Page 5 of Kilted Abduction
“Then ye’re to bring her to Dunvegan immediately. We will need tae talk to her.”
“Aye,” Magnus said.
“Laird MacLeod, the horses are ready,” Eldrick said.
“Thank ye,” Domhnall said then turned to Magnus. “Any questions afore ye go?”
“Aye, just one,” he replied. “Are ye sure there’s nae somebody I can take in Kai’s place? A stableboy or chamberpot scrubber perhaps?”
Domhnall finally cracked a smile and shook his head. “Just keep the lad in line,” he said, then grew serious. “And dinnae be usin’ yer gifts unless ye have tae. And if ye have tae, dae yer best tae nay dae it in front of other people.”
“What good are gifts if we’re nae allowed to show them off?” Kai joked.
“Dae that and I’ll put ye in the stocks fer a week,” Domhnall said, unamused.
Magnus understood that if people knew about their gifts, they would not understand. And people tended to fear that which they did not understand. Their father, long ago, had made a point of explaining this as he told them they must do everything in their power to conceal their gifts from other people. Use them to help, of course, without making a point of showing them off. Scared people made irrational decisions that often led to violence.
“I mean it, Kai. Dinnae use yer gifts unless ye need tae,” Domhnall said. “That means, nay using them tae charm the lasses.”
“I’ve never done anything of the sort,” he replied. “Me charm is all natural.”
Magnus and Domhnall both rolled their eyes, prompting Kai to laugh. The truth, however, was that Kai never used his gifts in that way. While he couldn’t outright compel a person to do as he wanted, he could certainly influence their emotions. It would have been easy to abuse of such a gift. But their faither had made sure that Kai—that all the MacLeod siblings—understood the moral and ethical responsibility of wielding such power.
Magnus and Kai both climbed into their saddles and got themselves adjusted for the journey ahead. It would be a long road but in a way, Magnus was looking forward to it. As the clan’s chief strategist and Domhnall’s closest advisor, he didn’t get out often, so leaving Dunvegan now and then was nice.
“All right,” Domhnall said. “Safe journey tae the both of ye and may God be with ye.”
“We will see ye soon, braither,” Magnus said and clasped hands with his older brother.
Kai flashed Magnus that lopsided grin. “Let’s go, braither. Tae the Highland Games we go.”
Magnus pulled his furs around him again. “Aye. Tae the Highland Games we go.”
CHAPTER THREE
The chill in the air made Ciara shiver and she pulled her cloak around her tighter. Her breath appeared in wispy plumes as she knelt in the gardens behind her father’s keep. Well beyond the grave markers of her twin brother, who’d perished just after birth, and the other stillborn children that filled the family cemetery, Ciara sat by her mother’s marker. With the riot of colors from the shrubs, the butterflies that frequented the area, and the sense of peace that permeated the air, Ciara was sure her mother would have loved it there.
Though she knew her father would have certainly thought it foolish, Ciara liked to sit out by the pond, near her mother just to talk to her. Some days, she thought she could even feel her mother’s presence with her. Those days brought her a sense of peace and comfort that was absent in most every other corner of her life.
“I am sorry, Mama,” Ciara said softly. “I have tae do this. I just hope ye can understand. I cannae marry that man. I willnae. I just ask… please watch over me.
She idly plucked away the leaves and debris that had collected on the marker since her last visit, doing her best to clean it up. Her mother deserved no less. The sound of footsteps rushing through the leaves and undergrowth sent a surge of adrenaline through Ciara’s veins and when she turned to see it was only Elspeth approaching, she let out a breath of relief.
“It’s gettin’ close tae dark,” the handmaiden said. “We should see about gettin’ you ready fer the feast or yer faither will have me hide.”
“Is everything else ready?”
Elspeth nodded. “It is. Ready and waiting.”
“Good.”
“Last time I’ll ask, but are ye sure?—”
“I’m more than sure, Elspeth. Enough with the questions.”
“Fair enough. I just felt like I needed tae ask one more time,” she said then paused as something akin to grief was etched into her features.
“What it is?” Ciara asked.
