Page 17 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
The Fair Folk
Elaine was only four, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t know much. She was very good at understanding things. She knew, for example, that something was wrong with her Athair and with Magnolia right now.
For the past few days, they’d both been acting really strange, like something terrible had happened. When Elaine asked them, though, they’d just told her everything was fine.
Something else Elaine knew was that sometimes adults lied to make children feel better or feel safe.
I wish they wouldnae. It makes both o’ them look awfie silly. As if I dinnae ken somethin’s the matter!Elaine thought to herself, her little hands on her hips.
Dadaidh had been avoiding Magnolia since last Sunday. Elaine had no idea why, but whenever they’d end up in a room together, he’d make up an excuse to be somewhere else. And Magnolia was no better; every time they played anywhere near where Dadaidh might be, Magnolia wanted to play elsewhere!
Since they were being silly adults and pretending nothing was wrong, that meant it was up to Elaine to fix it. She couldn’t do it alone, but luckily Uncle William was visiting today.
Even though he isnae my real uncle, I love it when he visits.Elaine waited in her room where he had promised to come to see her.He only lives in the village, but I barely get tae see him!
A knock came, and Elaine excitedly called, “Come in!”
Uncle William was shorter than Dadaidh and a wee bit older too. He had blond-brown hair that looked like sand and dark-gray eyes, just like Elaine’s and her Mamaidh’s, that Elaine thought looked like the sea on a rainy day.
He was less severe than Dadaidh, except when they talked about dangerous things like fighting. And they always sent her away for those anyway, so she didn’t really know anything about them.
“Good day to ye, me wee doll,” Uncle William said cheerfully, putting out his arms. Elaine ran towards him immediately, giggling as he lifted her up in them.
They talked for about a half-hour, catching each other up on their goings-on. Eventually, Elaine got to the part that had been worrying her the most. “There’s something wrong with me Dadaidh, Uncle William.”
“Oh aye?” William asked. They were sitting on her bed, she on his knee. “Mair than usual, ye mean?”
She laughed. “Aye! An’ me nanny is acting proper strange, too. I dinnae ken what’s the matter wi’ them, but they’re avoidin’ each other a’ the time. It’s fair awkward for me!”
Uncle William got a strange look on his face at that. “Dae ye mean the Magnolia lass yer da’ sent me that note about?”
“Aye, Maggie. She’s real nice, Uncle William, even though she’s a wee bit odd and English. Anyway, I’ve got a secret plan, but I need yer help.”
Uncle William grinned. “Tell me, wee button, but make it quick. I’ve got a meetin’ wi’ yer da’ in a few minutes. I’ve a’ready been up here longer than I’m supposed tae be.”
Elaine nodded. “That’s a’right. I just need ye to talk to Dadaidh. Find out what madness is happenin’ in his heid and see if ye can sort it. I’ll deal wi’ Maggie. Deal?”
Uncle William didn’t laugh. She liked that; he never laughed at her. Just like Dadaidh and Magnolia never did. She hoped that between them, they could fix whatever the problem was.
Uncle William held out his hand for Elaine to shake. She did, very solemnly, like she’d seen her father do with other Lairds. “Deal,” Uncle William said.
* * *
William Candlish was only a year older than Nathair himself. Still, Nathair had taken every opportunity since their childhood to tease his friend about that extra year, and William teased him about…well, everything else in return. It was their way, and it was one of the few things that still made Nathair feel carefree.
“How are ye farin’, Auld Yin?” he asked cheerfully as William entered his study without bothering to knock.
“Och, as fair as I can be when I’m dealin’ wi’ a whiny bairn like yer Lairdly self,” William replied.
Both men laughed and moved towards each other, embracing tightly before parting. William sat down on one of the chairs at the desk, and Nathair went for his bottle of whiskey hidden away in the secret cabinet.
I havenae seen me best friend in months, and such an occasion calls for a wee nip or two.
He poured them both a small glass and sat down across from William. “So. Are ye here as yerself or as my army commander? Just so I ken what kind o’ mood yer visit should be puttin’ me in.”
William laughed and threw back his whiskey in one shot. He made a happy face at the burn, then said, “Ye ken the answer’s both, Nathair. It’s always both.”
Nathair grunted, but he couldn’t exactly argue. “True enough. Let’s get the politics out o’ the way first, then. What can I dae for ye, Commander Candlish?”
