Norah's eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, clutching his arm as if his strength could shield her from the panic.
"Please… Caiden… find him," she whispered, her voice trembling.
The blood in his veins seemed to freeze, the weight of responsibility heavier than any sword or battle he had faced.
With a single motion, he turned, his cloak swirling around him, and barked to Eric, "Gather every man! Search high, search low! Fowler or nae, we find Arran before the night ends, but it is possible that we may find both together if Fowler is as treacherous as we believe him to be."
The castle, usually quiet and orderly, erupted into controlled chaos as men ran to and for, torches lighting the hallways, their shouts echoing against the stone walls.
Caiden's eyes darted from corridor to corridor, every muscle taut, his heart thundering. Fear clawed at his chest, but it fueled him, sharpened his senses, and solidified his resolve.
Arran will be found, and woe to any soul who dared harm the boy under me watch.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Maisie sat in the parlor, her fingers drumming nervously on the carved oak arm of her chair. The room was richly adorned, with tapestries depicting the McGowan lineage, their threads gleaming in the firelight, and velvet curtains framing the tall windows. A polished hearth radiated warmth, and the scent of polished wood and wax lingered in the air. Yet despite the grandeur surrounding her, Maisie felt hollow, her mind restless and her heart weighed down with thoughts she could not voice as she compared the McGowan castle to the lavishness of the seaside McGibb castle with all its wealth and glory.
Lavina approached, concern etching her features. "Maisie… I've noticed a change in ye since ye returned," she said gently, perching on the opposite chair. "Ye daenae speak as ye did, and there's a shadow upon yer eyes."
Maisie forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothin', Lavina… truly, I am well," she replied, her tone light but hollow. "Perhaps I'm merely tired from the ordeal and the… excitement of me return."
Lavina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with resolve. "Ye cannae fool me, sister. Somethin' happened while ye were away, and I demand to ken the truth."
Maisie shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the arm of her chair. "I've told ye, Lavina, nothin' happened. Just… a long journey and weariness, that's all," she murmured, her voice tight.
Lavina's hands fell to her lap, but her gaze was unwavering. "Ye daenae have to keep it from me, Maisie. I am yer sister, and I will help ye bear it if it be so."
Maisie's chest tightened, a flush rising to her cheeks. "There's nothin' to tell! Lavina, I am safe, I am fine, and that is all ye need to ken," she said, her voice rising slightly.
"But ye daenae seem fine," Lavina pressed, leaning closer, her voice edged with worry. "I see it in the way ye sit, the way ye avoid me, the way yer thoughts are far away. I willnae let ye hide it from me any longer."
Maisie's patience snapped like a frayed rope. "Lavina! I said it's nothin'! I am nae to blame for what troubles me, and it is none of yer concern!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly.
The chair scraped against the floor as she spun on her heel, her skirts brushing past the low table adorned with crystal decanters and silver candlesticks. Lavina rose as well, reaching out as if to stop her.
"I daenae want to hear it any longer," Maisie said sharply, her voice trembling with frustration and unshed tears. "I need air… I need to be alone."
She stormed from the parlor, the wooden floorboards echoing under her hurried steps, and flung open the doors to the gardens. The cool night air hit her face, bringing a sharp clarity to her muddled thoughts. Flowers and shrubs brushed against her skirts as she strode across the moonlit paths, the scent of wet earth and night-blooming jasmine filling her senses.
For a moment, she let herself breathe, the tension in her chest loosening ever so slightly, though her heart remained heavy with secrets she could not share.
In the quiet of the gardens, Maisie pressed her hands to her face and let a shiver of frustration and helplessness escape her. She longed for the freedom to speak, to unburden herself of the memories she carried from the McGibb castle, yet she knew she could not.
Her mind spun with thoughts of Caiden, of the storm of emotions he had left behind, and of the life she had returned to that now felt distant. The moonlight glinted off the dew-covered grass, and Maisie let herself pace, each step a quiet rebellion against the weight of restraint and the confines of her duty.
She did not notice Lavina until her sister's voice cut sharply through the night air.
"Maisie! Daenae walk away from me!" Lavina shouted, her tone carrying both authority and worry. "Ye are still me little sister, and I will nae let ye hide from me!"
Maisie paused, letting out a long sigh as the tension drained slightly from her shoulders. She sank onto a nearby garden bench, the cool wood grounding her as she tried to calm the storm of emotions within. The moonlight fell softly across her face, and she realized the only person she could trust with her truth was Lavina.
"All right, Lavina… I'll tell ye what happened," Maisie began, her voice trembling. "But ye must swear ye will nae judge me, and ye must promise nae to tell Theodore, for it could spark war between our clans."
Lavina nodded and sat beside her, solemnly, placing a reassuring hand over her sister's. "I swear it, Maisie. Speak, and I will listen without word of it leavin' me lips," she said gently.
Maisie took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "It was a misunderstandin'," she admitted. "Someone thought I was stealin' the paintin' I went to buy, and so they thought I was a thief. They took me under false information, believin' I was in league with criminals."
"Who?" Lavina asked, her eyes wide in surprise.
