Page 23 of A Laird and a Gentleman

“There is more to you than your magic.”

Mariam looked up as heat rose to her cheeks. “I’ve spent my whole life hiding who and what I am. I’m not certain I can change that. People make assumptions about me before they ever come to know me simply because I am a Swinton.”

Nessie lifted a brow. “But you are also a Llyr.”

The thought stopped Mariam. She had never considered such a thing before. “But is that enough?”

“Aye,” Nessie said with a bittersweet smile. “You are always enough. You simply haven’t realized it yet.”

Mariam frowned. “What I am or am not doesn’t matter right now. The villagers are coming and I have a feeling all this won’t end well for any of us.”

“Then what are you going to do about it?” Nessie challenged.

“Who said I would do anything?” An air of defensiveness charged Mariam’s movements as she headed for the chamber door. “I will watch and wait from the tower. Perhaps I was mistaken and the villagers really do want to talk to Cameron.”

“You are running away,” Nessie murmured as they walked up the stairs, heading for the tower.

“For now.” Mariam set a brisk pace up the stairs. To her surprise, Nessie stayed beside her, though her breathing was ragged by the time they reached the doorway at the top. Feeling slightly remorseful, Mariam held the door for the older woman then they both stepped into the open and moved toward the crenellated wall. Peering through an opening, Mariam gazed down on the advancing mob as Cameron and only five of his men rode on horseback to greet them.

“Is this as you dreamed?” Nessie asked from beside Mariam.

“Not entirely.” But even as she spoke the words, one of the village men dropped his torch to the ground. A jewel-bright glow of red slithered across the dry grass. The fire jumped and spread as it feasted on the nearby bushes, and soon the fresh-born flames headed toward the castle and spread, licking upward as they consumed everything in their path.

The villagers stopped as sudden cries of distress now filled the air. Cameron and his men did not stop; instead they continued to advance, despite the frightened neighing of the horses. She could not hear what he said from this distance, but she could see Cameron signaled the villagers to follow him away from the flames, and toward the castle’s entrance. She could imagine he was encouraging them to seek refuge inside the solid stone walls, where the flames could not reach them.

Mariam continued to watch as Cameron and his men guided the villagers to safety. A reddish aura rose from the growing core of heat and flame that spread across the landscape while a heavy rolling mass of choking gray smoke billowed above it. The last villagers and two of Cameron’s men crossed the drawbridge just as the flames reached the wood.

Would the flames stop once the drawbridge was consumed? And once gone, how would any of them leave this place until the wooden structure was replaced?

Mariam tensed. They would all be trapped together.

From within the outer bailey walls, Cameron looked up to the tower. Despite the distance, she could imagine the look on his face was that like she had witnessed in her dream—pleading with her to do something to help put out the flames.

But what could she do that would not cast suspicion? She turned her gaze to the sky, seeking an answer. It was then she saw a small white cloud, drifting peacefully across the afternoon sky as though totally unaware of the destruction below. At the sight, an idea formed. Mariam moved behind one of the crenellations to hide herself from those below. She gazed up at the sky once more. Could she do it? Could she make that one little cloud rain down on the flames below and extinguish them?

No one would think twice about a sudden rainstorm in Scotland. They happened with great frequency, even on the nicest of summer days. Stretching her arms up in supplication, she drew a deep breath and called upon the forces inside her, forces she hoped would respond.

Above her, the cloud swirled and darkened. It spread across the sky, becoming a bank of clouds. A crack of lightning sounded, then drops of rain fell to the earth below. The drops fell softly at first, then built in intensity, until a downpour was upon them all.

Water brushed Mariam’s cheeks as the smell of sulfur filled the air and the fire dwindled, then vanished. The rain lessened as all her strength left her and she dropped to the wet wooden floor. She remained there, trying to regain her breath and her equilibrium as Mistress MacInnes bent down to her.

“You did it, Mariam. Praise the heavens! Everyone is safe because of you.”

“And that secret shall remain between you and me—understood?” Mariam said as she clambered to her feet.

“Of course, my dear. I am ever so proud of you.”

Mariam didn’t really know how to respond. No one had ever praised her in such a way since her mother died. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she staggered to the wall, leaning heavily on the stone, not trusting her legs to support her unaided. Once there, she wiped her rain-soaked hair back from her face with her hand. She had succeeded in putting out the fire, even though she still did not understand how she had truly done such a thing. But what she had accomplished here had been good. Helpful. Necessary.

Nessie took the black stole from her shoulders and slipped it around Mariam’s, then slipped her arm through Mariam’s, pulling her against her side and allowing her to lean on Nessie’s good side. “Come, my dear, let us get you out of this rain.”

Mariam was too drained of energy to even nod. There was no way she could make it inside on her own as she was. The two of them had made it slowly down four stairs before Cameron appeared.

“Let me help.” He stepped in and scooped Mariam into his arms. “Will you be all right on your own?” he asked Mistress MacInnes.

“Aye, lad. Take her to her chamber. I shall meet you there with a warm tonic.”

Cameron moved so swiftly down the stairs Mariam had to shut her eyes to fight a sense of disorientation. When she felt him set her on the bed, she opened her eyes once more. She watched as he moved away to set more logs on the fire before he returned to her side. Despite the increasing heat, she shivered.