Magnus took a step back. If he’d learned one thing since meeting Giric MacDomnail, it was that he was fiercely protective of his wife. He moved to the side with Elspeth and waited for the explosion. He didn’t have to wait long. Giric’s right fist slammed hard into Donnan’s jaw sending the man flying through the air and landing on his backside. For a moment no one moved.
Somewhere above a raven’skraw-krawdrew Elspeth’s attention skyward. Magnus looked up to see several ravens circling overhead. He’d never seen them do that before. The behaviour was more commonly viewed from eagles and hawks.
“They heard my call,” she said.
“See! I told you she’s a witch! No one can speak to ravens! You have to get her out of here,” he said to Giric as he rubbed his jaw. “She will be the ruination of us all!”
Giric motioned for a couple of his men go to Donnan. “Take him to the hall and stay there with him until I join you.”
After the men collected Donnan and practically dragged him away, Giric turned to Elspeth. “I do not know if it will be safe for you here. Donnan is my brother and I will not banish him. While I do not agree with his opinions, I feel he will try to influence the staff and that will put you in harm’s way.”
“I understand,” she said.
That wasn’t good enough for Magnus. “So what, we are just left to our own devices? What about all the talk about us being better protected here than anywhere? Better than her own home, you said. I have a feeling my sister will have a different opinion, MacDomnail.”
“I know what I said and I do not like it any more than you do.”
“And are you afraid for Saga’s well-being? He has lumped her with us as being unworthy of being here.”
“I will deal with Donnan and Saga. For now we need to keep our wits about us and figure out where you can go. And I mean it when I say, you have my full protection and as many men as I can send with you to help keep you undetected.”
“So it is into hiding, then.” That was marginally better. At least they wouldn’t be subject to the brother’s abuse. Magnus had some patience, but that would wear thin quickly if he had to listen to that man day and night.
“Lady Elspeth, do you agree we must leave?”
She was still looking up at the sky. “Aye. We must leave. There are few places we can go at the moment, but there is one.”
“And where is that?” Giric asked. His voice had softened and he now rubbed the hand he’d used to flatten his brother.
“It is a very old place. You do not know it.” She turned to Magnus then. “Come we must make haste. It is a long journey and we will need to pack provisions.”
Magnus looked at Giric and shrugged. Perhaps the ravens were speaking to her. Perhaps it was Odin’s protection or her Christian God’s. Either way, if she had a solution he was willing to hear it.
* * *
With one last look at the sky, Elspeth turned toward the keep. The more she trusted her instincts and visions, the stronger they became. She could clearly see an abandoned tower house and was certain not only was it within a day’s ride, but that she’d not seen it before. And without any additional information that what she’d seen in her mind, she knew exactly how to get there.
She was well aware of the man walking beside her and the questioning glances he threw her way. But she was not yet ready to describe anything that was running through her mind at the moment. She scarce understood it herself, let alone explain it to anyone else. But suffice it to say, the ravens had spoken to her and she understood them. As mad as that sounded even in her own head, she would swear on her life ’twas real.
Once inside the keep, Elspeth walked up the stairs and straight to the chamber in which she had slept the eve afore. Osgar had not been gone long enough to return with her belongings and so she had no additional gown or undergarments to pack and would have given anything at the moment for a bath, but she would have to make do with what she had. Food was the most important thing on her mind at the moment. They would have to pack enough for a few weeks at least. And the momenttheypopped into her head, the door closed quietly behind her.
She turned to see Magnus leaning beside it. “Please tell me what we are doing? Are you certain you know of a place that’s safe?”
Elspeth drew a deep breath. He’d stood by her this long, if a little madness didn’t send him running for the hills, she vowed she would never doubt his loyalty.
“You will think me mad in the head.”
“I will not,” he said in a quiet voice.
It was his unwavering stare and the small smile he offered that convinced her. Since she’d decided to trust her instincts, they would expand to include this man. She’d felt comfort and strength from him from the moment they’d met and he’d given her absolutely no reason to doubt him now.
“I have seen a vision of an abandoned tower-house. I have never known of it before this day, but I have seen it and I know how to get there. We will be safe there.”
“And how do you know this?”
Why did he have to ask her that? Why couldn’t he just agree and help them be on their way? Why? Because she sounded like she needed a padded chamber or an exorcism. She understood all too well why the MacDomnail’s brother had reacted so. Most sane people would never entertain a person who claimed they could speak to animals much less one as revered as a raven.
“I was told.”
