Dangerous Highlander

Lucan handed her a waterskin and sat on her other side.

She smiled and drank deeply. She was exhausted but eager to go to the garden and help the plants grow. “Galen, you knew I could use my magic to help the plants grow. What else can I do?”

“Cara,” Lucan cautioned.

She knew he worried about her taking Galen’s advice, especially since he wasn’t a Druid, but she needed to know. For more reasons than Lucan could ever know.

Galen leaned an elbow on a step behind him as he stretched his legs out in front of him to cross at the ankles. “Do you know why the Druids were needed in each tribe?”

She shook her head.

“They were used for more than their knowledge of the earth and their magic with growing plants. The chieftain of each clan had to have a Druid for their wisdom and ability to tell the truth from a lie.”

“How?” she asked.

“Magic. The Druids were well-respected members of every tribe. No one would dare to go against a Druid. Just as in all things, some Druids became power hungry. They searched their magic and delved into evil. The power they received from black magic surpassed anything they had ever known. Yet it was never enough.”

“Wouldn’t they have been able to destroy the other Druids?” Cara asked.

Galen shrugged. “You would think they could have, and would have, but they didn’t. I think they knew they needed the mie. The mie, though not as powerful as the drough were individually, together could easily conquer a drough. Since the drough each sought power, they stayed separated from the others.”

“So the mie would band as one and destroy the drough?” Lucan asked.

Galen gave a small nod. “I was told it happened rarely, but it did happen if a drough delved too deep in the black magic.”

“Yet the mie were happy to go to the drough to ask for help with the Roman invasion,” Cara said. “Why?”

Galen chuckled. “It was a common enemy they shared.”

Cara smiled as Galen used her same words she had used on Hayden. “So, are you telling me I have the power to tell if someone speaks the truth or not?”

“I don’t see why you couldn’t. It might not be as easy to learn as helping the plants, but I think it is something you could do in time.”

“With the help of a Druid,” Lucan added.

Cara bit her lip and nodded. “Aye. I would like to find a Druid that could help me with this.”

“We’ll find one,” Lucan said, and took her hand in his.

She smiled into his sea green eyes, but Hayden’s words about the drough blood inside her made the smile slip.

“What is it?” Lucan asked.

“Hayden said I had drough blood, that I would turn. Was he speaking the truth?” She looked from Lucan to Galen. “Will I?”

Galen shrugged. “I know some history of the Druids because I was forced to learn it while in Deirdre’s capture. She had us search books and scrolls for any information on the Druids. As to Hayden’s claims, I don’t have an answer for you.”

“I don’t want to be drough.”

“Then don’t,” Lucan said. “Remember, Cara, you have a choice.”

But did she? By the weary, sad look in Galen’s blue gaze before he turned away from her he didn’t think she did. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she would have to become a drough to fight Deirdre.

Cara would have to ask Galen about it later, when Lucan couldn’t overhear.

With Lucan by her side every moment, it became almost impossible to get Galen alone, but she had the opportunity when she was getting the noon meal ready and she spotted him in the garden.

Cara walked out of the kitchen to his side. He looked out over the sea, his hands by his sides.

“I knew you would come,” he said.

“How?”

He glanced at her. “You want to know about becoming drough.”

“You mentioned something once about me fighting Deirdre, that I would need to be drough to do it.”

“I spoke hastily,” he said. “You are just coming into your power, Cara. You’ve also found love with Lucan. Do you really want to ruin it?”

Love? Aye, she did love Lucan. Desperately.

“Do you?” Galen asked again. This time he turned to face her. “Once you are drough, there is no turning back. You will wear the mark always.”

“Mark?” she asked. “As in the blood vial?”

“That is part of it. The drough are also marked by the cuts from the blade when they do the ritual. The wounds heal, but not naturally because of the black magic involved.”

She licked her lips and glanced at the plants growing around her. She had done that, brought them back to life. “Do you know what it’s like to be a drough?”

“Once the evil has you, Cara, it never lets go.”

“I don’t believe that. A good person could fight it.”

Galen sighed. “Just as the gods inside us don’t care what we were before, the evil won’t care about your life before the ritual.”

Cara’s mind was in a whirlwind. “My parents were good people, Galen.”

“You were a child, Cara. Your perception of them is distorted. Look at what you have here. Think of that.”

“I am thinking of it,” she said, and blinked back tears. “I’m thinking of all of it. I would do anything to keep Lucan and the rest of you out of Deirdre’s grasp.”

He blew out a breath and stepped to her side. “You and Lucan are happy. Don’t destroy that.”

Cara stayed in the garden long after Galen left, and watched the sea. She thought of his words and knew he was right. Despite the impending battle and an uncertain future, Cara had found contentment with Lucan.

She hadn’t lied to him the previous day. It didn’t matter where she was as long as he was with her.

“Because I love him,” she whispered into the wind. “I love Lucan.”

If the time came when she had to choose becoming drough to save Lucan, she would do it in a moment. She would do anything for Lucan.

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. “Cara?”

She leaned back against Lucan and closed her eyes. “I’m here.”

“Is everything all right?”

“Aye,” she lied. She turned in his arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. “I’m sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

“They can keep waiting,” he said with a grin.

She laughed. “Galen is likely to eat everything in the kitchen before I can get it into the great hall.”

“True,” Lucan said with a sigh. “Come. I’ll help you.”

* * *

Lucan sat in the great hall before the hearth staring into the flames as night descended. He’d had an uneasy feeling that had grown as the day wore on. Now that night approached, he knew Deirdre would attack. He had told his fears to his brothers.

They hadn’t questioned him; they simply made sure everyone was at their posts at all times. There had been no supper in the great hall. Each man had been brought a trencher of food by Fallon.

Cara hadn’t understood why Lucan wouldn’t let her bring the food. He didn’t want her to worry, not yet. He wanted her to relax and enjoy the time they had before Deirdre attacked.

“What is going on, Lucan?” Cara asked.