Page 43 of Highlander’s False Identity

“Och, why?” said Beathan, less than pleased. She loved the look of him then, curious, passionate, and more than just a little bit heated.

“Because,” started Edme, but then a voice answered for her.

“Sir, the English are here!”

* * *

“Here?” Beathan’s voice rang out through the draughty hall and rattled around the room. As the two guards came back into the room, Beathan quickly disengaged from Edme, who subtly straightened her hair and stepped backward.

The two guards pretended they had not witnessed the two love-birds and carried on.

“Aye sir, the English have reached the edges of the Duncan clan and are proceeding at speed through the country! Captain Robert is securing the castle defenses now.”

Beathan shot a glance at Edme, who looked panicked. He tried his best to sound reassuring, but it was hard.

“Listen, it’s almost nightfall, surely they can’t get here until the morning, now?” he said, more as a question than a statement.

“Aye, tis unlikely, especially since they dinnae ken this part of the world an’ its treachery!” answered the second guard.

“But that’s nae true of ye, is it?” spoke Beathan, encouragingly. He looked keenly at the dumpy soldier.

“Nae, I’ve lived in the Duncan clan all my life,” asserted the man, with a smile. “I ken every dip and dint of it blindfolded!”

“Aye, that’s exactly why ye’ll be able to ride tonight an’ take a message to my father, back at Craig Keep!” Beathan announced. His eyes met with Edme’s.

“To-tonight?” stammered the second guard, anxiously. The tall guard by his side looked as if he were joshing him.

“Aye, ye ken it blindfolded, remember!” the blond guard teased. The second guard didn’t look happy but prepared to go, anyway.

“Aye, sir,” he said, somewhat reluctantly, then added. “What if I lose the way?”

“Yer friend will help ye find it!” said Beathan, indicating the first guard. The grin on the blond soldier’s face faded faster than a Scottish suntan.

“Ye ride tonight. If ye make good speed, ye can reach Craig keep by morning light, but ye have to go now!” said Beathan, his face burning with energy.

“Aye sir,” replied the guards in unison, before looking at each other unsurely, and disappearing from the room.

Beathan turned to Edme, watching anxiously from the shadows of the room. He sighed reluctantly before walking over to her.

“An’ ye too, Edme. Ye have to go too…”

Chapter Fifteen

“But Beathan, nae!”

Edme’s eyes were shining, and her nostrils flared in the half-light of the grand room.

“I dinnae want to go an’ leave ye!” she cried. She was fired up and had half a mind to grab the silverware laid out on the table and throw it at his head. But she stopped herself.

Instead, she almost collapsed, a weeping wreck, into his open arms. Hating herself for being so wretched, Edme sobbed.

“I’ve been running all my life, in so many ways,” she said. “I will nae go an’ leave ye in danger now!”

Beathan regarded her thoughtfully. He wiped away her tears and stroked back her unruly hair.

“Och Edme. Ye ken that I dinnae want to do this at all, but it’s for the best. It’s just nae safe here now the English are on the way. An’ it’s nae safe back at Craig keep. Ye need to leave the Highlands altogether afore Dughall gets here!” he pulled her face towards his, giving a little kiss on her forehead. “It’s for yer own safety.”

Edme could not summon the strength to say anything but gave her head a little shake.