Page 41 of Highlander’s False Identity

It was almost evening before the imposing structure of the Duncan Castle pulled into view. The gray tower presided over the landscape for many miles before they approached it.

As it did so, both Beathan and Edme fell silent. Beathan was sitting with an expression of quiet reflection as they drew closer to the keep.

It had taken longer than it should have to get there, with frequent rainstorms and the horses needing to stop and feed.

But if Beathan was happy to be here, it was not the case for Edme.

Although she consented to follow on to the Duncan Castle, inside she was fuming. Not with the guards for the escort, but with Beathan.

His smug belief that she would meekly comply with his – or any man’s - wishes and be used as a pawn in their game had irritated her profoundly.

Even if deep down, she understood that this was rather unfair, it didn’t change the way she felt. The problem was, at some level, she rather liked the idea of marriage to Beathan.

Visions of the future began to flit before her eyes, her and Beathan, married, sharing a life. But as soon as they had come to mind, she did her best to dismiss them. It was way too early for that, and besides, she didn’t want to hand over her freedom so easily.

“Here we are, folks, the Duncan Keep,” announced the blond guard unnecessarily as they trotted straight up to the front of the castle.

It struck Edme as they had passed through the gates, just how quiet the place was compared to Craig castle. However, as they drew nearer, she saw a man at the door to the keep, who waved good-naturedly at them.

“Robbie!” Beathan called out to the broad, beaming man bearing arms at the front of the keep. Edme watched with interest as Beathan disembarked to greet him.

“Robbie – Captain Robert- this is Edme of the McKinley Keep. She will be staying for a while until we decide what to do next,” said Beathan, gesturing towards her.

Edme smiled as she approached them on her horse, still picking her way through the slightly disordered barracks.

“The maid of McKinley,” said Robbie politely to Edme. Edme, who had now disembarked blushed, as the round-faced man cast a curious eye over her strange attire.

“Robbie’s our head man, he takes care of the place for us,” explained Beathan. Then he turned to Robbie. “The guards will fill ye in, I am sure, about the sightings of the English. Then we will need to discuss what is to be done…”

“Aye, sir,” agreed Robbie, as they moved nearer to the castle keep.

Robbie held the creaking door open for them, and the small party entered. Edme followed with some trepidation, unsure of what to expect. In doing so, she gave a shiver as a cold draught filled the corridors.

“Ye will excuse me if I leave ye to get comfortable. I must find out more about the English and where they are roaming, an’ will, of course, report back,” said Robbie, before nodding to them both before leaving the keep.

The pair walked slowly into the shadowy hall. Edme looked around with interest. She had never been here before.

“Dates back to Robert the Bruce,” Beathan told her, as they walked through the foreboding corridors.

Edme looked at him briefly; this was the first real thing he had said to her since setting off.

He led them to a large hall, which was still impressively grand, even if it was a little empty. As they entered the room, Edme noticed the servants and guards fell away, and they were left alone in the eerie solitude.

“So, this is yer family’s castle?” Edme asked, mainly to fill an awkward silence that had opened up between them. “The other one, anyhow.”

“Aye, it’s my grandma Sine’s ancestral home,” said Beathan. He seemed to be trying his hardest to connect with her eyes, but Edme was having none of it. She was beginning to regret saying anything to him at all.

“So, um, where is she then?” asked Edme, despite herself. She had to say something. The way that Beathan kept looking at her was unnerving.

“Och, she’s away at the moment,” said Beathan. “Ye probably didn’t notice, but she spends most the time at our place since my grandfather died. The day to day running is left to Robbie. I think it’s a little bit lonely here for her,” he added, his eyes casting around to the hall. “Has been for a while, I think…”

“Och, ye dinnae say,” said Edme. It wasn’t supposed to come out sarcastic, and within a second, she had Beathan staring at her in curiosity.

“Och, Beathan, I didnae mean anythin’…,” she said, trailing off halfway through the sentence. “I just mean that…”

“That it’s kind of quiet here?” said Beathan, his eyes glowing oddly in the semi-light. The room was large and grand, but not in immediate use. She ran her eye along the top of the hall, festooned with paintings of ancestors and hunting trophies, everything was in its place; only the people were missing.

In her mind, she pictured the great feasts in this hall when it was full of people and life. But this was in stark contrast to the present. Although well cared for, and servants still ran about in the distance, an atmosphere of sadness pervaded. And especially in light of their argument, and the fact they were here quite alone, was starting to make her uneasy.