Page 32 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Here ye go.” He handed the coin to the youngest child, marveling at the boys ignorance of the beating that was to come from his peers as soon as Aleck left. “You run straight to yer Ma, ye hear? Go now.”

The boy didn’t need to be told twice. He ran off on his short stubby legs. The eldest boy looked livid. Aleck had denied him the prize and then the fun.

“Try and be nice next time someone comes asking.” Aleck turned his horse around and went in search for the infamous Vano.

Vano was easy to distinguish in the tavern. He was black of hair and eye, and his face was swarthy. A thin scar ran down the side of his face, and he was regaling everyone about how he got it as they plied him with mugs of ale.

“... says I to the wench, ‘I made no promise of marriage.’ She says, ‘I don’t need you as a husband. I’ve already got one.’ Imagine my shock. ‘You cheat!’ I say. ‘You betrayed me.’ No remorse she has. Tells me I was such fun she thought to leave me with a present – ‘my husband is on his way, so you better scarper.’ The warning is a present because she doesn’t tell most of her lovers her husband’s coming. ‘You should count yourself lucky,’ she says. Lucky indeed. I tell her she’s the she-devil and ran out of there, but obviously,” he pointed to his scar. “Not fast enough.”

“Did ya nae put up a fight, eh, Vano?” someone asked.

“Aye, you should see him. Left him a reminder or two of me own.”

The men laughed.

“I hear you play the bagpipes?” Aleck interjected.

Vano eyed Aleck over. His tongue darted out to moisten his thin lips. “Maybe.”

“It’s either an aye or a nae.”

“Who’s asking?”

“Laird Julius MacLeod of Glenlivet.”

That seemed to pique his interest. “Aye, I know how to play the pipes.”

“Great. Come with me to the castle. We’ll be needing yer services tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Aye.”

“I’ll need to get my pipes from the camp.”

“Aye. I’ll wait for ye in town.” Aleck had no desire to revisit the camp. “I need to see the haberdasher.”

Vano took his leave, and Aleck took himself to buy ribbons and lace. He hadn’t the faintest idea what to buy. He chose the first blue ribbon presented to him and paid for it. Vano wasn’t gone long. He had the presence of mind to bring his own horse, which Aleck appreciated. He had no time for foolish men. Vano seemed to be anything but foolish. In fact, Aleck’s guard was up for fear Vano might be too clever by half.

They started on their journey back. Aleck wanted to go faster, but Vano was walking his horse and seemed in no hurry.

“Is she pretty?” he asked.

“Eh?” Aleck wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Was he asking about the horse? “Daisy’s alright,” he said, patting the horses neck.

“Not the horse.” Vano laughed. It was an infectious laugh. It eased the tension in the air and put you at ease. It was dangerous, Aleck knew, because once his listeners were at ease, Vano could use his tricks and get what he wanted. “The girl.”

“What girl?”

“The one you bought laces and ribbons for.”

“Oh.” Aleck had forgotten all about Isla. To tell the truth he had been thinking about Evanna and how the blue lace matched the blue of her eyes. He was caught off-guard by both his train of thought and by the question. “She’s all right.”

Vano made a face. “No one buys lace for someone who’s just all right.”

“It’s nae a present. She asked me to buy her lace.”

“Ah!” Vano said as if a revelation had dawned on him. “The boot is on the other foot. It is her heart in a snare.”