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Having made a stealthy return to Cailleach in the dead of night Duncan was camped out in the thick forest around the castle. The smoke from the fire caught in his throat as he sat near its warmth, sharpening a claymore to a vicious edge. Around him, men busied themselves with similar tasks to focus them on what was to come. They could not afford to make any mistakes.
Scouts had been sent ahead on the road to hopefully discover the Sinclairs and draw them into attacking. Duncan had long been an excellent tactician and knew there were more important things in a fight than courage. Choosing where you met your enemy and having the element of surprise could tip the balance between life and death and Duncan intended to have both on his side.
He had not wanted to leave Ailsa and thinking about her he felt a surge of lust and longing. Who would have believed that a filthy girl he had picked up out of the mud could have become such a passionate lover?The thought of her delicate hands on him, the way she felt under him, writhing in ecstasy, grabbing at his hair and clutching at his back in her need brought a wry smile to his face. He thought he was rescuing a helpless young woman in need of protection but instead, he had caught a wildcat by the tail.
And he never stopped wanting her, longing to have his hands all over her. It was a sickness which had not been cured by marrying her and taking her to his bed. Now he wanted to possess her completely, body and soul, and nothing short of that would satisfy him. Duncan did not want to feel tender towards her and he certainly hadn’t set out to love her so even as the feeling swelled in his chest he wanted to reject it.
Ailsa had not said the word to him and though he gave her pleasure he did not have a window into her mind. And yet here he was, her slave, loving her and unable to do anything about it.
A clamour arose behind him and his mind snapped back to his men. There was tumult in the camp as a horse rode in, it’s rider hurling himself off at Duncan’s feet. His men swarmed around him.
‘The Sinclairs are found Laird, a strong force, heavily armed, just north of here.’
‘How many?’
‘Hard to be sure, I didn’t want to get too close in case I was discovered. But they are moving fast, this way and they were at least as many in number as us.’
‘Good, then the trap has been sprung and it is time to rid ourselves of this scourge once and for all. Ready yourselves, we leave at once.’
Duncan tied back his hair and busied himself strapping on weapons, broadsword, dirk and targe. His pistols were loaded and ready and each shot must count for in the chaos of a fight there was little time to reload if his aim was not true. This for him was a well-honed ritual. His hands were steady and his mind clear for this time he had something worth fighting for beyond mere survival - a future with Ailsa.
Ailsa had spent many hours getting to know Dunslair and not warming to it in the slightest. It had a vast, chilly grandeur about it and a pervading air of gloom and she felt vulnerable there without Duncan. It was as if the castle were some malevolent beast which resented her and sought to repel her as a stranger and enemy. Eventually, loneliness drove her to the solace of the chapel. In the fading light of evening, all was quiet there and she prayed fervently for Duncan’s speedy return, her thoughts wandering back to those last precious hours together. She heard someone come up behind her.
‘It is so good to see you Ailsa,’ came a familiar voice and suddenly, there was Hamish McDougall. ‘You are a sight for sore eyes,’ he said breathlessly, rushing up and taking her hands in his. ‘Lovely as always.’
‘Hamish, what on earth are you doing at Dunslair?’
‘I am here to deliver letters from my father to Laird Hugh. He wishes to build bridges with the man. Goodness knows why for that man is a villain. Beyond that, I have a further unhappy task Ailsa, for I have come to say goodbye. I am on my way south, to Edinburgh. My father is sending me to our relations there, that I may in his words, learn to become a man,’ he said somewhat bitterly.
‘Oh, I am sorry for it Hamish. I will miss you.’ Ailsa wondered what her old friend might have done this time to raise his father’s ire to the point of banishment to Edinburgh.
‘Come let us sit and I will tell you all the news and you must tell me yours.’
They sat for quite some time together as Hamish recounted the exploits of his family and many of her old acquaintances. It was comforting for Ailsa in a hostile place surrounded by strangers to have a friend and a link to her past. Hamish made her laugh and she was pleased to see him. They both skirted around talk of Duncan and the Campbells and Ailsa was glad of that. Eventually, the chapel became colder as darkness fell and Ailsa felt she had better break off the conversation and let Hamish be on his way.
‘I should go, Hamish, for I will be missed at supper and Hugh is a vigilant jailor. He will send someone to find me and there will be trouble.’
“I must make haste too for I have quite a journey ahead of me, though I wish I could stay longer. Unfortunately, Laird Hugh is not the most welcoming of hosts so I shall press onward tonight.’ Now, at their moment of parting, Hamish suddenly became very serious.
‘Ailsa I wish fate had been kinder to us. I wish you were not married to that brute Campbell.’
‘Hamish he is not like that. If you got to know him then you would see that he has many good qualities and is kind to me in his way.’
But Hamish was not really listening. ‘I would rescue you from your plight if I could,’ he rushed on.
‘Truly, Hamish, I am content.’
‘Why don’t you come with me now? We can run away somewhere, start a new life together.’
‘Are you run mad?’
‘No I mean it Ailsa, every word.’
‘Truly, I do not need rescuing,’ she said, almost laughing with the absurdity of his proposal. ‘I am content with my situation and I am getting used to my new life. My future is here.’
Hamish looked appalled. ‘That cannot be true, Ailsa.’
‘I am happy enough and as for running away with you, that is ridiculous. Would you have me live sinfully with you when I am wed to another? Would you have me abandon Cailleach and the people who depend on me? I belong with Duncan now.’
