The Highlander's Conquest (18 page)

Shoving from his chair
,
he stormed from the
library
.

Chapter Seventeen

T
he following morning, the castle woke at dawn and with it Aliah pulled herself from the comfort of her soft bed and
headed
down to the great hall. She was hoping to avoid Blane, but when she arrived, it appeared that everybody had decided on an early meal.

She took her seat between Lorna and Blane, mumbling greetings. A
servant presented
her
with
a steaming bowl of porridge, dribbled with honey, sliced apples and chunks of walnuts. Just a hint of cinnamon reached her nose and had her
mouth watering
. Eagerly she dipped her
wooden
spoon into the bowl. The porridge reminded her of home. Arbella had often ordered
them
an intricate breakf
ast
of soaked
grains
.

As she ate, Blane leaned
into the table, looking over her toward Lorna. “We’ve appreciated your hospitality, but must make haste after the meal. Winter is coming and I’d rather not get caught in a storm.”

“Oh, aye, that would make your travel quite heinous,” Lorna agreed.

“We shall see ye in the spring then,” Montgomery said. “’Twas our pleasure to have ye, even if ’twas so short a visit. We
value
y
our
company.”

The way he put an emphasis on the word
value
puzzled Aliah. She shook her head, dismissing it and continued to eat her porridge. Men were like a foreign species and she wasn’t sure she had the
energy
to figure them out quite yet.
She was still trying to decipher her own line of thinking and just exactly how she was supposed to take control of her own future.
Sitting beside Blane, she was a mess of confusion. Her body wanted to lean close and her mind tried to get as far away as possible.

The meal was over all too soon, and their things were packed and horses readied.
Even Frosty appeared eager to leave, as if he knew he’d soon be reunited with Arbella.
Aliah hugged Lorna tight, thanking her for her company and guidance. Lorna wished her well and hope
d
that she’d be seeing her come the spring. Aliah couldn’t make any promises and simply nodded.
Truth be told
,
it looked more like
she’d be safely ensconced in an abbey
by then
.

Aliah pulled her cloak tight around her
after Blane assisted her in mounting
her horse. The sky was still cloudy and
threatened
rain. The sun
tried to shi
ne somewhere above, making the clouds glow silver.

She heard Blane address his men as they exited the gates of Glasgow Castle, “If we ride hard, we’ll make it to Stirling before nightfall. ’Tis better we camp beyond the bridge if we can make it.”

Liam glanced at Aliah with a raised brow and she quelled the need to hit him. She lifted her chin, deciding that she would show the
m
all she could muster the strength just as well as the rest of them. As soon as they were on the road, the men urged their horses into a gallop and Aliah did the same.
She rode in the middle of the warriors, and if for any reason her horse started to slow, one of the horses behind nudged it along. She was at a disadvantage given that their mounts were used to riding this hard—well trained warrior horses. Hers was simply a borrowed mount from the
Kerrs
. Well cared for, aye, but it was not as well trained. Aliah did manage to keep up however, and even when her bladder screamed for them to stop, she held it.

The importance of proving she could be as strong as the rest of them
outweighed the need for relief. However, when they did stop to water the horses, she was all too glad to jump off and run to the nearest bush. Blane chuckled as she passed and when she returned he eyed her with what she thought was a new-found respect.

When she went to remount, he stilled her with a brush against her arm that sent tingles racing along her flesh.
Flashes of the night before threatened to fill her mind and make her weak in the knees b
ut she refused to pay them heed, for she too remember
ed
his rejection.

“We will rest for a few moments and eat. Dinna want to work the horses to the point of exhaustion.”

Aliah nodded, glad for the reprieve and
a
chance to stretch her legs. Blane handed her
a cold
leg of fowl, which she quickly devoured, tossing the remains to Frosty.
Her hound growled with delight and nearly swallowed the bone whole.
All too soon they were on the road again, weaving in and out of the trees and lucky to remain undeterred by anyone.

The land grew
hillier
as they climbed and descended ridges, crossed moors
and burns
, then climbed over another vast
rise
. The wind was brisk upon the inclines and calmed somewhat on the planes. They passed quiet villages, shepherds and their flocks, merchants
traveling
with their wares, and those who harvested the last of the
fields. No one seemed to have an
y
interest in them beyond an initial weary
glance. F
inally
,
they came to Stirling, remaining hidden in the forest
to the south
.
Aliah
stared at the impressive castle, perched atop a hill in all its magnificence. ’Twas an amazing feat that the Scots had been able to wrestle it from English hands. Then again, she eyed Blane, if they were all as braw
ny and determined
as he was, it wouldn’t have been so hard.

Blane had told her
of the great warriors who led the Scottish War o
f
Independence—William Wallace at
their
head. Aliah was uncertain what he looked like, but assumed he must be a brutish sort of man to lead a whole country to rebellion. She respected and feared him
—and those feelings, she would never
admit
to. H
er thoughts would be treasonous to her own country and allow the Scots to laugh at her.

Blane nodded to a few of his men who quietly dropped from their horses and fanned out in opposite directions. By now she knew the routine.
His men
would check
that
it was safe to exit the cover of the trees and make their way
over the wide meadow. They’d not be covered and an ambush was likely should any of the enemy lie in wait
. He’d been right about arriving before nightfall, but not by much. The sky already had a pinkish glow,
caus
ing Sterling
to
look ethereal
.
A golden glow surrounded the towers and walls. Being quite the homebody, and only traveling to court on a couple occasions, she’d not seen a castle so glorious as this one. The hill was covered in purple thistles and other fall flowers. Fields were barren of people with the sun beginning to set, and only a few sheep and cattle dotted the expanse. From the village surrounding the castle, smoke swirls curled from chimneys. So beautiful. Serene.

Judging from what she heard
in the air
now
—silence broken only by an occasional bird chirping—
the place did not
seem threatening. There were no
shouts or cries of pain. Simply peaceful
,
as if
she
gazed upon a fantasy town and its castle.

Soon
Blane’s men returned, nodded and remounted their horses. As one, they moved from the trees, trotting along the
dirt-packed
road toward the castle.

“The bridge is beyond, across the
River Forth.
Just rebuilt after
Cressingham
and Surrey saw it destroyed.
”

Aliah nodded, feeling the power of what that bridge meant. Her sister had fought for her life on that bridge. Found love there. While Aliah wasn’t afraid of love, she could do without fighting for her life
—and she could do without what love brought. Marriage, children, pain, loss
.
Aliah didn’t want to leave a child behind the way her mother had left her—even if it was God’s will.
A shudder passed through her and she sent a prayer up to the
L
ord that they made it over the bridge unscathed.

Luck was seemingly on their side. With Stirling teaming with Scots, not a one minded their passing. But there was no telling what eyes watched them from beyond the trees. The hooves of their horses clopped over the
newly built
wooden
bridge in an ominous echo. No one said a word as the water churned and swirled beneath them.
The current
,
quick and vicious, wait
ed
for someone to fall so it could carry them away.
A swift wind blew, whipping Aliah’s hair
, with a sting,
into her face.
For a moment, she thought that victim would
be
herself. The water would be frigid, soaking quickly into her cloak and gown, dragging her to the bottom.
She clutched her cloak tighter, sinking into the fabric, wishing it was thicker.
Clenched her knees
tauter
on the horse and gripped the reins until her fingers hurt.

By the time they made it over the bridge and the trees leading up into the mountains came into view, the sky had darkened to pink
with splashes of
purple.

“Night comes. We must find shelter,” Blane ordered. They picked up their pace
,
galloping toward the forest beyond.

She prayed he knew of
a
place to make camp, for after a day of hard travel, her legs were starting to go numb and she worried whether or not she’d be able to stay on the horse. There were benefits to riding with Blane, and that was the ability to rest. Having her own mount left
no
room for rest. She’d chosen to ride astride to keep pace and now her inner thighs burned with the need to stretch. Even her fingers cramped from having held tight to the reins.

Thank goodness for small miracle
s
. As soon as they reached the trees, Blane slowed their pace and seemed to follow some known trail. ’Twas darker in the forest. Despite
autumn
having ca
us
ed many tree
’
s leaves to fall, this forest was filled with firs and pines, which blocked much of the lingering light.

They came to a gurgling stream, over which what little light was left colored the water in pink hues.

“We
camp
here,” Blane said.

The men dismounted and went about the various jobs they each seemed to be assigned to whenever they stopped for a long period of time. Liam erected the makeshift tent for her while several others went about forming a fire. Another of the warriors began frying
griddle
cakes.

“Would y
e
like to hunt with me, Aliah?” Blane asked softly by her side. “I’ve a hunger for a little more than fried griddle cakes and jerky.
The food Lorna sent us away with didn’t last long with these hungry men.
”
His eyes sparkled with teasing, she assumed because his own appetite was that of several men put together.

Aliah
gave
a
short laugh of agreement, nodding.
Tension still filled her and she was wary, but he offered her what seemed like peace and
,
given they were stuck with one another
for
a few more days, she chose harmony.