“Why the secret?”
“Colin is well known for his deviousness, but she believed herself in love with him, and Colin in love with her. Their match was one her parents would never have allowed, so she lied, although unfortunately she soon discovered his true nature too, and when she told him she intended to return to her kin, he instead locked her away in her chamber and allowed only one single maid entry. The MacKenzie never intended to wed her proper once their handfast of a year and a day was done, no’ when he was already betrothed to the chief’s daughter of the neighboring MacLennan clan. His agreement with the MacLennan was one that couldnae be broken, and once he’d gotten Beth with child, he had exactly what he’d always secretly desired, to have the revered Matheson fae blood running through his direct line, as well as a bride-to-be of MacLennan blood with whom he’d soon wed.”
“Why was she permitted to send for you, Mama?”
“I was granted permission to visit because Beth and I both held the same skill of death-warning, and unfortunately she’d seen her own death in a vision and hoped I might be able to halt it. Although there wasnae a chance I could, her bleeding naught that I could stem after she went into labor and delivered her sons.” Mama hugged her tighter to her side. “Afore Beth breathed her last, she asked if I should ever see death hovering over either Coll or Duncan, then to do all I could to ensure their survival. I gave her my word I would and gladly did so.” Mama sniffed, the sadness in her eyes making her heart tug. “I grieved for Beth terribly after she passed away. Her sons had lost a mother they’d never know, but worse, after Beth’s passing I also saw her sons’ death in a vision should I no’ remain with them. They were so sickly as first, born almost two months too soon.” Mama lifted her gaze to the twinkling stars in the night sky. “Following the boys’ birth, I remained as their nurse and cared for them, just as Beth would have wished for me to do.”
An owl hooted within the dark depths of the forest rising high either side of the channel and she rubbed her cheek against Mama’s warm arm. She would hate to lose her mama as these boys had lost theirs. “What happened next?”
“Within days of Beth’s death, Colin sent for the MacLennan lass and the two spoke vows, her dowry and lands quickly added to his so he might strengthen his own holdings. He didnae mourn Beth and I hated him for it, decided I would ensure her sons knew of their mother, only he halted my ability to do even that. Should I have spoken out, he threatened to send his warriors to our village and slay as many as he could. He had no desire to lose the lands he’d gained by incurring the MacLennan’s wrath, and his intentions rang true, a vision assailing me right then and there should I speak the truth to my own kinsmen. So many innocent lives would have been lost. I couldnae utter a word, have never been able to do so in all these years, no’ with either Beth’s parents or your papa. None are aware of the truth, other than me, and such guilt consumes me because of the secrets, but that is how things must be.”
“You’ve now told me.” The moon slid behind a darkened cloud then reemerged.
“Aye, because I saw you in my vision along with the boys this eve. You’re supposed to come with me, although I have no understanding of why.” Mama shrugged. “Sometimes that is the way of my skill.”
“I give you my word, Mama, that I’ll never tell another of their fae blood. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Aye, as I knew it would be.” Love shone in Mama’s eyes. “I often wish I could have returned to the boys afore now, but that’s been impossible due to the continued feuding.”
“Tell me more about them.” ’Twas so sad the boys had no knowledge of their fae blood, had never had the chance to visit their mother’s kin at the village.
“Colin’s wife, Cait, sat with the boys and I often. She adored them, and afore too long the MacKenzie claimed Cait was their mother and none refuted the fact, no’ even her. His word was accepted as the truth and Beth became all but forgotten by those few who’d known her at his keep.” Waves sloshed against the hull and Mama softly sighed. “Soon, Cait too conceived and once she had, Colin sent her away to Rhue Castle to give birth, one of his northernmost strongholds. Tensions were tight between the clans at the time and he wanted her as far away from the hostilities as possible. There within the safety of Rhue’s walls, she delivered his son and named him Jeremiah, although she remained at Rhue for quite some time afterward, what with the escalation of the feuding at the time.”
The wind rose, slapped into the sail and sent them skimming the waves faster. “When did you leave and return to the village?”
“I was forced to leave the year the boys turned three or else become a pawn in the war between our clans.”