Page 17 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

Ava felt her hopes sink as her friend carried on. She loved Skye like family. But she could be harsh at times when she wasn’t thinking about her words. “Skye…” she said as a single tear fell down her cheek, “there is nae other way tae get the money. I was hoping ye would help me.”

The look on Skye’s face indicated that she regretted her words. “I’m sorry,” she said more quietly. “Of course, I will help ye. Together we can find a way tae infiltrate the ball.”

Ava looked at Skye. The girl she had known for the past four years had turned into a beautiful young lass. Her sodden clothes and water-logged hair took her right back to the night they had met.

Ava had been in the forest picking some of the herbs that she’d needed to nurse her brother. At the time, her parents had already been gone for three years, and Ava was left alone to help the healer. She had suddenly heard a scream coming from somewhere near a thicket of trees as she was picking the berries.

Rushing over, Ava had fought and eventually killed a man, that looked to be in his mid-twenties, by plunging the dagger she always carried deep into his side. There was no doubt what he was doing with the young lass pinned beneath his arms and Ava had the element of surprise on the unsuspecting monster of a man.

After rescuing the beautiful blond girl, Ava brought her home and allowed Neil’s healer to care for her. Just in the nick of time, the healer had pointed out that the girl’s injuries would have likely caused her death if they hadn’t been taken care of as soon as they were.

Ava recalled the conversation she had with her on that first night. Skye had been timid but showed no traces of fear when Ava had asked how she ended up in the woods.

“I was taken captive by two brothers. They kept me as a slave tae do the cooking and cleaning,” the girl’s eyes were fierce as she spoke without any trace of being a victim.

The healer had seemed shocked and appalled. “Why didnae ye just run away?” she had asked with one hand on her cheek.

“They chained me up at night while they slept and would beat me if I ever stepped out of line.”

“How did ye get free then?” Ava had asked, intrigued and appalled.

“They had a little tae much dram that evening before bed and forgot tae lock me chains. I waited for them both tae fall asleep ‘afore making a run for it. In me haste I fell over some bushes. It was then that the eldest brother chased me down an' had his way with me…” her voice trailed off as she took a deep breath, clearly shaken by the ordeal, but not wanting to show it. “He probably would have left me for dead if it wasnae for ye,” she gave Ava a sincerely grateful look.

“How did you end up being taken in the first place?” Ava’s voice sympathetic to the girl’s plight.

Skye gazed out the window for a second at the heavy blankets of snow covering the earth. She trailed a snowflake down the glass with her eyes. Ava followed her gaze and realized what the girl must have been thinking. She would be frozen solid out there in the woods if she hadn’t happened upon her.

“My parents nae longer had the money tae care for me. They took me intae the middle of the woods and left me there… that’s when the brothers found me and promised me a hot meal with a warm bed. They were lying, of course,” her eyes grew darker.

Skye had lived with Ava ever since that night and helped her on her missions. Even taking care of Neil as if she too was his sister. They had become each other’s only reliable friends in the world and grew even closer over the years. They were sisters by every meaningful sense of the word.

“We will need tae come up with a solid plan,” Skye’s words drew Ava back from her memories. “It will be hard tae pass ye off as a laird’s daughter when all the lairds will likely ken at least most of the others. Nae tae mention ye will need tae look the part.”

Ava hadn’t thought of that. Her hopes were once again falling as she looked at her friend. The day had been long and hard enough. And to make matters worse, she could hear the thunder rumbling in the distance, bringing with it a terrible storm. Ava would need a believable story as well as a brand-new set of dresses.

“Dinnae lose hope, Ava,” Skye said gently and reached over the table to pat her hand. “I just meant that we need tae come up with a plan on how tae get ye in so that naebody will question yer story. The clothing will be a sinch tae sort out.”

Ava could feel the warmth growing in her chest when Skye suddenly sat up a little straighter, almost knocking her tea over in the process. “I think I have an idea that may very well help us.”

Ava perked up after she caught the cup before it could spill. “Go ahead,” her reflexes were quicker than a cat’s.

“If the laird will be inviting other lairds, that means the castle will soon be sending out letters if they havenae already. These letters will also likely require responses ‘afore any solid plans can be set.”

“That would be the ordinary course of events, I agree. But what this has tae do with us?”

“I ken a lad that delivers letters tae and from the castle and the village. It’s likely that he will be delivering some of those letters in time or ken who will be. I think we should pay him a visit and find out what he kens about any of it. He will dae anything I ask of him with little or nae persuasion.”

“Now, that sounds like a plan,” Ava felt relieved. If anyone was able to come up with a plan, it would be Skye. “Hang on.” Suddenly a thought took over what Skye had just said. “How dae ye ken this lad and why exactly would he dae anything ye ask?”

Skye blushed and picked up her cup of tea. “Just a friend from the past, that’s all. Naething tae worry about,” she sipped her tea and looked out the window.

“I ken all yer friends, Skye; the entire list consists of one name and that’s mine,” suspicion filled her eyes, already knowing what the answer was going to be.

“Oh, all right,” she relented as the blush crept up her neck. “He was one of my lovers, but I havenae seen him in years.”

Ava laughed over the rim of her cup. It was moments like these with Skye that made the world a slightly better place.

Skye’s promiscuity was no secret to Ava. In fact, they used her alluring nature to their advantage. It was only in recent years that Skye had become slightly more ashamed and pickier about the men she had bedded. She was proud to name any of those who held high or esteemed titles. But a simple mail carrier wasn’t something she was willing to admit to if she could help it. Though, it did help them to make ends meet. And it did afford Skye the luxury of buying a new dress from time to time. She had made a way for herself in a cruel world much like Ava had.