An image of this woman flickered through Duncan’s mind, one of her tending to their scraped knees as wee lads and reciting bedtime stories before tucking them into their beds and slipping outside their door to her own chamber next to theirs.
“I remember you too.” Memories from his earlier years continued to surge forth. Mistress Grace had been so loving and kind, a nurse with a tender hand, a most worthy guardian as well. “I’m Duncan. What have you seen, Mistress Grace?”
“More than I wish, I’m afraid.” She cleared her throat. “In order to ensure your survival you must both listen to me well. From this day forth, neither of you must ever raise a hand in battle against a Matheson, not because you willnae be strong warriors, but because in harming a Matheson you will also be harming yourselves. Soon, you will both understand what I speak of, for there will be things you’ll be able to do that no other MacKenzie warrior can. The fae battle skill will come upon you and when it does your strength will be immense.”
“We’re MacKenzies, no’ Mathesons. How can we hold a fae skill?” Coll had glanced at Father, and so had Duncan. “Mother was a MacLennan and no’ of fae blood.”
“What’s going on, Father?” Such confusion had swarmed Duncan.
“I never wished to speak of this, no’ since you both took your mother’s death so hard.”
“Cait MacLennan has passed?” Shock had coursed across Mistress Grace’s face as she’d risen to her feet
“Aye, she took a terrible illness last winter. She’s been gone for nigh on a year now.” Father shoved off his desk and paced the solar then halted before him and Coll. “Since I no longer have any choice but to speak of this, I shall. Cait wasnae your true mother. Afore your birth, I handfasted with a fae lass named Beth, although she passed away while birthing you both. Mistress Grace was here at the time of your true mother’s passing and she took care of you until ’twas time for her to return to her own people at the village. The knowledge of your fae blood isnae something I speak of, ever, and neither of you are permitted to speak of it either, or your coming skill.” The war braids plaited at each side of Father’s head had swayed as he’d lowered to his haunches. “You are my sons, hold my blood, and your additional strength will be attributed to that fact alone. Do you both understand? I certainly cannae lose the alliance I’ve formed with the MacLennan, or the land I’ve come by.”
“Aye, Father,” both he and Coll had murmured, shock still coursing through them both. All he’d ever known had been a lie. His mother had been of fae blood, and now he and Coll would soon hold the fae battle skill. Along with the wave of shock came a flare of awe. Aye, he’d soon hold a skill, as those from clan Matheson did. Incredible.
“There is more,” Mistress Grace continued, the plea in her eyes clear to see as she’d eyed Father. “You must ensure Coll and Duncan are taught the arts of warfare well. One day, far in the future, they will meet a fae sorceress by the name of Muirin and her brother, a seer named Hamish. I saw them both in my vision. They are the ones who’ll ensure your sons fulfil their destiny.”
“What destiny?”
“All I can say is, ’tis time for the fae to live.”
To this day, twenty years on, Grace’s decree still rumbled through his mind, for he and Coll had met Muirin and Hamish only a few years after they’d left Father’s keep and taken control of their own strongholds on Loch Carron. Over the past few years, Muirin and Hamish had been instrumental in aiding him and Coll in strengthening their battle skill, and now they intended to fulfil the rest of their destiny. ’Twas time for the fae to live, which included him and Coll. Never would he allow Gavin MacDonald to take from them what they’d worked so hard to gain.
With a deep breath, he strode back along the grassy verge of the pebbly shoreline. A few of his men and the villagers continued to dampen the ashes with pails of water and he halted next to James and Hamish as they stood conversing.
Hamish eyed his forehead. “I see you didnae duck in time.”
“And you could have elaborated more about why I had to.” He shook his head. That argument could keep for another time. “Thankfully I found Ella, although Gavin unfortunately escaped us. He and his men abandoned their horses across the other side of Raasay and set sail. I didnae see them out on the water, although they cannae have sailed far. Ella has asked if she might join us during our hunt and I’ve agreed since I’d rather keep a closer eye on her.” He grasped James’s shoulder. “I’ll send supplies and men to aid in the rebuild once I return to Ardan House, but for now we must be away.”
“Your aid in the rebuild would be greatly appreciated.” James nodded.
“’Twill be done. Be assured of that.” To Hamish, he said, “Rope Ella’s skiff to our galley.”