When she still had no rebuttal, he let out a laugh. It was easy to see her irritation with him, however he hadn’t even begun to become annoying. Still, she had to know that he was right. Some of their forefathers had mistakenly trusted the enemy, and the greedy English had taken advantage of them. To this day, the Scots were still affected by the treachery. If they didn’t protect what was theirs, they would no doubt lose their land, their pride, and ultimately their freedom.
“Should ye nae be attending tae your admiring lassies?” she said finally, jerking her chin at the spot he had just vacated. He followed the line of her gaze, and saw the young women curiously watching their exchange.
Suddenly he was tired of this discussion. The English threat was real, and warfare wasn’t something that could be taken lightly, or discussed with the weaker sex.
“Lady Venora informed me that she’s finished making the elixir,” he said abruptly. “Ye will leave tomorrow after dinner.”
CHAPTER 4
The morning’s repast seemed to drag by slowly, and Adrina tried to stomp down the impatience that stirred in her belly.
She dipped a piece of bread into the steaming bowl of stew. After last night’s supper, the women were again dismissed from the great hall, and the men continued their talk about war. She wanted to stay and listen to the discussion, but she knew that women were usually barred from hearing such talks. Anything more about the gathering, she had learned from Mairead. For someone who didn’t attend the gathering herself, and who claimed a disinterest in politics, Duncan’s sister was well-informed.
Adrina knew that if her father had knowledge of this gathering, he would have made it a point to be at the war council. But he wasn’t here. Why? The only thing she could determine was that once again her father’s principal advisor, Fingal MacNauld, had a hand in it.
Scanning the room, she took in the people who surrounded her. At the dais, the MacGregons sat, formidable and proud. By now many of theseptshad left Tancraig, although there were some clan members that remained. She supposed that the various chieftains had to return to their homes. Once they took care of their business, they would march on to Bracken Ridge, an area so named because of the abundant bracken which grew on all sides of the steep glen. Aside from her vision earlier, she had never visited there, although she understood that it was located in the mountainous range south of Tancraig. A narrow crossing ran through it, and which was used for traveling into the heart of the highlands. In the summer months, however, the pass became virtually inaccessible, since the bracken grew thick and sturdy. There were some spots where the plant swelled to the height of a full-grown man. Nevertheless, now that the weather was cooling, the bracken would die back. And because of this, the English would be more successful in moving large cavalry and battle equipment through the passage.
Off to the side, Adrina overheard two men discussing the coming war. Even though she tried to center her attention on her meal, the conversation between the two men floated to her ears. Adrina pushed the bowl away, the little food she ate now sitting within her stomach like a rigid mass.
She concentrated on taking in one breath after another. Bunching her hands in her kirtle, she prayed that she wouldn’t experience another horrific vision. The last thing she wanted was to re-experience the realities of war, and watch her kinsmen die. But then the moment passed, and the youthful brogue of Duncan’s youngest brother entered into her consciousness.
“…’A Highlander is resilient, and always fights for what he wants. But he also has the support of his clan,’ Rory said. The English knights quaked in their boots, and bolted out of Scotland. And so ends the tale of how Rory won the love of his bonny lass,” Ewan finished with flourish. Soon after shouting and applause erupted all around them.
Rory reached over and covered Darra’s hand with his while a pretty flush stained her cheeks.
Adrina sighed. “’Tis plain that they are verra much in love,” she said to Mairead who sat beside her. “Even my own parents are nae sae bold as tae display their affection in public.”
“Aye, they both make each other verra happy,” Mairead said, smiling.
The couple’s delight in each other was obvious. Adrina wondered whether she would find a similar happiness even though she had no choice on who she would marry. Her father and his advisor were intent in matching her with some mighty laird that would prove beneficial to Clan MacGill. They hadn’t yet found this man, but it was only a matter of time.
Adrina pushed the bowl of stew away, her appetite gone. She didn’t know what had come over her, and why she was thinking of love or the lack of it. Her purpose here was to get the help she needed to free her people. As much as she wanted to, she didn’t have the power or the influence to save Scotland. For now, she had to be content with helping her own clan. But a new worry nagged at her. What if her clansmen came out of their stupor, and discovered that their beloved land was overrun by the hated English. Was Adrina really doing them a favor by breaking them loose from one prison only to have them enslaved in another?
She shook off the gloomy thoughts, resolving to think of something else. In a few short hours Venora would deliver the brew, and Adrina would be on her way.
“What manner of woman is Lady Venora?” she asked Mairead.
“She’s a lady of merit,” Mairead answered simply. “She has a rare ability tae quickly assess a problem and derive an adequate cure. I have never seen the like. The auld healer from the village isnae as accurate.”
“She has the appearance of a Scotswoman yet she speaks with the inflection of asassenach.”
“Sae ye noticed that,” Mairead said. “Lady Venora was born in the highlands, however when she married an English lord, she moved to England, and lost all traces of her heritage. She’s here now tae visit with her daughter.”
Adrina fell silent as she continued to listen to Mairead’s description of the healer. Her inner guidance did well to lead her to the renowned healer. On her own, Adrina would never have thought to come this far into MacGregon territory.
“Och, there’s the lady now,” Mairead said, interrupting Adrina’s train of thought.
A flurry of activity at the front of the great hall caught her attention. Sitting up straighter, she craned her neck, and saw the healer and a servant making their way toward them. But it was when she saw that Venora clutched something in her hand that her heart began to race. This was it. All thoughts fled from her mind. She quickly made her excuse to Mairead, and rushed over to meet the healer halfway across the hall.
“Is the brew finished, milady?” Adrina asked a little breathlessly.
“Aye,” she said, handing her a small bottle. “Make certain that you use it well, as ‘tis a long and difficult process to make. As well, keep the potion away from the sun, since this will reduce its potency.”
“But how can I administer it?”
“Mix the contents into a drink, and with one sip, the spell will break.”
Her mind started racing. First she would pour a small amount in her father’s whisky, and have him drink it. After that, she would pour the rest of the contents into the communal well. Once the people in the castle drank from the well, everyone would wake up, and see Fingal for who he really was.
