Chapter 15
Gillacoemgain spent most of the next two days in bed, barely waking to eat something. I didn’t know what he had seen or what difficulties he’d faced, but the weight of it on him was obvious. I crept quietly in and out of our chamber where he dozed, bringing him meals and snuggling in beside him. On the morning of the third day, however, when I arrived with his morning meal, I found him awake and getting dressed.
“I was just about to come looking for you. I wanted to check on my birds. Come with me?”
I set the tray on a table. “Are you hungry? I brought all your favorite—” I began, but Gillacoemgain crossed the room and silenced me with a kiss.
The depth of his passion took my breath away. For the first time, I sensed joy in him. Since we’d first met, Gillacoemgain had been worried by the state of affairs in Moray. Now, with that burden lifted from him, I saw a spark of his true self.
When he finally let me go, I laughed. “Of course. Let’s go,” I said.
Gillacoemgain and I headed outside, crossing the yard to the stables where his falcons were kept.
“My Lord?” Standish said, falling into step with us.
“How are my birds?” Gillacoemgain asked.
“We’ve been keeping them exercised. I put one of the lads in charge of them. He has a way with animals and has taken good care of them. I think he’s back there now.”
Gillacoemgain nodded.
“My Lady,” Standish added, smiling at me. “The little one has your cheeks looking rosy as apples today.”
Gillacoemgain smiled and set his hand on my stomach. “What do you think, Standish? Boy or girl?”
“Or both, from the looks of her,” Standish said.
“Wouldn’t that be a blessing?” Gillacoemgain said, putting his arm around me and pulling me close.
“That dog of yours is out here somewhere, Lady. I just saw her run past, nose to the ground, hot on the trail of something.”
I nodded. Gillacoemgain patted the man on the shoulder, and we headed toward the mews where the falcons were housed. A few moments later, I heard Thora bark happily. We turned the corner to find Thora waiting patiently while a young boy held a small bit of bread for her.
“Down,” the boy told her.
Thora lay on the ground and looked up at the boy expectantly.
I laughed out loud.
At the sound of my voice, Thora turned and offered me a muffled bark.
The boy also looked at me. It was the same lad I’d seen with Thora from time to time. This was, however, the first time I’d seen him up close. He was a lovely child with smooth skin, curly brown hair, and sparkling green eyes. I had seen eyes like that once before…on Sid. I also noticed the shimmering glow of the otherworld around him. A half fey thing, perhaps?
“M’Lord, M’Lady!” he said happily, tossing the bread to Thora.
“So you’re the one who has kept Thora busy,” I said.
The boy nodded. “Yes, M’Lady. She’s a clever one.”
Gillacoemgain tousled his hair. “How are my falcons? I hear you’ve been keeping care of them.”
“Yes, M’Lord. They are doing well. I’ve been taking them out every day, letting them get their exercise.”
“What’s your name?” I asked, still eyeing the boy who seemed to avoid eye contact with me.
“Eochaid, M’Lady.”
“Well, let’s have a go then,” Gillacoemgain said. He slipped on a long, heavy leather glove then opened the door to the mew, coaxing one of the falcons to him.
Thora, I noticed, perked up.
“I hope you don’t mind, Lady Gruoch, but I’ve been running your bonnie lass here with the birds. She’d good at flushing pheasants,” Eochaid told me.
“Is she now?” I said, smiling down at Thora who looked like she’d been caught red-handed. “And, no doubt, in exchange for some of the winnings.”
Eochaid laughed. “Rabbits, when she can find them.”
I shook my head. “Naughty thing,” I said to her, but Thora just wagged her tail.
Gillacoemgain, Eochaid, and I then headed out into the field nearby, Thora following along beside me. The summer grass had grown tall. Purple asters, oxeye daisies, and buttercups painted the field with color.
As we walked, Gillacoemgain spoke in soft tones to the bird resting on his arm. The bird eyed him closely, clearly familiar with the sound of his master’s voice. Without fear of getting bit, Gillacoemgain petted the bird’s head, stroking his soft feathers.
“Well now, Thora. Seems all my girls have been busy running outside the castle walls in my absence. Let’s see if you’ve been as successful as your lady,” Gillacoemgain told my dog when we came to a thick patch of grass.
Eochaid whistled and directed Thora toward the field.
She zipped into the grass. The only thing you could see was the tip of her tail as she moved quickly through the field. We waited awhile then heard Thora’s muffled bark.
“She’s got them. Be ready,” Eochaid told Gillacoemgain.
A moment later, we heard the sound of wings as startled pheasants rose out of the grass.
Thora barked loudly.
Gillacoemgain directed the bird and sent her on her way. The falcon sped away quickly, diving with her sharp talons toward the birds. The intense sound of her wings caught me off guard, and the raven within me seemed to spark to life. It was all I could do to keep my spirit inside me. A moment later, the falcon returned, a pheasant in her claws.
She flew back to Gillacoemgain.
“Well done,” he told her. “That one is yours,” he added, sending her off to a nearby tree so she could enjoy the spoils of her work.
Thora came trotting back, looking at Eochaid expectantly. From his pocket, the boy pulled out a bit of dried beef that he tossed to her.
We hunted most of the morning, roaming through the fields, soaking in the summer sun. I kept my eyes on the ground while Gillacoemgain and the boy worked. I’d stuffed many herbs and roots into my pockets. My hands were covered in soil and the summer sun had me sweating, but I felt truly at ease.
I had just helped myself to a handful of wild-growing raspberries when I heard Gillacoemgain and the boy laughing. I gazed back at them. Gillacoemgain was clapping the boy gently on the back in congratulations when the falcon returned with a rabbit. It was such a sweet scene. I set my hand on my stomach. Inside, two babes were growing. Perhaps they were not Gillacoemgain’s blood, but they were mine, and it was clear to me that Gillacoemgain was going to be a loving father.
I smiled happily and closed my eyes, feeling the warm summer sun shining down on my dark hair. The sweet taste of raspberries filled my mouth, the sound of a child’s laughter on the wind. Could there ever have been a more perfect moment? I sighed contentedly, feeling the little ones within me stir. They were moving more and more each day, especially when I ate something they loved. Taking out a handkerchief, I picked a few more berries then rejoined Gillacoemgain and Eochaid.
As I did so, I heard the roll of thunder in the far distance.
“A storm is coming,” Gillacoemgain said, pointing to dark clouds on the horizon. In the distance, the sweet blue of the summer’s sky faded into a thick bank of clouds. “Let’s head back.”
“Thora,” I called, but the dog was still off looking for trouble.
“Fey thing, your bonnie lass,” Eochaid said. “Half the time I think she slips between the worlds. One minute she’s nowhere in sight, the next she’s right beside you,” he told me.
I looked down at the child. He had a mischievous look on his face. “You know, I’ve heard the same thing said about little boys…wild, fey things, such as they are.”