The Inscription (28 page)

Lachlan placed a hand on his shoulder. “You
must
dispel these thoughts, lest you bring on the insanity. Come, another task will prove healing. We have
much
that needs attention.”

Angus straightened, wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it. The metal grated against the scabbard, echoing in the stone chamber. His chin raised, he met Lachlan’s gaze.

“Subedei?”

“Aye.”

Amber stumbled along the dark corridor toward her room. She should have screamed out, should have prevented the killing. Tears streamed down her face.

“Stop.”

The voice was somehow familiar. Turning toward the sound she saw a shroud-like creature emerge from the shadows and she stepped back. The apparition came closer and in the torchlight Amber recognized Lachlan’s mother.

“Diedra?”

“I saw you follow Marcail down the stairs. I knew what you would find. And I waited. Morag took away Thia’s youth. No one will have her now. It is too late for her. You must not judge my son. He needs you.”

Amber didn’t want to listen to excuses. The man was dead. “I don’t understand any of it. You are all immortal. So, Morag changed his mind. He shouldn’t be murdered for it.”

“Thia was a beautiful and intelligent woman once. I remember her. We were both to enter into the joining ceremony during the winter solstice. She gave up much only to have it torn from her.”

“Why didn’t she find someone else?”

Diedra looked down the long corridor. “She loved Morag and when he abandoned her all she could think of was revenge.”

As Diedra’s words and Marcail’s slowly sank in, Amber tried to imagine the shriveled-up figure before her as a young woman. The Elixir of Life was the key. It changed them. Amber reached to take Diedra’s hand. “You gave birth to Gavin eight years ago. How is that possible?”

Diedra met her eyes. “The laws which govern the mortal race are not the same for my kind.”

A cool breeze washed over Amber’s face as she lay in bed. The faint sound of the wind blowing through the trees drifted in an open window. She still tossed and turned, locked in a nightmare where Diedra was laughing and screaming that Lachlan was going insane. Abruptly she opened her eyes to see Lachlan staring at her. Relief washed over her. Then she remembered Morag.

Lachlan touched her cheek gently. “You were seen leaving after Morag’s death.”

The memory of the execution passed in slow motion through Amber’s thoughts. She pulled away from his touch, untangled the linen nightgown she wore and left the bed. The floor was cold on her bare feet through the rushes.

“Death? You mean execution. Or better yet, murder. You ordered Angus to kill that man.”

Lachlan’s face was an emotionless mask.

She walked over to the fireplace and warmed her hands. She was trembling. “Your mother said I shouldn’t blame you, but I need to know your reasons.”

“Morag knew the penalty. He broke one of the sacred laws. It took the council a long time to bring him to justice.“

Her breath seemed to catch in her throat. She felt tears brim in her eyes. She was beginning to understand the need to punish Morag, but to her the price was too high. She tried to blot out the memory of the blade, as Angus swung it down on Morag’s neck. Her stomach seemed to flip over as she remembered the smell of blood. She felt Lachlan touch her shoulder and she turned into his embrace.

“I know what Morag did was wrong, but you can’t just kill someone because they broke a promise.”

He held her close. “Our laws are clear. Would you have me change them?”

She pulled away to wipe her tears with the palm of her hand. “Yes, I would. What if the same thing happened to you? You could wake up one day and discover I’d grown old and you’d feel trapped.” She bit her lip to keep it from quivering. “I wouldn’t want you to stay because you felt obligated to me or because some law said you had to.”

“We are not talking about die same thing. Thia gave up her immortality. It can never be regained, once it is lost.”

“You place so much value in what you are that you have forgotten what it is to be human. I’ve lost something that can never be regained: my home. You’ve never bothered to ask me how I came into your world. I never thought about that before, until now. Actually I was relieved, because I was afraid you might think I was crazy or have me burned at the stake. Now I realize that you had a lot more to hide than I did.” She cleared her throat and steadied herself for his reaction “Lachlan, I’m from the future.”

His voice was clam. “So Marcail and I suspected. What year?”

She went over to the bed and sat on the edge. Lachlan was calm, she was a mess. This seemed to be a recurring theme.

“I was on my way to the Abbey, to attend a reenactment. In my century people are fascinated with the Middle Ages. I’m from the year 1997.”

“The Guardian is not confined to the barriers of time.” Lachlan smiled and joined her on the bed, reaching for her hand. “If the beastie had not found someone in my century who fulfilled the legend, he would have continued his search. Your world must be very different from this one.”

“That’s
it? That’s
all you’re going to say? Aren’t
you
the least bit surprised. It’s not every day that someone travels back in time. Or is it?”

He arched an eyebrow. “It has happened before.”

Her voice
was
a whisper. “I had forgotten. The man your mother calls ‘Ford.’ ”

“Aye.” He looked in the direction of the window. “It happened a day or two after my enemy had killed my father, and members of my family.”

Amber remembered his telling her about the man he called Subedei. She shivered. The violence of this century was overwhelming. Senseless killings were part of her world as well, but coming from Seattle she’d lived a sheltered existence. She would have to get used to it if she was to be a part of Lachlan’s life. Amber put her hand on his shoulder. The contact eased the pain in his expression and allowed him to continue.

“I was still in China, but my mother wanted a warrior to avenge the deaths of those she loved. The man pulled from the water may have had the ability to accomplish that goal. We found a metal cylinder strapped to his belt. When Angus pulled back on a lever, the weapon released an object that embedded itself in his foot.“ Lachlan laughed. ”My usually even-tempered friend was so angered he threw the thing in the water.“

Amber wondered if the Guardiani had been responsible for the man’s not surviving his journey through time. Maybe the Loch Ness monster had decided a twentieth century weapon in the sixteenth century would have caused more harm than good. She stretched out beside Lachlan on the bed, relishing the feeling of just being near him.

“The weapon is called a gun and it’s probably a good thing Angus threw it away. But how did your mother summon the Guardian?”

“A portion of the Elixir of Life is poured into Loch Ness and the words, ‘Time is an illusion’ are spoken as the request is given.”

“Have your people gone through this ritual often?”

“No, but as you are aware, it has happened often enough.”

The pale light of dawn cast the bed in shades of molten gold. Lachlan reached for Amber and pulled her gently toward him under the layers of covers. The contours of her body fit comfortably against him. Her skin was warm against his as she snuggled closer. Lachlan was at peace. He decided he would spend the day with her. There was much he could show Amber of the heather-dad hills that surrounded Urquhart and much he wanted to learn about the world whence she had come. 1997. It most certainly was a wonderful time, if Amber was a product of it.

He pictured Amber in an isolated meadow a few miles from the castle. A mountain stream fed a pool of clear water nearby. He had used it many times to wash away the dust from his travels, before returning home. Smiling, he remembered their time together in what she had called a shower. He kissed her lightly on her shoulder. She was right. The need to fight had overtaken his life, pushing all else aside. She, alone, had reached his heart.

The door to the chamber burst open and a cold rush of air swept over the room. Angus was framed in the doorway.

Dark circles shadowed his friend’s eyes; his mouth was drawn in a straight line. “Ian was found alive, but the Angel of Death is close at hand.”

Lachlan eased himself from the warmth of the bed and away from Amber. He picked his clothes off the floor and began to dress. He knew Ian. He was a good and loyal clansmen and an able scout.

‘Tan’s assailant, is he known to us?“

“Aye.” Angus’ voice was barely above a whisper. “Ian would speak with you.”

The light in the chamber seemed to grow harsh and a silence crept over the room. The tone in his friend’s voice was like the depths of Loch Ness, cold and dark. Lachlan knew that this day would“ end badly. He looked over at Amber. More than ever before in his life he wanted to stay with her, but his responsibilities pulled him away. Leaving the woman ached like a physical pain.

If Ian’s injuries had been caused by one of the thieving bands of men who owed allegiance to no one save themselves, they would be easily and swiftly dealt with. He motioned for Angus to follow him.

Pushing open the door he hesitated, looking back at Amber.

Angus put his hand on his shoulder. “She will understand what must be done.”

“I pray you are right.”

Lachlan walked into the torch lit hallway toward the stairs leading down to the Great Hall. Six men crowded around Ian, who lay on a long table. They were talking in hushed voices, but grew silent as Lachlan and Angus approached.

Lachlan drew closer. He could feel the cold stone floor beneath his bare feet. The numbing sensation started to work its way up his legs. He stared down at Ian. The man’s face was the color of ash, his eyes reflected his pain. Dark red blood covered his shirt and plaid.

“Has someone sent for Marcail?”

Angus nodded. ,

Ian grabbed Lachlan’s arm. “Subedei’s brother is here.”

The silence in the room deepened. Lachlan clasped Ian’s hand. The man must be delirious with pain. “That is not possible. Subedei’s relatives fought in the first wave of Mongols that had threatened to conquer Europe. My enemy was the only member of his family to survive.”

Ian shook his head slowly. “I heard them speak of him.” A spasm of pain caused him to release his hold on Lachlan and double over. Ian’s voice was insistent. “At the time, Subedei’s brother was attending school in London.”

Lachlan turned to Angus. “What do you know of this?”

“Ian was captured and taken to Subedei’s camp.

They thought they had rendered him unconscious.“ Angus straightened with pride. ”He is a Scotsman and not easily defeated. Ian heard Subedei boast that his brother was within these walls.“

Footsteps echoed over the stone floor. The men parted to make way for Marcail, who walked quickly to Ian and felt the man’s forehead. “He is burning up.” She began to strip away the bloody shirt. “Bring me water and linens.”

Lachlan watched Marcail’s futile efforts to save Ian. He knew that the man had little chance to survive and he guessed she did as well, but while Ian still breathed she would try to save him. His heart warmed toward her. Her mantle of ice had melted and she was once again the healer he remembered. He sensed Amber was as much responsible for the change as was O’Donnell.

Marcail drew back. “Look what that animal has done.”

Ian’s chest was bare, but the skin was scorched black. Burned into the flesh was the letter “S.”

Lachlan put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. He felt anger well inside him. Subedei had sent a message to him. No one was to be spared.

Ian coughed, reaching out a hand to him.

Lachlan drew closer and bent down. “Save your strength, friend. The Lady Marcail will heal you.”

“You must know the name.” A spasm of pain once again took hold of him. When it had subsided he motioned for Lachlan to come closer. “ ‘Tis Bartholomew.”

Amber watched Lachlan as he walked into the adjoining room, heading in the direction of the alcove where he kept his armor. She felt a chill as she slid off the bed, pulled a blanket around her and followed him. He wouldn’t tell her where he’d been this morning, only that he had to prepare himself and the castle for battle.

He paused as he reached for a thick vest. “I would ask a favor of you, Amber. See that Gavin is kept from the battle. I would not want him harmed.”

She nodded. Her voice was unsteady. “Of course.”

The seriousness of what was about to happen clutched at her heart. The room seemed to darken. Amber had never seen Lachlan put on battle gear.

“Won’t you be too weighted down with all that armor to be able to slaughter every man who gets in your way?”

He reached for a tunic made of chain mail. “Nay, I will not.”

Amber clutched the back of a chair and held on as a drowning man would a section of his boat. She could feel Lachlan slipping away from her with each weapon or plate of armor he strapped to his body. She wanted to penetrate the barrier he’d placed between them. “
I
thought you were immortal. Why do you have to wear all that armor.”

His gaze was black as the inside of the hearth. “If my heart is cut out, I will die. If my head is severed from my body, I will die.”

She shuddered with the thought and met his gaze. “Sorry I asked. You said you wanted to protect your people, to protect me. How can you do that if someone kills you? You’re preparing for battle as if you expect it to be your last.”

His voice was as hard and unfeeling as the steel blade he held. “It well may be.”

She pushed away from the bedpost and walked over to the window. Dark clouds churned in the sky and wisps of light were the only reminder that this was the start of the day and not the end.

“Please, Lachlan, don’t do this.”

“I must.”

Amber was as tall as the blade he held. In the firelight it shone blood red. “I don’t want you to go out there.”

“If it is the will of the gods, I will come back to you.”

“That’s it? You’re putting your future and mine in the hands of fate? I am expected to adhere to stupid medieval rules, not to mention the ones attached to your immortal race, all because I fell in love with some dolt who is perfectly content to put his life in the hands of a deity? And a deity who probably could care less.”

She saw a smile cross his lips. “Angus has often remarked upon how you know your place, and obey my every command.”

“Given time, it might have happened.”

“Aye, time might accomplish it, but I fear even I shall not live that long.”

Her heart ached with a foreboding she couldn’t shake, but his dark concentration seemed to have lifted. Maybe there was still hope. She walked over to the bed and lightly touched the carved, wooden post.

“Please call it off. Arrange for a meeting with this man.”

“ Tis too late for that.”

“It’s not too late to fight for peace. You’ve asked me to trust in you. And you said that our love is strong enough to conquer any obstacle. Even time. Yet, you’re not willing to do the same. Why can’t you accept that anger and revenge are not the answer? Love is the answer.“ His voice was withdrawn. ”You ask too much.“

The castle was in a flurry of activity. Windows were being closed and doors barricaded in readiness for the battle. Amber, entering the courtyard, heard voices above the clamor. They belonged to Marcail and O’Donnell.

“Lachlan is meeting with the Council. They will take all day to decide the fate of Bartholomew. Did you see what Subedei did to Ian? It was barbaric. He should not be allowed to live.”

O'Donnell’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Bartholomew is Subedei’s brother. Perhaps the Council means to make a trade: spare Urquhart and the inhabitants for his safe return.”

Marcail tapped her foot on the stone floor. “You know Subedei. He would appear to agree to their terms and then break his word. Nay, I should take the decision out of the Council’s hands. Bartholomew must die.”