Page 73 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

The wind had snuck up, out of nowhere, until it was a blustering force, raging all the way around the Macaulay castle. But Niven was so preoccupied, he hardly cared.

He had one thought on his mind: to find Deva and discuss what had happened.

But more than that. As Niven rode, he could not keep an epiphany from blinding him with the force of the winter sun.

There was no way he could abandon his uncle now. Niven’s guilt burned deep into him. How could he have ever thought of running away with his uncle’s bride? As the storm gathered apace, Niven raced back through the iron castle gates.

No, there was only one thing he could do.

He would end it with Deva.

* * *

“Deva, we need to speak,” Niven dismounted from his horse and raced over to where she was standing in the front of the keep.

In the distance, the outline of the laird’s horse could still be seen, disappearing into the horizon. Deva paused, wondering what had happened.

In disarray, she looked towards Niven, making his way over towards her. The look on his face was so intense, she instantly felt worried. Something was wrong.

“Niven, what is it,” said Deva, panicking. She checked around for servants, but it was alright. They were alone.

“Deva, there’s something important ye need to ken…” said Niven, pushing past her and leading into the castle.

Now Deva was alarmed.

“What, now?” said Deva. “They’re coming for the feast?”

But even as she said this, she looked warily onto the horizon. The sight of the laird taking off had ignited her anxiety, and Niven staring like that didn’t help much, either.

“Aye, now,” said Niven, bustling them both into the corridor and continuing until they were inside the great hall.

The room was dressed, ready for the banquet. But although the table candles burned brightly, the guests were eerily absent.

“Here?” said Deva, in disbelief. She looked at him uncertainly. “It could hardly be more public…”

“Nae,” said Niven, taking her hand. His warmth spread through her, crackling like a flame. Even though it was not cold, a shiver ran down her. “No-one’s goin’ tae be here for some time, MacLean has requested a meet at the lodge…for some reason…”

Deva’s eyes met his unsurely. “The lodge?” she asked.

“Aye, dinnae ask me why, but all I ken is it will keep them all busy for some time to come…no-one’s coming, so come on lass,” he faltered, his voice fading off. He had broken off and was simply staring at her eyes.

Deva saw into the depths of them and could tell he was struggling with himself.

“Come on, what?” asked Deva desperately. She did not think that she could take much more of this. Whatever it was Niven had to tell her was eating him up inside, and with every second that passed, Deva grew more worried.

“Och, Deva, there’s nae easy way to say this,” started Niven. “I’ve just been wi’ the laird, an’ he told me… he told me something… ye need to ken…”

Deva’s eyes widened.

“He thinks yer too young for him,” said Niven. He looked so horrified that Deva almost laughed out loud.

“What?” she said, “Is that all?”

She threw her head back and laughed, “As if I dinnae ken that! It’d hardly be the first time some laird married a lassie young enough to be his daughter…!”

Then, she got up, walking around the table, inspecting it as she went by. “Listen, it’s nae to be worried about. After all, we dinnae have to worry about that, do we? We’re going to find a way to be together, even if it does have to be after the wedding…!”

But still, Niven was staring at her, a doomed look in his brown eyes. “But that’s just it, lassie,” he said sadly. “There isnae goin’ tae be any wedding…”