Awakening Her Soul to Destiny (15 page)

Rising slowly from her seat, Etain began washing the plates in the wash bucket. Carefully choosing her words, she glanced up at Kaitla thoughtfully. “Aye, we could travel in such a manner, but it wouldna’ be the right thing to do.” She paused as she looked out over the rolling landscape, newly green and vibrant since Kaitla’s return to the realm. “The land has awaited healing for thirty-five years, Kaitla. Ye must touch it, see it, and become a part of it in order to heal it completely and make it whole. Do ye understand what I’m tryin’ to tell ye?”

“
Yes,” Kaitla replied quietly. “I need to stop trying to rush things and take the more natural course of events?” Nodding in agreement, Etain smiled at Kaitla’s grasp of the workings of the realm.

Thundering hooves of the feisty black stallion announced Jared’s return to the camp. Breathless with excitement, Jared’s cheeks were red from the wind, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “The lad truly loves to run, Kaitla! Ye should join me in a ride!”

“
No thank you!” Kaitla answered, shaking her head firmly, “Epona takes care of my derriere and sees fit to keep me in the saddle at a safe rate of speed.”

Filling both his hands with said “derriere” and squeezing, Jared murmured seductively into her hair, “I’ll take care of this fine derriere!”

Whirling away from him as she shook her finger in stern warning, Jared merely laughed at the mock scolding. His deep rumbling chuckles warming Kaitla’s heart as well as tingling through her body.

“
We’ve everything packed and ready,” Hobart announced, grinning in amusement at the lovestruck couple’s antics.

“
Before we go,” Kaitla interrupted, “Etain, help me understand how you dressed me the other day. The days are warmer and I could use some fresh clothing.” Kaitla sniffed delicately, wrinkling her nose at the slightly ripe aroma her body was developing.

“
We’ll wash in the freshwater spring, then I’ll clothe ye once more,” Etain replied. “I rather enjoyed dressing ye. I never had a daughter to adorn.”

“
You would’ve loved Barbie Dolls, Etain,” Kaitla drolly noted.

“
Barbie Dolls?” Etain asked, raising her brows quizzically.

“
Never mind,” Kaitla grinned, heading for the bubbling waters of the inviting spring.

Kaitla emerged from the clear sparkling stream smelling a good deal better then when she entered it. Etain had supplied her with the roots from a nearby wildflower, instructing her to crush them with a rock, then work them into a lather with water. The results were quite pleasant, her skin glowing and invigorated with the scrubbing and smelling sweetly of the soaproot plant.

Standing motionless before Etain, Kaitla was soon clothed in a deep shade of hunter green that blended perfectly with the awakening land. The sleeveless linen top was again quite snug, fitting almost like a bustier, causing her smallish breasts to round enticingly above the low cut neckline. The breeches were also form fitting, tucked into a pair of thigh high boots dyed a deeper shade of green instead of the somber black she had been wearing. Once again, the moonstone belt girded her waist with the hilt of her dhundare at the ready. Etain returned Kaitla’s hair to the elaborate braid with the gold cording, however, this time replacing the moonstone in the center of her forehead, with a golden Celtic knot. The endless spirals intertwining, never to reveal the beginning of the knot and never coming to an end.

Returning to the horses refreshed and ready to go, Kaitla gathered Tobias up in her arms and prepared to clamber aboard. “Wait, Kaitla!” Trotting to her side, Jared gently took Tobias and settled him on Epona’s flat broad rump.

“
What’s wrong?” Kaitla asked, searching Jared’s face for some clue.

“
Nothing” he replied huskily, gathering her into his arms and firmly kissing her. “I simply wanted to tell ye how lovely ye look and how ye’re killing me with the wanting of ye.”

She pressed her body tightly against his, reveling in every hard curve pressing into her own. “I’ve never had anyone make me feel this way, Jared. If I’m killing you with desire; you’re killing me with pleasure.” She returned the kiss, opening her mouth to his searching tongue and gently nibbling on his lower lip.

Hugging her tightly, he chuckled in her ear, “Aye, well ---lass, then we both shall die happy.” With that, he swept her up into his arms and deposited her deftly atop the horse. With a deep sigh of resignation he patted Kaitla’s thigh, “Damn!” he said softly, “we must be going now, I suppose.”

Grinning, Kaitla reached down and brushed the dark hair from his face. Gathering the reigns, and double-checking on Tobias’ seating, she nodded regretfully to Jared, “Duty calls, love.”

Emerging from the shroud of mists surrounding Iona springs, they entered a vast rolling meadow. The undulating hills were covered with fragrant wildflowers and grasses swaying in the gentle breeze. Brilliantly colored butterflies flitted from flower to flower, some occasionally lighting briefly on their mounts. Perched on the saddle in front of Kaitla, Tobias sat erect with ears perked forward. His cat radar was fully deployed and if not for Kaitla’s restraining hand, he would’ve been diving through the tall grasses rather then watching them sway in the breeze.

Deer grazing in the meadow raised their heads and flicked their ears in curiosity at the little group’s passing. Here and there a rabbit would flush out of the grasses, pausing long enough to sit upright on their haunches to get a better view of the passing entourage. Whenever this happened, Tobias could hardly contain his predatory instincts. Quiet words of warning and a firm hand upon the fat little body barely kept the little hunter in the saddle.

After traveling several miles through the rich green valley, brilliant flags and banners of royal blue and bright yellow appeared in the distance. As they drew closer, they could see several large tents, each sporting wide stripes of the same colors pitched in a semi-circle in a large encampment. The tents were huge, four-cornered shelters with two and three center poles, reminding Kaitla of tents she had once seen in a painting of a jousting tournament.

As details of the camp became clearer, Jared urged his mount closer to hers, “Kaitla, I have something I must tell ye.” Kaitla twisted to study his face at the urgent undercurrent to his tone. The worried brow and troubled eyes only furthered her concern, causing her to reign Epona quickly to a halt.

Searching the stormy eyes and worried brow, Kaitla warily asked, “What’s wrong?” But before Jared could reply, thundering hoof beats and shouts up ahead, drew her attention to several riders approaching them from the camp. All the riders were aboard immaculate white horses, their streaming manes and tails intricately woven with the blue and yellow colors of the camp. Six of the riders were obviously guards or warriors of some sort. All men, their tight breeches were royal blue and they each wore a bright yellow vest with nothing but their skin beneath. The bronze bodies gleamed with sweat in the sunlight, the well-muscled chests and arms, leaving no question to the strength of each man. Well armed with dhundares at their sides and round shields forged with the images of serpents, the unsmiling faces didn’t seem altogether welcoming.

The seventh rider at the head of the pack was by far the most interesting. A shapely woman, sitting tall in the saddle, her jet-black hair flowing behind her in the wind. Her skin was golden, shimmering like a precious metal in the sunlight. Her brilliant blue eyes sparkled above high cheekbones, her full red lips and perfect white teeth flashing a triumphant smile as though she had just won first place at the races. Her long legs were sleak and sculpted in the tight blue silk of her leggings. The sheer yellow gauze encircling her torso left little to the imagination, the dark round areolas of her breasts showing clearly through the flimsy material. Laughing, the exotic creature rode straight for Jared. Pulling her mount to a halt beside him, she quickly leaned between the two horses, pulling Jared to her and kissing him thoroughly on the mouth. “Welcome back, love! I’ve missed ye!” she smiled, gazing lovingly into his eyes.

Eyes narrowing, Kaitla chose this opportunity to scan Jared’s mind as he had so often explored hers. When she had first learned she had this ability, she had promised herself to only use it when she felt it was absolutely necessary. It was, after all, quite an invasion of privacy, the mind being the last place to hide one’s thoughts and feelings not ready to be shared. From the greeting Kaitla had just witnessed, it was absolutely necessary to read Jared’s mind.

Locked in yet another kiss, Kaitla witnessed Jared’s memories and immediately wished she hadn’t. Images of Jared and the ebony haired lass laughing together, dining together, and dancing together. Kaitla clearly heard Jared’s strong deep voice, “Elsbet, ye know ye canna win!” As the two heads bent closely together, studying the next move of the chess pieces. Elsbet, the girl he supposedly neither knew nor loved…or so he had told her that first night, before he had shared her bed. Shaking her head in disbelief and anger, she straightened in the saddle, setting her jaw in determination. She should’ve known better then to trust his words. She should’ve immediately looked into his mind, but she had been too overcome, first, by the terror of the nightmare and then by the aching need to be loved and possessed. She’d thought it would be different this time, but she had obviously been quite wrong. Pulling away from Elsbet, Jared’s woeful eyes met Kaitla’s. He had felt her in his mind, and knew Kaitla was now aware of the fact he had lied to her.

“
Mistress Healer! Forgive my rudeness in first welcoming my betrothed!” Elsbet graciously bowed her head. “I am Elsbet of Clan Gwynedd and I welcome ye to our lands and ask that ye bless us with yer presence for as long as ye would care to rest with us.”

Nodding with difficulty in Elsbet’s direction, Kaitla inhaled deeply. “Thank you, Lady Elsbet. That’s most generous of you.” Kaitla struggled to swallow the lump of emotions in her throat. “I’m afraid, though, I’m in quite a hurry to reach Cuchailard, to finally meet my father.” Glancing toward one of the guard’s white horses, she continued. “It would be no problem at all for my companions to stay. I’m sure you’ve missed Jared and the two of you need some time together. If you could provide me with a fresh horse so that I might continue on…I would truly appreciate it.”

“
Why that would nay be a problem at all, mistress.” Elsbet’s kind beautiful face was puzzled, as she glanced first from Kaitla’s face then to the alternately surprised and shocked faces of Etain, Jared, and Hobart. Nodding to one of her riders, Elsbet’s unspoken command was immediately followed.

“
Ye canna mean to go to Cuchailard alone!” Hobart burst out, pulling his mount alongside Kaitla’s.

Fixing him with a cold golden glare, Kaitla cleared her throat and icily replied, “I do and there is none that can stop me.” Her piercing gaze immediately froze further comments from Hobart. Not having the power or the right to argue further, he merely ducked his head, returning his horse to a safer position in the rear of the little group.

Not so easily daunted, Etain circled her horse to face Kaitla’s, “Ye must not be foolish, Kaitla! There is too much at stake here!” She pleaded silently with her eyes, urging Kaitla to be reasonable.

“
Don’t challenge me, Etain. You’ll lose!” Kaitla replied in a low threatening voice. Dark billowy clouds quickly gathered from nowhere. An undertone of rumbling thunder punctuated Kaitla’s ominous words.

Brows arched in surprise, Etain quickly glanced from the gathering storm clouds, to Kaitla’s darkening face, “Kaitla! Ye must reign in your powers, lass. The land, the wind, the water, it all listens to your bidding here.”

“
Then you’d best take cover, Etain. Because you’re in for one hell of a storm,” Kaitla brushed past Etain, lightening rippling through the clouds in a jagged roadmap of light.

Dismounting from Epona, Kaitla quickly remounted the large white stallion Elsbet had summoned from the camp. She wanted to be sure she was entirely alone on the journey she was about to take…Tobias was the only one she could trust. Hobart silently handed over the little feline, the bushy eyebrows barely shielding his saddened downcast eyes.

Steering her fresh mount alongside Elsbet, Kaitla removed the golden headband with the Celtic knot from her forehead. “Please accept this as a wedding gift, Lady Elsbet,” she murmured softly as she placed the headband on Elsbet’s forehead and tied it behind the silky dark hair. “I hope you and Jared will be blessed with many strong children and enjoy every happiness.”

“
Why thank ye, Mistress Kaitla.” Elsbet’s concerned eyes didn’t miss the unshed tears sparkling in the corners of Kaitla’s eyes.

As she turned to go, Jared finally broke his silence, “Kaitla, ye canna leave without first hearing me out!”

Whirling to face him, lightening split through the clouds, exploding close enough for deafening thunder to shake the ground. “Leave my sight…you lied to me!” Kaitla shouted. Jared’s dark stallion reared, whinnying in fear and backing up.

“
I dinna fear ye, Kaitla and ye
will
hear me!” Jared roared back, eyes flashing in anger and jaw set in grim determination, he forced the skittish horse forward.

Her temper mounting, Kaitla raised her hands to the sky, then pointing at Jared, shouting, “I will NEVER be betrayed by you again!” The winds rose whipping her hair into her face, roaring thunder and blinding lightening circling them in a crashing crescendo.

Nervous at the new rider and frightened by the mounting storm, Kaitla’s stallion finally lost control. Eyes rolling wildly and whinnying loudly in fear, the panic-stricken horse reared and thrashed, wanting only to be free of the confusion. Loosing her grip on the reigns, Kaitla was thrown backwards out of the saddle, landing with a sickening thud on the packed sod below. Rolling to get away from the razor sharp hooves, she painfully struggled to rise to her feet. Jared leapt from his own horse, deftly dancing around the still rearing horse to grab the reigns and force the horse to calm down.