Page 24 of Treachery in the Highlands
The silence that follows is so complete I can hear the wind whistling through the stone battlements above us.Kieran's face darkens like storm clouds gathering over the mountains.
"Witchcraft," he spits."Time magic is forbidden.Ye know that, Rachel.And yet ye engaged in such witchery."
"I didnae intend to, Father.But I wished for---well, it doesnae matter."
"Tell me what ye wished for,mo nighean."
She bows her head and bites her lip.
Kieran's nostrils flare."I see.My daughter yearned for a strange man from the future to whisk her away to...who knows where.Fairyland, mayhap."A sigh blusters out of him."I thought ye were more intelligent than that.Now I must do what is necessary to separate you from this fiend until I have proof that he's no threat to us."
Uh-oh.I'm getting a bad feeling about Big Daddy's intentions.He wants to "seperate" me from Rachel.That doesn't sound like an invitation to dinner tonight.
The laird swivels his head toward me, his eyes mere slits.Then he marches over to a chest and brings out a small sword, returning to stand in front of me."This dirk could slice ye in half, laddie.Best be careful with your words and actions."
"Uh, okay."
He seizes my arm."Yer going to spend the night in the tower bedroom.Alone.In the morn, we'll discuss the situation again."
"Tower bedroom?"I choke out."That sounds...homey."
Actually, it sounds like a torture chamber.
Kieran's grip tightens like a vise."Tis more than ye deserve."
As he drags me out of the solar, Rachel follows tries to follow.But Big Daddy gives her a hard look, and she backs away."Father, there's no need for this.Joey has done nothing wrong!"
"Silence!"Kieran's voice booms throughout the castle."Ye've been bewitched by this man, and I'll not hear another word on it."He frowns."Until I've made my decision, that is."
We climb a narrow spiral staircase, going up, up, and up while my legs begin to burn with every step.Kieran shoves me forward, seemingly unbothered by the endless climb.Medieval Scots must have thighs of steel.
"Here," he finally announces, pushing open a heavy wooden door that groans in protest."Yer quarters for the night."
The "tower bedroom" turns out to be a chamber that's about as welcoming as a prison cell.A narrow cot sits beneath an arrow-slit window, and a rickety table holds a single stub of candle.A threadbare rug covers part of the stone floor, and the whole place smells of mildew and despair.
"Cozy," I mumble.
Kieran grunts."Be grateful ye have a roof.I considered dropping you down the garderobe shaft."
Do I want to know what a garderobe is?Doubtful.
I lean forward, glancing around the room."This isn't the dungeon?"
The laird's massive hand shoves me further into the room."Dinnae test my patience, laddie.The door will be barred from the outside.If ye attempt to escape..."
He pats the dirk at his side meaningfully.
"Got it.Stay put or get skewered."
"Ye mock our ways again."
I wait a moment, allowing myself time to get over the initial shock and disappointment.So what if Big Daddy hates me?He couldn't hurt me any worse than my foster moms had.A nine-year-old on the streets, alone, hungry, treated like a mongrel dog...yeah, the tower room will do just fine.
"Not mocking anything," I say, my voice stronger now."Go ahead and lock me in.I'll see you in the morning."
Kieran studies me for a moment, tipping his head to the side.Then he walks out the door, hesitating on the threshold, and finally shuts the door.
I hear the heavy wooden bar slide into place, and Kieran's footsteps fade away as tromps down the staircase.The silence that follows feels like a physical presence in the room.
