Page 69 of Highland Spirit

“Ethan, Murdock told me to look for the man with this same ring and to give him the treasure. Aye, we can trust it is him.” She looked over to Sir Douglas. “Murdock had a vision and told me ye’d be here soon and he was right.” Alana picked up the box with the scrolls and the key.

“Wait,” said Ethan, as she started to hand it over. “Alana, if ye give that to the king, he will most likely clear yer name. Without it, I am no’ sure what is goin’ to happen.”

“I dinna care,” said Alana. “I have to do this. Too many people have died to keep it safe and in the hands of the Templars. I’ll no’ live with the burden of havin’ made the wrong choice. My faither did, and look what happened because of it. Nay, Ethan. I need to do this. It is the right choice.”

“I understand,” said Ethan with a nod. “Ye are a special person, Alana. Go ahead.”

“Well, I think she’s daft,” said Caleb with a puff of air from his mouth.

“Caleb, go wait downstairs,” said Ethan, sending him away.

“Gladly,” he said, and left the room.

“Take it,” said Alana, handing Sir Douglas the box. “And use the secret tunnel to get back to yer ship so ye are no’ stopped on the way out.” She gave him the box and showed him to the tunnel.

“Thank ye, and God bless ye,” said the man, ducking into the tunnel and hurrying away.

“That was a hard thing ye just did,” said Ethan, pulling her into his arms after they closed the secret door.

“It wasna as hard as dyin’ to protect it like my mathair or Murdock did,” she answered. “I feel the weight of the world taken off my shoulders no’ to have to guard the secret anymore.”

“Ethan? Are ye up here?” someone called out.

Ethan turned to see his father. Storm, Hawke, Caleb and Logan entered the room with him. Trapper pushed through them, wagging his tail, coming to Ethan’s side.

“What is it?” asked Ethan, doing nothing to move away from his wife. He kept hugging her as they spoke.

“Ethan, Storm tells me about Alana’s predicament,” said Onyx.

“She was involved in the smugglin’ with her family, but they were prisoners and forced to do it,” explained Ethan.

“We are takin’ the prisoners from the dungeon to the king,” said Logan. “He’ll decide their punishment.”

“What about my faither’s friends, Albert and Graeme?” asked Alana.

“I’m sure if they tell the king where to find the rest of the smugglers, he’ll give them a light sentence,” said Storm. “They were involved with other things yer faither did so, for that, they will have to pay.”

“Whatever happens to the smuggler, it’s no’ goin’ to be pretty,” said Caleb.

“Aye, the English and the Scots all want their heads,” added Hawke.

“What’s goin’ to happen to Alana and her siblin’s?” asked Ethan.

“Well, that’s what I came up here to tell ye,” said Onyx. “My sisters are guid friends with the Archbishop of Canterbury. I am sure if there are any problems on the English side, he will put in a guid word for Alana to their king. I’m sure it willna be a problem.”

“Alana, as chieftain, I will personally allow ye and yer family to live with the MacKeefes,” said Storm. “And I will vouch that ye and yer family were prisoners and were forced to be a part of the smugglin’ against yer will. All the MacKeefes will vouch for ye.”

“They will?” asked Alana, feeling blessed and truly part of the clan now.

“Aye, I’d do that,” said Caleb.

“Us, too,” Logan said, answering for him and Hawke.

“Aye,” said Storm. “And the king likes us, so I wouldna worry. I also dinna think there will be any objections from the clan when they hear the whole story.”

“I’d die to protect ye,” said Ethan, kissing Alana atop the head.

“Oh, Ethan, I wanted to tell ye that Bridget and her faither are downstairs askin’ a lot of questions,” said Caleb.