Page 49 of Highlander’s Evil Side

Beitris helped the boy into a sitting position. His eyes opened, displaying glazed green. His hands shivered as he reached for the cup, grimacing as he drank the contents. After a few sips, he handed the cup back to Hamish.

“Ye must drink all of it, lad.”

The boy shook his head. “I cannot. Ye have already made me drink enough. I cannot. Please, do not—”

“If ye want to get well, ye must, lad,” Hamish insisted.

The boy shuddered in Beitris’s arms. His grip on the cup tightened, and he begrudgingly brought it to his lips, gulping down the rest of his tea. He gagged, yet nothing came up, and Beitris released a breath she had been holding when the boy relaxed in her arms.

Hamish seized the cup and returned to his pot, finding the boy’s mother no longer pacing. She stepped towards Hamish, grabbing his arm and turning him towards her. “Please, ye must tell me now,” she pleaded. “Will he die?”

Hamish sighed, and Beitris could see he was considering his words. “I do not want to lie to ye, lass,” he said.

Tears streamed from the woman’s eyes, her lips quivering as she stared up at him. “Please, tell me.”

Hamish nodded. “Yer lad is very ill, but I believe he will live.”

The woman gasped, her body curling in on itself. She dropped to her knees and clutched at Hamish’s leine. “Thank ye,” she breathed. “Thank ye for yer kindness. I do not know what I would have done.”

“But, he could still worsen,” Hamish said quickly. “He still has the fever. He is strong, for now, but it could worsen. I will have the guard send for my apprentice when he returns the lady to the keep.” He smiled at the woman, taking her hands and helping her up. “I will stay with ye and do everything I can to ensure he survives the night.”

“Hamish,” started Beitris while slowly easing out from under the boy. “Are ye sure? I can stay with ye. I can help.”

Hamish shook his head. “This is nae place for a lady such as yerself.”

“But I can help,” Beitris insisted.

“Aye.” Hamish smiled, tilting his head to the side while stroking his beard. “And ye have, my lady. However, yer tired. Even I can see that. And it’s getting dark. I mustn’t keep ye so long without the laird knowing yer whereabouts.”

Beitris jutted out her chin. “But I informed the guard.” She grimaced as soon as the words escaped her lips. Even she knew that was a terrible excuse, and Hamish was right, she was exhausted. She wasn’t used to being this terrified for a boy she did not know while worrying who and what would break through the cottage door.

“Ye have been a wonderful apprentice,” said Hamish while patting her shoulder. “Now, it’s time for ye to have a rest.”

Beitris glanced at the woman, meeting her bloodshot, swollen eyes filled with such joy. The woman dipped into a clumsy curtsy, nearly tripping over her own feet. “Thank ye, my lady,” she murmured. “Thank ye for yer kindness. It will never be forgotten.”

Beitris forced a smile, nodding towards the woman. “I will pray to the Heavens yer lad survives this night.”

The woman kept her head bowed while Hamish took Beitris’s arm and escorted her towards the cottage entrance.

“Ye must inform me as soon as ye return about the lad’s health,” said Beitris as Hamish opened the door for her. “I fear rest will be the last thing on my mind this night.”

Hamish nodded. “Of course, my lady. Ye will be the first one I speak with when I return.”

“My lady,” said Ian while turning to her and dipping into a curt bow. “Is everything alright? Do ye have need of me? Shall we return?”

“Ye may escort the lady home, my good sir,” said Hamish, chuckling at Ian’s earnest gaze. “And once the lady is safe within the castle walls, will ye fetch me my apprentice? I will have need of him.”

“Of course,” Ian said with a curt bow before offering Beitris his arm.

Beitris placed a hand on Ian’s arm and allowed him to guide her towards the dirt path. She glanced over her shoulder, watching Hamish twiddle his fingers in farewell. “Take care of yerself, Hamish,” she called.

“Ye, as well, my lady.”

Beitris nodded, and she faced forward, straightening her back as she looked through the shadows. Her eyes adapted to the darkness, and her grasp on Ian’s arm tightened as they walked slowly through the wood. She searched the shadows, looking for watching eyes and glimmering swords, yet there were none as she continued on the path. Her feet stepped lightly, careful not to make a sound while she listened for any snaps and rustling in the woods.

It wasn’t until they were out of the wood and she saw the castle in the distance, that she was able to release the breath she had been holding and allowed herself to relax. Soon, she would be home and in Fraser’s arms. Thinking of him, his blue eyes, his faint smile, Beitris’s step quickened, desperate to be home with her husband-to-be and excited to tell him all she had done to aid Hamish.

Ian paused at the lowered portcullis. Soldiers paused on the wall with one shouting, “Who goes there?”

“It is Ian and Lady Beitris,” Ian called to the man. “Please permit us entrance.”

“It’s Lady Beitris!” the men shouted.

Beitris frowned at the urgency in their tones as she watched the portcullis being raised. The sun was beginning to set. Torches lit the courtyard as they entered. Several guards watched her, their lips parted, their gazes filled with shock.

“Lady Beitris,” she heard them whisper.

Beitris’s frown deepened, wondering what was going on. “Where’s Laird Fraser?” she called to the soldiers leaving their barracks and approaching her.

One soldier shook his head. “He went looking for ye, my lady.”

“Aye,” said another. “He thought ye went missing.”

All breath left Beitris, and she searched the courtyard for the two soldiers she had spoken to before; however, they were nowhere to be found. No one had marks on their chins and temples. No one looked greasy. They lacked the leering dark gazes of the two she had spoken with. Her hands fisted at her side as something eerie crawled across her skin. Her message had not been received.

Was this a plan to lure Fraser out of the castle? Was he still out there, searching for her, only to fall into a trap?