A Highlander Born From Chaos (Highlanders 0f Kirklinton Book 2) Page 9

  He sat a while by the pool, watching the water gush forth from above. It was mesmerizing, and he could happily have sat there all day until darkness fell. But he had duties to attend, and despite his desires, he knew he must return to the MacBryde castle. He had just roused himself, preparing to follow the course of the stream back down through the heathers when a shout above him caused him to startle.

  “You there, state yer business on these lands,” a man’s voice called from the rocks above.

  Hamish looked up to see the man, who was dressed in a red tunic and brandishing a sword, hurrying down the rocks. He had no desire for conflict, and without waiting, Hamish began to run down the path by the stream, as the man shouted after him.

  The path was rocky, and the rainfall had made the stones slippery and treacherous. Hamish almost slipped several times, she hurried along, the man racing after him.

  I need to get away, there is the path across the heathers. I cannae fight the man, Hamish thought to himself, for he was unarmed and had no wish for a confrontation.

  He turned, looking for a place to cross the stream, but as he did so, two things happened. From up ahead, there came two other men, both brandishing swords, and in his surprise at seeing them, Hamish slipped upon the rocks. Hurtling over and rolling in a heap on the ground and into the stream. He cursed, struggling to get up, his tunic soaked, as the two men up ahead came dashing towards him.

  “Here he is, the MacBryde, lad perhaps,” one of them said, grabbing hold of Hamish, who began to struggle and fight.

  “Quickly, hold him, daenae let him go. Stay still, lad, stop yer strugglin’. ‘Tis nay good against three of us,” another said, as Hamish thrashed out his arms in a desperate attempt to get free.

  But it was no use, they had him in a firm grip and panting he stood, the fight gone out of him, as he looked defiantly at the elder of the three, a man he thought he recognized, though could not be sure.

  “What is yer name, lad?” the man asked, he had a fine tunic and a cloak of thick wool, his beard was trimmed, and he appeared as a noble.

  What dae I say? If they know I am a MacBryde, they will kill me for certain, but then they suspect as much, Hamish thought to himself, staring defiantly at the man, who looked him up and down with disdain.

  “Perhaps he needs a little persuasion, father,” one of the two younger ones replied, and the other laughed.

  “Trespassin’ on our lands, a stranger from afar. Well, I have a tongue in my head, and I shall use it, my name is Fraser Elliott or McGinn to some, and I see from the look upon yer face that ye recognize that name well enough. I am Laird of these parts, and these are my sons Rory and Owen. Ye have been unfortunate this day, lad. I know ye have been here before, and I know ‘Tis ye who tried to carry off my daughter from beside the stream here,” Fraser said, and Hamish looked at him in astonishment.

  “I did nay such thing, I helped yer daughter,” he cried.

  “Aha, so not only does he speak, but he betrays himself too. This is Hamish MacBryde, heir to the MacBrydes and a fellow traitor in their conspiracy,” Fraser replied, sneering at him.

  Hamish had never met the man, but he knew something of his reputation. This was the man who had killed Isabella’s relative, Howard Musgrave, the man who had caused bloodshed and untold horrors on the, at least that was what the stories said. To see him face to face was quite astonishing, and Hamish was angry with himself for his stupidity in letting slip his true identity.

  “ Quite a prize, Father,” the one called Rory said, and Fraser nodded.

  “Aye, to have the future Laird of the MacBrydes in our hands, without guard or escort is quite somethin’, but what are we to dae with him?” Fraser said, turning to them both.

  “Some would say we should run him through for his treachery, but he is unarmed, and we are three. It wouldnae be a fair exchange, of that I am certain,” the one called Owen said.

  “Then let me go, I am nay threat to ye,” Hamish replied, looking at them defiantly.

  But Fraser laughed and shook his head.

  “I cannae let ye go, nae when ye have been roamin’ all over our lands, and nay doubt will continue to dae so. What reason did ye have for comin’ here? Were ye searchin’ out my daughter again, is that it? What spell have ye cast upon her that she should wish to make the dangerous journey across the moorlands to yer hearth and speak with ye?” Fraser asked.

  “She came to thank me, that is all. There is nothin’ more to it than that. She wanted to thank me for rescuin’ her from the torrent of this stream. If it had nae been for me, then ye would nay longer have a daughter to be so concerned over. She would have perished in the torrent, ‘Tis only natural that she should want to thank me, daenae ye think?” Hamish replied.

  “Daenae trust him, Father,” Owen said, looking at Hamish with contempt, “he is a MacBryde and the MacBrydes cannae be trusted, ye know that.”

  “What nonsense,” Hamish replied, “why dae ye cling to such old rivalries?”

  “Because the MacBrydes are traitors to the Scottish cause, ye and yer family have sided with the English against us, ye have made a pact with the devil and we God-fearin' folks daenae take kindly to those who side with such people. Ye have betrayed us, ye and yer family,” Fraser replied, shaking his head, as though recalling some far distant memories.

  “Then he should come with us, we cannae just let him go, Father,” Rory said, and Fraser nodded.

  “Aye, ye can come along with us now, enough of this. If ye come quietly, ye will nae be treated badly,” Fraser replied.

  “Ye cannae just take me like this, I will be missed, others will come lookin’ for me. Ye will start a war if ye are nae careful, Fraser Elliott. As ye have said, we have powerful friends, and they shall soon come to my aid,” Hamish said, trying desperately to think of a way out of this dangerous situation, for he knew not what Fraser Elliott and his sons were capable of, only the stories he had heard about them.

  “If a war starts here today, then it shall be of yer doin’ lad, nae mine,” Fraser said, and without any further words, he marched off down the stream, followed by Rory and Owen, who dragged Hamish roughly along between them.

  But Hamish was a brave man, not given over easily to fear. He would use this opportunity to try and convince Fraser of the need for peace. He was soon to be Laird and had no desire for the conflicts of the past to continue. The rivalry between the MacBrydes and the Elliotts had to come to an end, for there would be no peace upon the borders until it did so.

  I must stay strong, he thought to himself, as they marched him across the moorlands towards the castle, where he wondered too if he might catch sight of Evie and whether she would help him or not.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hamish had always imagined what the inside of the castle at Kirklinton would be like, though he had only ever viewed it from afar. It sat upon the moorlands, a grim edifice rising up against the horizon, the banners of the Elliotts fluttering overhead. Compared to the castle of the MacBrydes, it was an impregnable fortress, and Hamish had long wondered just how many armies had been broken on its walls and how often the Lairds of the Elliotts had taken refuge from the violence of the borders within its keep.

  Now, he was about to find out just what it was like, and as Fraser and his sons marched Hamish towards it, a sense of foreboding overcame him, and despite himself, he was worried. He knew nothing of the Elliotts, only their fearsome reputation, and he imagined the clan standing in judgment around him, holding him to account for the crimes of his father and his ancestors.

  I cannae dae anythin’ now though, he thought to himself, as they approached the gates, and several soldiers peered down with interest from the battlements above.

  “Hail there, Laird. Ye bring a visitor with ye,” the guard called.

  “Aye, a grand prize, men. None other than Hamish MacBryde himself, heir to the traitor Lairds across the moors. Open the gates, and we shall bring him inside,” Fraser called back, and a few moments
later, the doors swung open.

  Hamish was led into the courtyard and glancing around him; he saw stables and clansmen about their work. One was hurrying over to them, a look of interest on his face, and he smiled as he approached, shaking his head in disbelief.

  “Hamish MacBryde? Where did ye find him?” the man asked, and Fraser laughed.

  “Ah, Sweeney, we found him up by the streams above the Armstrong castle. Though nae with yer goddaughter today, I am pleased to report,” Fraser said.

  “A MacBryde, here in the castle, I cannae believe it,” the one called Sweeney replied, shaking his head, “and what dae ye propose to dae with him?”

  “Question him further, but then …” Fraser said, but as he was speaking, there came a cry from across the courtyard, and to his delight, Hamish saw Evie running of the door to the keep.

  “Father … what is all this? Why … why dae ye have Hamish here. Have ye mistreated him?” she said, standing before them and looking aghast.

  “This man was trespassin’ on our lands, Evie,” Rory said, he is nae friend of ours. Just ye remember that yer concern betrays ye.”

  “My concern is for a man who has done nothin’ wrong except to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Evie replied, looking at Hamish with concern, “what threat does he pose to ye? There is nothin’ he has done wrong, let him go.”

  “We cannae let him go, Evie. Daenae be so stupid and remember where yer loyalties lie. This man is a MacBryde, we daenae fraternize with MacBrydes. They are wicked men, but come now, bring him in inside, we can question him more,” Fraser replied, and Hamish looked imploringly at Evie, as Rory and Owen pulled him towards the keep.

  “Ye are makin’ a mistake, Fraser Elliott. If ye let me go, then all will be forgotten. I daenae bear grudges, nae like ye and my father,” Hamish replied.

  He had no quarrel with the Elliotts, no reason to hate them. He wanted to be on peaceful terms, not just for the sake of peace but also for prosperity. If they could bring an end to the wars which had so marred the borders in these long years past, then it would be of benefit to them all. But Fraser ignored him until they stood in the Great Hall, where a woman looked at him in astonishment.

  “Isla, look what we have found, walking by the stream above the castle of yer parents. None other than Hamish MacBryde,” Fraser said, as the woman got up from her place by the fire and peered cautiously at Hamish, who fixed her with a defiant gaze.

  “Hamish MacBryde? I never thought I would see the day when a MacBryde would stand in this Great Hall. A treacherous man, ye can see it in his face,” she said, scowling at him.

  What nonsense, Hamish thought to himself, and he could almost have laughed at the fear he seemed to incite within them. It was as though the name MacBryde had a mystical quality to it, an aura of fear, like a story to tell children at night before the fireside.

  And yet the name of Elliott is the same for my people, he said to himself, as Isla continued to circle him.

  If I had nae rescued her from the flooded stream, then she would have been dead now, and ye would have had nae daughter to protect,” Hamish replied.

  “Watch yer tone, lad,” Fraser said, but Hamish had had enough of this nonsense, and he turned angrily to Fraser, who looked at him defiantly.

  “I am nay threat to ye, and when I am Laird, I daenae wish for this foolish rivalry to continue between our clans. We are Scots, just like ye, and we are tired of war and rivalry. Surely, we can find peace between us, is that nae what ye want?” Hamish said, and Fraser shook his head.

  “Ye are a fine one to talk of peace when yer clan has sided with our enemies. Dae ye know what the Musgraves are capable of? What they did to us? To my mother, to my wife, to me?” Fraser said.

  “. This man has sided with those who subjected yer grandmother to a lifetime of hardship, who would have had me married off to a cruel and heartless man and who would have killed yer father in the process. If the Musgraves had had their way, then ye wouldnae even be here,” Isla said, but Evie shook her head.

  “Quarrels of the past, mother. They are nae Hamish and mine. We have nay quarrel, Hamish rescued me, and I wanted to thank him. We have all been blinded by our common hatred,” Evie replied.

  “This man is engaged to marry a Musgrave,” Fraser cried, “what further evidence dae ye want that he wishes to continue his auld alliance with the enemy. A marriage between the MacBrydes and the Musgraves will be the strengthenin’ nae the endin’ of their alliance. Ye are a fool, Evie, if ye think it to be any different,” Fraser replied.

  “Stop this naivety, Evie. Come to yer senses and see what this man is like,” Rory said, shaking his head.

  But Evie turned to Hamish, looking into his eyes. Despite her family and the cruel words he was subjected to, Hamish could not help but feel a tenderness towards her. He was grateful to her for defending him and how he wanted to cry out that he had no love for Isabella Musgrave. He had come to despise her for her jealousy and cruelty, and he had never loved her but only sought a marriage of duty as his father lay dying.

  “I am nay threat to ye,” he said, “nay threat to any of ye. All I wish is for us to live in peace. ‘Tis true that my family sided with the Musgraves, but nae to have done would have meant certain death. Our clan is small, our castle nothin’ compared to the grandeur of this. We couldnae defend ourselves against an English attack, and so it was that my grandfather and father made a pact with, as ye say, the Devil. A pact that I have come to regret. Of that, I assure ye,” Hamish replied.

  “Then ye should break it off, lad. Are ye a man or a coward? Break the pact off and show yerself as brave and bold as ye seem to claim by trespassin’ upon our land and talkin’ with our womenfolk,” Rory said.

  “Tis nae as simple as that, nae after so many years,” Hamish replied sadly.

  “And that proves as much, that ye are nothin’ but a coward and that all the stories about the MacBrydes are true,” Fraser replied.

  “Let him go, Father. We are in nay state for war. If the Musgraves attacked us, then there is nay tellin’ what bloodshed would ensue. We have just buried my grandfather, dae ye wish to see more graves in the graveyard?” Evie said, standing defiantly next to Hamish.

  He was grateful for her help, but why did she defend him so? It seemed strange to Hamish, but then so were his feelings towards her. He could not help but find her attractive, alluring. There was something about her, some way in which she captured his heart. She was beautiful, but more than that, it seemed she understood and desired the same as him, a peace between their clans and an end to their conflict.

  Fraser paused for a moment, as though mulling over what his daughter had just said. He turned to Rory and Owen, who nodded.

  “She is right, Father, though I hate to admit it. The castle has always been our strength, we daenae have enough men to fight. Some have seen too few winters and some too many. The Musgraves are growin’ stronger by the day, and to risk their anger is to risk destruction at their hands,” Rory replied, and Fraser sighed, turning to Hamish.

  “Ye have been a fool today, lad. A fool to come here and think that ye can trespass upon my lands and nae face the consequences. But I am nay murderer, and I wouldnae see ye held here, besides, what can I dae with ye? Nothin’, that is what. Ye allowed my daughter to leave yer castle unharmed and so it seems I must extend the same courtesy to ye. Though ‘Tis against my better judgment, I assure ye of that,” Fraser replied.

  “I let yer daughter go because she is nay enemy of mine and because she came to thank me for helpin’ her. I am nay murderer either, and I have nay desire to fight ye or consider ye my enemy, Fraser Elliott. I will leave, and I will thank ye for allowin’ me to dae so. Perhaps today can be the start of a better future between us all,” Hamish said.

  “A likely thing, indeed,” Isla said, shaking her head and turning away in disgust, “ye are nay friends of ours, Hamish MacBryde and until the alliance between ye and the Musgraves is broken we shall remain enemie
s. Dae ye understand?”

  Hamish made no reply, and Owen and Rory walked away, as though in anger at their father’s decision, though knowing him to be right. But Evie remained at Hamish’s side, and she nodded to her father, who sighed.

  “ the right thing to dae, Father. Hamish means us nay harm, he has proved that. He could have killed me by the stream or left me for dead, and he could have held me captive in his castle, but he didnae. The least ye could dae is thank him for savin’ me, for without him ye would be buryin’ yer daughter,” Evie said.

  “Me? Thank a MacBryde. Let it be enough that I have let him go and nae thrown him in the dungeons,” Fraser replied, “now get out, and daenae let me find ye trespassin’ on these lands again, else it shall be the worse for ye, lad.”

  Hamish nodded. A sense of relief running through him. He had no quarrel with Fraser, nor with his family. But he could understand their animosity towards him, not against him, but against what it was he represented, the legacy which hung over him. He was a MacBryde, and in siding with the Musgraves, his family had made a choice against their fellow Scots, a choice to rebel against those who were their natural friends. The Elliotts had particular cause to fear the Musgraves, for it was at the hands of Sir Percy Musgrave that they had suffered so much, but as Hamish left the Great Hall, he wondered if the stories he had heard about the Elliotts were true.