“I do feel the same. You may rest assured, your dear brother has all of my heart.”
“Och, Selene.” Maureen seized her in a hug. “I’ve so often wished fer a sister. Yer news makes me heart sing with happiness.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The morning of their journey to Raasay dawned with clear skies and a crisp, cold, breeze.
At the landing place, where Halvard’s birlinn awaited, Baird greeted them both warmly.
“With this wind in our sails we’ll make good time tae Raasay. As long as the weather is on our side, we should be there nae long after noon.”
They waited while Selene’s trunk and Kenneth’s smaller box of belongings were loaded, along with a bundle of fleeces which were Kenneth’s gift to Halvard.
Then it was the horses’ turn to go on board.
Arvak, who was well used to travel, took only minutes to be brought on board, his giant hooves beating time on the wooden planks of the deck. He stood quietly while Kenneth tethered himin the stern. But Baird’s horse was skittish, unused to the sway of the boat and the sound of the lapping waves, and it took some time to coax her onto the birlinn. Finally, she stood quietly beside Arvak, as if the giant destrier’s stolid bulk was a comfort to the little mare.
Selene stood by, watching all of the action, her stomach tying itself in a series of painful knots. While, on one hand, there was the joyful anticipation of seeing her beloved sister once again, on the other, despite her determination to return to Duntulm Castle to spend her life with Kenneth, she feared the meeting to come between Laird MacDonald and Laird MacLeod might not proceed smoothly.
The two men had been at loggerheads for too long, seething over the so-called incursions into their waters and the theft of their fishermen’s livelihoods.
She knew full well that it was only because of his love for her and the honor that meant everything to Kenneth, that he was prepared to make this journey to Raasay and meet with Laird Halvard.
She could only pray there would be sufficient goodwill between them to enable Halvard to grant his blessing to her marriage to Kenneth.
After all, it was everything her heart desired.
When, at last, they set off, the sun was well risen, with a clear light to see the shore as they traveled. Selene was in awe of therugged but beautiful coastline as Kenneth, his arm looped over shoulders, pointed out different landmarks as they went.
In no time they had roundedRubha Hanish, the northernmost tip of the Isle of Skye and had turned southward.
It was then that the sky began to darken and by the time they reached the Sound of Raasay – almost, but not quite in sight of the Isle of Raasay – the sky had turned raven-black. The horizon disappeared under an approaching squall and in minutes a fierce storm swept over them. Waves slammed the hull, the breeze that had seemed so pleasant earlier, turned into a roaring wind that whipped up the sea and turned Selene’s perfectly coiffured hair into a mass of tangled curls and knots.
As the rain fell in torrents across the deck, they took refuge under a small lean-to with just enough canvas to cover them both and keep them almost dry.
Head down, clutching his oilskin around him, Baird approached. His hair was sopping, his kilt dripping despite his heavy covering.
“We cannae cross the sound safely in this storm. I have ordered the crew tae take shelter in the inlet.” He pointed to a dark space barely visible between the rocky crags.
There was just enough space for the birlinn to take shelter between the jagged rocks, but once they were inside the crew dropped anchor and, although the wind still howled throughthe ropes, the tall cliffs afforded protection from the pounding waves.
Kenneth wrapped a trembling Selene in his embrace, pulling her tightly against his chest.
“Halvard’s birlinn is a sturdy vessel. We’ll weather it,” he assured her, even as rain lashed them sideways. “I’ve seen worse.”
She pressed her forehead to his shoulder, shaking. “I hate the storms.”
“I ken.” He held her closer. “But I’ll keep ye safe.”
She smiled at that, her thoughts flying to other storms and other times he’d kept her safe.
What was meant to be a short trip, turned into many hours as the ship rode out the storm, Kenneth and Selene shivering in each other’s arms, their whispers barely audible above the howling wind.
By the silvery morning light, the storm had at long last passed, the seas had quieted somewhat and Blair declared it was safe enough to proceed.
It was only a short distance across the sound to the landing stage on the west coast of Raasay, and from there it was a ride of only a few short miles to Brochel Castle.
Once the birlinn had docked, the horses were brought ashore. Just as it had been when they went aboard it was quite a business to coax Baird’s mare onto dry land.
