"Aye, very certain."
Islaen spent most of the day with Iain and began to wonder why she bothered. He seemed to want her with him yet he was aloof. The way he worked so diligently preparing to leave her again was rather painful to watch. Finally she gave up and used the excuse of needing a bath before the evening meal to leave him. She felt she needed time away from his coolness, away from fruitlessly trying to break through it, if she was going to be able to welcome him into their bed later.
Iain watched her walk away and cursed himself. He held onto her tightly with one hand and pushed her away with the other. It was not only mad, it was cruel, but he could not seem to stop acting so contrarily.
"Such a dark face. My wee sister raise your ire?"
Managing a smile for Robert who leaned inside the stable doors, watching him, Iain asked, “Any luck today?"
"Nay, curse MacLennon's eyes. He is about."
"Always. He doesnae wish to miss any chance at me."
"So he watches closely, aye. I catch a glimpse of him or find his trail, but he e'er slips away. Are ye sure the mon isnae a spirit?"
"Nay, he lives though many seek to end that life. ‘Tis uncanny the way he can elude us all. Unnatural almost."
"His time will come. He will taunt death once too often. I fear I have more bad news for ye. ‘Tis about Fraser."
"Does the loudmouthed worm finally crawl our way?"
"I think so. His own family sent warning. They search for him, him and twelve of his men."
"They arenae sure he heads this way?"
"Nay, though they think ‘tis most likely. They want no feud with your family or mine, so, though he is kin, they sent warning. T'was hinted that they are done with the fool, feel no more need to protect him from his own folly."
"Yet they search for him."
"The bond of kinship is hard to sever. I think they dinnae wish it said that they did naught. Whate'er befalls the fool now, their hands are clean. Do ye tell Islaen what might ride this way?"
"I think not. ‘Tis yet only a possibility. She is well watched now because of MacLennon. There is no need to add to that."
"Aye and because of MacLennon, she is alert to danger,” Robert mused aloud. “Weel, I must wash the dust off. Do ye run again to Muircraig?"
Iain muttered an affirmative response, then watched Robert leave. Run was the right word he supposed but it was discomforting to think that others might see it as that.
Islaen woke to an empty bed and felt little surprise. Iain had kept her awake most of the night with his lovemaking. She wondered a little crossly how long he felt that sensual gluttony would last him. Considering how busy he had kept her during the night, she decided it would not surprise her at all if he stayed away a full fortnight. Sighing and scolding herself for her bitterness, she rose. Storm had said that there was still a lot of work to do and she hoped the woman was right.
For nearly three weeks, Islaen worked hard. She filled every minute of the day, needing the busyness more and more as each day passed and Iain did not return. It worked to keep her from lying awake at night but as the third week drew to a close, she found herself pausing more and more to stare off towards Muircraig as if she could will Iain to return.
"Are ye tired, Islaen?” Storm asked as she moved to where Islaen stood just outside the door of the smokehouse.
"Nay, not truly. I couldnae stomach working with the meat any longer. My stomach began to turn on me, I fear."
"Come, we will go and sit for a time. I could do with a rest from it all myself. Aye, and a drink. Here, what happens now?"
Both women watched as a small ragged boy eluded the men and raced towards them. When the men tried to give chase, Storm held up a hand to halt their pursuit. The boy was so small he could be little danger to them even if he was armed. Islaen listened as the boy frantically told his tale to Storm. She did not know the Gaelic well enough to understand what was happening however.
"I must go, Islaen. I am needed,” Storm said even as she hurried off to her chambers to collect what she would need.
"What is wrong?” Islaen asked as she followed close on Storm's heels. “I could not understand it all."
"Oh, aye, ‘tis a waning language, I am sorry to say. I wondered why ye did not look more upset."
"'Tis Iain?” Islaen felt her heart stop with fear as Storm hurriedly collected her medicinals.
"Nay, but mayhaps as bad. ‘Tis Robert. He has been hurt."
