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Authors: The Sword Maiden
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year he had lost part of his vision, most of his hope, all of his dreams. For too long he had felt flat, as dark and cold as the iron he worked.
At last he had a reason to return home, to his forge, to the place where he had grown to manhood. And he had a double quest now, if he wanted it: to hide and protect Jehanne's sword and to bring warning, perhaps even help, to the Mac Arthurs.
But he would have to see Eva again, and he would feel obligated to pursue vengeance against her Campbell husband.
Poor vision had ruined his ability to repair Jehanne's sword, and three grim years of war had made his need for revenge, once so hot, grow cool. But his feelings for Eva still simmered. He had tried to stop loving her, but he could no more do that than cease to breathe. He sat silently, brooding in his thoughts, while Aleck waited.
Finally Aleck stood. "Well, you are a stubborn sod, so do what you will. I have said what I had to say, and I must go. A ship departs for Aberdeen at dawn tomorrow, and I have passage on it." He tossed a silver coin on the table.'
"Wait," Lachlann said. Aleck turned. The dark swirl of his cloak made the sparks fly again in Lachlann's field of sight. "I will walk out with you. I, too, am going home." He turned his cup upside down on the table, a final gesture of his decision. "In the morning I will apply to the king for an audience." He rose to his feet.
Meggott came toward them and took Aleck's coin, dropping it down her bodice. She nestled up to Lachlann as he reached for his own cloak, but he eased her firmly away.
She pouted. "Where are you going?"
He touched her cheek, did his best to smile. "Home. I wish you well." He kissed her like a fond brother. She stared at him, then nodded slowly.
"I knew it would come. You carry your home like a fire in your heart, and so you were bound to go back. Luck to you, then." She turned away with a stiff smile.
He watched her, struck by the truth in her words. Home was indeed a fire in his heart—and home was Eva, for good or ill.
He had to return, no matter what would come of it.
He stepped out into the cold snap of the evening.
Chapter 5
Mist swirled over the water, and the dawn quiet seemed like a blessing. As Eva waited for Alpin on the lochside beach below the smithy property, she shivered in the early chill. Wrapping her arms around herself, she remembered, as she too often did, Lachlann's warm, strong embrace. That long-ago night seemed like a cherished dream that would never come true.
Through the fog, she could see the isle of Innisfarna, with its grove of trees and its massive castle at opposite ends. She had not set foot inside Innisfarna Castle for a long while, and she missed her home so much that it hurt.
Through Mairi MacKerron's generous hospitality, Eva lived in the smith's house now. At night she slept in Lachlann's own bed, curled on his heather-stuffed mattress. Her dreams—poignant sequences of yearning, passion, and gentleness—were filled with him.
Although Eva had cooperated with the garrison that had taken over the castle, remaining in her own home had proved difficult. Acting as chatelaine, she had supervised new and unfamiliar servants to oversee the demands of a huge household, while struggling with her dislike of the situation.
Late one night, after soldiers had knocked and pleaded and snickered at her bedchamber door—not for the first time, despite the garrison leader's sincere attempt to keep her safe—she had packed her belongings, tucked Grainne into a basket, and asked Alpin to take her over the water to seek sanctuary with Mairi MacKerron.
Now her visits to the island were clandestine. Often she met Alpin before dawn; concerned for her safety, he had offered to teach her how to defend herself, and a few instructions had developed into regular lessons in swordplay. Eva looked forward lately to the practice sessions, welcoming the challenges and finding enjoyment and relief from tedium and
At last he had a reason to return home, to his forge, to the place where he had grown to manhood. And he had a double quest now, if he wanted it: to hide and protect Jehanne's sword and to bring warning, perhaps even help, to the Mac Arthurs.
But he would have to see Eva again, and he would feel obligated to pursue vengeance against her Campbell husband.
Poor vision had ruined his ability to repair Jehanne's sword, and three grim years of war had made his need for revenge, once so hot, grow cool. But his feelings for Eva still simmered. He had tried to stop loving her, but he could no more do that than cease to breathe. He sat silently, brooding in his thoughts, while Aleck waited.
Finally Aleck stood. "Well, you are a stubborn sod, so do what you will. I have said what I had to say, and I must go. A ship departs for Aberdeen at dawn tomorrow, and I have passage on it." He tossed a silver coin on the table.'
"Wait," Lachlann said. Aleck turned. The dark swirl of his cloak made the sparks fly again in Lachlann's field of sight. "I will walk out with you. I, too, am going home." He turned his cup upside down on the table, a final gesture of his decision. "In the morning I will apply to the king for an audience." He rose to his feet.
Meggott came toward them and took Aleck's coin, dropping it down her bodice. She nestled up to Lachlann as he reached for his own cloak, but he eased her firmly away.
She pouted. "Where are you going?"
He touched her cheek, did his best to smile. "Home. I wish you well." He kissed her like a fond brother. She stared at him, then nodded slowly.
"I knew it would come. You carry your home like a fire in your heart, and so you were bound to go back. Luck to you, then." She turned away with a stiff smile.
He watched her, struck by the truth in her words. Home was indeed a fire in his heart—and home was Eva, for good or ill.
He had to return, no matter what would come of it.
He stepped out into the cold snap of the evening.
Chapter 5
Mist swirled over the water, and the dawn quiet seemed like a blessing. As Eva waited for Alpin on the lochside beach below the smithy property, she shivered in the early chill. Wrapping her arms around herself, she remembered, as she too often did, Lachlann's warm, strong embrace. That long-ago night seemed like a cherished dream that would never come true.
Through the fog, she could see the isle of Innisfarna, with its grove of trees and its massive castle at opposite ends. She had not set foot inside Innisfarna Castle for a long while, and she missed her home so much that it hurt.
Through Mairi MacKerron's generous hospitality, Eva lived in the smith's house now. At night she slept in Lachlann's own bed, curled on his heather-stuffed mattress. Her dreams—poignant sequences of yearning, passion, and gentleness—were filled with him.
Although Eva had cooperated with the garrison that had taken over the castle, remaining in her own home had proved difficult. Acting as chatelaine, she had supervised new and unfamiliar servants to oversee the demands of a huge household, while struggling with her dislike of the situation.
Late one night, after soldiers had knocked and pleaded and snickered at her bedchamber door—not for the first time, despite the garrison leader's sincere attempt to keep her safe—she had packed her belongings, tucked Grainne into a basket, and asked Alpin to take her over the water to seek sanctuary with Mairi MacKerron.
Now her visits to the island were clandestine. Often she met Alpin before dawn; concerned for her safety, he had offered to teach her how to defend herself, and a few instructions had developed into regular lessons in swordplay. Eva looked forward lately to the practice sessions, welcoming the challenges and finding enjoyment and relief from tedium and
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