Highland Defiance - By Sky Purington Page 0,37

you were a dictator?”

Adlin frowned. “If I were a dictator, would I have left those who were willing to follow?”

Mildred frowned. “Adlin, you make it sound as if you created Scotland.”

Tortured, his expression grew guarded. He looked toward the fire. “Medieval Scotland is nothing like present day America. It was even less like that in what you call the 5 century. I was trying to show people that they could work together. That there existed one true God. ‘Twas not easy in a land ruled by many gods.”

Chilled, Mildred pulled back even further. “What of those with the belief in many gods? Do you… did you shun them?”

“Never. But there is room for the new God as well. That is the trouble. ‘Tis hard for people to ken both can co-exist.”

Overwhelmed, she backed away. “Too much.”

Adlin grabbed her hand before she could get far. “Highland Defiance became a place at the peak of Scotland that accepts all and doesna judge. This is a place that will always fight for what I envisioned; a peaceful land and people who are all equal and free to believe in their own gods or God.”

She started to speak but he put a finger to her lips and said, “Nobody should ever be judged for what they believe. This is the land of the Celts. This is the place where true freedom reigns.”

Her lip quivered. “Who do you believe in, Adlin?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Both the new and old. I am a mediator always.”

“No.” She shook her head and looked into his eyes. “There’s a battle inside you beyond me being here.”

“Come,” he whispered and pulled her back into the hallway. When he dropped to his knees, she did the same. When he fell to his belly, she did as well.

Adlin sidled forward until he looked down. She did the same.

“What do you see?” he asked.

Mildred stared down, amazed by the beauty. They looked upon moonlight, smoky haze, then onto fire surrounded by happy, dancing clansfolk. It was absolutely breathtaking. While animalistic, the scene below had a purpose… a design.

“These people are happy. They celebrate what I left here so long ago against all the odds,” he said.

“Why?”

He propped his chin on closed fists and looked down. “Because it worked. Because this place is powerful and when people liked something it stuck. This place always had a freedom about it.” Adlin ground his jaw. “People were free to be themselves here, no matter the religion they chose. I suppose it worked.”

Mildred continued to stare down.

Though mesmerized by the beauty she felt a certain sense of loss from Adlin. She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d wanted the whole of Scotland to be this way. Rolling on her side, she said, “I hate that I’m asking this but… what went wrong?”

Adlin continued to look down, his expression far away. “Free will, I suppose.”

She frowned. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

He rolled on his side as well and propped up his head. “Aye, ‘Tis a wonderful thing. However, ‘tis something that can’t be controlled.” His eyes lingered beyond her. “The ultimate problem, or perhaps blessing, with a democracy and all the in-betweens is that it tends to land in the very last place you expect it to.”

Mildred’s eyes met his. “The same could be said of a dictatorship or monarchy and all their in-betweens.” She took his hand. “I tend to think you’ve got something good going on here at “Highland Defiance” and Cowal for that matter, at least what I saw of it. If the whole of Scotland never followed your lead then it’s not meant to be.” She sidled closer. “Adlin, like all things, Scotland is truly out of your control.”

Adlin’s pupils flared, his emotions off kilter. “Everything here is supposed to be in my control.”

With a nod to the roof she tried to lighten the mood. “Then the smoke needs to go.”

“Iain,” he muttered then shook his head and looked at her. “I’ll make sure it’s taken care of with Iain MacLomain, a descendant. He’ll create something to relieve smoke from a castle.”

She rolled on her back and grinned. “How nice to be able to assign such things!”

Adlin rolled on his back as well. “Iain will be my favorite.”

She bent her knees and braced her feet on the floor. “You really are a planner.”

“Nope, just realistic.”

“Not nice to pick a favorite before they’re born.”

“Probably not.”

She turned her head his way. “Then why do so?”

He turned his head her way. “Because I already love him.”

They stared