“Have you seen Blackie’s fires?” The crone beamed at them, seeming excited. “His longhouse central fires. No’ the Yuletide bonfires that’ll blaze later. The ones in here are mighty fine. Go have a look.”
Alanna and Callum exchanged glances, both aware that such suggestions should be met.
Leastways when given by the great lady herself.
And so they pushed back from the feasting table and made their way through the revelers, heading for the three fires that commanded the heart of Blackie’s longhouse.
No one else was there.
Most everyone still enjoyed themselves at the well-laden long tables spread throughout the holly-and-mistletoe-draped feasting hall.
“The fires are warm, at least.” Alanna leaned against Callum, glad when he drew her closer.
“Guidsakes!” Callum started. “Look, there in the glow of the flames…”
“Where?” Alanna frowned, seeing nothing.
“Beyond the fires, against the far wall.” Callum spoke low, not wanting anyone else to hear, or see.
Alanna followed his gaze, her jaw slipping when she saw the two tall Scots pines silhouetted darkly against the flickering light. Proud, beautiful trees, their trunks and limbs entwined, their crowns touching as well, as if they kissed.
Then the trees turned silver, shining so bright Callum and Alanna had to shield their eyes. But even as they stared, the trees were gone, vanishing as quickly as they’d appeared.
“Mercy.” Alanna clapped a hand to her breast, then gasped. “Oh! What is this?”
Looking down, she saw a beautiful silver chain around her neck, a heart-shaped pendant resting against her heart. And, of course, there could be no doubt that the smooth stony heart framed so lovingly in silver was her own luck-piece from theYuletideLovers.
“By the gods.” Callum stared at the necklace. “I was just thinking about having such a gift made for you. Later, after we return to Seacliffe.”
“The crone,” Alanna said, sure of it. “She knew and gave us another blessing.”
“Then let us thank her.” Callum took her hand, led her back to the high table.
Devorgilla was gone.
“She left.” Callum looked at his love, saw her disappointment. “Dinnae fret. We will see her again. Perhaps she will visit us at Seacliffe?”
“Aye.” Alanna didn’t sound too sure. “When we are able to return. It could be a while-”
“What is that?” Callum looked at a red-sealed scroll on the bench where Devorgilla had been sitting. “One last gift?”
Alanna reached for the scroll, touching it to be sure it was real. “It’s a true missive,” she said, handing it to him. “Open it.”
And he did, scanning the royal script, his jaw slipping as he read. When he finished, he drew Alanna into a tight embrace.
“’Tis over,” he said. “Dunwhinnie has the soul who wanted to harm you, and Seacliffe, it would seem.”
“What are you saying?” Alanna gripped his arm, her brow pleating. “Who?”
“My sorrow, lass.” Callum put down the scroll. “’Twas your aunt,” he said. “The King says she was in love with your father and was furious when he married her sister, your mother. In time, her fury turned to madness, for even after she wed and bore a son, she took vengeance on every Grant she could, hoping to see your home and all in it ruined before she left this earth.”
“Aunt Nettie?” Alanna couldn’t believe it.
“Aye, without doubt,” Callum told her, wishing he could take her pain. “Your cousin Boyd alerted the Crown. He knew she was trysting with a neighboring chieftain, and though he didn’t mind, was even glad for his mother to have a man in her life…
“It would seem it was her lover who loosened the hand-ropes on your home’s cliff-path. Boyd saw him.” He glanced at the missive, reading the scrawled lines and then trying to share them with as little hurt as possible.
“He started following the pair, overheard enough to learn the depth of their perfidy.” He lifted a hand, rubbed the back of his neck. “It was Boyd who wrote to Dunwhinnie. No’ your aunt as she boasted. Clearly, she didn’t know the true contents. That letter set everything in motion, is likely a reason we met as well.”
