Page 6 of Duncan

“Don’t try to get up yet,” Nicole said, stroking her free hand over his head as if searching for a wound. “Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Duncan always absorbed the pain of others he touched, so to experience this welling of warmth and delight that radiated through him now utterly baffled him. The way her palm moved against his hair could not be called a caress, and yet that was how his scalp reacted. Indeed, they might have been entwined together, naked and in his bed. When she slid her hand over his nape a surge of something even hotter jolted through his chest and belly to knot in his groin.

“I’m well,” he said, shifting away from her to hide the bulge in his trews.

It was at that moment that Duncan noticed hundreds of gulls that had silently gathered on the sands around them, their red-rimmed pale eyes fixed on Nicole. Usually the noisy birds stayed well away from people. He then looked up at the top of the cliff, where he expected to see Meg standing and watching them, but saw no sign of her. The chambermaid had pushed him over the edge, he recalled, but he had no notion as to why. He saw Nicole peering at him again, and set aside thoughts of the chambermaid’s puzzling attack.

“’Twas but a small mishap, my lady.” He tasted blood as he said that, and caught her hand as she reached again to touch him, pushing her fingers away. From the soreness of his lower lip he must have cut it, and his ribs ached, but otherwise he seemed well enough. “You neednae fret over me. I saw a vision of you flung from a great ship. How came you here?”

“I wish I could tell you,” Nicole admitted. “Someone hit the back of my head and threw me off a boat. While I was sinking to the bottom I heard two voices speak to me, and everything changed. My injuries had healed, and suddenly I was here.”

A shadow came over them, cast by a cloaked Finfolk male whom Merrick used to deliver messages to the laird.

“Need you aid for your man, my lady?” the courier asked, frowning down at them.

“I think he’s all right, but I don’t know if he can walk,” she said, and touched the aquatic’s arm. “He may have internal injuries, too. Could you get some help?”

The male smiled at her and nodded before he hurried down and dove into the surf. Nicole stared after him, her expression confused.

Her clipped accent and the words she used assured Duncan that she had not come from the mainland, nor anyplace in this time. Around her neck she wore a silver chain, from which hung a much older red stone pendant that matched the one in his pocket. In her ear lobes sparkled newer baubles set with blue gems so finely cut they glittered with a thousand tiny lights. A glance at the silver ring set with a Fae green gem on her hand confirmed not only how she had traveled here, but from whence she had come. Like the four other women saved by the ring belonging to Lady Joana, his brother’s first wife, Nicole had likely lived in a far-off future time.

“If you’re all right to try, let me help you stand,” she said as she took hold of his hands.

Duncan frowned as the soreness of the pains from falling so far abruptly ebbed from his body. Still holding onto Nicole, he rose to his feet and urged her to hers. She began to say something, and then gasped and staggered back. As he caught her all of the birds suddenly flew off, and when he saw she had swooned lifted her up in his arms.

“My lady?” As she did not stir, he started toward the cliff stairs. Halfway there Jamaran, Merrick’s garrison commander, and the Finfolk messenger appeared on either side of him.

“I brought help,” the messenger said, looking very pleased with himself.

The commander told the male to return to the settlement, but kept pace with Duncan as he carried Nicole across the sand. “What manner of spell did that wench cast over the king’s courier?”

“Naught. She simply asked him for aid.” He glanced at the aquatic immortal. “Mayhap we should discuss the matter after I examine the lady and treat her injuries.”

Jamaran inclined his head and returned to the water. Duncan shifted Nicole in his arms before he climbed the cliff stairs, holding her securely against him. As soon as the guards saw him reach the top, two hurried over and he sent them to fetch Nyall.

The stern-faced captain of the guard intercepted him inside the stronghold halfway to the infirmary. “You went swimming, Healer?”

“Meg pushed me off the cliff. This lady found and revived me.” He met his brother’s astonished gaze. “I cannae tell you why the chambermaid attacked me, only that you need assure she’s no’ a shape-shifter wearing Meg’s face.”

“Agreed.” Nyall opened the door to the infirmary for him, and then turned and left.

Duncan placed Nicole on his exam table before he went around to attend to the lamps. Now that he had the lady in proper light he was surprised by how young she appeared; she could not have reached womanhood more than a few years past. The ear baubles she wore caught the lamplight and shimmered like his sire’s magic turned to ice. As he gently turned her onto her side to examine the back of her head, where she had been struck in her time, he saw a pale brown birthing mark on the nape of her neck that almost exactly matched the pendant in size and shape.

Holding her head steady as he brought a small lamp closer, Duncan detected some wetness on his wrist, which turned out to be blood from her mouth. Shifting her so she lay on her back, he nudged her chin down and looked carefully inside, but saw nothing to explain the bleeding. Her eyes abruptly opened, and she grimaced.

“I fainted.” She tried to sit up, and then groaned and pressed her hand to her ribs. “Oh, that really hurts. What did I fall on, a big rock?”

“I caught you before you collapsed. Hold still, my lady, and permit me inspect the injury.” He took her hand away and gently pressed his own fingertips along the area, which seemed slightly swollen. What truly surprised him was the fact that while she was obviously in pain, he experienced none of the same while touching her. “When that bastart tossed you from the ship, did you strike something before you reached the water?”

“I remember hitting my head, I think. Things are still a bit fuzzy.” Her eyes widened as she looked around him. “Where did you bring me?”

“’Tis the infirmary where I work.” As she shivered, he shook out a wool blanket and covered her with it, although he knew it would be better if he could remove the still-wet gown. “We must change your garments or you shall grow chilled. I shall summon a maid so she may attend you.”

“I’m fine. If you’ll help me with the fasteners, I can take off the gown myself.” She sat up and lifted her left arm. “The hooks are on the side here.”

Duncan could not remember how many mortal females he had undressed. Serving as the clan’s healer for centuries had revealed all the mysteries of a woman’s body to him. Yet even as he thought that his hands clenched, and heat surged through his blood. He desired to see Nicole’s body, all of it bare so he could know if she was fashioned as beautifully as he suspected.

“’Tis unseemly for me do so.” He backed away from the table. “I shall fetch a maid.”