the dancing continued, and most of the guests were in their cups, Naill neared his wife and took her elbow. He guided her to a corner away from earshot. “I have procured a room for us back there near the kitchens. I will put Millie to bed, she is half-asleep.”
“That’s fine,” she replied, her gaze straight ahead.
“Ye and I will sleep there as well.”
This time, she met his gaze for a moment. “I prefer that ye do not join us.”
It was not the time to argue with her. Naill huffed. “Fine.”
Somehow, Naill managed to find an empty bed. The old rooms at the stables, that used to belong to Ruari Ross, the laird’s cousin, were empty. He trudged there after ensuring his family was settled, glad that no one stopped to ask where he was going.
He’d been so annoyed after speaking to Bree that he’d imbibed more than usual, and now his head pounded. Usually, it was the morning that brought the aches. But this night, he was punished by feeling the effects of too much drink early.
Grabbing a small bowl, he dipped it into a water barrel and poured water over his head. The frigid liquid helped relieve the headache. Shivering, he rinsed his hands and ensured his face and neck were clean and headed inside.
The stable rooms were cold, but not unbearable. Thankfully, the cot had several thick blankets folded upon it. A servant must have prepared it in case someone came to sleep there.
After removing his shoes, he laid on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. He was on the brink of losing his wife. Yes, he was saddened about it. However, he refused to take the full blame for it. He was not the one who wanted to leave the marriage.
A light woke him. It was impossible that morning had come so quickly. Annoyed at the brightness, he sat up and blinked. The room had no window, so the light had to mean someone had entered with a lantern.
“Put that blasted thing down,” Naill grumbled. “It is much too bright.” If it was Cairon, he would make sure the boy knew how angry he was.
“Naill.” The voice seemed to bounce off the walls and through his head. The deep, familiar timbre reminded him of someone, but he wasn’t sure who.
“Who is there?”
The light swayed and Naill could make out the outline of a man, but the features were masked buy the lights and shadows. “It matters not who I am. I have been sent to take ye away to the past.”
“Where I am going is back to sleep,” Naill snapped, and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his dagger.
When the intruder moved closer and closer, Naill got up from the bed. “Stop there.” He held out a hand and, immediately, his wrist was grabbed. Just as he swiped with the dagger, his surroundings disappeared and Naill found that he was floating up and over the keep. In the darkness, he could see the bonfires still burning in the courtyard. As they moved over the wall, guards walked to and fro.
“Down there!” Naill called and several men looked around, but none looked up.
The apparition held his wrist with one hand. In the other, whatever it was held a lantern. As hard as he tried, Naill could not make out its features. It was as if a mist continuously masked its face.
“Where are ye taking me?”
“To the past.” Once again, the familiarity of the voice made him search his mind for who it could be.
Night turned to day and he lost interest in whatever it was that carried him through the air. Instead, he became fascinated by the appearance of the village below. It was the same and yet very different. It was not winter, but spring or summer. The green grass and flowers that swayed in the breeze were overly bright. The banners and signs in front of shops were much too lively.
They landed in the middle of a field that he recognized as where he often spent time as a young man.
Before he could ask anything, a beautiful, young woman walked down the path toward them. On her arm swung a basket. A soft smile played on her lips, her eyes searching for a shaded spot.
It was a younger version of Bree.
The wind blew stray amber hairs across her face and she brushed them away, the smile not fading. From the far right, a young man appeared and called to her. Naill recognized