Reverently touching his script, written with a flourish, Elayne traced it with her fingertips. She smelled the paper and caught Cailean’s scent. His hands had touched this paper last.What will he discover in her family’s clan?
Elayne had a few sheets of paper and ink at home. She would write a response tonight and give it to Bessie to be sent whenever the messengers would take correspondence to Cailean.
Elayne prayed his remaining visits to other clans went well and he could soon return home; fall had already arrived in the Highlands, with its gold and red leaves littering the ground, heralding the change in the weather. In a couple more months, winter would knock on their doors.
Elayne read and reread Cailean’s letter. It was no substitute for him, but it comforted her to hear his voice through his written words. She could picture him smiling and telling her what he wrote to her in the letter.Will he learn anything helpful about my family?
After dinner, her father left to walk Mrs. Logan home, and Elayne had privacy, giving her the opportunity to write a letter to Cailean.
Elayne described the market and the summer fair and her activities, then continued with other news.
Cailean MacPherson, Son of Laird MacPherson, My Champion,
God keep you in his blessed keeping. I pray for your safe travels and the success of your alliances with other clans. I miss you.
Yer garden has grown by leaps and bounds. Thank ye for the two goats. They have fun playing and cavorting in the pen ye built for us. They have gotten much bigger since the farmer brought them to us in July. I ken we will expect baby goats by next May or June. Thomas dotes on them, as they remind him of his home and farm.
Thomas is progressing well as an apprentice; he is eager to learn. He goes hunting with me for safety, but also to make sure we have plenty of food. He eats more than my father and is always hungry. I swam in the loch a few times over the summer. But it is nae the same without ye. I miss ye, Cailean, and hope all goes well on yer quest. I gaze at the moon and stars at night and think of ye and wonder where ye are.
I helped Bessie make candles for the castle three times, and soap, too, since ye left. I learned a lot and enjoyed helping her. She is a kind and sweet woman.
Thank ye for teaching me how to hunt, fish, and dance. I couldn’t dance if ye hadn’t taught me. I kept wishingit was ye holding me in yer arms and we were dancing together.
Keep well until I see ye again.
Love,
Elayne
Elayne sanded the paper to ensure the ink had dried, folded the parchment, and wrote Cailean’s name on the front. She dropped red wax on the back of the letter, sealing it. Taking the signet ring that hung around her neck, she placed an imprint into the wax. Elayne put away her paper, ink, and other writing supplies, then placed the letter in her pocket.
The following day, Elayne walked into the kitchens and found Bessie hard at work on meal preparation.
“I thought it best to write a reply to Cailean right away, even though I ken the messenger may not leave for a few days.”
“Aye, that is so. I will put it with mine later tonight, and they will send them together. I imagine the laird and lady and mayhap his sisters will write letters to him too, so the messenger may not tarry here long.”
“Thank ye. Good night, Bessie. Let me ken when ye need help with anything.”
“Aye, lass, that I will do. I expect next week I will need to make more batches of soap. I removed the soap we made last month from the molds and put it away, so they are ready to use again. Lady MacPherson and her daughters all remarked to me about how they loved the fragrance of both of the soaps ye made. I ken they would like more.”
“Thank ye for letting me ken. I’m happy they liked both of the scents.”
Chapter Ten
Imprisoned
Bessie expected Cailean’s return soon since he’d been absent for over four long months. When Elayne had assisted Bessie with making soap, they had found Cailean had left for the Gordon clan, their neighboring clan. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too much longer.
One day in late September, Elayne helped Bessie to make pillar candles by pouring the hot wax into prepared molds. They were careful not to spill the hot wax. Today most likely was one of the last opportunity to make candles outside as the weather became cooler.
While Bessie and Elayne worked, a sweaty, disheveled messenger rode into the courtyard, jumped from his saddle, and reported to the castle guard. The warrior had an urgent message for the laird. The guard escorted the tired and dirty messenger immediately to the laird in his study and announced him.
After the guard exited, the messenger delivered his news. “My laird, I am sorry to report to ye that yer son Cailean and his guards were ambushed on their way back home. The Devil of the Cameron clan took them prisoner. Outnumbered, they were nae match for them. Cailean posted me behind them in case ofambush so that I could deliver ye the message. Cailean and the men were beaten, but alive. I’m sorry to have to bring ye this news, my laird.”
“Thank ye for yer message and astute decision to arrive with all due speed. Go to the kitchen and Bessie will give ye food and drink.” The messenger left, And the laird summoned the captain of the guards to his study as well as his sons. When all arrived and were informed of the situation, they began formulating strategies. Tremendously angry, the laird was not overly surprised over the duplicity of laird Cameron, the Devil of Cameron. The laird doubled the scouts to the west, north, and southern borders. The laird placed the castle on alert with more guards inside the castle on watches. They had several plans ready to execute and awaited a messenger from the Cameron clan, but none arrived that day or the next.
In the kitchen, Bessie served several cups of ale and food to the messenger, while Elayne continued to dip the candles. As Elayne entered the kitchen, she encountered the dirty, ravenous messenger who devoured the overflowing trencher of food Bessie had given him. He perked up when he spied the pretty lass.
