Page 7 of The Guardian's Bride
“Stop. I use the stone for healing,” she said, confused. “No magic. Medicine.”
“Something is magic. Listen to me. Castle—I must tell you.”
“Can I deliver a message to someone at a castle? Is that what you want? You are not making sense, sir.”
“Swear to me, lass. If I die, you will go there. Secret. Tell no one.”
His insistence and his delirious strength alarmed her. “Sir, you will recover. You can go to the castle yourself.”
“Promise me. Find the stone, bring it to the king—” His eyes were unnaturally bright. “Go to the castle, find the dove and the stone—”
“What? But I have the stone. I am confused.”
“By the beach, a cave—the stones. Promise me you will go there.”
“I promise, but tell me more—”
“My lady!” Behind her, footsteps crossed the floor. Gideon was just there, reaching out to grab the man’s wrist. “What is this? Sir, let her go!”
Gideon grabbed the man’s wrist to free her. Sitting back, Rowena straightened her kerchief. Sir Aedan subsided, turned his head to the wall. When Rowena touched his forehead, he grabbed for her hand again, but Gideon blocked him.
“Just the fever. Leave him be,” she said. “He means no harm.”
“We should give him the infusion of poppies,” Gideon said. “Go rest, Rowena. Here, take your cloak. I will sit with him.”
“Just a light dose of the Great Rest, then. I worry about giving him too much.”
She would not reveal what the man had said to her. She had simply promised to help, thinking it would calm him. She would help if she understood what he was talking about. He had spoken nonsense about a castle, a stone, a dove.
Dreams, she thought, from delirium.
In the morning,she found MacDuff asleep. Careful not to disturb his rest, she was pleased to see that his stitched wounds looked less fierce and bruises were fading. His brow was warm but not hot; he no longer shivered with fever. Relieved, she passed her fingers over the curls and waves of his brown-gilt hair. As she drew the blanket up, he stirred, eyelids fluttering.
“Stay,” he murmured, his fingers rippling on the blanket.
“I am just here.” Feeling a pull of yearning again, she folded her hands and sat beside the bed. He slept, and she felt grateful, knowing it was all she could ask for now.
The outer door opened and Gideon peeked in, beckoning. She went to him. “A visitor is at the gate,” he said. “Your brother.”
“Henry! I thought he was in Carlisle with the king.” Fastening her cloak against the winter chill, she hastened outside as Gideon stayed in the ward. She felt a frisson of alarm as she crossed the yard, hoping all was well at home.
Snow flurried in the air as she hurried toward the knight who had dismounted at the gate. He stood with Gilchrist while one of the young lay brothers led his horse to the stable. “Henry!” she called.
“Rowena!” He gave her an easy smile. Pushing back his chainmail hood, revealing thick blond hair spilling from a quilted cap, he bent to kiss her cheek.
“What brings you here? Is there trouble at Kincraig? I was just there last week.”
“All is well. I was at Carlisle with Edward’s men, and rode up to Kincraig to look for you. Sir Finley said you had come here. He is proving to be a fine seneschal, by the way. Our sisters are well too, Margaret busy in the household, Tamsin thriving at Dalrinnie—her child will not arrive for months and she is feelingbetter. Young Lilias Bruce is still there, as you know, and says you must hurry back to teach her more about herbs and such. And I think Andrew Murray would foster with us forever if he could. Finlay is teaching him sword skills.” He chuckled.
“I can go back soon. Why would you come looking for me?”
“I was in the south meeting with the English to help negotiate prisoners of war after the battle on Loch Ryan. Then King Edward sent word that I must fetch you.”
“What could Edward want with me?”
“Walk with me.” Henry led her to the shelter of a roofed arcade. Shivering, she drew her cloak around her against more than the February air. A message from King Edward was usually unwelcome news. He had ordered her sister Tamsin to marry one of his knights or enter a convent, and demanded she give him a sheaf of writings that Thomas the Rhymer had gifted her.
Rowena shuddered. Somehow Edward had learned that Thomas had bequeathed special gifts to Tamsin, as well as the other Keith siblings, which could mean danger for all of them. What if he wanted the Rhymer’s charm stone, which she had promised to protect?
