“Nay!” she screamed.
Her palm automatically went to the empty spot on herarisaid.She stared at the older man, shock and horror etched on her countenance.
“I take what I want,” he said with a sneer. “I dinnae think ‘twas possible, but now I perceive why ye were immune tae my spells. ‘Tis the gemstone on your brooch that protected ye. I didnae ken why I hadnae thought about it till now.”
“’Tis nae yours tae take,” she said in a half sob, and made a grab for his arm.
But the advisor lifted his arm, while brushing her aside with the other, as if she was an annoying bairn.
“Ye will nay longer need the pin,” he said calmly, dropping the jewelry into his leather sporran.
Adrina’s face flushed, and she rushed at Fingal, intent in getting back her possession.
Things were starting to get out of hand, and he needed to distract Fingal before he took something else from Adrina.
Duncan let out a loud groan, pretending that he had just woken. The distraction worked, and the advisor swiveled his head, and looked over in Duncan’s direction.
“The Highlander is awake,” he said if he was commenting on the weather. “I was hoping that my man didnae hit ye too hard.”
“Whydidhe hit me?” Duncan asked, rubbing the tender spot on the back of his head for emphasis.
“We couldnae determine whether ye were friend or foe,” he said smoothly. “’Tis best tae error on the side of caution in these days of uncertainty.”
Duncan pushed himself up from the ground. “Aye, ‘tis true that there are times when ye cannae determine friend from foe. But ye could’ve just asked,” he grumbled. “Who are ye, and where’s Adrina?”
“I’m Fingal MacNauld,” he said. Then he looked behind Duncan and gestured. “Conran, bring the lass over here.”
A thick-set guard dragged Adrina over to them. The lass’ cheeks were streaked with tears, and her eyes were suffused with sorrow. “’Twas a mistake tae allow ye tae escort me here, Duncan. I’m truly sorry for bringing ye into this mess. I —”
“Now we ken that ye are a friend,” Fingal said, interrupting her. “We’ll need tae thank ye for bringing our dear lassie home.” He placed a hand on her shoulder while she tried in vain to squirm away from his hold. Still ignoring her, he turned to Duncan, his expression serious. “Adrina hasnae been well of late. The village healer believes that demons have entered into her mind. She claims tae see and hear things beyond this realm, sae we can assume that everything she says are perpetrated by these wicked spirits, or by the Black Donald himself.”
“She has told me strange things about sorcery…” Duncan said, allowing his voice to trail off.
“He lies, Duncan. Dinnae believe him!” Her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“As ye can see, she is clearly delusional,” Fingal said, shrugging. “’Tis nay wonder she behaves sae erratically. MacGill and his wife are verra concerned about her. At the verra least, they’ll be glad that their daughter is returned home safely.”
“’Tis nae the truth,” Adrina said weakly.
Duncan looked at her, an odd expression on his compelling features. But then he quickly averted his face. His dismissal of her shot through her as if he had taken a dagger, and stabbed it into the center of her heart. While Duncan was unconscious, Fingal conjured his magic on him. And now Duncan was as plagued as the rest of the people of Dunnvie. The advisor would convince him that she was deranged, and for her own safety, that she was better off locked up in the high tower. And if Duncan remembered their time together at all, he would likely regret making love to her. That realization pierced another hole in her heart. After all this time, she had finally found a valiant man whom she respected and cared for. He was more than her imaginary lover; he was a part of her reality. And she loved him, she realized. She had loved him even before she met him. But Fingal would ultimately turn Duncan against her — just as he set everyone else to oppose her. She didn’t know how she could handle Duncan’s eventual disinterest. Perhaps she would have been better off if she hadn’t experienced that slice of happiness in the woods. Perhaps then she wouldn’t have to patch up the holes in her heart.
But it was too late for regrets. Yet even though she realized this, she still was unable to stop the lump from forming in her gullet. She had already given away her heart to the Highlander, and there was no way she could take it back. And if Fingal had his way, he would soon make Duncan despise her. While it was one thing to have the clan members act cold and unfriendly toward her, it was something entirely to have her lover look at her with hatred and disgust.
Duncan looked around for his claymore, and when he saw that one of the guards carried it, he put out his hand. “That belongs tae me,” he said.
The guard glanced over at Fingal for permission. At the cleric’s nod, he handed over the weapon.
Taking the blade, Duncan sheathed it. Then stepping forward, he looked everywhere but at her. Her heart dove to the pit of her stomach. In such a small space of time they had already become strangers.
“Where’s Tavon MacGill?” he said, leveling his gaze at Fingal. “I need tae speak with him before I leave Dunnvie.”
“I’m afraid that the laird isnae here,” Fingal said, his voice unruffled. He placed a protective hand over the book that he had tucked under his belt. “MacGill and his lady wife left unexpectedly tae visit the borderingsept. I fear that their trip was urgent and sudden. However I expect that they’ll return shortly. Ye could wait,” He bared his teeth. “Or ye can tell me your business, and I’ll pass on the message once he returns.”
“I had hoped tae speak privately with MacGill,” Duncan said, frowning. “However the message can wait, and I’ll return another time.” He started to take a step forward when he dropped abruptly to his knees. Cradling his head, he let out a loud gasp. Adrina made a move to go to him, but the guard held her back.
Fingal gestured to the man beside him. “Help him up, Hamish,” he commanded.
The guard offered Duncan his hand. But Duncan ignored it, and pushed himself off of the ground. “I dinnae ken why I feel sae weak,” he said, his brows creased in puzzlement. “I was fine a moment ago.”
