Page 17 of The Return of the Heir

At her nod, he scooped her into his arms. “Rowena, grab the axe,” he said before carrying the girl down the stairs to safety. Rowena and Samuel followed close behind until all four stood outside of the tower. The moon was almost full, and the front courtyard was clearly illuminated. Alastair hurried towards the keep and the warmth it could provide the shivering and coughing girl in his arms.

“Stop,” Arabella commanded. “Please, set me down.”

“Whatever for?” Alastair stalled his steps.

“Because I want to smell the world for just one moment.”

Befuddled by her request, he begrudgingly set the girl on her feet. Her slippers were so worn and threadbare they offered her little protection from the cold, and less support on the rocky ground. “Here, take my arm,” Alastair said, lending her something solid to cling to. She placed her hand on his arm and closed her eyes. Her brother did the same, and they each drew a deep breath of the chill night air.

Tears sprang to Arabella’s eyes, shimmering in the moonlight. “I don’t remember ever smelling anything so wonderful.”

“Gwendolyn was right.” Samuel’s voice filled with awe. “I smell the tangy scent of salt from the sea.”

“And the heather smells woody, and mossy, and sweet.” Arabella sighed with satisfaction. “I never thought I’d be free from the scent of death and decay.” As she drew another breath, she started coughing again, doubling over before she finally stopped. In control once more, she straightened and opened her eyes. “This is truly heaven on earth.” She turned to Alastair. “Thank you for coming to our aid. Everything will be perfect once Gwennie is with us.”

Alastair wanted nothing more than to find Gwendolyn. He had so many questions for her once he did. The Fairy Flag went missing the same day Gwendolyn had. He had wondered for the past five years if those two things were somehow connected. If Garrick MacDonald was responsible for imprisoning Gwendolyn and her siblings, could he have also been behind the flag’s disappearance?

Rowena doused the torches in a nearby barrel of dirt before rejoining the others in the front courtyard. “If you’ll allow us to take you inside, we can start the search for your sister.”

Arabella nodded and tightened her grip on Alastair’s arm as she attempted to walk to the castle’s doorway under her own power. Her skin shimmered in the moonlight as palely as the tombstones in the family graveyard just outside the castle. She took several steps before her legs buckled.

Before Arabella hit the ground, Alastair scooped her up and carried her into the keep, then up the stairs to the family bedchambers.

At the top of the stairs, Mrs Morgan came forward to greet them. She stopped short when she saw the creature in Alastair’s arms. “What in heaven’s name is this?”

“Mrs Morgan, please send someone to the village to get a healer. They will need to look at both Arabella and Samuel Harris. And send two of my men to stand guard over these two.”

“After all these years, the Harris children have been found?” Mrs Morgan’s age-weathered hand flew to her lips, stifling her gasp. “Where? How? Is there a threat tae the household? Oh my goodness,” she sputtered, waving a hand in the air. “Never ye mind me, there’ll be time enough fer questions later.” Her skirts rustled against the wooden floor as she disappeared down the stairs.

Samuel kept pace with him and Rowena despite his own lack of strength. Alastair tossed the boy an encouraging smile. The lad had a strong will. They both must, in order to have survived such an ordeal.

“Place Arabella in this room.” Rowena brushed past Alastair in the hallway to open the door that was next to her own. “That way I can keep an eye on her.”

Alastair set Arabella on the big bed at the center of the chamber then stepped back. “Samuel, you can take the chamber directly across the hall. That way you’ll be close as well.”

Samuel’s gaze lifted to Alastair’s. “I know I said I wanted to help with the search for Gwendolyn, but I am needed here. Please let me stay at Arabella’s side. I can sleep on a pallet on the floor.” When Alastair opened his mouth to object, Samuel added, “We haven’t been apart for many years, and a pallet will be a luxury compared with what we’ve had in the past.”

How could he object? If Rowena were in a similar situation, Alastair would not want to leave her side either. “Then it shall be so. In the meanwhile, I will have our cook send up something warm to eat and drink.”

“And I will get water for a bath started for you both, then find some warmer clothing,” Rowena said as she turned and headed out the door.

Alastair pulled a thick tartan blanket up over Arabella’s body before he stepped back. “Promise me when the healer arrives, you will allow her to examine you both.”

“We promise,” Samuel said, taking a seat on the bed beside his sister.

Alastair waited until Rowena returned before he left. He hurried below to join his men who had gathered in the front courtyard. Callum was waiting there, along with Graeme, and at least twenty others who were armed and ready for battle.

At Alastair’s questioning look, Graeme shook his head. He hadn’t managed to overtake Garrick as he’d run from the tower. Alastair frowned. They would find Garrick soon, then he would pay for all he’d done.

“Mrs Morgan said you found two of the Harris children, the younger ones, in the tower?” Graeme asked, bringing Alastair back to the moment.

Alastair nodded. “Chained and trapped.”

Callum drew a harsh breath. “They were right under our noses the entire time?” He clenched his fingers together so tightly his knuckles turned white. “I should have—”

“You are not to blame here, Callum,” Alastair interrupted. “The MacDonalds are.”

“What do you mean?” Graeme’s brow furrowed in a frown.