“I have ma hands free, so ma arms arenae sore any longer. If I must defend maself, I can. But I willna let the guards ken until I’m certain I can get ye and ma men free from here without risking yer life or theirs.” Ronan squeezed Abigail’s fingers through the bars in the door “Ye’ve been down here longer than usual, Abby. I dinna want ye to, but ye need to go.”
“I ken. I love ye.”
“I love ye.” Ronan and Abigail pressed their lips together before Abigail darted toward the door, hearing a guard’s boots approaching. She waited in the dark, but no one called out. She waited until the boots retreated before letting herself out. She moved along the tunnel, intending to return to her chamber, but when she reached the floor with the laird’s chamber, she paused. She’d followed Cormag and Cecily up the stairs that evening, and she’d seen which doors they entered. Abigail’s mouth nearly dropped open when she realized the sounds she’d heard her first night came from Cecily’s chamber. It confirmed the woman had a lover, but Abigail had no idea who. She still didn’t know who she heard snoring since Gordon was unmarried. She crept along the passageway until she came to the chamber with the unknown occupant. She listened against the wall, once more hearing light snores.
Abigail felt around for the hidden latch and pressed down with just enough pressure to make it click. She kept the lever down but waited for someone to discover her. When nothing happened, she eased the door open an inch. There was still no movement, and the only sounds were snores. With her heart pounding in her ears, Abigail pushed the door open enough to look inside. She spied an old woman sleeping in the bed, her white hair pulled back in a long braid.
Edina. I didna ken Cormag and Gordon’s mother was still alive. She was a kind woman. I wonder if she still makes the meat pies she used to give us. Is she too frail to join the evening meal? Why havenae I seen her?
Abigail shifted her weight, accidentally pushing the door open wider. It creaked, and Abigail froze. Her eyes widened as the woman sat up in bed and looked in her direction. Abigail doubted Edina could see her behind the door and in the dark. She didn’t dare move.
“Who’s there?” The reedy voice shook, and Abigail felt guilty for terrifying the woman. “Have ye come to take me to our Lord?”
Abigail held her breath. She didn’t want the woman to think an assassin lurked in the tunnel. She wanted to groan when Edina pushed back the covers. She made to pull the door shut, but Edina’s next words stopped her. To hide her torch flame, she slipped it into the sconce beside the door.
“Dinna go. I’m ready to join ma Henry. He’s been gone too long. If ye be an angel or a devil, I dinna care. I would be with ma Henry again.” Edina swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood. She wobbled as she reached for a plaid folded at the foot of the bed. “Ma weans dinna need me anymore. They dinna even care aboot me. I’m ready.”
Abigail’s heart broke as she listened to the old woman wish to reunite with her long-dead husband. But as she thought about it, it struck Abigail as odd that Edina appeared so aged. Cormag was older than Kieran, but she didn’t expect Edina to look so much older than her own mother Adeline had when she passed.
“Annalily? Lass, I ken that’s ye playing in those tunnels again. Yer da will skelp ye if he learns ye’ve been exploring back there again. Ye ken he doesnae want ye getting lost.”
Abigail’s brow furrowed as she recognized the name of the youngest MacLeod child. The girl had been younger than Abigail and died when sickness swept through the Skye branch. The girl had been dead for nearly twenty years, yet Edina spoke as though she were still alive.
Her mind’s gone. Mayhap that’s why I havenae seen her. Do they keep her locked away?
Abigail watched as Edina hobbled toward her. When the older woman stumbled, Abigail didn’t hesitate to slip past the door and catch Edina. She chided herself the moment she touched the crepey skin of the older woman’s hands. If Edina told anyone that she’d had a dark-haired woman visit her in the middle of the night, they would know Abigail used the tunnels.
“That’s a sweet, lass. Annalily, fetch me ma shawl.”
Abigail didn’t know what to do. Keeping her voice to a whisper, she said, “Mama, ye already have yer plaid aboot yer shoulders.” Abigail pulled the woolen blanket tighter around Edina as she led her back to bed. “Let’s get ye tucked in before ye catch a chill.”
“Och, when did ye start putting me to bed?” Edina’s arm trembled as she reached out to touch Abigail’s hair. Her eyes widened as she leaned away. “Queen Titania, ye have come to Dunvegan.”
Abigail blinked at the sudden turn in conversation. She recognized the fairy queen’s name, but she knew of no tale where the mythical woman had dark hair. She remained silent, waiting for Edina to say more.
“Have ye come to warn us?” Edina’s white eyebrows lifted expectantly.
“I would see that ma people are well.” Abigail couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“But ye only come in times of trouble. Have ye come for yer flag?”
Abigail’s heart pounded as she listened to Edina mention the fabled banner that was said to summon the fae army to defend the MacLeods of Skye if ever unfurled. She remembered telling Ronan about the legend while traveling to Stornoway. The story went that if they ever used it a third time, both the flag and its bearer would be swept away to the land of the fae.
“I would ensure its safekeeping,” Abigail whispered.
“We havenae touched it in generations,” Edina assured Abigail. “It remains safely hidden just where ye left it last time.”
Abigail clenched her jaw. If she could discover the flag’s whereabouts and even steal it, it would weaken the MacLeods’ faith in their own strength. Fairies or not, the MacLeods would believe whoever stole the prized heirloom would defeat them.
“Are ye sure Cormag hasnae moved it, Edina?” Abigail attempted to sound authoritative in a whisper. She wasn’t certain she succeeded.
“Nay. Of course nae. It’s still behind ma bed.”
Abigail’s head dropped forward in disbelief. It stunned her that Edina announced its hiding place without a second thought. Abigail glanced toward the bed, then back at Edina. The older woman squeezed Abigail’s hand with surprising strength before leading Abigail to the bed. Abigail examined the headboard, wondering if she could return the next day to retrieve the flag. She needed to learn whether Edina left her chamber during the day. If she did, Abigail would risk traversing the tunnels during the daytime.
“Och, ma queen. I canna move this bed these days. Ye shall have to reach back to pull out the bricks.”
“Ye would have me take it from where ye’ve protected it for years?”
