Page 95 of Laird of Twilight
“The condition is lifted, but we still have to find the gold, if it exists. We must save Donal MacArthur,” she said, wrapping her hand in the crook of his elbow.
“Mr. MacArthur,” James said, looking up as Donal MacArthur came close.
“Congratulations, lad. And my wee girl. Eilidh,” Donal said, his voice choking suddenly as he embraced her. Then he shook James’s hand. “Now I can know that you will be safe. And happy always, aye.” He grinned.
“Come inside with us, Grandda,” Elspeth said. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright. Tendrils of dark hair escaped, curling, over her brow.
Donal shook his head. “Go with Struan. I will go down the mountain a bit, and wait for you there.”
“But Grandda—”
“Keep the wee blue stone close,” he advised. “You will need its power.”
“It is raining,” Elspeth said. “Inside you will be dry. We need your help.”
The old man touched her cheek. “I never meant to go inside with you. I cannot go in again.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I see them again, it will be the last time, and I will not return home. This thing is for you to do, not me. I know that now.”
“But you have searched for the treasure all your life.”
“You are my treasure, lass. You have always been my treasure. Take care of her, Struan.” He turned to James.
“I will,” James answered. “Take care, sir. We will be back soon.”
“And for now, this will be our secret, this marriage. You tell the world when you want. But if any should question, it is proven by me.” He nodded, then turned to follow the course of the runnel track as it led downward.
“Come ahead, then, lady wife,” James said, buoyed by the power of their new status, the strength of decision made together. He kissed Elspeth, then took her hand and walked toward the cave.
* * *
Elspeth shivered in the cool darkness of the cave. The space seemed ordinary at first glance, irregularly shaped and not large, its rough arched walls fell into deep shadow toward the back, where the floor sloped downward.
No fairy halls of gold, no luminous fey creatures awaited them here. She sighed in relief, having been unsure what to expect.
Her husband—she tried out the thought, felt a thrill—brushed his hand over a span of the rock wall. “A good bit of metamorphic dolomitic limestone is here. Limestone deposits,” he explained, “when large enough, can contain caves and caverns, which we believe were pockets of air as the stone formed and cooled. A fine cave indeed,” he added as he walked further inside.
Elspeth stayed by the entrance, chilled and wary, while James explored, sweeping his hand over undulations and textures in the rock. He glanced at her. “I have a tinder box in my satchel. We can make a fire and warm up if you like. Is there something wrong, lass?”
She wrapped her arms snug about herself, shoulders tense. “I am wondering if there are others here.”
“The Fey? Your grandfather’s comments were a bit unsettling, but we assured our safety against the fairies only a few minutes ago.” He smiled, took her in his arms, kissed her gently.
“This is not just amusing fairy nonsense, you know.”
“My apologies. Do you want to stay here and wait while I look around?”
She shook her head. “I would rather not be alone here.” Nodding his understanding, he turned slowly in the low, vaulted space.
“This cave has been in use recently.” He gestured toward a side wall, where a long, hollowed stone sat. “Accommodations for a horse—here’s a stone trough with oats still in it,” he added, peering inside. “And iron hooks hammered into the wall here for reins and such. Not fairies,” he said wryly. “Smugglers.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” She laughed despite an anxious sense. “There is some smuggling in this region. They must come up here to stash goods in the caves to hide it from excise men and sheriffs. We have MacGregor cousins who indulge a little the fair trade.”
“The ones who make that excellent brew your grandfather keeps? I would think any smugglers would stay in their homes on such a dreary day as this, so we need not be concerned about trespassing. And I believe this part of the slope is still on Struan lands, which are quite extensive, from the documents I have seen,” James went on. “Does that make their whisky mine?”
“Could be,” she answered with a smile. “But that would also make you responsible for any criminal actions on your lands.”
