Draco A Medieval Scottish Roma - Jayne Castel Page 0,62

frigid seawater doused them. Gavina swallowed a cry of fear, squeezing her eyes shut. When she’d insisted on them taking this journey, she hadn’t thought the boat trip would be so dangerous.

There was a reason why no laird before David had put a boat down here for escaping in.

The boat lurched and rolled, bobbing in the surf like an apple.

Gavina murmured a prayer under her breath. At this rate, they were going to capsize any moment now.

And then, all of a sudden, they were through the breakwater.

Gavina opened her eyes and twisted around to see the line of foaming waves crashing against the rocks behind them. She then turned back to Draco. Water dripped down his face, glistening despite the dull day, as he rowed them north.

Seeing her looking in his direction, he flashed her a grin. “That was exhilarating.”

Choking a laugh, as hysteria bubbled up inside her, Gavina relaxed her hold on the sides of the boat. The man looked the most cheerful she’d seen him. It was rare to receive a spontaneous smile from Draco Vulcan. “For ye maybe … I was sure we were going to end up dashed against the rocks.”

His mouth quirked once more, his dark gaze gleaming. “What … you didn’t trust I’d get you to safety?”

“No.” Gavina looked away from him, glancing behind her again at where Dunnottar loomed above, perched on the cliff-top like an eagle’s eyrie. Had they really climbed down from so high? She wasn’t looking forward to the return journey.

Don’t think about that, she counseled herself. Focus on one step at a time. Just like ye did with the ladder.

She then turned her attention back to Draco. His lean face was taut with effort now, as he rowed with long, even strokes, taking them away from the perilous rocks and farther north.

Stonehaven didn’t lie far from Dunnottar. It was a relatively short ride on horseback and so wouldn’t take them long by boat either. The port village had a harbor, with a long beach stretching north of it.

They traveled north, and soon the line of low-slung, white-washed houses with thatched roofs that huddled along the seafront of Stonehaven hove into view.

“Where will ye land the boat?” Gavina asked, breaking the silence between them.

“On the beach,” Draco replied, struggling to catch his breath now. “It’ll attract less attention … and should be easier to launch from there later.”

The light was fading—a grey day merging into an equally murky dusk. As they neared the village, Gavina inhaled the scent of smoke from cook fires, blending with the salty tang of the sea air. Most folk would likely be preparing their supper now; it was a good time to land in the village and go to the wise woman.

Farther on, the beach hove into sight, a wide pebbly crescent.

Gavina peered into the gloaming, scanning to see if anyone was about. The area appeared deserted.

Draco rowed them into the shallows, before he put down the oars, leaped overboard, and dragged the rowboat the rest of the way.

The hull of the boat hit the shingly shore with a crunch, and climbing to her feet, Gavina scrambled out onto the pebbles. She then helped Draco drag the craft properly out of the water.

Another crunch echoed through the damp air, this one louder than the last, as the pair of them pulled the boat up above the tideline.

Breathing hard, Draco straightened up, his brow furrowing. “That didn’t sound good,” he muttered. He circled the boat, peering at it. “Let’s hope it gets us back to Dunnottar without foundering.”

“I can’t see anything wrong with it,” Gavina replied, making an inspection of her own.

“Well … we’ll find out soon enough,” Draco replied. He stepped back from the boat, his gaze traveling south to where the smoke from chimney stacks stained the darkening sky. “Do you know where this wise woman lives?”

“In a hovel just north of the village,” Gavina replied, glad that she had an answer ready for him. Elizabeth had explained how to reach the woman’s house. Her sister-by-marriage had surprised her then, by revealing that she’d visited the woman when her womb failed to quicken after her marriage to Robert. Shortly after, she’d gotten with bairn.

“Let’s pay her a visit then.”

Leaving their boat upon the wide strand, amongst clumps of seaweed and kelp, Gavina and Draco crunched over the pebbles and rocks and headed for the green hills beyond, and the pathway leading into Stonehaven. Around them, the light faded further and the first stars twinkled