that to be the truth. “It’s a possibility, I suppose, but mies do not use magic to hurt or kill. Only droughs.” “Is she drough?”

Logan’s softly spoken question made Galen think back to when he held Reaghan in his arms. She had been unsure but eager. There had been no Demon’s Kiss around her neck, the small vial that held the first drops of a drough’s blood after the ceremony. And there hadn’t been any scars on her wrists from the ceremony.

As his mind recalled her subtle scent of rosemary and her warm skin, Reaghan lifted her face and looked at him with her storm-colored eyes.

“Nay, she’s no’ drough,” Galen finally answered. “There is more to her than we are being told, however.” The first fat raindrop landed on the back of Galen’s hand. He tilted back his head and saw the clouds he had noticed the previous eve had grown thicker, heavier with rain. They blocked the sun as the wind began to pick up.

“Shite,” Logan cursed as he stood. “Just what we need.”

“We cannot stay out in the open with rain.”

Logan nodded and grimaced. “I’ll remain at the back and push them. Lead us to shelter.”

“We need to get moving before the rains come,” Galen called to the Druids. “Our meal must be cut short. Eat while you walk if you must.” As Galen headed to the front of the Druids, Mairi reached out a hand and grabbed his arm. The image of hope mixed with fear assaulted him. Galen opened his power and sought more. If they wouldn’t willingly give him answers about Reaghan he would find them himself. But just as quickly as her hand had grabbed him, Mairi dropped it.

Galen’s eyes cleared and he found Reaghan watching him, her brow creased as if she knew the pain that the simple touch from Mairi had caused.

“Is this necessary?” Mairi asked, jerking his attention to her.

He sighed and silently prayed for patience. “If you want to walk in the middle of a storm, then you may linger.”

“I’ve seen these clouds many times before. They will pass us,” she argued.

“You may know the weather at Loch Awe, but this isn’t the loch, and the weather holds different. I’d rather no’ chance any of you becoming sick or injured while we travel in the rain.” Mairi grimaced. “If we must then. Though I assure you, there won’t be a storm.”

He managed to refrain from responding and continued to the front. As soon as he reached the head of the group, the others fell into step behind him. He pushed them hard, harder than he should have, but he knew the look of those clouds. Whenever the rainstorm unleashed, it would most likely be a vicious one.

He wouldn’t allow the Druids to be caught in it. In the distance before them he could see the lightning as it streaked violently across the sky into patterns he found thrilling. The thunder, when it did hit, shook the ground beneath them.

They were heading toward the tempest, and although Galen didn’t like it, there was nothing to be done. The more he walked the more he felt the occasional raindrop. It wasn’t long before it began to drizzle.

He stopped himself just in time from looking back at Mairi. If he wanted to gain her trust, telling her “I told you so” wasn’t the best course.

Galen’s wool kilt helped to propel away the rain, but the others would soon be soaked. He thought of Reaghan, as he always did, and had the insane notion of wrapping his plaid around her.

To his left, a bolt of lightning zigzagged from the heavens to the ground. In front of him, the lightning forked from the clouds and it landed on the ground like many fingers seeking the dirt.

The thunder boomed around them, but despite it, his enhanced hearing detected a cry. A cry that sounded suspiciously like it came from Reaghan.

Galen turned around to find Reaghan bent over at the waist, her hands clutching her head. Mairi and Odara were on either side of her, talking, but Reaghan didn’t seem to hear them.

He saw Reaghan begin to sway and knew she was going to fall. Galen used his speed and rushed to her. His arms wrapped around her before she could topple sideways. He lifted her in his arms, cradling her head against his neck.

“What happened?” he demanded of the elders.

Odara wouldn’t meet his gaze.

Mairi wrung her hands as her gaze stayed on Reaghan. “She suffers from headaches.”

“The thunder must have brought it on,” Odara said.

Galen held Reaghan tighter as she buried her head in his neck and her hand fisted in his saffron shirt. He felt the tremble that ran through her, and when he glimpsed the tear that fell down her cheek, it nearly broke him in two.

“Galen?” Logan called as he ran up. “What is it? Is she hurt?”

“Aye,” he answered. “We will discuss this more. For now, I want to get Reaghan somewhere she can lie down.”

“How far are we from the cottage?” Logan asked.

“Not very, but we willna make it before the sky splits open.”

As if the clouds had been waiting for those exact words, it began to pour. The rain came in sheets of gray that hampered sight and deafened any sound.

“We must hurry then,” Mairi said.

Galen grimaced and pulled Reaghan tighter against him. “Doona worry. I have you now. Let me take care of you, Reaghan.”

As he set out once more, he glanced down to find Reaghan’s eyes squeezed shut, just as they had been that morning. Was that what he’d seen when he thought she was having a bad dream?

If it was a headache, why had she ignored him as she had? Reaghan was more mysterious than any woman he knew, and he feared he might never learn the truth about her.

Maybe you doona want to.

He frowned at his conscience. Of course he wanted to learn about Reaghan’s past and everything the Druids wanted kept from him.

Galen continued to trudge through the rain and soaked ground for nearly an hour until he crested a hill and finally spotted the old cottage. Many times he had used it on his travels, and he was surprised that no one had made it theirs yet.

It wasn’t large, and with all the Druids inside they would be quite crowded. But they could build a fire and get dry.

He slowed his pace and whistled to Logan. Galen didn’t want to get closer before he knew for certain no one lived there.

Logan ran past him. Galen watched as his friend scouted the cottage looking for tracks — of any kind. Only when he found none did he venture toward the cottage. A few moments later, Logan waved him forward.

Galen leaned down and kissed Reaghan’s brow. “Soon you’ll be dry,” he promised.

The Druids were as eager as he to get to the cottage, and they didn’t wait for him. They ran toward Logan, who had disappeared inside the cottage and was most likely already starting a fire.

Galen took his time, careful not to jar Reaghan too much and cause her more pain. Her hand still clutched him, her body taut with suffering.

By the time he reached the cottage, he could barely shoulder himself inside. He was disappointed not to find a fire, but when he saw the clean bed with a blanket waiting, he gave Logan a nod of thanks.

Galen tried to lay Reaghan down, but she refused to release him. He would have gladly held her the rest of the night, but she needed to get out of her wet clothes.

Mairi stepped forward and tried to pry Reaghan’s fingers open. “You need to rest, Reaghan. Release Galen so we can get you out of your wet gown and cover you.” There was nothing Mairi could do that would make Reaghan release her hold. Galen finally leaned down so his mouth was next to her ear and said, “Reaghan, I doona want you to become ill. Let them take care of you. I will be back.” Her fingers loosened and he laid her gently on the bed. Reaghan never opened her eyes, but he could feel her reluctance to let go of him.

Maybe it was because he knew how much pain she was in, maybe it was because she knew Mairi and Odara kept the truth of her past from her, but he was disinclined to leave Reaghan.

And strangely, he felt as if he should be holding her, as if he could do something for her pain.