Page 19 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Boom! A cannon went off in Deva’s head. “What?” she said, louder than intended. Curiously, Niven looked over. Seething, Deva inched Allyth away until they were out of earshot.

“Nae! Where does he think I am, ach, what did ye tell him, Ally-…?” She stopped before she said Allyth’s name out loud. Looking around swiftly at Niven, she hoped he hadn’t noticed her slip.

“A- Allison,” she quickly corrected. Niven was definitely listening; she felt sure but making a big play of patting Allyth’s horse. If he suspected anything, he did not show it.

“I bought some time,” replied Allyth, her eyes pleading with her, “But ye ken what he’s like, he wants ye to come now.” Then, glancing at Niven, she added, “There’s work to be done afore the tournament!”

She said this just loud enough for Niven to hear, bringing him back into the conversation. Beside her, Niven came closer, pressing his hand into Deva’s, and smiled.

“Ye should go. He sounds like a hard taskmaster, the laird,” he said, his warm eyes searching hers.

Deva felt her guts twisting. She knew he was right. Allyth stepped discreetly back, leaving the two of them alone.

“Och, there’s nothing to worry about, besides, yer nae well yet,” started Deva, but his eyes stopped her.

“I am,” Niven said simply, “Ye’ve looked after me fantastically, but it’s time to go…”

He squeezed her hand closer as he brought her near.

“Like ye said, we’ll meet again, back here, let’s say in a week,” he said, looking at her searchingly.

“Alright,” said Deva, squeezing the words out. Her voice was laden with emotion, and his touch only amplified her pain.

“That’s if yer master will let ye out,” he added with a wink. Deva felt her heart wobble. Little did he know that she may be already married by this time next week. Silently, she shared a glance with Allyth from across the glen side. She didn’t say anything.

“A week, seven days, I’ll be there,” she said, simply, hanging onto the sensation of his touch. She did not know how she would get through seven minutes without him being close, let alone seven days.

Niven leaned over and kissed her. A soft tingle filled her, and Deva melted into his kiss. Right then, she knew she would do anything to have this again, to keep this going despite the risk.

His electric kiss fizzled and popped on her lips, and reluctantly she stepped away.

“Seven days,” promised Niven, “I’ll be waiting.”

* * *

“Sir! Is it ye? We have been searching all over the land!”

From the middle of the windswept glen, Niven shivered. All around was bare, and trees shedding leaves in the autumn gale had been his only sight.

With the oncoming bluster throwing leaves into his face, Niven had been temporarily blinded. And when he did look, it was to see a man coming towards him.

The excited servant leaped from his horse to greet Niven.

“Sachairi, at last!” Niven called, rushing to meet his errant servant, “Tell me, where are the others?”

The man pushed his dull blond hair from his face and attempted to speak. “Looking for ye, sir!” he said as if it should be obvious.

“Ah, I, I, ken I’m a bit late,” said Niven, floundering a little. This was an understatement, and from the look on his face, Sachairi knew it too.

“I was wounded, an’ it took some time to get my strength,” he said, as Sachairi’s pale eyes expanded in horror.

“Ye were captured, sir?” he asked, “Someone took ye?”

“Nae exactly,” said Niven, thinking that, perhaps, he had been. A vision of Allyth flashed into his head. She had captured him alright.

A deep sigh filled Niven’s heart. Leaving her had been a lot harder than it should have, and now he felt bad for not doing so sooner.

“I was stabbed,” he said plainly, “By a poisoned sword… it’s nothing…”