Page 78 of Highlander the Conqueror

“I look forward to it,” Sky said, amazed that she had made three friends in such a brief time. It filled her heart with joy and gave her hope for the future here at Clan Ravinsher.

Sky thought of seeking out her husband after Oona and her mum left, but she needed time to think, clear her head, make some sense of things before she spoke with him. Working in the garden would help with that and while Angel settled herself under the bench to sleep, she went to work in the garden.

She was pulling weeds, thinking on the plants, allowing nothing else to interfere with this moment of peace and clarity when a shadow fell over where she knelt. She turned her head, tilting it up to see who it was and was surprised to see one of the lasses who helped tend the kitchen garden.

“Wild pottage for your garden,” the young woman said, stretching her hand out, offering Sky the plant.

Sky took the plant from her. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“It grows abundant in the woods,” the lass said, “but we grow it in the garden, so the cooks have plenty to add to the stews. It was a favorite of Lord Bannaty’s. I can show you where it grows one day if you’d like.”

“That would be most kind of you,” Sky said, not actually accepting or refusing her offer since she knew Slayer would never allow her to go into the woods just yet.

The lass smiled, nodded, and hurried to return to her task, the other workers quick to gather round her.

Sky wondered over the sudden interest in her. Had Ruth and Glynis speaking with her turned people curious enough to talk with her and judge her for themselves? Or had she been here long enough for them to see that she posed no threat to them? Whatever the reason might be, she chose to remain hopeful.

She worked in the garden until the eagerness to talk with her husband could no longer be ignored. After cleaning the dirt off her hands and leaving Angel to eat in the kitchen, she went to find her husband. There was much she had to share with him.

She walked through the village and not spotting him, she approached one of the Gallowglass warriors to ask, “Would you know where Lord Slayer is?”

The young warrior looked her directly in her eyes as if showing all that he was not afraid of her, unless it was because her husband had ordered his men not to turn away when speaking with her.

“Lord Slayer is beyond the gate.”

“Thank you,” she said with a smile and the warrior’s cheeks heated red and he hurried off.

Sky hurried to the gate and quickly left the confines of the castle’s protective wall. She stood still after only taking a few steps to see if she could spot her husband among the buzz of activity in the village. He would be easy to spot, standing a good head above most men. She spotted him speaking to Reed. Impatient to reach him, she kept a quick pace and had to force herself not to let others notice how eager she was to see him. He, however, had no problem turning a scowl at her. She recalled then that she was not to go beyond the castle walls without his permission. He had reiterated that order once things had settled down after that day on the practice field when she had followed others outside the castle walls. She could not wait for the time to come when such confinement was no longer necessary.

The blaring horn froze her as did the shouts of the villagers.

“ATTACK! ATTACK!”

CHAPTER23

“Run to the castle! We have only so much time before they reach us. Run!” a woman warned the children, and they took off.

Sky hurried a glance at her husband, and he pointed at the castle. She turned and ran, heeding his command and realizing the outer sentinels had alerted to the approaching hoard, giving them time to prepare.

She had almost reached the castle wall when she spotted a frantic Glynis calling out for Oona.

Sky stopped when she reached her. “What’s wrong, Glynis?”

“Oona, she was out here playing with some of the children, and I cannot find her. Oona!” Glynis cried out again.

“I will help you find her,” Sky said.

“We haven’t much time,” Glynis warned.

“Then we shouldn’t waste it. I will search this side. You search from the other side.” Sky squeezed the woman’s hand. “Worry not, we will find her.”

Women and children rushed past her going in the opposite direction. A quick glance showed that her husband and his warriors were gathering weapons and preparing to take a stance. Why did he remain outside the walls instead of seeking their safety? The answer came easily enough. He was Gallowglass and they feared nothing.

Sky turned her attention away from the scene, needing to continue to search for Oona. She worried for the little lass when another horn signaled that the attack was imminent, and she saw her husband and some of his men mount their horses. There was a huge group of warriors, and they were a remarkable sight with their weapons drawn and their faces raging with fury. Only fools would battle them.

“Hurry!” a woman shouted. “The gate closes.”

Sky looked to see that Glynis was still frantically searching and she did the same. When she thought all was lost, she spotted a piece of cloth peeking from behind a large rock. She hurried over and found Oona huddled behind it, tears flowing down her cheeks. She scooped her up and the little lass wrapped her small arms tightly around her neck.

---