“I—” Hamish’s gaze clouded over. He squeezed his eyes shut then moments later opened them again. “Aye, there is no doubt in my mind now of your identity. You’re Ronan Matheson, Niall’s son, and since your father has recently completed the bond with my sister, that makes you and I very close kin. This is beyond interesting.” He pushed off the doorway, paced back and forth. “I see more. You long to visit your father, to ensure all is truly well with him even though your sister has made contact with him through her fae skill.”
“My father has chosen to remain with Muirin instead of returning to the village and that I cannae fault him for. They are soul bound.”
“Two horses saddled, sir.” The lad led two black destriers out, handed the reins of one to Hamish and the other to him.
As Hamish strapped his bag onto his horse, he thanked the lad then bounded into his saddle and eyed Ronan. “We must travel swiftly since Duncan will wish to speak to you, just as you wish to speak to him. Although I shall pave the way in making your coming meeting easier. What your father has learnt of recently, so too will you.”
“Whatever aid you can offer me will be greatly appreciated.” He fastened his satchel to his horse’s saddle, checked the cinch and mounted. Reins slapped against his beast’s neck, he galloped out of the yard right alongside Hamish. They rode up the cliff side trail, the waves crashing in on his left and the forest rising high on his right. Leaving Kyla behind hurt, each stride his horse took making his gut gnaw in the most vicious way. ’Twas pure agony when his emotions battled so strongly against each other. All he wanted to do right now was turn his mount back around and return to her. “How do you fare?”
“Better now Hamish is aware of who you are.” Softly spoken words that curled around his senses.
“Tell me exactly what Kyla means to you.” Lying low in his saddle, Hamish jumped over trailing tree roots, the higher branches skimming his head.
“She’s the woman I’ve been searching for my entire life, the woman I intend to wed, or at least I shall once I’ve spoken to Duncan and explained to him the intricacies of the mated bond, that I’ll never allow him to speak vows with her. She is my chosen one.” He rode hard as the skies darkened overhead.
“And now I have my answer for why she championed you so strongly.” Approval flickered in Hamish’s eyes. “In all honesty, I never did see her marrying Duncan even though word of their betrothal made its way to me this morn.”
“Speaking of her betrothal. Kyla fears Colin MacKenzie’s wrath and his threat to harm her parents should she ever go against his demand to wed one of his sons. I intend to make certain her parents learn of what’s occurred, that they take every precaution to guard and protect themselves against any possible attack, action I’ll need to take as soon as I’ve spoken to Duncan.” He tucked himself lower and tighter against his horse’s neck as they weaved up the winding trail. Stones scattered along the gravelly track, flew over the cliff’s verge and rapped down the rock face before disappearing into the churning, watery depths below.
“I’ll aid you as you need.” Knees tight to his horse’s flanks, Hamish nudged his mount on. “It truly is time for the fae to live. Past time. I’m also well aware Duncan wants you fighting on our side, had even intended on offering you a lucrative incentive to sway you, that’s afore our fae princess arrived and rescued you from Carron’s dungeons. Cherub has no knowledge of exactly why Muirin and I are here, but she soon will. All happens as it should, in its own time and even we fae cannae fight against that.”
“You said you would pave the way in making my coming meeting with Duncan easier. What is it my father has learnt of recently, that so too will I?”
“Aye, I shall speak of that now. Prepare yourself.” Hamish breathed deep, as if he too prepared himself. “Coll and Duncan hold fae blood.”
“Pardon?”
“’Tis past time you were made aware, just as your father has been.”
“Tell me all.” Shock rippled through him.
“Your father had a younger sister by the name of Beth. Are you aware of her, of how she came to pass away?”
“Aye. She died the year I was born. My father spoke of her often during my childhood, his love for her strong. She held the skill of death-warning and during a time of peace between clan Matheson and clan MacKenzie, she handfasted with a MacKenzie warrior. She conceived and after a difficult labor gave birth to twins, both of whom passed away. My father’s sister perished along with them. A tragedy for certain.”
“’Twas no’ one of the MacKenzie’s warriors whom Beth handfasted with, but Colin MacKenzie himself, and the two babes she carried survived, didnae perish as she did.”
Surely not. His father had never heard that truth. “Are you certain?”
“Beyond certain. Colin MacKenzie kept Beth locked within her chamber, although a few days afore Beth’s death she saw a vision through her skill. Beth saw her own demise and she pleaded with Colin to send a message to Grace, her childhood friend who held the same skill as her.”