Page 8 of Fire in his Highland Heart

Arguen hadn’t been aware that bears could smile, but in that moment, she swore this mother bear was smiling.

“Marianne will get what she is due. I ken this tae be true. Until then, ye must heed my words, for your protection.”

“Mother, what do I do?”

“My mother used tae tell me that the night is darkest just ‘afore dawn. I ken, the dawn is nigh. Ye must be ready.”

Arguen opened her mouth to ask what that could possibly mean, but mother bear disappeared before her very eyes, leaving her alone and crippled in the forest. She began to sob; for what, she knew not, other than she was miserable and bewildered. The tears flowed until she fell asleep.

“Arguen. Arguen! Rouse yerself!”

Arguen jerked awake fitfully, taking in her surroundings with wild eyes. She was still in her cell, in the dungeons of Bruckstone Castle. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Douglas stood on the other side of the bars, lantern in hand, looking quizzically at her.

“Arguen, are ye well?”

She stretched, letting out a little groan, and padded over to the edge of the cell. “I had an odd dream.”

“Per’aps a nightmare got ye,” Douglas joked.

Arguen shook her head. “Nay, ‘twas no nightmare. ’Twas a message.”

“A message?” In the dim light of the lantern, she could see that Douglas’s brow was furrowed in confusion.

“Aye. I dreamt I was running through the forest. A wild boar was chasin’ me. I slipped and fell; I thought I’d die right there. But this bear...fought it off. An’ it spoke tae me.”

“Ye dreamt that a bear spoke to ye? Christ, they must be puttin’ somethin’ in the porridge,” he teased.

She swatted at his arm through the cell. “The bear was mother. And she gave me a warnin’.”

There was no teasing smirk on her brother’s face now. “A warnin’?”

“Aye. She said I cannae stay in the castle while Marianne is here. It’s dangerous. And... she told me...that the night is darkest just ‘afore dawn, and she kent that dawn is comin’.”

Douglas was not an overly superstitious young man, but it was impossible to live in the Scottish Highlands without hearing tales of the fae and other legends.

“Ye should listen tae her,” he said.

Arguen raised her eyebrows. “Well, yer no doubting Thomas, are ye?”

Douglas set the lantern on the floor and sat down. Arguen followed his lead and sat down as well, so she could be level with him. “I’ve a friend,” he began. “An’ I’ve sent word that ye’ll be stayin’ with him a while. He owes me a favor.”

She looked darkly at him. “Douglas, what’re ye plottin’?”

“Do ye trust me?” he asked, reaching through the bars and grasping her hand.

She nodded. “Aye. Yer the only person I can trust.”

Douglas took a deep breath and continued with his plan. “Clan MacMortie. Laird Blake Mawr. D’ye remember him?”

Arguen shook her head. “Should I?”

“Eh, ye might’ve been too young. We used tae fight together before I came here tae serve the laird. Have nae had a response yet, but he owes me, and if he refuses, then we’re nae friends like I thought.”

“Douglas, are ye mad? I cannae leave here without bein’ seen,” she protested.

“But ‘tis dangerous tae stay. Even mother told ye in yer dream.”

“Douglas, the laird will send a search party out fer me. I cannae risk this. If I’m caught, I appear guilty, and Marianne will have even more reason tae try an’ have me killed.”