Elyn was growing weary of the ride. The cold snap in the air cut through her stolen furs and thin blankets, and she had no idea how anyone in Kinfauns lived with such poor clothing. She smiled to herself as she realized how spoiled she'd already grown being with Gavin.
Katrine had been quiet for the day's ride, hardly making more than distressed groans and sighs throughout the day. The ride had been uncomfortable and ragged for Elyn, she couldn't imagine the hell that was laying on one's side and tied up in the back. She was grateful to have been asleep for most of her journey to Kinfauns.
"I suppose I canae let her die back there," Elyn said to herself. She glanced over the highlands and watched the dark clouds rolling in over the horizon. It would most likely rain soon. The wet smell of grass and foliage already started to fill the air, gracing Elyn with an almost burning sensation in her lungs. Hopefully it would rain, and not snow.
Elyn tied the reins to the seat and ducked into the back to see if she could find anything else to drape herself in. She stepped carefully over Katrine, and started digging in one of the crates. A small fur was tucked deep inside, and Elyn thought it was better than nothing. She pulled it over her shoulders and tightened the twine, making it snug.
Katrine murmured and rolled over. She had been sleeping, but Elyn's noise had woken her. "I'm hungry."
"That's a shame. I am too."
Katrine frowned and turned away from Elyn again. "There is food in one of the barrels in here... I donae know which one though."
"Oh?" Elyn knelt down and pushed a crate aside, and lifted open the top of a barrel. Buried deep inside the cavity were several loaves of bread, and a handful of vegetables. She pulled out two handfuls and threw one at Katrine. "Eat this, then."
"How am I supposed to do that when ye tied my arms behind my back?"
"You'll figure it out, I'm sure." Elyn said. She hesitated and rolled her eyes. She scooted closer to Katrine and untied her ropes, holding her wrists tight as she pulled them forward and retied the bindings. "There," Elyn said, stepping back. "Now ye can at least eat."
Katrine took a loaf and ate it greedily. Elyn found herself somewhat disgusted, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the woman. She had been feverish for food once too, not even that long ago. Elyn ate too, only taking glances out the front to see if the horses were still following the path. The reins bounced idly against their collars, the ends tied down securely against the driver's seat.
Thunder boomed across the highlands, and the hollow roar of rain followed. After a few seconds, it struck the top of the carriage and started pattering the leather stitching relentlessly.
Elyn sighed. "At least it isn't snow."
Katrine had finished eating and was silent. She seemed contemplative, but Elyn couldn't decide if it was because she regretted what was happening to her or if she sympathized with Elyn's predicament.
"Ye donae really want to marry Gavin, do ye?"
Katrine's eyes lit up at her question. "Oh, I do. I've been planning on it my whole life. Anything to escape Kinfauns and the lowlands."
Elyn frowned and stuck her tongue out in horror. "Seriously?"
Katrine wasn't listening, she continued. "Then, with me at Gavin's side, we'll take the highlands by storm, eventually taking over all the land..." Her eyes glazed over and she stared past Elyn, out into the rain and blustering winds. Elyn shook her head with some regret and stood up.
She leaned out the opening to the driver's seat and retrieved the reins, pulling them inside the covering to take shelter from the rain. The wet and slippery leather left dark mud on her fingers, and the chill of the rain felt hard and prickly. It wasn't just rain or snow, but hail.
The roar of rain coming down on them grew louder and became deafening. Elyn could hardly hear herself think, but she could still hear Katrine mumbling to herself above all the noise. About the life she would lead with Gavin.
Suddenly, Katrine grew quiet and turned to look at Elyn again. "Then you'll finally be out of the picture, the proverbial daughter of the MacDonalds. That was supposed to be me."
"Have ye lost yer mind?"
Katrine shook her head with conviction. "Nay, I've only just gained it. It all makes sense now, this was supposed to happen. Why else would Dominic let me go alone?"
"Probably because ye forced him to leave ye alone, and he's got no spine at all."
"Nay, I know why now â it's all part of the plan. We'll go to Iverlochy together, and Gavin will see that I'm his true love, not you."
"You're mad. Absolutely."
Katrine started laughing, and the sound of her voice mixed with the pelting hail and rain that battered down on the carriage. Elyn grew wide eyed, wondering what she was thinking taking such an unhinged person hostage. She gripped herself and tried to warm her arms, the tension making her wounds throb. Elyn inhaled sharply and leaned back against the side of the carriage, wondering what she could do. What was Gavin doing? Was he being hurt as badly as she was?
Elyn peered out the front and saw the road forked ahead. She pulled on the reins to slow the horses and looked to Katrine. "Which way?"
"Which way do ye think?" Katrine rolled her head and stared out the back of the carriage. "Maybe we should go back to Kinfauns, get a map."
"Ye want to win Gavin over? Then ye canae be so dense."
Without looking back, Katrine lifted her finger and pointed to the right. Elyn nodded and commanded the horses to hold right along the path. It wasn't difficult, only requiring a bit of encouragement to get them going. They weren't likely to stray from the path once set on it.
The rain had coated their fur and their muscles rippled as they adjusted to move to the right side. Elyn thought about taking one of them and going to Iverlochy by herself. She didn't need Katrine, did she? She looked back at the mumbling woman and recalled how shocked she was when she first saw her. Her features were so similar to her own.
What was she saying about being the MacDonald daughter? Was she bluffing? Did Elyn have a twin she didn't know about?
Elyn pushed the thought from her mind and turned her attention back to the road. She was done entertaining such insane thoughts. Katrine was too young. Elyn fished out her necklace and rubbed it between her fingers. She was still surprised that the guards hadn't taken it from her the moment they tossed her into the dungeon.
She looked at Katrine with an eye of sympathy. She certainly wasn't very strong willed, was she? The daughter of Laird Maxwell, a ruthless and cunning man, had only given her his ruthlessness, none of his force of will.
Elyn felt her heart surge at the thought of children. With Gavin. A new generation of highlanders, strong and powerful, with the will to topple entire countries if the good required it. She brimmed with excitement at the thought of it â but nothing could happen if she or Gavin didn't even survive the week.
She had to think of a way to get inside Iverlochy, to make sure he couldn't get married to Katrine. There wasn't any way she could take on the King and his men alone, no amount of combat experience could prepare her for such a feat. She couldn't just beg to seek an audience with the King either; not after having escaped his hold and all.
She glanced at Katrine again, and an idea started to condense. An almost wicked idea. She chuckled to herself. It might work.
Well, she relented, it had to work. It wouldn't hurt to try at least. Doing nothing was much worse.
***
As the hours dragged on, mist began to descend into the valley that Katrine and Elyn were traveling through. Elyn began to recognize some of the landmarks dotting the horizon, similar looking mountain peaks she had seen when she was traveling with Gavin across Scotland. She had thought Katrine had led her astray, but her doubts vanished just as the mists over mountain peaks formed on a cool day.
The rain died down and slowly stopped. Clouds streaked across the sky from the high winds that cleared the cold and wet air. Elyn cupped her hand over her eyes as she stared up at the mountain tops, blocking the blinding rays of the sun hanging low in the sky. The wind brushed against her. She shivered and pulled her cloak tighter, before glancing over at Katrine.
Elyn dipped back out into the front of the carriage and sat down on the saturated wood bench. The horses were just reaching the top of a crest when she spied a familiar looking lochan in the distance.
The same place where Gavin and she had camped on their way to Iverlochy. She smiled as the warmth of the memory came back to her, Gavin's strong arms pulled over her chilled body, his hot breath tickling her ear. His growing beard itching her neck. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine his hands on her shoulders, his broad and friendly smile. Her shivers died down, and her cheeks flushed with warmth.
Katrine gasped, pulling Elyn from her reverie. Elyn looked over her shoulder to see two men on horseback galloping towards them, and fast approaching. Elyn's eyes widened as she released the reins and dove into the back of the canopy, retrieving her sword and pushing Katrine back against the front wall.
"Are they your men?" Elyn asked, not taking her eyes off the figures in the distance.
Katrine shook her head. "Nay. They would be flying Kinfaun's colours, they aren't."
"Well, my kidnappers weren't." Katrine didn't answer. Elyn continued, "Get into the front and speed the horses up, I donae want them to catch us like sitting ducks."
Katrine did as she was instructed, which surprised Elyn. She braced herself against the width of the carriage as the wheels lumbered over a large rock in the road. Elyn pushed her hair out of her eyes.
The men were closing the gap, but they appeared to be alone. Elyn pulled her hair back and cut a piece of stitching off her fur shawl. She tied her hair up and steeled herself for the fight.
The men were dirty looking, covered in ragged furs and their blades looked dull and pitted with age. Elyn figured them to be bandits, maybe thinking the carriage was carrying something important. Turns out they were twice-right. The men split apart as they came close to the back of the carriage and came up along both sides, flanking it.
Elyn leaned out the back, holding on to the edge of the carriage with her free hand so she wouldn't topple out. The jostling and bumping of the cart threatened to throw her from it anyway. Elyn shouted over the creaking of the wood and galloping of the four horses. "What are ye doing?"
"It isn't everyday ye see a carriage around these parts," the black-bearded man said. He grinned and rapped his sword on the side of the carriage. It was too dull and worn to slice into the leather. "My brother and I sure could use some company."
Elyn stared and raised her sword. "Get away from here, I donae have time for beggars."
The bandit grinned and came near the carriage's edge, reaching out to touch the leather. Elyn swatted at him with her sword, grazing his naked arm. He recoiled and yelped, quickly bracing the wound.
Elyn clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on the sword's handle. She pulled back inside the carriage and waited for the bandit to try and attack again. "Well?" she taunted.
The man cursed and scowled, reeling back and hanging out of sight. Katrine's cries from the front of the carriage called Elyn forward, where she found the second bandit climbing aboard. Katrine cowered as the man licked his lips, his greedy hands reaching out to grab at anything he could.
Elyn took him by surprise, rushing forward and planting her foot on the man's face. She kicked off and shoved him free from the carriage, sending him tumbling and rolling along the dirt path. The horses neighed and the carriage kicked up over the man, the wheels lashing his foot. He howled in pain, clutching his leg. As the carriage left the rogue crippled, the second bandit pulled off the pursuit and stopped to aid him.
Elyn breathed a heavy sigh, satisfied that the two men wouldn't pursue them any longer. Even if they did, they weren't any match if one of them was crippled. Riding a horse at speed would be an extraordinary feat.
Katrine groaned and uncovered her eyes. She looked around with a simple look of confusion and then back down the path that was disappearing behind them. "I could have handled myself."
"With what?" Elyn pointed at Katrine. "Your fists?"
"I would have thought of somethin', trust me."
Elyn laughed, leaning over and sitting down in the driver's seat as her laughter over took her. Katrine jumped a little at the outburst, and frowned. "Thanks, Katrine, I needed that."
Elyn recomposed herself and looked over the horizon. The horses had slowed a considerable amount, and the sun was washing the land in a grim orange light. Clouds built up over the distance, and a fog threatened to set in. Elyn shivered at the reminder of the day's storms. "We need to rest the horses."
Katrine ignored her, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
"I donae know what ye plan on doin' when we get to Iverlochy anyway. Do ye really think they'll just let you walk right through and save your highlander?"
Elyn was silent, she wasn't ready to reveal her plan quite yet. She knew that Katrine wouldn't respond to it very well.
***
After pulling the carriage off the path and unhitching the horses, Elyn stretched her arms and took a drink from the lochan. Freshwater, she was grateful. She half-expected to be spitting out salty brine after her last experience drinking from a mysterious loch on the highlands.
Katrine slipped her shoes off and dipped her feet in the lochan. She sucked in air as the chilled water seeped into her skin and bones, but she looked satisfied nevertheless. Elyn shook her head and looked to the horses. One was drinking loudly, while the other was chewing on some tall grass.
"Do they have names?"
"Names?" Katrine leaned over and rubbed her wet feet, massaging the skin with her thumbs.
"The horses," Elyn said.
"If they do, I donae know them."
"I shouldnae be surprised."
Elyn walked up to the horse that was eating and stroked its long face. Its jet-black pupils stared back at her, the fading light of the sunset glimmering in them. She inhaled and closed her eyes, wondering how Rhys might be doing at that moment. She wished she had her horse, and not Katrine with her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Elyn let her hand drop and she turned. "Why would the Laird's daughter know the name of the horses that are taking her across the highlands?"
Katrine shook her head. "Why should I? It isn't my job."
"Ye just donae get it." Elyn turned back to the horse and threaded her fingers through its withers. It shook her hand free and snorted. "How about... Alec?" The horse looked at her with ambivalence, and Elyn agreed. "Perfect. Now for the other one..." She stared at it for a while, and finally nodded. "Sheena."
"Good job, now they're named. Are ye happy now?"
"Katrine, can ye just not be petty for once?"
Katrine gaped and then closed her mouth. She scooted back from the edge of the lochan and pulled her feet from the water. She glanced at Elyn, and sighed. "Can ye make yerself useful and hand me a fur?"
Elyn went to the carriage and retrieved her shawl, the smallest fur available, and tossed it over to Katrine. It fell short and plopped into the dirt, which prompted Katrine to groan loudly. Elyn rolled her eyes and climbed into the carriage.
"It's getting late, come here."
"Why?" Katrine moved toward the carriage, eyeing Elyn. Elyn smiled and when Katrine got close enough, snatched up her wrist and pulled her toward her. She pulled out the twine she had bound Katrine with earlier and tied it around her wrists.
"Ye can sleep out here," Elyn said. She hopped out of the carriage and lashed the rope around one of the wheels, before tying it into a knot. "Maybe you'll gain some empathy if ye have to live like the horses do." Elyn disappeared back into the carriage, ducking inside to grab some furs and food. She dropped them on Katrine, who only gave her a pitiful look.
"Ye canae leave me out here, I'll die." Katrine clutched the food and stared up at her.
"No ye won't. You'll be fine." Elyn chilled her heart and climbed back into the carriage. She ate some bread and pulled the blankets across herself. It would be a long and chilly night.
Elyn's dreams transported her to a life where she didn't have to combat the Maxwells, she didn't have to fight her way across the highlands or hope she wouldn't be accosted by bandits and reivers at every turn. Where she and Gavin lived in a small cottage like the one her parents had in Dornie, and tended to plentiful crops.
Where Elyn would wake up with the morning sunlight streaking into the thinly built house, and she'd gently caress the cheek of her daughter, a bright-eyed and blonde-haired little girl. The laughter of the babe and Gavin would fill the home with all the warmth it needed, and they never went hungry.
Where she didn't have to worry about the well running dry, or winter setting in too early and the highlands always straddled the line between spring and summer. Where cool breezes cascaded off the loch, and tickled her wind-burnt cheeks as she threaded her arm through Gavin's.
And he would take her quietly in the night, his hand touching the small of her back where it only grazed the small hairs. Where she was never left without shivers rocking up her spine, and blushing cheeks from Gavin's blue eyes catching hers.
In reality, she shivered and fought away the chill of the air. She heard groaning outside the carriage, and after her heart started racing, realized it must've been Katrine. She slipped out of the carriage and found her where she left her, bundled up in the blankets with a bit of frost tickling the edge of the grass. The moon hung in the sky like a bright jewel, illuminating them both and giving their shadows life. Elyn pitied the Lady, and felt her heart tear a little for feeling any sympathy for someone who she thought of as wicked. Elyn untied the rope securing Katrine to the wheel, and lifted her up. Katrine stirred, but the grip of her dreams or nightmares kept her from rousing to full awareness.
Elyn lifted Katrine into the carriage and laid her down on the cold wood. Anything was better than the frozen ground outside. She gathered the blankets she had left and put them back over Katrine, feeling a bit of her guilt fade away with Katrine not groaning so pitifully any longer.
She took a moment to take a drink of water. She planted her hands into her hips and craned her neck upward. The moon was near the horizon, and looked as big as the mountain that cradled it. Elyn imagined the same moonlight shining down on Gavin, and his shadow just as big as hers. She inhaled the chilled air and let it fill her lungs, burning her throat and nose with icy tendrils.
As she moved back to the carriage, she stroked each of the horses. They were huddled near each other, and felt warm to the touch. They seemed to be doing alright considering how bad Katrine was doing.
Elyn turned into the carriage and found Katrine still sleeping soundly. She curled up on the floor and pulled the blankets back over herself, and thought about her plan.
She would infiltrate Iverlochy, disguised as Katrine. They looked similar enough, and she was sure she could mimic her voice easily. Then, if Maxwell did intend to truly marry Gavin and Katrine, she would be married in her place, securing their bond. After that... she didn't know. It was a start though. Plus, she couldn't wait to see the look on Robert's face when he found out the truth of what he had done.
But what would she do about Katrine in the meantime? That was the question that plagued Elyn's mind as she dozed back off, her eyes fluttering shut and the image of Katrine's sleep stained on her eyelids.
***
Elyn woke in shock as a weight pressed down on her chest, knocking the wind out of her. She stared up through blurry eyes as they focused on Katrine, sitting on top of her, holding the sword's tip right above Elyn. Katrine's hands were gripping the sword with feverish adrenaline, shaking and making the pointed tip hover in and out of Elyn's line of sight. Elyn's heart pounded in her ears.
"I thought ye were a fool but I didnae know how much of one," Katrine said. Her voice didn't shake or hesitate at all, as if she had been rehearsing. "Killing ye when you were sleepin' just wouldn't have the same flavor."
Elyn narrowed her eyes and struggled to move her arms out from under Katrine's thighs. Katrine tightened her grip and grunted, before pushing the blade closer to Elyn's neck.
Elyn froze up and didn't dare to move. She stared up at Katrine's dark eyes and breathed quietly. "Donae do this."
"Why not? Should I not kill my kidnapper? Wouldn't ye have done the same if ye weren't a fool?"
"No."
Katrine glared, but didn't answer.
Elyn continued, being careful to choose her words and not talk too quickly. "I've killed men, but it haunts me. I donae ever forget their horror-stricken faces in the last moment when they realize they're going to die. I canae stand seeing them anymore. I would never want to add to that list."
"I donae believe ye. Who have ye killed?"
Elyn looked around, thinking. The blade had been cold at first, but was warming against her neck. "Too many. The first time was an accident, and I try not to think of it. Donae do this, Katrine."
Katrine hesitated, and Elyn felt the pressure from the sword lift for a small second. She pushed it close again, and shook her head. "What about Dominic? Wouldnae ye just like to kill him? For making ye suffer?"
"Aye. Of course I would, but that satisfaction donae last. It donae stay with ye. The pain does though, it never leaves."
They met each others' eyes for what felt like forever to Elyn. She timed her breath so the blade was lifted higher each interval, trying to stay calm and keep her heart from making her voice shake and betray her fear. Adrenaline coursed through her, and she felt it was almost too much to bear. Tension grew thick in the air, and the carriage felt dewy and humid.
"Ye just gonna kill me when we get to Iverlochy anyway!" Katrine cried.
"No! I'm not! I donae think yer a bad person, Katrine, maybe just... influenced by the wrong people."
"Like who?" Katrine asked. Elyn frowned, and Katrine continued reluctantly, "...my father..."
Elyn nodded slightly, only moving an inch.
Katrine looked pained, and she pulled the blade away from Elyn's neck. Elyn gasped for air as Katrine climbed off her, before throwing the sword aside and collapsing into a heap. She cried and tried to wipe away her tears as they came, but they came too fast and heavy. Elyn sat up and crawled over to Katrine, putting her arm around her and cradling her. She didn't see Katrine Maxwell, daughter of the horrid Robert, crying, but Sheena, or someone that Elyn should be taking care of. As much as she wanted to be angry and upset at her, she couldn't bring herself to. She stroked Katrine's hair and shushed her, doing her best to soothe her. To comfort her in a way that her ma had when Elyn had injured herself when she was a young. At least some things could be helped.
Elyn stared ahead through the carriage and saw dust kicking up in the distance. The bandits. Elyn let go of Katrine and retrieved the sword, before getting ready to step out of the carriage.
"Wh-what are ye doing?" Katrine said. She sniffed and dried her eyes.
"Those men are back to harass us again. Can I trust ye with a weapon? Ye won't turn on me again?"
Katrine nodded. Elyn pointed to one of the containers in the back. "I think I saw a sword in there, grab it and make yerself useful. One of them should have a lame leg, so he won't be much of a threat. I hope."
Elyn stepped down and out of the carriage, standing with her legs apart and her sword ready. She didn't want to have to kill anyone, but if it came to it, she would. At the end of the day, she'd never forget the men she had killed, but she also couldn't stomach the thought of the only other option: being killed herself.
The dust cleared a bit and the pounding hooves grew louder. The two men rode briskly, and even from the distance, Elyn could see the fury in their eyes. One of them had a leg bound in crude branches, tied off with rope. His leg was bowed and stuck out as they bounced along, before catching up to the carriage and the women.
They brought their horses to a stop, kicking up one last plume of dust into the air. The men stared on at them, and Elyn gripped her sword tighter. She prepared herself, just as she heard Katrine climbing down from the carriage with a short sword in her hands. She wielded it with strange grip, her left hand placed above her right.
"I thought I told ye to stay away!" Elyn barked. She raised her sword. "I'll cripple ye other leg if you'd like."
"Nay," the uninjured man said. He held up his hands in surrender. "We donae want any more trouble. Stewart is hurt and I canae help him myself."
"What are ye sayin'? Ye want our help?" Elyn asked.
Stewart, the injured man, nodded solemnly. He looked as if he were a dog that had been kicked. "This is the best we could do."
"It looks terrible," Elyn said.
"We figure the least ye could do for breakin' his leg is fix it!" the second man said. He raised his voice, but it didn't carry any anger in it. "We're clearly used ta attackin' farmers, which ye aren't, it's obvious as the sky now."
Elyn didn't back down. She repositioned her grip on her sword and braced herself. "Why should we trust ye? What clan are ye with?"
"Clan?" The man looked at Stewart. "We aren't in no clan â,"
Stewart interrupted, "if ye want our names ye can have 'em. We're the Cirlc brothers. I'm Stewart and he's Gregary."
Katrine held her hands up, "Wait â why are ye here again? Weren't ye trying to attack us?"
Gregary frowned and looked sincere. He went down to one knee and hung his head low, biting his lip and crossing his chest with his hand. "I deeply regret that â If ye want the truth, we were cast out of our clan when we let some reivers get away with a handful of cattle... My brother and I have been out in these miserable moors for the last two months. So when we saw the carriage, I guess we snapped, thinking, if the reivers could do it, why couldnae we? It was time to start exercising our ruthlessness."
Katrine whistled. "Beggars and homeless. Why shouldnae we just finish ye off and put ye out of your misery?" Elyn looked at her and saw shadow of a smile cross her lips, which Gregary couldn't see with his head hung low.
He apologized again. "We'll do anything. If ye just take care of my brother and let us ride in the carriage for a bit. Anything."
Elyn felt a thrill at the idea. A solution to her problem after all. "Anything?"
"Yes," Gregary said. He looked up and Elyn lowered her sword.
"I guess I did do a number on yer brother. We need protection on our way to Iverlochy â I donae know any other bandits who would turn themselves into the MacDonald Clan like that."
Gregary rose to his feet with a broad smile on his face. He quickly moved over to Stewart and his horse and helped his brother down. "Here, help me carry him."
Elyn stepped forward and lifted Stewart's legs into the air. She and Gregary hauled him near the carriage and set him on the grass.
"I donae have a lot of experience with breaks, but there must be something in the carriage," Elyn said. "Katrine, go look."
Katrine climbed inside and started digging around through the crates, spilling out boxes and barrels full of bread and furs. Gregary and Stewart stared ahead while Elyn examined Stewart's leg. She cut the rope holding the branches to his limb, and pulled them apart. His leg was swollen, but most of the damage looked like it was on the surface.
She sucked in air and carefully brushed her hand over his swollen calf. He gasped in shock, balling his hand into a fist and pounding it against the cold dirt. "Dammit!"
"Shush," Elyn said. She looked to Katrine who had ducked out of the carriage holding cloth bandages and some thin planks of wood. "This is all I could find."
"It'll work," Elyn said. She took them and laid the supplies near Stewart's leg. "This'll be better than what ye had, but I canae cure this. If we can get ye to Iverlochy, they might be able to take care of ye." She wrapped his leg with the tanned cloth and tightened the bandage into a knot, before splinting the injury with the planks and tying it off with some twine. He winced and wiped his brow, his gaze having been fixed up into the sky during the procedure. He admired the work, twisting his leg gently and looked to see if it was completely covered.
"Thank ye," Stewart said. His brother helped him up with a pull of his hand and they stood together, looking a bit embarrassed. "I donae know what we can do to repay ye."
"Take us to Iverlochy, like I said," Elyn said, placing her hands on her hips. "If ye can do that, I'll make sure Gavin MacKenzie welcomes ye into our clan."
"In the highlands?" Gregary said. "I've never been up there." He fixed his eyes on the distant horizon.
"Let's get going," Elyn said. "I'm sure we have another day's ride ahead of us."
After tying the horses to the carriage, Stewart climbed inside to rest. Gregary took up the spot near Elyn at the front. Gregary gave her a brief smile before staring ahead again, and Elyn felt a twinge of sympathy for him. A lowlander with no home to call his own, a not entirely unfamiliar feeling for her.
***
The day's ride was uneventful, but arduous. The carriage climbed back out of the valley that the lowlands resided in, and the familiar mountains and breeze of the highlands greeted Elyn and her companions. For some of them, the first time in their lives. To Elyn, the previously familiar peaks broadened and revealed craggy hills. Stewart and Katrine talked quietly in the back of the carriage, occasionally bursting into fits of laughter. It warmed Elyn's heart to hear laughter again.
Elyn felt her chest tightening throughout the trip, feeling Gregary's closeness only pained her to think about how far away Gavin was. She refused to think of her plan not working, but she wasn't sure how she'd go through with it with Gregary and Stewart on her plate now. She was silent, until Gregary broke the tension.
"You mentioned a Gavin... but I donae know who that is."
Elyn looked at him, a bit confused. It was the first time anyone had asked who Gavin was, and maybe, the first time someone didn't want to kill him. "Laird of the MacKenzie Clan, and my husband-to-be."
Gregary whistled. "So he's got a castle and such, yeah?"
"Aye." Elyn thought for a moment, deciding what she would say.
"Who's the other woman? Katrine?"
"Katrine of Kinfauns Castle of the Maxwell Clan."
"Maxwell...?"
The horses sputtered their lips and shook their heads, lashing their manes through the air. Elyn glanced at Gregary. "Do ye know the name?"
"It's familiar, maybe I heard of them from our clan." Gregary stroked his beard.
Elyn shrugged. "I doubt it was very good things ye heard, considering the trouble they've put me in my entire life."
Elyn sighed and loosened her grip on the reins. The horses felt her hesitation and began to slow, so she pulled them taut once more. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and met Gregary's, who seemed oblivious to all that had happened in the highlands. How he couldn't have felt any of the effects of it, and that Elyn had never considered that kind of disconnect before. Surely everyone knew what had happened, didn't they? She breathed deep and began to tell him what she and Gavin had uncovered, and the trap they had both walked into. As she spoke, she realized she wasn't just telling Gregary what had happened, but was explaining herself to Katrine, even if Katrine didn't quite realize it. Elyn hoped she might, otherwise executing her plan in Iverlochy was going to be a lot more dangerous. Maybe Gregary would come in handy after all.
In the distance, Castle Iverlochy's shadowy outline appeared over the crest of a hill. The looming figure was murky and unclear, but unmistakeable nevertheless. Elyn pointed across the vast distance. "There it is, Iverlochy. Shouldn't be much longer now."
"What are ye going to do there?"
Elyn bit her lip and peered back into the carriage to see if Katrine was listening. Her and Stewart were asleep, their heads resting on each other.
"I need to impersonate her, because she's supposed to marry Gavin. I'm sure it's the only way I'll get into the castle without being killed. The only reason I was kidnapped, as far as I can tell, was to keep Gavin from resisting. This is probably my only chance."
Gregary nodded. "Will she agree to that?"
"I donae think so."
***
The sun was low in the sky when they made their final approach to Iverlochy. With dusk setting in, Elyn decided it was now or never to execute her plan. She gave the reins to Gregary and climbed into the back of the carriage to rouse Katrine. She couldn't just kill her, after all.
Katrine woke and groaned as she stretched her arms. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. "What is it?"
"We're here, and I have to ask ye something."
Katrine narrowed her eyes, but her sleepiness took away any hope she had of looking cold or intimidating. "Aye?"
"I need to get into the castle and see Gavin. I need you to let me impersonate ye."
Katrine's eyes widened as the question sunk in, and she scowled. "Why would I let ye do that? If we're here, I can just have my father's men kill you."
"Ye won't though. I know that. Ye aren't that kind of person."
Katrine glared. "How do ye know what kind of person I am?" Her voice startled Stewart awake, and she glanced at him with her knitted brow. He recoiled and turned away, a scowl on his face. "You. You're just some commoner who thinks she's royalty. I'm the one who deserves this, I deserve to marry Gavin."
Elyn sighed, and glanced at Gregary. "I'm sorry, Katrine, I really didnae want it to come to this."
"Come to what? Are ye gonna kill me? After everything ye told me?"
"No, but I canae have you being so unpredictable. Ye donae even know yerself." Gregary crawled into the back of the carriage and sidled up next to Elyn. She nodded to him. "Do it."
Gregary lunged forward and snatched up Katrine's wrists, who tried to fight him off. She screamed as loud as she could, and Stewart yelled.
"Get off of her Gregary! What are ye doing!"
Gregary shook his head. "We have to help Elyn, she's the only one who'll give us a home again."
"B-but â,"
"Just do it, grab her legs!" Gregary grunted as he pulled Katrine's wrists together and twisted a rope around them. Stewart reluctantly seized up Katrine's ankles and bound them together. Katrine fumed and groaned, and Elyn took an extra square of tan cloth used for Stewart's brace and stuffed it into her mouth. Katrine's cries for help were muffled, but her eyes were as furious and filled with fire as ever. Elyn frowned.
"I'm sorry, Katrine. I know you're better than this, but I donae have time to convince ye otherwise." Elyn reached forward and pulled out Katrine's hair pins, freeing them and letting her hair fall over her shoulders. Elyn fixed her own hair up using the pins, then leaned in close to look for something else identifying. A locket hung around Katrine's neck bearing the Maxwell insignia. She unlatched the necklace from Katrine and slipped it around her neck.
"How do I look?" Elyn asked, doing her best to adopt a more pompous posture. Gregary looked over Katrine, then gazed at Elyn before nodding.
"Looks close enough to me."
Elyn shook her head. "I need to fool her father, not ye. But I guess this will have to do." Elyn instructed Gregary to man the horses again, and she climbed and sat in the drivers seat next to him. She'd be presented to Iverlochy as Katrine would be, that was the only option. Hopefully, the state that Gregary was in wouldn't be too off-putting to the guards.
***
Night fell on the highlands, and the moon twinkled overhead, making the stars look pitiful. The distinct smell of smoke washed over the group as they came near the castle, replacing the scent of chilled fog filling their heads.
At the castle gates, Gregary slowed the horses and stared on awkwardly. Elyn ducked her head down and stared at the back of the horses, not wanting to make eye contact with the guard. She had made him practice and rehearse his lines as they approached. He clicked his tongue as a guard came up alongside to examine him.
"What have ye got here?" The guard peered over the carriage and his eyes briefly locked on Elyn's. She panicked and looked away quickly.
"Katrine of Kinfauns," Gregary said. "I'm her driver, now let us through, I'm sure King Maxwell wouldn't like ye holding us up."
The guard held up his hands apologetically and waved the carriage on in. They entered the gates of the castle unimpeded, and Elyn breathed a sigh of relief. The last line wasn't practiced, but perfect. Elyn hadn't considered the guard looking inside the carriage, and he would have been in for a surprise if he saw a tied up Katrine and injured Stewart aboard.
Gregary pulled the carriage alongside the stables and dismounted from the driver's seat. He held out his hand and helped Elyn down from the seat, each doing their best to look as regal as possible. If any onlookers thought something was wrong, then it wouldn't be long before King Maxwell knew something was wrong. Gregary freed the horses from their collars as Elyn nodded to the villagers that had turned to stare at who had shown up in a carriage. She reckoned none of them had actually seen Katrine up close in person, and even if they had, she hoped she looked similar enough, it wouldn't be much of a problem.
Elyn walked inside the castle doors and the two guards escorted her down the hallway. After a few moments of frozen fear, she bit her lip and turned on them and spoke sharply. "Do ye two really think I need help seeing my own father? Please leave me be."
The guards stared at her, and Elyn was sure she'd blown it. Their faces glowed red and they looked at one another, before nodding furiously and turning away. They called out apologies as they raced back to their posts at the entrance.
Elyn sighed, freed of two men who were way too close for comfort. She considered trying to reach Gavin first, but knew if she was caught wandering around without seeing Maxwell first, it would be trouble. Recalling her last visit to Iverlochy, she traced the path to the throne room, her feet quietly padding against the lush carpet that lined the floor.
***
Elyn found the grand doors that led to the throne room, and sucked in air. She reached and pulled the door open, and ducked inside as quickly as she could.
The throne room was deserted save for some guards posted around the outer hallways. She stared at all the lush and incredible decorations, but was surprised that Robert wasn't around. She thought for a moment and then approached one of the guards. She cleared her throat and spoke louder than she meant. "Where is La â where is my father?"
The guard nodded and answered quickly. "Lady Katrine... he is in his chambers. Do ye need me to send word for your arrival?"
"No, that isn't necessary. I'll go to him now."
"Very well."
Elyn padded back to the entrance of the throne room, and cast one long look at it before leaving.
Back in the grand hall, she passed the corridor that led to the dungeons. She stared hard into the darkness that shrouded it, feeling in her bones the pull to see Gavin. To touch his face, to feel his arms around her again. She knew he was strong enough to withstand whatever punishment they doled out to him, but it still pained her to know he was under any kind of duress. She gritted her teeth as a mad thought possessed her: that this was all her fault.
She dismissed it and ascended the stairs to the chambers. She swallowed hard, her hands shaking and heart racing at the thought of confronting Maxwell face-to-face.
***
She found his door, it was the only one with men posted outside of it. She dismissed the men with a gesture she had seen Katrine use on Dominic, outside Kinfauns, to leave her be. She adopted a dry frown and knocked on the door.
Some rustling on the other side preceded his voice. "Who is it?" She clenched her jaw to keep herself from bursting inside and yelling, 'the woman you tried to kill.' She closed her eyes and breathed hard, before answering: "Katrine."
A scurry of commotion rushed to the door and the handle turned and opened immediately. Robert Maxwell stood inside, holding the knob and beaming with pleasure. His gaze looked her up and down, and Elyn held her breath waiting for his expression to sour and for him to see through her trick. She balled her hand to try and keep her shivers at bay.
"Katrine! Why, you've grown so much since I last saw you. How many years has it been...?"
Elyn hesitated, but Robert waved his hand. "No matter. I expect there wasn't any trouble? I see you're wearing your mother's necklace, I told you to stop stealing that."
Elyn smiled and touched the locket. "No trouble at all. But exhausting nevertheless."
Robert invited her in and gestured for her to sit. Elyn found a seat near the foot of the bed and flattened the wrinkles from Katrine's dress. She looked around the room, which was luxuriously furnished, with gold jewels dangling from the hearth and bed posts. But the luxury only made the room's disarray that much more noticeable, with papers and books strewn all over the place. Crumpled maps were tossed aside, and a couple of loose leaves were dangerously close to the hearth. A fire roared, consuming a log with abandon. The air was dry and refreshing after so many nights in the elements.
Robert closed the door with a click, then turned and threaded his fingers as he walked toward Elyn.
"Now that you're finally here, we can get this whole charade over with â," Elyn's heart skipped a beat, and she tried to open her mouth to protest whatever Robert was going to say next. "â After you are wed to Gavin, it'll be trivial for me to take his castle and his people will be forced to recognize me as their true King."
"Ah, aye," Elyn said. She was keenly aware that she was still flushed from what she thought was a close call. Robert walked past her and turned, so he was out of sight. He briefly touched the hair pin that propped Elyn's hair up, admiring it with a gentleness that surprised her.
"Would you like to see him...?" Robert asked. His voice trailed off in a peculiar way, and Elyn felt the hair on the back of her neck rise in response. She swallowed and shook her head.
"Nay. I'm too tired. When is the ceremony going to be held?"
"Tomorrow morning. Yes, you're right â you should get some rest. But I insist you eat first."
Elyn shook her head again, a lock of hair falling free and getting caught on her cheek. "I'm not hungry, I'm too excited."
Silence. Robert moved to the hearth and Elyn heard him touch the stone surface above it. He scraped it as if he were clearing it of dust. She dared not turn to face him. Too much focus on her and he might grow suspicious. If he wasn't already.
"Is something wrong?" Robert asked. "I'm not used to you being so cold."
"Nerves, I think," Elyn explained. "The road was bumpy, and the weather was wretched." She paused. "Dominic insisted on coming. But I told him he had to stay with... what was her name?"
"Elyn."
"Yes, her..." Elyn braced herself and dared to go further. "Why is the place in shambles?"
"Ah, yes, that." Robert said. He turned to observe the state the room was in. "I've been looking for an important document."
"Which?"
"Full of questions tonight, aren't we?" Robert mused. Elyn opened her mouth to apologize, but he held up his hand. "I suppose I can tell you. The King's will, detailing his inheritance."
"Wasn't that in his will decreeing you King?"
Robert cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "No. The real one. I canae have anyone else finding it. I foolishly destroyed the king's insignia when I took the crown, and that document is dangerous now."
Elyn nodded and started rubbing her necklace between her fingers, unaware she was doing so. After she realized it, she stopped and threaded her fingers together, before sighing heavily. "I should rest."
Robert cleared his throat as she stood up. She avoided meeting his gaze, and moved toward the door.
Robert pushed himself in front of her and blocked the exit. "Tell me, Katrine," Robert tried to meet her eyes. "It has been so long since I've been home. I suspect your mother hasn't been a fool, messing anything up...?"
"I donae know â she donae tell me anything," Elyn said, growing annoyed. Her mind raced. "Ye know that."
"Aye..." Robert moved aside and pulled open the door for her. "I'll have the servants wake ye in the morning. The dress should already be picked out in your room. I'll have one of the men lead you there."
Elyn nodded and didn't answer. She stepped across the threshold back into the windy hallway, and swallowed. One of the guards had already overheard, and he gestured for her to follow him further into the castle.
After getting into her room, she insisted he leave her alone and she slammed the door on him. She ran to the side of the bed and collapsed on it, breathing hard and finally letting her anxiety get to her. Did he know? Was he suspicious? She rolled over on her back and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't have. Even if he did, it couldn't be enough to change his plans.
She laid in the bed, doing her best to calm her nerves. She knew nothing would help though, not if she didn't see Gavin that night. She climbed back to her feet and approached the door, and she pressed her ear against it.
No one outside. The guard must have actually left. She pulled on the handle and started to sneak down the hall. It was late, but not late enough to be pulling off the stunt that she was about to. She didn't care though â she had to see Gavin. Especially if Robert was suspicious of anything â it might be her last chance.