Page 19 of Highlander’s Fruit of Eden

The Assassin

“ U ncle, I need to speak with ye,” said Jon.

“Come in, Jon,” said Vincent. He was sitting at his desk in the study, writing more letters.

“Do ye ever stop workin’?” asked Jon. “Ye just got back from the border, and ye are sendin’ more letters out.”

“I suppose that ye heard about the trade deals?” asked Vincent.

“Aye, and I hear that they come at a good time. I got some insight into how the castle is run when ye were away, uncle, and I thought that we might be in trouble, but ye have everythin’ covered.”

“Trouble?” Vincent stopped writing and looked over at his nephew. He beckoned for his nephew to sit. “What makes ye think that there was any trouble for the Clan?”

Jon walked into the room and sat down in the chair to the side of the desk. He placed his hand on the wooden surface and tapped silently with his finger. “I dinnae mean it like that,” he said. “I just ken that we have a mighty military, and that costs a lot of money to sustain.”

“Aye,” said Vincent, staring at Jon and waiting for him to say something more.

“Are there rumors of an attack, Uncle?”

“There are always rumors of attacks,” said Vincent.

“Aye, I ken that, but we have been at peace for years. Nay Clan has as many soldiers as we do, and we are nae the biggest of the Clans. Do we really need to keep as many soldiers at the ready?”

“We’ve created many jobs for the people of our Clan. Are the people nae happy?”

“Aye, they are,” said Jon.

“And ye never ken when people are going to try and wrestle power from ye.”

“Who would want to take power from ye, Uncle?”

“Aye, who indeed?” asked Vincent. The way that he was staring made Jon feel uncomfortable. He had seen that look in his uncle’s eye but never directed at him. “Ye have become close with that English lass,” said Vincent, placing his quill down on the table.

“That’s what I wanted to come here to talk with ye about,” said Jon. “I ken that ye said it wouldnae look good for me to be seen with an English Lass, but I cannae deny that me heart has been captured by her.”

Vincent sighed and rubbed at his temple.

“Uncle, I ken that ye told me not to go near her, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And she told me about yer meetin’ with her, and did ye nae say that we had yer blessin’?”

“Blessin’?” asked Vincent. “I think that she might have been mistaken with what I spoke to her about. I only calked her up here to ask how she was settlin’ in.

As Laird, ye have to ken about every small part of yer castle, and that was all that I was doing.

From how she has been actin’, I’m surprised that ye would want to go near her. ”

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Jon.

“Ye already had an altercation over her, didn’t ye? I heard that ye were sparrin’ with me stable master, and the two of ye came off with bloodied faces. She’s causin’ a right stir in me castle. If she was nae so good at her job, I might have kicked her out by now. I have her being watched closely.”

“Yer havin’ her watched?”

“Aye, of course, I am. She might look like an innocent wee lass, but a fight between me stable master and me nephew, the nephew of the Laird of the castle, and then comin’ up to me room and sayin’ the things that she said? Well, I dinnae ken what she is up to.”

“What did she say?” asked Jon.

“The two of ye are close, aren’t ye? She did nae tell ye?”

“Out with it, Uncle,” said Jon, becoming annoyed.

Vincent shot him a look. “She all but came onto me. She obviously kens where the power lies, and she made it very clear that she would do anythin’, and I mean anythin’, to get what she wants around here.

From what I can tell, she has nay bigger plans that a higher station and a better life for herself, but ye cannae be too careful.

What’s that look on her face for? She’s been doing the same to ye, hasn’t she?

Ye must ken that. I’ve been around a long time, and I ken when women are tryin’ to get what they want. ”

“She wouldnae do that,” said Jon. “I ken her better than anyone else. I ken what she is like, and she is lovin’ and carin’.”

“Aye, she puts on a good show. Look, she is a bonny lass, and she wants more than she has, so I am going to give her that. She is the right age to bear children, and it is time for me to take a family, so she is going to be me wife. She will give the Clan some bonny bairns and ensure prosperity for years to come. That way, I can keep her close and make sure that she does nae cause any more trouble, especially for ye. I need ye thinkin’ and nae distracted by the likes of her. ”

“Uncle, ye….”

“What?” asked Vincent. “Oh, ye think that ye are in love with her. Look, I’m tryin’ to help ye here, Jon.

Yer nae in love with her, ye only think that ye are because that is what she wants ye to think.

I ken what these English lassies are like.

I was just down at the border, and they were practically throwin’ themselves at me.

Ye should be thankin’ me for takin’ her on. ”

“Ye cannae do this,” said Jon.

“I cannae do this?” asked Vincent. “Who do ye think that ye are speakin’ to?

I can do this, and I will. The lass is to be me wife, and that is the end of it.

Maybe if ye kenned yer place, I might have given ye more power, but ye would lead this Clan astray.

I’m the only one who kens what’s best for the Clan.

Ye’ll thank me for this, Jon, when ye realize that the world is a troublin’ place.

Now, I think that we are done here. Go and do yer job and let me do mine. ”

Jon opened his mouth to speak, but his uncle shot him another gaze, and he knew that there was no arguing with the man. He had always been coy with it before, but he had all but come out and said that Jon would never be Laird.

Jon walked through the castle grounds with Amelia. He opened his mouth a few times to ask her a question but closed it again without saying a word. He did not believe what his uncle had said to be true, but that did not stop him from thinking about it and questioning it. What did it matter, anyway?

He was sure that he had feelings for this woman by his side and that she had feelings for him too, but he could do nothing about that.

To pursue her meant defying his uncle, and that was not something that could be done.

Or could it? A part of him wanted to run away with Amelia, or take her as his own and face the wrath of his uncle, but he had to think about the Clan too.

He had a duty to his people, even if he would never lead them.

“What did your uncle say?” asked Amelia.

“He was too busy to speak with me,” lied Jon.

He wanted to ask her about what had been said when she had met with his uncle, but he could not bring himself to insult her like that.

The more he thought about it, the more he believed what she had said about the meeting.

He knew that his uncle loved him, and he loved the man too, but he had seen a madness in his eyes.

The Laird was a man in power who was never going to give that up.

Jon took a look behind, checking the shadowy alcoves.

The sun had only recently set, and the lamps were being lit, causing yellow flickers to be cast across the stone wall, highlighting just how many shades there were, and he could not help but think that something was lurking there.

Everything was being flipped upside down.

“Are you feeling well?" asked Amelia. She took his hand in hers, but he quickly shrugged her off.

“Aye, I’m fine,” he said. The truth was that he was not fine.

Nothing was fine, and he was not sure that he could fix it.

He stared into Amelia’s brown eyes, and he fell for her even more.

She had not been in the castle for long, but it was unmistakable—he was in love with her.

Now, that was going to be taken away from him.

His uncle would keep power forever, and, now, he would take the woman he loved too.

“Talk to me, Jon. You look troubled.”

“I…. It does nae matter. Come on, it’s a braw night. Let’s walk together for a wee bit.”

She did not try to take his hand again, and they walked side by side through the courtyard.

“I cannot wait for you to speak with your uncle,” said Amelia. “We can finally be together properly, and we will not have to hide it anymore.”

Jon still could not shake what his uncle had said from his mind.

Amelia was caring and loving, he had seen that firsthand, and she always treated people well.

Perhaps that is what had happened. Perhaps she had shown him respect and been her usual charming self, and he had mistaken that for something else.

Now, he had his heart set on her because of it.

Except, he did not have his heart set on her. He only wanted her to an end. She would give him children and more power, but he would not love her. Jon loved her, and he wanted her. Needed her.

“I have to tell ye somethin’,” said Jon.

He took Amelia’s hand and held it tight in his.

The two of them stopped talking and faced each other.

“I did get the chance to speak with me uncle,” he continued.

He took a deep breath. He had to tell her everything, and they would decide together what to do next.

But something behind Amelia caught his eye. “That bastard.”

“What? Where are you going?” asked Amelia. She turned and reached out for Jon’s shoulder, but he was striding off at too quick a pace. She ran after him as he made straight for Ruben, who was standing outside the stable with three other stable hands.

“What is the meanin’ of this!” shouted Jon.

“Please, I’ve done nothin’ wrong,” said Ruben. “Will ye please just leave me alone and let me do me work.”

“Aye, and what work is that?” asked Jon.

“Lookin’ after the horses,” said Ruben, clearly becoming annoyed at the questions.

“What’s that in yer hand?” asked Jon.

“We need more leather for saddles, so we’re sendin’ word to the Gregor Clan for some help. They always have good leather, and we have the coin to pay for it. Do ye have a better idea?”

“Nay, that sounds like a fine idea, and ye are wise to write them a letter suggestin’ it.”

"Aye, so why are ye accostin’ me again just for doing me duty?”

“Because I saw ye writin’ that letter, and it was only two days ago that ye claimed that ye couldnae write.”

“I… but, ye… look, I can explain.”

“Aye, and ye better explain quickly,” said Jon. He took a step forward, not grabbing him by the throat this time, but ready to.

“I—I was flustered. Ye came chargin’ at me, and I did nae write those letters to ye, but I kenned that ye wouldnae believe me, so I came up with the best excuse that I could think of. I’m tellin’ ye the truth.”

Jon grabbed Ruben by the collar and hoisted him up on his toes. “Look me in the eye and tell me that ye did nae send those letters.”

Ruben took a moment before he answered. “I swear it on me maither’s life. I did nae send the letters.”

Jon held Ruben for a second longer before he let go of the collar. He nodded at Ruben and then turned away from him.

“You are sure that he did not send the letters?” asked Amelia.

“I could see it in his eyes that he was tellin’ the truth. Besides, I think that there is more going on here than just a jealous lover. Everythin’ is gettin’ more and more complicated. I will tell ye everythin’, but we need to get out of here first.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Amelia.

“Dinnae look behind ye, but there is someone followin’ us. They’ve been followin’ me since I got down to the courtyard. If I can find out who is after me, I can find out who sent that letter and why they want to harm me.”