Donna Grant: Shadow Highlander

Reaghan didn’t bother to tell the elder she had known of this “artifact” for some time, after reading the markings on the pillars just as she hadn’t told Galen she could read the markings. Again, she wasn’t sure how she understood what the markings said, only that she did. She was excited that someone else could read them as well.

Mairi turned her back to Reaghan once more to look at the serene loch. Her knuckles had turned white as they gripped her skirts. “There are many things only we elders know. And it must stay that way.”

Reaghan knew she had been dismissed. If she didn’t know better she would think Mairi had turned around so Reaghan couldn’t look in her eyes and see if she was lying.

Reaghan left the cottage and paused. Mairi hadn’t forbade her from interacting with their guests, but she knew that’s what Mairi wanted. But it wasn’t what she wanted.

She had only to follow the stares of the women to find Galen and Logan. To her surprise she found Braden hiding behind a tree as he watched their visitors. The men sat facing each other, both lounging against a tree. They spoke in hushed tones, but their gazes missed nothing.

“Would you like to meet them?” she asked Braden.

He spun around and looked at her with wide, brown eyes. “I was told to stay away from them. Are they bad?”

“I don’t believe so, but you must listen to your mother, Braden. She is doing what she thinks is best for you.”

“You’ve talked to the men, haven’t you? I heard you were the one who found them.”

She smiled down into his upturned face, so full of life and innocence. It was curiosity that made him ask that question, not ulterior motives as she would suspect of others. “Aye, I did. They are rather imposing, aren’t they? But they are just men.”

He glanced over his shoulder at them and frowned. “They doona have weapons.”

“Because they knew we wouldn’t allow them into our village with them. Weapons or not, they are Highlanders, Braden, and I’ve no doubt they have stood in many battles.”

His face brightened then. “Oh, aye. I bet they have.”

He ran off, leaving Reaghan smiling. Braden had a way of brightening her days. She was sure having men around would help the lad, and she regretted that his first real look at a Highlander, a warrior, kept him from interacting with them.

Someone needed to teach Braden to use a sword, and it wouldn’t be any of the women. He would need someone like Galen.

As soon as the thought went through her mind she knew it could never be. Braden’s mother was very protective. At the forefront of every Druid’s mind was hiding from Deirdre and surviving one more day. The magic of their village kept them safe.

Reaghan tucked her hair behind her ear and wished she had taken the time to braid the unruly mess before she saw Galen again.

She wasn’t the only one who found the men appealing. The younger women, the ones still of childbearing age, had gotten up the courage to approach Galen and Logan.

Reaghan hesitated. Logan was smiling, and whatever he said had the others laughing as well. The five women were hanging on his every word and practically rubbing against him.

Her gaze shifted and clashed with a cobalt-blue one. Her stomach fluttered as if birds were trapped inside. She was nervous and restless to be near Galen. A heady combination for a woman who knew nothing of men.

Galen’s lips tilted in a grin. He motioned her over with a wave of his hand. His gaze was warm, welcoming and beckoning her closer.

Reaghan was about to go to him until she remembered the other women. She didn’t want them to overhear her questions. Maybe it was better as Mairi said to leave Galen alone. She dropped her gaze and hurried to her cottage before she changed her mind and went to the tempting Highlander.

Galen frowned as Reaghan disappeared from view once again. She had been about to come to him, he was sure of it. What could have kept her away?

She had seemed concerned about the other women, but surely that wouldn’t have kept her from asking the questions he knew burned inside her.

Reaghan was like a caged bird. She longed for freedom, could see it, taste it, but was afraid of it just the same. These Druids were the only thing she knew, and with most of her memories gone, she was afraid to trust anyone but them.

He could understand her reluctance, but eventually, he knew she would break free of her restraints, she would shake away the fear that kept her rooted in the village. And she would sprout her wings and fly.

Strange that he wanted to be there when she did it. He imagined she would be magnificent when she became the woman who answered to no one and bravely went out into a world filled with cruelty and evil.

But she would shine, and she would live.

Galen stood at the pillars looking over the designs and markings left by the ancient Celts, the morning sun giving off just enough light to bathe everything in a golden glow.

“You could no’ sleep either, I take it,” Logan said as he came to stand beside him.

Galen shook his head. “These Druids trust their magic, but I doona trust Deirdre. She’s going to come here, and it could be any day. I kept watch most of the night.”

“Did you see anything?”

“Nothing. It’s quiet.”

Logan grunted and folded his arms across his chest. He jerked his chin to the stone columns. “Did you learn anything else from the markings?”

“I did.” Galen glanced around them to make sure there weren’t any Druids near enough to hear them. “The stones, along with the area used by the Druids, are protected by Druid magic, a magic used to hide something of significance.”

“The artifact.”

Galen nodded. “That is my reckoning. Where it’s at is another matter.”

Logan moved nearer to one of the pillars and ran his hand over more markings. “It says here the object must stay in the confines of the stones lest it be found by Deirdre.”

“Does it say how Deirdre would discover it?”

“Nay. Wait.” Logan moved around the pillar and squatted. “It says the object is sacred and must be kept safe from everyone but the Druids.”

Galen blew out a perturbed breath. “How do we convince these Druids we are the only ones who can keep the artifact secure?”

“I doona know that we can.” Logan straightened and continued his perusal of the stones. “Reaghan didna know how to read the Celtic markings.”

“I’m no’ so sure. She never answered me, and there was something in her eyes. I think she can read it. We also have to consider that at least the elders can.”

Logan rubbed the back of his neck and yawned. “Why can Reaghan read it and others cannot?”

“I have no answer.”

“There are four men in this village. Three are halfway in the grave, and the other is barely old enough to pick up a sword. They are prime candidates for an attack by wyrran.”

“You are no’ telling me anything I have no’ already considered. I doona know how long they will welcome us, but I doubt it will be for very much longer. While we’re here, we need to gain as much of their trust as we can.”

Logan’s smile was wide as he faced the village. “I have an idea.”

“What might that be?” He knew that smile of Logan’s. It was full of mischief and meant Logan had a plan that required the use of his well-known charm.

“You doona trust me?”

It was said with such false innocence that Galen rolled his eyes. “I think it would be better if I knew this idea beforehand.”

“The women are starved for male attention. I plan to spend a wee bit of time with them. Mayhap make them laugh and put them at ease so they will give me the information we need.”