The Devil's Laird Page 12

  He smugly handed the bow back to her. “’Tis easy.”

  Siena definitely wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. Slowly, she pulled the string straight back, the arrow even with her mouth and let the arrow fly.

  It hit in one of the painted eyes.

  She wanted to laugh at his dumbfounded expression but thought it wise not to. “Aye, it was easy,” she said, then added, “I figured an eye was just as good as the heart. Either way, the man will not be going anywhere.”

  The men who stood around them cheered as she went back to her mount where Roderick graciously helped her back up.

  “The lass has proven herself,” he said with a smile.

  Elen cleared her throat and asked, “If the hawthorn is blooming ye ken what it means?”

  “Aye, I do. Beltane.”

  Siena had no idea what they were talking about, but she was ready to go for a ride. “You can always come with us,” Siena said to Roderick, wanting to have him for company.

  “I’ve training, lass,” he replied. “Now be off with ye, but dinna go any further.”

  After promising, they left the castle before Roderick could change his mind. Siena felt like he was treating all of them like children. What could a ride in the hills hurt? Then she thought about Beltane and rode up beside Elen to ask her, “What is Beltane?”

  Elen removed her pipe. “When the hawthorn tree blooms, ’tis a signal of the beginnin’ of summer, lass, and that is when we have the Beltane feast to celebrate summer. My bones will surely welcome the warmer air.”

  “Did you say that we will have a feast?” Agatha asked.

  “Aye. ’Twill be verra special. There will be big bonfires lit on the hilltops, and all the hearth fires are extinguished to be rekindled with the cherished flames from the bonfires.”

  They were winding their way down a single path to a small burn so they couldn’t talk. The stream was beautiful with crystal clear water flowing over rocks that sent water in many different directions.

  “That sounds like a nice ritual,” Siena said. “In England, they dance around a Maypole, so I’ve been told as I’ve never seen it before.”

  “I saw it once in my younger days,” Agatha said, then added. “It was pretty with different colored ribbons.”

  Siena dismounted once they reached the water’s edge and so did Agatha. They turned to look at Elen who hadn’t budged. Siena wondered if Elen needed help.

  Elen smiled. “I said I could ride, but gettin’ on and off this beast is entirely different, so I’ll stay seated if ye dinna mind.” She pointed her pipe. “There is our hawthorn tree.”

  “Look it has flowers!” Siena exclaimed.

  “Pick the flowers and put in one bag and the leaves in another. In the fall there will be berries so we will come back and get those, too.”

  It was a glorious day without a single cloud in the sky as Siena and Agatha picked the precious flowers. The blooms came in clusters of white flowers with red dots on the petals.

  Siena clipped the last of the clusters and slipped it into a bag. She had left a lot of blooms because she didn’t see any need of stripping the tree when they had what they needed. “This is more like a bush than a tree.”

  “Aye,” Elen said as she puffed on her pipe. “This is a young tree, but it will grow bigger. Be sure to get some of the tender leaves.”

  “They make a good tincture for sore throats,” Siena explained to Agatha who knew nothing about medicine.

  “I believe I could use some now,” Agatha grumbled. “My throat has been a little sore.”

  “We’ll have to take care of that once we return,” Siena said. She pointed. “I see some heather which is good for the kidneys, coughs and colds. I must have some of that as it will not be in full bloom until late summer.”

  “’Tis unusual, lass that it is blooming now, but lucky for us.”

  Siena hurried over to the one purple bush and she caught the light floral scent which he liked. She reached into the bush and picked several of the sprigs. In the middle of the purple she spotted two sprigs of white heather, something she’d never seen before. She reached to snip the white buds. The minute she touched the white sprigs she caught a glimpse of Michael. He was crying and asking when he was going to go home to his father. She gasped and clutched her breast.

  “What is wrong, lass?” Elen asked.

  Siena turned toward her. “I just caught a glimpse of Michael and he is alive, but I don’t know where he is located.”

  “’Twas the white heather,” Elen said. “’Tis known to be lucky.”

  Just then something swept by Siena and she screamed and jumped. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was big. She moved as fast as she could back to where she’d left her bow, but she wasn’t fast enough as something caught her skirt and she heard the material rip.

  Elen’s horse reared and the other two horses scattered.

  “Go for help!” Siena screamed just as she reached her bow. She jerked it up and positioned her bow just as the animal swung around to come at her again. She took deadly aim, knowing that if she missed the animal would defiantly hit her and most likely kill her with his tusk. The animal’s black eyes were wild and his tusks long as he barreled down upon her. The arrow was swift. It caught the animal in the eye. With a squeal he fell to the ground and slid to her feet.

  Siena’s knees were shaking so bad she could hardly stand, but then she heard Agatha scream, “T--there is another one, milady!” She ran right past Siena with the boar chasing right behind her. Again, Siena’s aim was true as she caught the animal between the eyes.

  Siena was shaking so bad that her teeth were chattering. “I—I do believe that I need to sit down.” She staggered over to a smooth rock. She didn’t realize that tears were streaming down her cheeks, but when she let go of her bow, she realized that she still held the white sprig of white heather in her hand.

  Everything would be all right.

  Chapter 14

  The sound of thunder rumbled in the distance.

  The ground shook.

  Siena looked up. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Surely there could be no more boars because she didn’t have the strength to move. She could hear Agatha screaming and crying in the background.

  As the rumble grew closer, Siena turned to her left and saw Roderick and his men galloping toward her. Before she could blink, he jerked Hercules to a halt and was on his feet running toward her, his sword drawn ready for battle.

  “What the hell!” Roderick bellowed as he noticed the dead boars at Siena’s feet. His heart was beating so fast that he had to pause before he could speak again. In the short time that it had taken him to get to her, he realized that he could never lose Siena because he had an overwhelming need to protect her, but there was something more. She meant more to him than he ever thought possible.

  He knelt down beside her and took her trembling hand in his. “Are ye injured, lass?”

  “Saints above!” Duncan shouted from behind Roderick. “Och, the lass has taken down two boars. How in the hell did the lass do that?”

  “They dinna hurt ye?” Roderick asked again as he checked Siena’s body for injuries.

  “N--No, they just scared me,” Siena finally admitted as she dashed the tears from her face. She was shaking so bad that her voice trembled. “T—They came out of nowhere. I—I barely had time to shoot them.” She couldn’t believe Roderick was here. She desperately needed his comfort. As if he read her thoughts, he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, then rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “And that was one of the reasons I dinna like ye ridin’ without a guard. Ye scairt the hell out of me, lass.” He took a deep breath. “Elen sounded like a banshee when she met us screaming for help and waving her pipe in the air.”

  Siena brought her hand up to stifle her giggles as she pictured what Elen must have looked like riding disheveled on her horse. “Now I can see that a guard would have been good, however, I also was ca
pable of protecting myself,” she pointed out.

  Roderick felt that Siena was gaining control of herself again because she’d stopped trembling and he hated to admit that what she said was true. The lass seemed most capable. “Aye, but ye still could have been hurt and I would no forgive myself if you were hurt. `Twas a good thing that I’d ridden out to see how ye were faring when I met Elen.”

  Siena pushed back from him, then changed the subject. “We got our herbs so I guess we can go back to the keep,” she said as she stood back.

  “Aye. And now we can have roasted boar for the feast tonight. Everyone will be happy about that,” Roderick said, then looked at his men. “We’ll need to get these animals back to the keep and get them dressed for tonight’s feast. Tonight, we celebrate Beltane.”

  “I don’t see, Star,” Siena said as she looked around. “She must have bolted during all the commotion.”

  “Aye,” Roderick said. “’Tis one of the things that caught my attention. Yers and Agatha’s horses coming back without riders was not a good sign. Star was a silver blur as she raced back to the keep. Come on, ye can ride with me.” He helped her up on Hercules’ broad back.

  “Duncan, are ye goin’ to take Agatha back?”

  “Aye. Just as soon as she quits shaking.” Duncan chuckled. He had his arm around Agatha waist. “No sure the lass can walk just yet.”

  “It isn’t funny,” Agatha grumbled. “We both could have been dead if it were not for milady’s skills.”

  “I agree with that,” Duncan said as he shoved Agatha up on his horse then mounted behind her. “Laird, ye best not challenge yer lady to a shootin’ match. No sure ye would win.”

  “Oh, aye, I think ye could be correct, Duncan.” Roderick pulled Siena back against him. “She might best me with the bow and arrows.” But she was still a woman, he thought and needed his protection.

  As the sun lowered in the sky, the lower bailey began to come alive as the clan members gathered in groups laughing and drinking as they waited for the pigs to be done.

  The children were kicking a ball and chasing after it. Giggling filled the air, making everyone smile.

  With the lighthearted mood, she didn’t feel like an outsider tonight. People were not turning away from her as they once had when she first arrived. The men were all talking in groups, laughing and slapping each other on the back. Kegs of whisky had been carried outside so that everyone could drink and enjoy themselves.

  The roasting boars smelled wonderful as she walked beside Roderick who paused to talk to a few of his men. The soldiers raised cups of ale to her for providing the meat.

  Fergus was grinning from ear to ear. He brushed the ale off his red beard and held his cup up. “I think the lass needs one more toast. To the lass who has bested all of us in huntin’, probably why the laird married her, so we’d always have food on the table.

  Siena bowed her head. “Thank you, Fergus for the high praise. I assure you I was merely lucky today.”

  Siena held Roderick’s hand as they moved down the path. “It is a good thing we went real early this morning for the herbs, so they had time to roast the pig.”

  “Aye. We also split the boar down the middle so it will cook faster and with our days growing longer that has also helped the feast.”

  They stopped at a place on the hill and spread their blankets where others had done the same. There was a huge tree blocking them from the others, so it offered a little privacy. “Is this a good place?” she asked.

  “Aye,” Roderick said. He sat down leaning against the thick tree trunk, and then he pulled Siena in front of him so she could lean back against him. “Watch the hill.” He pointed. “’Tis time for the fires.”

  The hill in the distance could be seen clearly in the setting sun. Suddenly, two large fires burst orange and red until the flames were leaping high in the air. She gasped. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it sure wasn’t such a big fire. The clan members cheered. She wondered what the fires meant.

  “I hear cows,” Siena said. And sure, enough in the distance, she saw the herd marching up the hill single file.

  “Aye. ’Tis time to lead the herd to summer pastures, but before they can be led into the field there has to be a rite of purification.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The coos will walk between the two fires.” He pointed at the hill. “I should say they will be herded between the two fires because they would no go willingly.”

  She loved to hear his accent when he said cows, but she still didn’t understand. “Why? Isn’t it dangerous for the animals?”

  “Dinna worry, lass. There is plenty of room for the animals. The white coos will walk between the two fires and `twill singe their fur turning them brown. Therefore, it will signal they have moved from winter to summer.”

  Siena started laughing. “You made that up.”

  “Nay, I’ve seen it done many times since I was a wee bairn. We’ve many rituals and superstitions here.”

  “I believe you.” She turned so that she could see him. He propped up a leg so she could lean against it and face him while they talked. “And things I never have thought possible do happen.” She reached into her pouch and pulled out the small piece of white heather.

  “Ah, wull. Here’s proof. ’Tis said to be verra lucky that if ye take white heather into battle then ye’ll no lose yer fight.”

  “Well, when I picked the sprig,” she paused and gathered her courage before she continued, “I heard Michael ask when he was going to see his father.” She grabbed Roderick’s arms. “I believe Michael is alive, but I don’t know where he is.”

  For a few minutes, Roderick didn’t say anything. He appeared stunned. And this from a man who never showed any emotion. “Ah, lass. I want it to be true and can only hope that ye’ll find my son.”

  Since they were secluded by the big tree. Roderick enfolded Siena in his arms and gently kissed her. Then he deepened the kiss and kissed her hungrily. His tongue coaxing her lips open so he could taste all of her sweetness. His tongue stroked and mated with hers until he felt her tremble in his arms. It took all of his willpower to not go any further.

  For a long moment she felt as if she were floating. The kiss was exhilarating, but they were at a celebration, so she pulled back. “Keep the heather until we find Michael.”

  After the bonfire merry making they made their way back to the keep, they smiled at each other. “I think everyone is enjoying Beltane.”

  “Aye, they are. ’Tis always nice to have winter behind us and you made it special, lass, with the two boars. They have never had that much meat at one time.”

  Alva waved at her with her son by her side. The rest of the kitchen staff was outside also, but so far, she had not seen Elen and she wondered where she could be.

  Siena spotted Agatha who was laughing with Duncan. Siena had never seen her look so young. “Have you notice that Duncan and Agatha seemed to get along very well?”

  “Aye, I think that Duncan likes Agatha very much.” Roderick laughed. “Could have another wedding coming up, lass.”

  “I hope so. Agatha deserves to be happy.”

  The air was filled with the aroma of roast boar. A pit with two spits were set up in the middle of the crowd. All the women had fixed side dishes and they were lined up along the tables.

  When it was time and the cooks had declared the pig was done a cheer went up and everyone filed by the boars with their trenchers to get a big portion of pig.

  Roderick insisted that he and Siena would go last to honor his clan.

  He was a good one, Siena thought.

  Just as they were getting ready to get their food, Elen marched across the compound dressed in all her glorious green color. Roderick was speaking with Duncan and not paying them any attention.

  “You are defiantly The Green Woman tonight.” Siena laughed.

  “Have to hold up my reputation, lass. I should have known that ye could take care of yerself. How
do ye like our Beltane?”

  “I think it is a very nice celebration. Still cannot believe the cows change from white to brown, however.”

  “Ye of all people should believe.” Elen laughed. “I’ve been busy putting out all the fires in the keep. Tonight, after ye have eaten, you and the laird will go to the bonfire and pick up a stick to light the fire in your room. ’Tis considered lucky.”

  “Aye, we will,” Siena said.

  Then Elen leaned in to whisper, “Beltane is the union of Earth and Sky. Tonight, ye will be sensual and passionate with the joy of conception.”

  Siena jerked back and she felt her face burn as Elen laughed and went on her merry way. Lovemaking wasn’t something Siena cared to talk about to anyone but Roderick. Now she wondered if tonight she would conceive.

  She guessed time would tell.

  Chapter 15

  Balan Castle

  Northumbria, England

  Balan Castle stands on a somewhat elliptical mound overlooking the River Wansbeck. Flags flew from the towers. By all appearances, everything looked peaceful, but turmoil was brewing inside the castle’s gray walls.

  Baron Cinge Bertram sat behind his desk drumming his fingers upon the desk. His outlook was dire. He admitted to himself that he’d been a spendthrift and squandered much of his wealth, but he had always had Berwick and his son’s men to back him up . . . until that damn Scot took Berwick and killed his son.

  Now that his son had been gone for over a year. He didn’t have enough men to retake Berwick and guard his own castle. He’d love to attack Black Dawn as his son once had and hopefully murder Laird Scott.

  But Cinge knew he couldn’t do that. His only pleasure was knowing that the laird suffered every day for the loss of his son.

  A knock on the door interrupted his brooding thoughts. “Enter.”

  “Sire, Lord Malcolm is here to see you.”