Page 55

As Gwyn lay upon the ground with Durell within her arms before her and the blanket pulled high over his head, she whispered softly.

She did not wish either her sister nor any of the other men to overhear her words.

She could only hope and pray he would trust in her and understand the gravity of their situation and do as she bid, even though she knew what she was asking was almost unthinkable.

"My dearest Durell. Please lie still and do not move. If you have heard me and understand my words, please tap your finger upon my arm twice. If you have not heard every remark I have said, tap once or not at all."

Gwyn paused as the insects of the night chirped faintly in the distance.

No one around them was moving and she knew most everyone would be sleeping by now save the one warrior who stood in the distance on the opposite side of where the horses were tethered.

She felt a slight movement of Durell's hand as he faintly tapped her arm twice and she breathed a sigh of relief.

He had heard her and understood, so Gwyn whispered once again.

"You know I will always protect you with my life. I now need you to trust me and not question my directive and do exactly what I am going to ask."

She paused briefly until she felt the two taps once again upon her arm.

"I had hoped you would not need to prove to be a man at your young age. However, I fear that is what you will need to do. The wellbeing of the MacLaren now rests upon your shoulders."

She waited and felt the two taps upon her arm before she spoke quietly, again.

"Without anyone knowing nor suspecting, you must take your steed and steal away into the night and leave those who have taken us. And I am so very sorry to say, but you must be brave and do this alone. We cannot go with you."

Gwyn paused long enough for her words to sink in and for her son to once again, tap two times upon her arm.

"You must return home. I do not believe our clan is under attack and these men have stolen us and intend to do us harm.

Tell father it was Ennis who took us and I have no idea as to his intentions.

I just know they are not good and we are not safe in his care.

We cannot all go and it must be you alone.

I am sorry for this but I cannot leave Enya. Please, can you do this for me?"

When she felt the slight tap of his fingers twice upon her arm, she embraced his body beneath the blanket and held him to her breast. Her son.

While she had not bore him, this is what he had always been to her.

She only hoped she was making the right decision and was not placing too much burden upon him.

She realized he was not even ten summers yet and she was expecting him to ride off into the night and stay safe.

She also knew he was their only hope and his life was in great danger if he were to remain.

"Now go quietly. Take your steed and walk a good distance away before you mount him. Then, you must ride like the wind and do not stop until you reach the holdings of the MacLaren. No matter what. And Durell…you must always know that I love you desperately."

With those final instructions spoken, Gwyn opened the blanket and allowed him to soundlessly leave her side.

In that instant, he was gone like the breeze and into the night.

The moment the ground had cooled where his young body had lain, a full grief unlike any she had ever known filled her heart.

She longed to cry out in the distress of it all, but she knew she could not.

Instead, she placed the blanket back over her body as if he still was before her.

Slowly, she closed her eyes to the misery of it all while the darkness of the night permeated her mind.

*****

The sky above the small group began to show signs of the impending morn.

Even though the clouds remained heavy and the fog rather thick, Gwyn could tell the dawn was soon to break.

Nevertheless, she lay quietly within her blankets upon the ground.

She left her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep.

She knew that every moment that she remained this way, was one more Durell had to ride further away from those that held them.

Gwyn also knew once Ennis discovered Durell was gone, she was certain he would reveal himself and she dreaded that moment.

If they were to live through the rage she knew would come with this knowledge, she was hopeful she would find out all that was behind his actions.

She was also fearful he would take his wrath out upon her sister and this made her quite fearful.

She did not have to wait long and soon Gwyn felt the movement of all those around her.

In spite of everything, she remained stilled and with her eyes closed.

It was not until she felt rather than heard the frantic footsteps and hushed yet anxious whisperings of those warriors around her she understood all had been revealed.

She knew then, they had discovered Durell's horse was now missing.

Gwyn remained unmoving upon the ground as if she was still deep in slumber.

That was, until, she felt the painful kick at her leg and the near shout from Ennis.

"Where is he?"

Gwyn drew in her breath and fought against the need to wince in pain. Slowly, she sat up as she moved her eyes to that of her uncle.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Do not toy with me, my lady. Where has he gone?"

When Gwyn remained silent and unmoving upon the ground, Ennis spat his words ominously and revealed much to Gwyn.

"I am in no mood to listen to your lies nor hear further of your wretched life and all you have had to sacrifice . You have lived well and have been taken care of all these years. You have no idea what it is like to suffer with false hopes. Unlike some of the rest of us-"

Gwyn paused and listened to the sounds around her as the wind whispered faintly through the leaves.

Unhurriedly, she drew in a deep breath. Her assumptions had been correct and had now been fully confirmed.

While she still did not understand all of it, she knew her instincts were correct and her decision had been fitting.

Slowly, she spoke her words in her attempt to delay the inevitable.

"I truly do not understand what you are implying."

Ennis glared at her as he laughed viciously.

Then the one she had only known as her devoted uncle moved his eyes to Enya who was now wide awake and leaning against a tree with confusion etched across her face.

As he unsheathed his sword, he moved abruptly to her side and grasped her hair in one hand while placing his blade squarely against her sister's throat.

Gwyn felt the panic as it fully engulfed her and she could not quit staring into Enya's terrified eyes. While no noise was coming from her, she could tell her sister understood the gravity of the situation.

"No, please! Let her go and I will tell you whatever it is you wish to hear."

As her uncle finally released Enya and moved to stand before Gwyn, she realized their lives were in grave danger. It was very possible they would not make it out of this small stretch of woods alive.

'Would our bodies ever be discovered?'

It was a sad thought but she feared it was a possibility.

'Would they ever forgive me for my inability to protect my sister? I am so sorry, Donnan, I have failed you!'

Gwyn also feared for the small bairn who she had inside of her.

It was so distressing he had not even had a chance to take his first breath before his young life would be taken from him.

It was the anger in that moment of realization that took over as she spat her response.

First, she looked into Enya's eyes as she spoke.

"I am so sorry my dear sister that I could not protect you from this beast. I wish I had only known of his treachery before we had left the lands of the MacLaren."

Slowly, Gwyn moved her gaze to Kamden and then on to Ennis.

"And you…how dare you take us from our lives and our duties to our father and to our husbands!"

While a bit awkward, Gwyn pushed herself upwards so she could stand tall. Her fear no longer mattered because if she had to lose her life, she would die showing her strength. Never would she cower before any of these men. She drew in her breath deeply as she spoke in confidence.

"As you already know, Durell is gone. He left us several hours ago and is most likely very near to the MacLaren lands, if he is not already upon them.

You have failed in whatever fate you had sought for him and he is at least safe.

Now, you are only left with us and the energies you have extended will be all for naught.

What worth would you gain for two helpless women? "

The anger in his eyes turned from a dark rage as a sordid smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

"Durell was not necessarily the only one of value.

The price you will bring in the north could far exceed what I could have gotten for him.

Especially, since you are now married to the laird of the Chattan and it is obvious you carry that bastard's bairn.

The coin you alone will bring will provide me what I need to keep me satisfied for a goodly share of time.

And I will no longer have to grovel for a place within your father's home! "

"Grovel? You were always welcomed by us and treated as one of our own! You had the trust of my father and of our clan! And you are my mother's brother-"

"Enough! You have no idea what I had been promised and all that had been taken from me with all your secrets and your treachery!

And I would have had it all had it not been for your father's and your mother's deceit.

They had produced no living heirs! Your father had all but promised me the holdings would all be mine and I would succeed him-"

"It was you. You were the one who took each of my mother's sons from her. And she is of your own blood! How could you do such a thing?"

"Twas not too very difficult. I had nothing to do with the first son that your mother lost. He had come well before his time and was just too tiny to make it in our cruel world. But the two after that, they were a bit more challenging."

As Ennis' words hung in the air, a cruel laugh came from his lips and the sound of it echoed off the trees all around them.

Until these last hours, she never would have known nor guessed it could have been him.

Gwyn never would have believed of his deceit had she not heard it from his very own lips.

"And your sword, my lady. I think you will hand it over to me now. It is obvious you cannot be trusted."

"You would leave me unprotected in these lands when there is danger lurking all around us?"

"Better you unprotected than me or one of my men to have it pierce our back!"

"You cowardly bastard!"

Gwyn hesitated only a moment as Ennis swung his blade across to be placed once again against Enya's throat, extracting his required response. Quickly, Gwyn spat out loudly.

"Then it is yours. I will give it gladly if you will only leave her alone."

Slowly, Gwyn unbuckled the belt that held her blade and pressed it forward for her uncle to grasp.

"Now move away from her or I will fight you at every turn. Threaten her again and you will rue the day that you ever met me. This is my solemn promise to you!"

Gwyn stood tall and elevated her chin slightly as she hardened her stare. Nowhere in her brazen outward appearance was the fear that was completely encapsulating her heart. Or at least that is what Gwyn truly hoped they all would believe.