Page 29 of Married to the Highland Devil
He arrived there just in time to see Matthew Ross, his man-at-arms, overseeing the workers on the pig farm. Plockton had the highest record of farmers in the clan, and their poultry sustained the castle and the other neighboring clans all year round.
He had never had to worry about them like he did with the other two villages, Kret and Bune. Those two were closest to MacGregor, and the constant raids he carried out there had ruined most of their lands.
The people there suffered. Duncan hated it. But he knew he could end it soon.
“My Laird,” Matthew greeted as soon as he dismounted his horse.
“How is it?” Duncan asked.
Matthew bowed his head for a bit then proceeded to feed Duncan information on how much had happened since he had been away.
“Any raids in Kret and Bune?” Duncan asked.
“Nay, My Laird. It has been unusually quiet in those areas since ye left. I have tightened the watch of guards around the Plockton borders. Nay matter what happens, Laird MacGregor’s men willnae be able to raid Plockton.”
Duncan rubbed the back of his neck. He continued his inspection of the poultry and then the farmlands. The planting season was drawing to an end, and soon, the people would celebrate the harvest.
No matter what circumstances his people were in, they never failed to celebrate every Scottish festival and tradition. He made sure to allow them their freedom to celebrate in the old ways.
“There is one thing of concern though, My Laird,” Matthew said as Duncan let his thoughts carry him away for a bit.
“What is it?”
“Rumors,” Matthew began. “Rumors of a witch that has come to curse the land. I overheard the servants in the castle speaking and investigated it myself. There is an old seer in the village spreadin’ them. I shall have her arrested if ye want.”
“Nay,” Duncan answered. “Take me to her instead.”
“Are ye sure, My Laird?” Matthew’s worry was evident in how his brows furrowed together and his lips tightened into a thin line. “It is my duty to handle this. I shallnae bother ye with silly rumors like this one.”
“I want to hear what this seer has to say,” Duncan insisted. “Take me to her.”
* * *
The seer’s cottage was in the heart of Plockton. Her yard seemed abandoned. Overgrown grasses covered most of it, and Duncan threaded through the bush with Matthew to get to her doorstep.
She opened the door even before he knocked, and he stared into her cold, gray eyes. As she stared back at him, Duncan realized she could not see.
Her eyes had no focus, but it seemed like they pierced through his soul.
“My Laird,” she said before he could speak. “I knew ye would come here to learn the truth soon.”
“Ye spread rumors,” Duncan accused without moving from her doorstep.
“It isnae rumors, My Laird. I only speak the truth. Ye have brought evil to our clan, and she shall be yer end. She shall bring the fall of McLennan. This isnae rumor… She was cursed by the sun and blessed by the moon. Surely ye ken the clan’s history, do ye nae?”
“Ye spread rumors,” he said before she could continue. “I hope ye ken the consequences of what yer sayin’.”
I need to put an end to this.
His mind already raced with thoughts of how he could stop this rumor from spreading.
I cannae let Amelia be in danger. Not after I promised to protect her like the rest of my family.
Duncan eyed the old woman, and he noticed the pendant sitting on her neck. It was an emerald, the expensive kind, and only someone from a noble home could have had access to such expensive jewelry.
“Ye must take her back, My Laird. This weddin’ will only be yer doom!”
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