Plight of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation Book 5) (15 page)

Northern Scotland

Home of the original Highland Defiance

1254

Torra couldn’t help but tremble as Colin pulled her to her feet. He once more wore his clan’s plaid and it almost felt as if the past four years melted away as she looked around. This is where they’d traveled to meet with one another. It seemed the MacLeod was as profoundly affected as her when he pulled her close.

“We’re back,” she murmured against his chest.

“Aye,” he said softly. “But must set aside our emotions for now lass.”

Overly aware of his urgency, she gazed around. As planned, Valan, Grant, Sheila, Leslie, and Bradon were with them. Iosbail’s presence surprised her, as did the presence of a blond lass. But she knew none of them caused the distinct tension in the MacLeod’s voice. Nay, it was another person altogether.

Her brother, Colin MacLomain.

“I dinnae ken,” the MacLomain laird growled as his eyes landed on Valan. “How are
you
here?”

Colin MacLomain and Valan unsheathed their swords at the same time. The remaining men drew their blades as well. All froze when Adlin stepped between them, his voice strong and powerful as he looked at his descendants and the Hamilton. “‘Twill be no warring lads. You are brought here at this time so that you might better ken the importance of being allied.”

“
Allied
?” Colin MacLomain said incredulously as his eyes narrowed on Valan. “He meant to kill my lass.” He frowned. “And again, how are you here when I ended your life?”

“Look to your sister. She resurrected me. As to your lass, she isnae dead, aye?” Valan bit back. “Was she naught but an illusion?”

“Aye,” her brother said. “One that alerted me you had discovered her presence. You told me much of your Da, Keir Hamilton and I knew you’d betrayed me.”

Valan’s eyes narrowed. “Did it not once occur to you that I meant to seek out the lass so that I might be able to protect you both? No matter how much I despised him I will always be able to sense my Da.” His eyes flew to Colin MacLeod then back to her brother. “I knew the moment Keir made the MacLeod mentally connect with McKayla. That she used the MacLeod name in her novel. ‘Twas always my Da’s intention that so much of this happened as it did…even my part in it all.”

Torra heard the pain in Valan’s voice. “‘Twas always likely Keir’s intention that you murder me so that he would have the perfect excuse to rise up against the MacLomains. I was forever a disposable pawn in his ruthless game.”

When her brother’s brows drew down in confusion, Torra pushed everything that had happened over the past day into his mind. She showed him the unusual dynamics between her, Valan and the MacLeod. His shocked eyes swung to her. “Och, lass. So much you didnae share.”

“It all had to go just as it did so that we might arrive at this moment,” she said. “Please know that I didnae keep such secrets to cause you pain.”

The MacLomain slowly lowered his blade. A myriad of emotions crossed his face as he shook his head. “‘Tis hard this.”

“But it need not be, my lad.” Adlin held out his hand. “‘Tis good to finally meet you, Colin MacLomain. Do you know who I am then?”

Not an old man but a young, strapping Highlander, Adlin had clearly traveled forward in time from the distant past.

The MacLomain laird blinked several times as he looked at Adlin. Emotion warmed her when Torra saw the recognition on her brother’s face. There was nothing but absolute awe and respect in his eyes when he finally shook the proffered hand, muttering, “Bloody hell, ‘tis you.”

Colin MacLomain had long wanted to meet his patriarch, Adlin. In fact, he’d traveled to the twenty-first century to do so but was drawn to McKayla instead.

Sheila grinned as she held hands with Grant. “I
knew
this day would come!”

“You always do,” Leslie said through a smile, clearly happy to once more have Bradon with her.

“All right, I
hoped
it would,” Sheila conceded.

“No need to hope, lass.” Adlin cocked a smile at her. “Did you not ask for such when you traveled back in time to my castle?”

“Did you then?” Colin MacLomain’s grateful eyes turned Sheila’s way.

Sheila offered a sheepish grin and shrugged. “Might have.”

“Thank you,” he replied kindly.

Adlin rubbed his hands together in anticipation, eyes covering all in one fell swoop. “Those who are here have been brought hence with good reason.” His brow perked at Iosbail. “And one it seems out of mere curiosity.” But his gaze softened. “‘Tis truly good to see you, sister.”

Iosbail considered him for a long moment. “Aye, I suppose it must be.” Then her eyes narrowed a fraction before widening. “You knew all along I’d follow them. ‘Tis partly because of our visit here that I eventually join with your clan so that all might go as it does.”

“No doubt it leads to such an end.” Adlin winked. “But I will give you this sister; it warms my heart that we will live beneath the same roof in our later years.”

Torra suspected Adlin kept the reason behind their aging process away from her. After all, she could not yet learn of her one true love, Alexander Sinclair, or so many things could go wrong.

As if he heard her thoughts, Adlin’s gaze turned to Torra. Both respect and love lit his eyes as he walked over. Colin MacLeod stepped away when Adlin took her hands and simply stared into her eyes for a long moment. “You have done so verra well, lass. I cannae tell you how proud I am.”

His eyes shone a bright, brilliant blue then faded back to their typical striking pale blue. A small knowing smile met his lips. “Please say hello to my Da, King Erc and King Naðr Véurr. Thank them for all their support and assistance.”

Torra felt King Erc’s deep, wordless emotions within her mind.

“Your Da loves you so verra much and is prouder than you know,” Torra whispered and squeezed Adlin’s hands. “You will meet him someday.”

A light layer of moisture sheened the arch wizard’s eyes and he swallowed hard. “Aye, ‘tis good.”

Gathering himself, Adlin stepped away and turned his attention to the blond woman, his eyes then going to everyone else. “Though Sheila and Grant have already met her, allow me to introduce my friend, Meyla. From 9
th
century Scandinavia, she is daughter to the Viking King, Naðr Véurr and,” his eyes specifically went to Torra, Bradon and Colin MacLomain, “your great-grandmother.”

Surprised, they stared at the beautiful young woman.

“Meyla was kind enough to return through the Viking tapestry so that she might travel here now and better explain how Grant’s sword, that given to him by her Da, can further help you in your battle against Keir Hamilton.”

Torra thought that interesting but said nothing.

The kings had told her all she needed to know about the Viking sword.

Meyla nodded at Torra, her brothers, and even Iosbail. “Nice to meet you all.”

They greeted her in kind.

Adlin looked at Meyla then Valan. “And as you might have guessed, this is Valan Hamilton. Though he is our nemesis’s son, he is an ally.”

Torra was caught off guard by what she saw.

Though only a quick glance and a nod of their heads, unmistakable attraction flared between…Meyla and Valan! But then as soon as she saw it, both looked away. But it had
been
there.

“And of course.” Adlin turned his attention Torra’s way and held out his hand to the man by her side. “This could only be Chieftain Colin MacLeod.”

For a moment, Torra was mortified that she hadn’t introduced him earlier but soon realized Adlin should be making all of these introductions. After all, this was the first time her brother Colin MacLomain was meeting his enemy off the battlefield.

The MacLeod shook Adlin’s hand, voice gruff. “‘Tis good to finally meet you.”

Adlin didn’t release his hand right away but looked at him long and hard. “Might this be the start of a long and much-needed comradeship betwixt the MacLomains and MacLeods.”

Iosbail snorted. “‘Twould be good to see the long rivalry finally put to rest.”

“It can be no other way,” Torra said, voice strong. She took Colin’s hand and walked over to the MacLomain laird.

This
introduction should only come from her.

Heart in her throat, she took a deep steadying breath and looked into her brother’s eyes. Long gone were the days that she spoke of little stone castles built on the shore made for just him and her. Now she must speak of the future and how her castle might ally itself with his. “I never meant to keep so much from you. My internal battle with the dragon has been long and thorough. Because of Colin MacLeod I was able to find happiness when I couldnae elsewhere.”

She paused and considered her words before continuing. “I love him as deeply as you do McKayla and will continue to stand by his side. If he’ll have me, I’ll marry him and become lady of the castle to the MacLeod clan, putting to rest once and for all too many centuries of unrest betwixt our clans.”

Her brother’s brows lowered and his lips thinned as he looked at her for what felt like far too long. There were very few moments as important as this one between the MacLomain and MacLeod chieftains. Though under orders from Keir and executed to protect Torra, Colin MacLeod had done many unsavory things against the MacLomain clan.

Torra held her breath when her brother’s eyes swung to the MacLeod’s. Expression unreadable, he said, “Do you intend to marry my sister, then?”

Face just as unreadable, Colin surprised her not with a decisive yes but a show of respect instead. “Only with your permission, Laird MacLomain.”

Another long stretch of silence passed as her brother continued to eye the MacLeod. Would he be able to push past all the wrongs done his clan? Would he be able to find forgiveness against all odds?

Yet there was a very good reason Colin MacLomain was now chieftain of his clan. Not simply because Adlin had long ago requested such but because it was truly well deserved. This was made obvious when the MacLomain Laird held out his hand to the MacLeod. “You’ve my permission to marry my sister. Might our clans see many good years ahead together.”

Torra breathed a sigh of relief as the men shook hands and nodded.

“Och, ‘tis good!” Adlin beamed as he looked at them. “Now might we go down to the Highland Defiance and see how the MacLeods react to their chieftain showing up unannounced?”

Iosbail chuckled. “I just
knew
I needed to come along for this.”

“But not all will continue on to the Defiance.” Adlin clasped her brother’s shoulders, tone low as his eyes glowed, ignited in magic before they returned to their normal color. “You’ve a castle siege to get back to. A clan to lead well. Now you’ve met the MacLeod and seen firsthand what kind of man he truly is. I think when you return you should speak with your prisoners, MacLeods and Hamiltons alike. ‘Tis time to sway them to fight for your cause, aye?”

Before the MacLomain Laird could respond, Adlin leaned close and murmured something in his ear. Even through magic, Torra could not hear his words. Then Adlin pulled away and nodded. “Do ye better ken now, my lad?”

A slow, knowing smile came to her brother’s lips. “Aye, I do.”

Adlin stood up a little straighter, never-ending pride in his eyes as he embraced his distant offspring. After he pulled away, he nodded at the huge rock window overlooking the North Sea. “Jump off that and you will find your way back.”

It was then that Torra knew they had most certainly returned to the present because her brother could no longer time travel. He but used the Defiance as a portal to shift long distances across Scotland.

Her brother once more thanked Adlin then nodded to the rest before he went not to the Defiance but to Meyla. Kneeling on one knee, he took her hand and lowered his head. “Ye have my eternal thanks for all ye have done for the MacLomains. Much love to ye always, my kin.”

Torra bit her lower lip, swamped in emotion. The Viking lass stood taller and nodded. But she did not miss the immense pride in the woman’s eyes as she looked down. “To you as well, Colin MacLomain. Might you forever lead well and battle ever strong.”

The chieftain then kissed the back of her hand and stood. With one last nod to his brethren and then to his sister, he strode for the Defiance. With a quick hop up, he didn’t hesitate but leapt over the side and vanished.

Adlin rocked back on his heel and looked over them all. “‘Tis time then to move on to the next leg in this adventure, aye?”

Iosbail chuckled, eyes alive. “Bloody hell right!”

“Just curious.” Leslie looked at Torra. “Where’d Malcolm go?”

“Back to Cadence outside the Hamilton castle,” she replied.

“Phew.” Sheila rolled her eyes. “I can’t speak for the rest of us, but I wouldn’t want to cross his path again anytime soon otherwise.”

“Agreed,” Leslie said.

Falling in alongside one another, the original MacLomain and Broun wizards led the way.

Torra and Colin followed but hung back a ways.