Page 45 of Ruining a Highland Healer
The light from the window seemed dimmer now, and she couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in her chest. These things, reminders of her past life that she could never have back, seemed to mock her by simply sitting there, looking so innocuous.
Standing from the bed, she made her way to the chests and opened them slowly, the thick leather straps creaking as shereleased them. Inside were her things, carefully packed, but among them was a small letter sealed with the familiar insignia of her father’s crest. At the sight of it, her heart sank. Whatever her father had to say to her couldn’t possibly be good. Another threat, perhaps, or some bad news that were bound to leave her devastated and gasping for air.
It was a short note rather than a letter—nothing but a few lines, but those lines were enough to rattle her.
Valora,
I trust ye’ve arrived safely. Ye did well securing the attention of Lord Gunn, but I have yet tae hear news of a marriage. I better nae find that he daesnae find ye satisfactory as a wife or that ye are being difficult. Ye will dae what is required, or I will send Althea in yer stead. Yer choice.
Dinnae disappoint me.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she finished reading. The words, cold and demanding, cut deep into her heart, even though there was nothing new about them. That was how her father always treated her; with cruelty and disdain. It wasn’t so much that which hurt her, though—rather the thought that Althea could be dragged into this if Valora failed to fulfil her duty.
But would she fail, in the end? Torrin had given her ten days to decide, and from his side, nothing seemed to have changed. Coming to the castle, Valora had been plagued by doubt, notknowing if she could bear the thought of such a marriage, even if it was her duty. But the more time she spent with Torrin, the more she realized this marriage might not be as burdensome as she had once feared. His kindness, his strength, and the way he made her laugh—all of it had started to blur the lines between duty and desire.
In the end, though, this only left her even more confused. Truly, there was only one track to her future—she had to marry Torrin, and though she delayed giving him a response, she knew there was no way out of it.
But perhaps it was fine… is there any other man out there fer me who could be a better husband than Torrin?
Valora doubted it. Who else was going to be as patient and as understanding as Torrin? Who else would give her time to decide or a choice at all—even if said choice was nothing more than an illusion?
Who else was going to hold her hand when she slept, sending the nightmares away?
Outside, the gardens were still and quiet, the morning light soft and golden where it speared through the clouds, the air crisp and cold. Valora wandered through the paths, her mind and her pocket heavy with the letter she had received from her father, the weight of her decision pressing down on her every step.
Next to her, Daisy walked leisurely, stopping every now and then to smell a flower. Arrow ran between their legs, threatening to topple them both over, before he ran off and came back again repeatedly, panting excitedly every time he came to a short halt.
"Isnae it a lovely day?" Daisy asked, and though the question seemed perfectly innocuous, Valora could hear the undertone of concern, as though that wasn’t quite what Daisy wanted to ask her.
"Och aye," said Valora, though a little distractedly.
She offered nothing more. From the corner of her eye, she could see the look of concern on Daisy’s face—the way her brow furrowed ever so slightly, the small frown that pulled the corners of her lips downwards.
As much as Valora wanted to reassure Daisy, though, she didn’t know what she could possibly say that would be true. The real truth was that she didn’t know what to do, what to think. No matter where she looked, there was danger—from her father, from Laird Keith, perhaps even from others she didn’t even now. And the only way she could think of solving it was finally agreeing to marry Torrin, so Clan Gunn could be safe.
This is what I must dae. Once he returns, I shall speak with him.
She would accept the proposal; she had no other choice.
She found herself smiling, even just a little, as Arrow ran up to her and offered her the stick. Just as she was about to throw it for him, through, a bell rang in the quiet of the morning, loud and jarring.
Valora and Daisy exchanged a look. They both knew what the bell meant—there was only one thing it could mean in any castle, any village, any town.
"An attack," said Daisy, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes were wide, filled with the same panic that Valora felt coursing through her, wrapping like a vice around her stomach.
"Clan Keith?" Valora asked, but Daisy only shook her head to indicate she didn’t know.
Torrin is gone… Torrin an’ Noah both.
The soldiers were already mobilizing; Valora could hear them in the distance, guards shouting, soldiers marching, everyone rushing to the walls to protect the castle. Torrin and Noah didn’t need to be there for them to do their job effectively. They would do what they had to do, laying down their lives if had to, to save everyone else.
But the women; the children…
"We should get everyone inside the keep," Valora told Daisy, the two of them looking at each other with urgency, their handsclasped together. "We should make sure the Keith Clan cannae harm the women or the bairns."
"Aye," said Daisy, calling Arrow back to them and sending him inside. Valora waited until Arrow disappeared through the main doors in the distance, and then, once she knew he was safe from harm, she turned back to the gardens.
"Let us go tae different directions," she told Daisy. "We should make sure tae bring everyone inside."
