Isla was still livid when she woke up the day after Skye had been arrested. How could Caelan do this to her? The woman was her mother! They hadn’t seen each other in years, true, but Isla knew her mother well enough to know how much she hated Bhaltair. He had abused her for years, and she would never aid him now, let alone through spying on Isla. Yet Caelan hadn’t listened, and he still had Skye arrested as a spy.

Caelan had come to bed late last night. Her glare had kept him from joining her in bed. They hadn’t tried to talk it out--they were both too exhausted for that.

Isla sat up and looked around. Caelan was still sleeping on the floor. As quietly as she could, she slid out of bed. She was still exhausted--she always was these days, with the baby so close to coming--but she couldn’t lie around all day. She had things to do.

It didn’t take her long to get washed, dressed, and ready for the day. Isla checked to ensure that Caelan was still sleeping before she silently slid the letters she had written out from underneath her pillow. She prayed that Aileene wouldn't need to make use of them, but she couldn't be too careful. After the talk she'd had with Aileene last night, she knew the midwife would take care of Isla's coming baby as well if necessary. Caelan didn’t know of this plan, and if all went well, he never would.

Isla would go have breakfast, and then she would go give the letters to Aileene, proving that she had permission to raise Isla’s child, Orla, if the worst happened. Following breakfast, she would go see her mother. She needed to apologize for the way Skye had been treated here.

Alan and Aileene were already at the breakfast table, though the food hadn’t arrived yet. It was still a little early for that. Aileene looked utterly exhausted, but at the same time joyful. Her hair was a little messy and she had dark circles around her eyes, but she was still smiling. Her bairn was in her arms. Little Emily.

“How do ye feel?” Isla asked, taking a seat across the table from Aileene.

“Ah’m well,” Aileene said, looking down at her newborn girl. “And ye? How are ye feelin’?”

“Just tired,” Isla admitted. “It’s been a rough time, ye ken?”

Aileene nodded. “Did ye speak with Caelan about yer mother?”

Isla surveyed the breakfast room to see who else was about. She was alone with her friends. "Ah didnae speak to Caelan last night," she admitted softly. She felt foolish saying it aloud. She was a woman, not a child, and the silent treatment did no one any good. Maybe it does if ye’ve nothin’ kind to say. Right now, she didn't want to talk to Caelan. She still loved him, but she wanted nothing more than to scream in his face.

"Maybe ye can talk with him today after ye've both rested a bit," Alan said. "Tensions were high last night. Just go into it calm…” he trailed off under both of the women’s stares. Then his face reddened. “Ah’m sorry. Ah donnae mean to lecture ye.”

Isla gave him a weak grin. She didn’t want the advice right now, but Alan was one of her dearest friends, and she was grateful that he cared enough to try to help.

"Ah'll talk to Caelan," she assured them. "Can Ah hold Emily, Aileene?"

Aileene stood and came around the table to give Isla the bairn. Isla took the little girl in her arms. Emily was sound asleep. Such tiny little hands the bairn had! And soon Isla would have her own little one. Orla. She couldn't wait to meet her.

Emotions suddenly erupted inside Isla. Excitement, love, and hope for her own little one, and love for Aileene and her small family. If Alan and Aileene can make it work, cannae Caelen and Ah? We all worried that Alan was a traitor at first as well. Maybe Caelan is justified in some caution. He took it too far, perhaps, but we can make this right.

"Isla? Are ye all right?" Aileene asked.

Isla realized that she was blinking back tears. "Ah'm well," she said, looking up from the bairn, and the way Aileene smiled at her told Isla that she understood.

There were footsteps in the hallway, and Isla looked up as Caelan entered. The room fell into an awkward silence. Isla gave Caelan a tentative smile, testing the mood, and he smiled back warily. They were both trying. It would be all right.

Caelan came across the room to sit with Isla at the table.

“Hello, little one,” he said to Emily, who was still sound asleep. “She’s darlin’.”

“Thank ye,” Aileene said.

The servants came with the food; eggs with little bits of pork cooked into them. Isla's stomach flip-flopped at the smell. She usually liked this breakfast, but this pregnancy made her appetite unpredictable, and what she craved one day would make her sick the next. Isla stood, sure that she would be sick if she stayed at the table.

"Ma lady?" asked the confused servant girl who was setting a plate at Isla's place at the table.

"Do ye ken ye can find me something else for breakfast?" Isla asked though she blushed at the rudeness of it.

The serving girl understood right away. This had, unfortunately, happened several times. "Of course, ma lady. Right away." She curtsied and retreated.

"Not much longer and yer bairn will be here," Aileene said. "Then ye can eat whatever ye want!"

"It cannae come soon enough," Isla said with a half-hearted smile. She wanted Orla here, yes, but she was afraid of the process of getting her here. What if something went wrong? What if she couldn't manage the pain?

Caelan turned around to give Isla a concerned look--he always got worried when she was sick--and she felt guilt wash over her. She wished that she could tell him about the deal she had made with Aileene, but she couldn’t. Isla had written up the papers, and she would slip them to Aileene at breakfast. Caelan would stop her if she tried to give herself up to the raiders, so it was important that she have her plans in place to protect her loved ones. The prospect terrified her, but if it saved Caelan or the child, how could she be so selfish as to stay?

“Isla?” Caelan said, and he had a bit of a tentative edge to his voice. “Whit do ye say we go see Skye after breakfast?”

"Ah ken we should," Isla said. "She's not the spy, Caelan. I ken she wouldnae ever go back to Bhaltair. She detests him as much as I do."

Caelan nodded. “We’ll go speak with her.”

Isla pushed down a surge of rage. Talk to her? No, they should be freeing her! She closed her eyes and gathered her patience. More shouting would not help anyone, and besides, it would wake baby Emily. Isla looked down at the bairn. She ached to meet her own little girl.

The serving girl came back out with a plate of dried fruit. “Will this do, ma lady?”

Isla nodded. “Thank ye very much.”

The serving girl smiled, set the plate on the table, and went back to the kitchens.

“Ah’ll take Emily, Isla,” said Aileene.

“Naw, naw. Finish eatin’ first,” Isla said.

Aileene gave her a grateful smile and turned back to her food.

"Alan, would ye be willin' to come with Isla and Ah to talk to Skye?" Caelan asked. "Ah'd prefer to have someone impartial about."

“Aye,” Alan said. He was still focused on his food. He was a little pale, but Isla supposed it was to be expected; he was a brand new father and he likely hadn’t slept well with the bairn to take care of.

“Ah appreciate it,” Caelan said.

Isla swayed to and fro with the baby, trying to keep her sleeping.

“Ah’d like to examine ye when yer done talkin’ to yer mother,” Aileene said. “Ye cannae afford too much stress right now, Isla. It’s naw good for ye nor the bairn.”

“Ah ken,” Isla sighed, “but Ah cannae see a way around it right now. Ah need to get this sorted out with Mother. I ken she’s not the spy.”

“Who do you ken it could be, then?” Alan asked. He sounded a little strained. Of course; working in security in the castle, he would feel responsible for seeking out the spy. It would be up to him and Banner to coordinate. Still, as he was a new father, Isla wished that he could escape this stress.

"Ah donnae ken who would spy on this castle," Isla said wearily. "Ah donnae want to think of anybody that way."

“It comes with the territory, love,” Caelan said. “We have to suspect everybody.”

Isla bit her tongue to prevent herself from giving a sharp response. Suspect everyone, yes, but not her mother. Given the chance, Skye would kill Bhaltair. It had been a shock to see her mother again, and Isla hadn’t handled it well, so how could she hold it against Caelan when he did the same?

Alan ran his hand through his hair, then pushed away his remaining food.

"Alan, whit the hell happened to yer eyes?" Caelan asked.

Taken aback, Alan looked at Caelan, then at Isla. There was something odd about his eyes. They were dilated, the black pupil enlarged to nearly hiding the iris of his eyes.

“Look at me,” Aileene said sharply, and Alan did.

“Do ye feel all right, love?” Aileene asked.

“Not really,” Alan admitted. He leaned forward slightly on the table, letting it take his weight. A bit of saliva dribbled down his chin and he hurriedly wiped it away. His hand shook badly as he did so.

“When did it start?” Aileene asked.

"Jist a couple of minutes ago. It's probably...probably nothing," he said, but his voice was growing more strained with every word. "Ah...Ah donnae ken what's wrong. Ah feel all shaky. Ma heart feels odd." He put his only hand to his chest. "It's racin'."

Aileene immediately put down her fork and grabbed Alan’s wrist. From the way she held his wrist, with her fingers just below the thumb, Isla knew that she was taking his pulse.

Isla knew it was serious when Aileene let her concern show, just for a moment, before she could mask it. Aileene never let on when anything was amiss.

Then all hell broke loose. Alan toppled backwards off of his bench, and Aileene dived to catch him. They fell to the floor together, Aileene underneath Alan, shielding his fall. Alan convulsed, his head shielded from the cold stone floor by his wife’s legs. Isla stepped closer, feeling desperately helpless. Alan’s skin was waxy and pale.

"Whit do ye want me to do?" Isla asked, and was surprised at how calm she sounded. She didn't feel the least bit calm. Aileene and Hextilda had both trained her in their ways of healing; she could help. She couldn’t afford to panic right now.

“Jist watch out for Emily, and donnae touch anything on the table. He’s been poisoned,” Aileene said.

Alan’s breathing was beginning to sound badly strained. Horror rose within Isla. She cradled Emily against her breast, glad that the child was asleep and not witnessing her father's condition.

“Can Ah help ye, Aileene?” Caelan asked.

Aileene shook her head. She was looking down at Alan, watching him convulse and stroking his hair. “We have to wait it out. We cannae move him; it could affect his heart. Ah’ve seen it before. All we can do is pray until the convulsions stop.”

Isla closed her eyes, unable to bear watching Alan any longer. God, let him live. Save him. Emily couldn’t lose her father, and Aileene needed Alan, too. Alan. One of Isla’s dearest friends.

Hearing retreating footsteps, Isla opened her eyes. Caelan was quickly walking away. Isla watched him in disbelief. How could he just walk away from his friend when he may be dying?!

Caelan went out into the hall. "Banner!!" he shouted. "I need a team of guards here immediately!"

Emily squirmed in Isla’s arms, and she swayed and shushed the baby, praying that she wouldn’t wake just now.

“Alan, look at me,” Aileene said firmly.

Isla could tell that Alan was trying, but it was difficult as hard as he was convulsing.

“Ye willnae leave me,” Aileene said, her voice as steely as her iron eyes. “Ah need ye, and Emily needs ye even more. Ye have to hold on. Ye can beat this. Yer strong-willed. Just hold on a little longer and ye'll be just fine ..."

Alan groaned, and Isla thought he was in pain.

“Ah ken, love,” Aileene said, stroking Alan’s hair. “Ye’ll be all right.”

Caelan reappeared beside Isla. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Ah swear.”

Her jaw set, Aileene looked up at him and gave a short nod.

“Do ye ken whit poison was used?” Caelan asked.

“Not now,” Aileene growled. It was bad, then, if she didn’t want to say it in front of Alan.

Alan gasped raggedly, and Isla felt a chill down her spine. It’ll be a miracle if he makes it.

Banner came into the room, followed by several other men. Several of the men following Banner tensed, staring at Alan on the floor.

“His food was poisoned,” Caelan said. “Donnae let anyone leave the kitchens. Ask around if anyone has already run for it. We have to get to the bottom of this.”

“Ah understand,” Banner said, his voice steely as he looked at Alan. Banner and Alan had become good friends. “Ah’ll find out who did it, ma laird.” He gestured to the others and they followed him back to the kitchens. For the first time, Isla realized that several of the servants were standing in the kitchen doorway, gaping at Alan.

Alan's tremors were starting to still. Isla's breath caught. Was he dying?

"Easy, love," Aileene said gently. "Ye'll make it. There ye are. Yer out of the woods if it didnae stop yer breathin' already. Ye'll be weak for a while, and the next few hours willnae be very pleasant, but ye'll be fine. Just breathe."

"L--love ye," Alan managed, his breath rasping.

"Ah ken, and Ah love ye, too. Just rest." She took his wrist again, and Isla knew that she was taking his pulse again.

"Is everyone else all right?" Alan asked. "Ma vision is fuzzy…"

"We're fine," Aileene assured him. "Emily didn't even wake."

"Who would want to poison Alan?" Isla asked, and her voice sounded haunted even to her own ears.

Alan managed a raspy laugh. "Who wouldnae?!"

Unsure if he was joking or not, Isla didn't answer.

Something wet trickled down Isla's leg. Horrified, she went rigid. She doubted that she could hide the fact that her water had just broken, but Aileene had more urgent matters to tend to. Isla could manage the first few hours on her own, she was sure.

"Isla," Aileene said in a matter of fact voice, "did yer water just break?"

Caelan, Alan, and Aileene were all staring at her.

"Aye," Isla admitted weakly, "but Alan is more urgent right--"

"Alan will be fine with plenty of fresh water to flush the poison from his system and plenty of rest. His heart isn't so bad as it was. Caelan, can Ah ask ye for some help with Alan? Ye'll need to get him carried up to his room; we donnae want the seizures to start again, and we cannae stress his heart going up all those stairs."

"Caelan?" Banner called from the kitchen. "Do ye ken whit the poison looks like? Whit are we searchin' for?"

Caelan looked questioningly at Aileene.

"Hemlock," Aileene said.

The dining chamber went dead silent save for Alan's harsh breathing. Her heart pounding, Isla looked at Alan. He was extraordinarily lucky to be alive.

"We'll search it out," Banner said. He turned to his guards. "Ye two stay here with me. Ye other two keep people away from here, and ye," he said, pointing to the last guard, "go get more guards."

Isla looked at the entrance to the dining hall. Several people were gathered there, watching with mingled curiosity and horror. Isla looked at Caelan, feeling her eyes widen. She did not want an audience here after her water had just broken, and she definitely didn't want her labour monitored by everyone in the castle. She knew it was too late to stop the news from spreading, though; news of the poisoning and of her water breaking was undoubtedly already being told to anyone who would listen.

“Banner,” Aileene said, “Ah’ll need guards to escort Alan, Isla, Caelan, and Ah to the infirmary. We donnae need the person who did this to try to pick us off on the way there, with two of us helpless.”

Alan was well enough to exchange an indignant look with Isla before they both looked reproachfully at Aileene.

“Och, donnae give me that look,” she said dismissively. “Do ye want to try a fight right now, Isla, with yer bairn comin’? And Alan, ye can hardly breathe.”

Neither Isla nor Alan had an answer for that.

Caelan stepped over and put a hand on Isla’s arm. “Isla, do ye need me to carry ye?”

“Naw,” Aileene said. “She should walk. She still can. Ah’ll take Emily, and Isla, ye can lean on me if ye need it. Caelan, can you carry Alan?”

Alan tried to sit up from where he was still lying on the ground with his head pillowed by Aileene’s skirts. Aileene caught his shoulders and kept him down, and he was far too weak to resist.

“Alan, ye will let Caelan carry you,” she growled. “Ah’ll not have yer heart give out and make me look incompetent, and Ah have no intensions of raising a bairn all on ma own. Just let Caelan carry ye.”

“All right, all right,” Alan said, still struggling to breathe.

“Caelan, Ah need ye to come get him before Ah get up. If he starts convulsing again, he may hurt himself. If the seizures start again, be sure to protect his head.”

Caelan went over and lifted Alan. Now that Alan wasn’t resting on the ground, Isla could see how badly he was trembling even now. Alan put his hand on Caelan’s shoulder, trying to steady himself. Aileene came over and took the baby from Isla. “Let’s go.”

Banner gave a quick order and five guards came to surround them. More guards were flooding into the room.

“Find who did this, Banner!” Caelan called over his shoulder.

“Ye have ma word that Ah’ll do all Ah can,” Banner said.

Guards were clearing the halls on the way to the infirmary, but there were still curious faces everywhere Isla looked. Some of them looked frightened. They didn’t need more fear in the castle right now. Not after they had been under siege for months.

Isla listened to Alan’s breathing as they walked. Caelan was strong, but after a couple of flights of stairs, he was starting to slow a bit. Isla didn't mind; she was in pain. The contractions were not pleasant, and she wanted to sink to the floor. At the same time, she wondered if the movement was actually helping ease her pain, but she wouldn't know for sure until she was off her feet. Still, at least she could breathe. Alan was in more danger than she was right now.

They made it to the infirmary without incident. Two of Aileene’s assistants were there; apparently, word that the healers were needed had already made it here. Isla knew both of them; Sophie, who was in Isla's opinion the most intelligent and capable of Aileene's assistants. Gara was also there. She was capable but quite timid--timid enough that Isla didn’t think that she should be a healer. She seemed so unsure about everything she did, and it wasn’t exactly comforting, especially when someone was hurt.

Sophie’s eyes widened when she saw Alan, but she stayed calm. Gara, on the other hand, gasped loudly and put her hands over her mouth. Aileene gave her a dirty look, and Gara immediately lowered her hands and looked away, abashed.

“Put Alan on one of the beds,” Aileene said. “Stay with him. Make sure he keeps breathin’, and that he doesn’t fall off the bed if the seizing starts again.”

Someone ran into the room and Isla looked back, visions of the killer coming to finish the job flashing through her head.

“Hextilda! Ah’m glad to see ye!” Aileene said.

Panting, Hextilda nodded. “Ah had a bad feelin’. I went lookin’ for ye, but it sounds like Ah just missed ye. Whit happened?”

"Isla is in labour," Aileene said. "Alan's been poisoned. Caelan is goin' to look after Alan for a bit, but can ye look after Emily?"

“Of course,” Hextilda said, stepping forward to take the child from Caelan.

"Isla," Caelan said.

Isla and Aileene, who had been heading for one of the infirmary beds, paused.

Caelan took Isla in his arms, and she felt safe for the first time today. All hell had broken loose, but she still had her husband. What if he had been the one who was poisoned? She would have felt awful for not sorting things out while she still had him.

"Good luck, ma love," Caelan said. He brushed a gentle kiss across her hair. "Ah'm here if ye need me."

"Ah love ye, too, but Ah'll not have ye in the birthing room." She said it with a small laugh to try to soften the bluntness of her words.

"If ye need me, Ah'll be there," he said.

Isla exchanged a disbelieving look with the midwife. It simply was not proper to have a man present during childbirth.

"Isla, it isnae like Ah haven't already seen ye. Ah've been with ye. Ah ken what ye look like, and--"

"All right, all right, that's enough!" Isla squeaked, feeling her face heat. Aileene was trying to stifle her laughter behind her hand, but she wasn't doing a good job of it, and both Alan and Hextilda were staring. Hextilda's cheeks were a brilliant red, and she quickly bent her head and fussed over Emily when Isla glanced at her. Alan gave a half-hearted grin, and Isla was sure he would be laughing if he weren't miserably struggling for breath.

"Look," Isla said quickly, "we'll call for ye if there's an emergency, all right? Until then, ye'd best stay out!"

Grinning broadly, Caelan stepped back and raised his hands in surrender. "Ah wouldnae dare, with ye so fiery before ye've even started. Ye'll be fine, love."

A little reassured, Isla nodded. Caelan believed in her, even after their spat.

"Ye will be fine," Hextilda chimed in.

Isla felt like a great weight had been lifted from her chest. Hextilda's predictions weren't always this clear, but they had never been wrong yet. If the soothsayer was this confident, then it truly would be all right.

"Thank ye," Isla told Hextilda, and she meant it with her whole heart.

"Isla, ye need to get to bed," Aileene said firmly. "We'll go into the birthing room. It's more private."

Aileene helped Isla into one of the small rooms on the side of the infirmary. She led her to one of the beds and quickly pulled the door shut behind them.

"Are ye sure Alan will be all right?” Isla asked under her breath. The door was solid and blocked much of the sound from inside, but she would take no chances on Alan overhearing. “Ah can manage by myself for a while if Alan needs ye.”

Aileene glanced at the door as well, and then leaned close to Isla. “Ye already ken, but there’s not a thing Ah can do for hemlock poisonin’. It’s a miracle that he survived. He must not have ingested enough to be fatal. Ah ken he would already be dead if it was goin’ to take him, but Ah’m still glad Caelan is there to look out for him if he starts to seize again, or if he stops breathin’. Ah can try breathin’ for him, if it comes to that, but Ah ken we’re past that part now. I hope we are,” she added. “Ah’ve seen hemlock poisonin’ three times. The first two were accidental; some lovers on a picnic tried to make tea from it. They didn’t survive.

“Anyway,” Aileene said with a shake of her head, “we need to be focusin’ on ye. How do ye feel?”

“It, uh, hurts,” Isla said. “Ah donnae ken whit it's supposed to feel like, so Ah'm not sure whit to tell ye. It just feels like ma time of the month, but much worse."

“The contractions are normal,” Aileene said. “Ye’ll be all right. Let’s bring yer little one into the world.”

Passion And Power >>GET MY COPY HERE <<