“Oh, how interesting.” Beaming, Grandma divided her hair into sections then brushed with long, gentle strokes, one foot tapping merrily away at the floor. “Even though our Matheson clan have been at war with the MacKenzies for a very long time, there have still been the odd marriages that have taken place between us over the centuries, that is whenever peace prevailed. How has your Duncan come to hold fae blood, my dear? Through his father or mother?”
“I cannae say.” She gave them both a pointed look. “Which will likely be the answer to every question you’re going to ask me regarding him.”
“Then what can you share?”
“He’s loyal, protective, and has already stolen my heart, although last eve I was forced to run away from him.”
“Start at the beginning, and tell us all that you can.” Grandma notched one brow up, her compelling tone rising to the same sweetly hypnotic tone her own usually did. “I insist, and you know how I like to get my own way.”
“Aye, just as I do.” With Grandma’s compelling command ringing strongly in her ears, Ella began. “Well, so you might understand the turn of events properly. These past few weeks Gavin MacDonald has been causing mayhem, even snuck onto Duncan’s land and slaughtered his cattle, as well as set fire to a couple of longhouses at Inverarish, the village under Duncan’s care. Ethan is currently with Gavin, has been attempting to halt his devious strikes only he’s had no luck. Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to catch up to them both. I even managed to do so a few days ago, as well as to successfully compel Gavin and demand he return to Dunscaith. Now, I’m to meet Gavin and Ethan there and when I do, I intend on compelling Gavin further as well as speaking to the Chief of MacDonald so I might ensure all is made right. This warring between the clans must stop.”
“Gavin has been on a destructive path these past few months.” Grandpa leaned forward in his rocking chair, elbows braced to his knees. “This last spring, he even stormed though Kinloch and demanded additional rents be paid, said he did so at his chief’s bidding although ’twas naught but a lie.” He waved a hand in a rolling motion. “Continue on. What’s caused you to leave your husband behind?”
“Duncan fears for my safety, wishes only to send me back to Ardan House and have me locked away, yet ’tis I who must make certain Gavin’s attacks are halted, no’ him. The last thing I wish to do, is to bring even further harm down upon Duncan’s head.”
“Och, I see your predicament.” Frowning, Grandpa rose and paced the room, his booted feet scuffing the fresh rushes Grandma always scattered about the floors.
“I take it you compelled Duncan in order to sneak away from him?” Grandma patted her shoulder from behind.
“Aye, he left me with no choice.”
“There are choices aplenty now.” Grandpa braced his hands on his hips as he halted in front of her. “Your grandma and I will travel with you to Dunscaith and aid you in altering Gavin’s course, as well as speak to the MacDonald. There is no need for you to tackle this mission alone, no’ when you now have us. ’Twill be far easier to see things made right with two compellers at hand.”
“’Twill also take us no time at all to sail to Dunscaith.” Grandma set her brush down. “We’ll leave after you’ve had some time to rest, Ella. You’re clearly exhausted and have been walking right through the night.”
“I fear taking the waterways and encountering Duncan. My compelling command willnae halt him forever. ’Twould be best if we rode to Dunscaith.”
“Then we’ll ride, although we’ll need horses if we’re to do so.” Grandma eyed Grandpa. “We can fetch three mounts from Gregor’s stables while Ella rests.”
“Agreed. That willnae take us long.”
“Then ’tis all sorted.” Grandma grasped Ella’s hands and tugged her from her chair. Hands on her shoulders, she nudged her down the short hallway toward the spare chamber next to theirs, the room one she’d always used when staying with them.
At the chamber doorway, she blew her grandparents a kiss. Aye, together, they’d sort this out. She had no doubt that they would.
High in the craggy hills leading inland, Duncan crouched along a stony trail with Ivor beside him. The ground was soft underfoot, even more so after the squall of yesterday. He touched Ella’s booted footprints he’d been following since dawn. Here, the odd clump of loose dirt and gravel had skittered from the pathway down the cliff side and into the corrie below, one strewn with sand and stones.
Last eve, after he and Ivor had found no trace of her passing along the coastline, they’d returned to the cliff where his men had made camp following Hamish’s unsuccessful search as well. After a short rest, he’d set out with Ivor to search farther inland. Just the two of them since the last thing he needed was to have all forty of his men tramping across enemy soil and alerting the MacDonald of their arrival on his land. All stealth at present was needed.