Page 2 of It Began With A Kiss
Ewan chuckled and took her arm as they began to walk. “Broden is one of the most carefree people I know. Ye are imagining such nonsense, Iona. Let the matter rest and let us away,” he replied good naturedly.
“I like not staying under the same roof as Broden. Ye may say my thoughts are nonsense but I know what I see,” she huffed, even as the gate behind her closed with a loud clang of a metal bolt being put into place.
They both turned to stare at the door. When Ewan looked down upon her and saw her concern, he appeared to be pondering her words. “Mayhap ye have a point.”
“’Tis about time ye listen to me.”
“I listen,” he grumbled.
“Not always but that matters not, at least for now,” Iona said. They made their way into the kitchen that normally would be bursting with activity. ’Twas oddly silent. She set the basket down on a table and they continued to make their way through the keep until they reached their bedchamber.
Ewan went to the hearth and began building a fire to take the chill from the room. Once a blaze began to heat the chamber, he stood and looked over his wife. “I will not be long.”
“Do ye promise?” she asked, shivering with the thought of being anywhere near her brother-in-law. His outside appearance always appeared happy enough but there was something about the man that set her on edge whenever he was around.
Warm arms enveloped her and she rested her head upon her husband’s chest to hear his steady heartbeat. “Aye, Iona. I promise I will not be long.”
With a quick kiss, he left the chamber, leaving Iona to wrap her arms around herself. Hours later, Iona was still waiting for him as she stood in the shadows of the room, too worried to even bother to keep the fire lit in the hearth. She had the oddest premonition that tonight would turn her world in a completely different direction than the way she lived now.
CHAPTER2
Aiden of Clan MacLaren peered above his head into the darkness to find his next handhold. He must have lost his wits to be attempting to climb a cliff in the dead of the night. The rocks bit into the palm of his hands whilst he pulled himself up onto the next fragment of narrow ledge that gave purchase for his feet.The things I do for king and country, he angrily mused. An English king could grant him much, if he was to overtake this stronghold, but his Scottish roots warred within him, knowing he would be considered a traitor in the eyes of his father’s ancestors.
Memories assailed him as Aiden continued his climb. He could in no way condemn his twin sister for falling in love with the very enemy who had laid siege to Berwyck Castle many years ago. Berwyck should have rightfully belonged to him. Yet, what had that siege left him except no title, nor lands to call his own? Everything had been stripped from him and his need to make his own way in the world had caused Aiden to leave Berwyck some time ago. A brief visit here or there was all he could bear, considering all he had lost.
He puzzled over how long his absence from his homeland had truly been. He had always come back, however. Home was home. His sister, Amiria, was happily married. He and Dristan had come to a common accord. Besides, they now had children and Aiden could never stay away for long. He wanted to be able to spoil his nephew and niece whenever the chance arose.
Aiden shook the memories from his mind and once more peered at the rising obstacle before him. He must needs make haste else his plan would all go awry. He had chosen only his sword and a dirk in this attempt to gain access to Dunborough. The weight of his heavy chainmail would only hinder his ascent and there was a need for speed. Hence, he was attired only in tunic and hose. He felt naked and vulnerable, yet there was no time for regrets. He must needs gain entry and reach the hidden postern gate before being discovered. His men awaited the opening of the door.
Hand over hand, he began again, quietly inching his way upwards like a spider climbing a silken thread in order to capture his prey. He slipped, and his bare feet scraped along a rock until he found his footing once more. He knew the routine of the castle. He knew when the guards would change their posts. Had he not been watching closely, these many weeks, for such an opportunity as tonight? No moon would shine down upon him this eve. Nay, the overhead clouds would only add to his concealment and gain him that which he sought. An easy entry, with little to no bloodshed. Or so he would hope.
No one in their right mind would be looking for someone to scale the side of the steep cliff in order to gain access into the security of the castle walls. Only a fool would risk such an endeavor and Aiden was beginning to doubt his own sanity yet again whilst he balanced at such dizzying heights. Dunborough was, for the most part, sitting on an island with only a small stretch of narrow land connecting it to the mainland of Scotland. Most would look for an attack from the barbican gate and not from an enemy in the interior. He only hoped that the laird of the keep, Ewan Ferguson, would not be vigilant to Aiden’s actions.
At long last, he reached the top. Hoisting himself up and over the wall, he slid down into the castle grounds and wasted only a few moments to catch his breath, leaning against the very wall that could have been the end of him. Overhead, he heard the knights walking along the narrow parapet whilst they changed their positions, their clinking chainmail muffled any noise he may have made.
Crunch, crunch, crunch!The out of place noise made Aiden reach for his dirk. He peered above him into the darkness. There, sitting on the edge of the wall just as nonchalantly as he could please, was the silhouette of a lad of no more than ten summers. Swinging one leg, he was carelessly perched on the very edge that had almost been Aiden’s downfall.Crunch!The boy bit into his apple again all the while keeping his eyes trained on him as though he had not a care in the world.
He finished his apple and tossed the core over the side. “’Tis a long way down,” he whispered, wiping the juice from his chin with his sleeve. Did the lad actually hold back a laugh? “Thought ye were a goner ’bout halfway up, I did.”
“Did not your mother ever tell you to not talk to strangers?” Aiden asked in disbelief that all his plans could go astray with just one shout out from a small wee lad.
The boy shrugged, all the while studying him. “I only stayed tae see if ye would manage the cliff or ye would plummet tae yer death. I truly dinnae think ye were gonna make it, but here ye are.”
“Come here, boy,” Aiden urged, wondering if he could get a hold of the lad. He had gumption he did. A trait Aiden could admire but not at the cost of sounding an alarm.
This time boy did indeed laugh out loud. “I dinnae think so.”
Before Aiden could reply or make a grab for the child, the lad took off into the night causing Aiden to begin running. He knew an alarm would sound at any moment once the youth told the knights above of his ploy.
On silent feet, he raced near the perimeter of the walls until he reached the gate. With little effort or noise, he opened the door and silently motioned to the dozen men who had accompanied him. The fact these knights had made it thus far was a testament of how silently they had approached the castle one at a time in the dead of night.
Aiden rose two fingers to gesture at his eyes, then pointed toward the parapet. Four men, just as quietly, detached themselves from the group and disappeared into the eve to capture the knights above who were on guard. Another held out Aiden’s boots and chainmail. Quickly he slipped on the boots and accepted assistance with donning the heavy protection over his tunic.
Ready to do battle, Aiden and his men silently made their way into the keep. He needed to apprehend the laird who was responsible for this land and place him under guard. Aiden prayed the man would see reason, although he had his doubts since he himself would not easily give up that which was under his care.
They began creeping through the passageways, silently opening doors, looking for Ewan but only espying empty rooms. This was one part of his plan that he knew was dangerous, for how was he to know who occupied which chambers when he did not know the inside workings of the castle? The outside, aye, but nary the interior. Now that he and his men were within, Aiden knew time was of the essence. One more mistake could alert and rouse the keep’s inhabitants of an attack. He could not afford the chaos that would surely ensue.
’Twas as if fate decided to point out the stupidity of his thoughts as the tower bell sounded the alarm. One mistake had been enough, the damn child! No sooner had he taken a step towards the next chamber than the door he was about to reach out for was pulled open. A shriek rent the air and Aiden, without haste, clamped his hand upon the person’s mouth.
