“Come let us finish our journey,” she said. “It is still quite a way to my home and I already feel the effects of the ride.”
He nodded and they resumed their travels. The time passed quickly as they passed rolling fields awash with faded growth from the harvest. The trees had all turned colour here and splashes of bright purple showed the resilience of the mountain heather that should have long since lost its bloom. For some reason it had always held on longer around here. Perhaps there was something in the very earth that allowed life to thrive and grow. Was it possible that the tower and surrounding lands contained some ancient magic that somehow seeped into the ground over time?
Nana Besse had warned her not to go to the tower alone and she was relieved she hadn’t. She now had an understanding of the danger residing there. Time and age meant nothing in a place like that.
So lost was she in her musings of the events that had taken place she was surprised when she looked up and saw the flat stone roadway leading to her home. Somewhere in size between the tower and MacDomnail Castle, MacAlpin Keep had two towers flanking the main stone house. The kitchen, armoury, cellars and gardens were all behind the main keep, but the part she loved the most about her home was the courtyard leading to the gardens.
The front of the keep was constructed with security in mind with wooden palisades and a gate house, but once they passed through, the beauty of the home became apparent with all the shrubs and trees dotting the walkway to the keep.
Once through the gates, they made their way to the stables and ensured their horses would be well cared for. She was pleased to see that Magnus seemed to want to take in every aspect of the place. She was proud of her home and she couldn’t wait to show him all it contained.
“Come with me inside,” she said. “I will show you the keep then we can explore the grounds.”
“There you are!” Osgar said coming around the side of the armoury. “I thought you were going to wait for me to bring your belongings to you. I was finishing packing everything up.”
Elspeth needed a moment to think about what he meant. She then recalled he had come here to collect her gowns so she could stay at Castle MacDomnail for her safety.
“It was not safe there,” Magnus said.
Elspeth was grateful he spoke up for she truly did not know what to say.
“What happened?” he asked. “Have you been harmed?”
“No. But the threat was there. MacDomnail’s brother took issue with some things he the servants overheard relating to Freydis and your sister.”
“That man would not dare lay a hand on my sister. Surely Giric threw him out.”
“He did not,” Magnus said. “Rather he told us that it would not be safe for us to stay any longer.”
Osgar looked at her and then Magnus. “I do not believe it. I have never known Giric to behave in such a manner.”
“It is true,” Elspeth said. “Donnan threatened me and Freydis and Giric would not turn him out, rather offered us provisions and sent us on our way.”
“Provisions?” Osgar asked. “Why would he do that when you obviously would come here?”
Elspeth regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth. She’d never been adept at falsehoods and she would not be able to lie to Osgar if he seriously pressed her and from his furrowed brow and frown it appeared he was about to.
“When we left, we were not sure in which direction to go,” Magnus said. “We were still unsure of the intentions of your brother as well, considering the circumstances.”
“My brother is not here,” Osgar said. “I am, as of yet, unaware of his whereabouts.”
Elspeth had not thought about Kenneth. And considering all that had happened, and now with her bond with Magnus, she did not fear him any longer. She knew him well enough to understand his level of cowardice. He would be terrified of Magnus and that would be enough to quell any opportunistic ideas.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Magnus watched as Osgar took in the information he was given. The man was clever and honourable, he would give him that, but he would not stand for a repeat of the events at MacDomnail Castle. And considering Osgar’s recent activity, it was becoming apparent that neither Elspeth nor Magnus had spent any longer that a few moments at the tower house. How in the name of Odin was that even possible and how were they to pretend nothing had occurred between them?
Elspeth reached for his hand and he shot her a look hoping to remind her that their secret must be kept, at least for now. She seemed to have understood the message and flicked her hand halfway to his as if to swat away an insect.
“Are you all right?” Osgar asked her.
“Aye,” she said and walked along ahead of them.
“I suspect my sister has had an exhausting time of it over the past few weeks.”
Magnus thought of the many times they’d let their desire run freely and smiled to himself. She probably did need some rest, though for a different reason than what Osgar thought. And he had to stop his train of thought again. Did any of it actually happen? Was she a maiden still? He shook his head. His mind ran circles around itself and he could not make sense of it one way or the other.
“And now I must ask you the same question,” Osgar said. “Are you all right?”
