Highland Defiance

chapter Nine



Adlin knew better than to have done what he did.

But it was too late.

“Wha…” Mildred’s voice slurred.

Adlin leaned back against the wall and held his head in his hands until the pain passed. He’d have to answer for this one.

“What’s going on,” Mildred whispered.

“You’re home.”

A dim stone room slowly became visible. She sat next to him. “Home?”

“Aye.Home. Nineteen-forty-two New Hampshire.”

A sound of disbelief in her voice she asked, “Really?”

“Really.”

“Mildred?” Shouts started to drift their way from outside. “Mildred, where are you?”

Here goes.

Adlin ran a hand over his plaid and felt the fabric change.

Mildred stumbled to her feet and headed for the entrance to the cave. “Jim? David?”

By the time he exited the small entrance, Mildred was already hugging her friends. “I’m so glad to see you! You’ll never believe what happened to me!”

“One second you were at the rock over there, the next second coming out of there.” Jim’s voice faded when his eyes locked on Adlin.

It was an odd feeling finally looking this man in the face. He’d watched Jim Seavey for a long time, sized him up in every sense of the word. While he liked the lad he also absolutely loathed him.

After all, Jim loved Mildred nearly as well as himself.

That didn’t mean Adlin had any intention of letting the man have her.

Mildred turned in Adlin’s direction, almost surprised to see him even though they’d just spoken with one another.

“Adlin?” She whispered. “You’re really here?”

“Who?” David asked.

Adlin’s attention turned to the other man. Quiet and contemplative, he’d always held a certain fondness for David.

Mildred seemed to gather herself though her smile was uncertain and her eyes worried. “Adlin. A friend of mine.”

Jim shook his head and positioned himself in such a way that Adlin would have to get through him to get to her. “He’s no friend. You lie. Who is he, Mildred?”

Now this was a man who’d make a good addition to his warriors.

Even Adlin was surprised when she walked over and took his hand, her eyes going from him to her friends. “He’s okay. Adlin came a long way to deliver a message to Mama about Da. He’s just lost right now is all. Glad I found him here.”

A heavy frown pulled Jim’s lips down. “Mildred, one second you were at the rock over there, the next second coming out of this rock structure.” He shook his head. “I saw you vanish!”

Adlin let peace settle over, used his magic and locked eyes with Jim. “I think you’re mistaken, lad. You became interested in the rock and Mildred wandered off. Then you found her here.”

Jim’s shoulders tightened then he seemed to relax. “Maybe you’re right. Not sure how I missed that.”

David spoke up, confused. “You didn’t miss anything, Jim.”

Adlin locked eyes with David. “Are you quite sure?”

David blinked rapidly then frowned. “Maybe you’re right, Jim. She is hard to keep track of sometimes.”

Mildred looked in amazement between the men then back at Adlin. He winked. Her eyes rounded. The power of absolute persuasion was amongst the very least of his ‘magical talents.’

“So are you done being upset with me, Mildred?” he asked innocently. “After all, a Scotsman can get a wee bit lost on occasion.”

Her eyes rounded further, just now taking in his pants and shirt, his nineteen-forties garb.

“I’ll take that as a yes. But now that we’ve found each other, I’d like to go back to your house.”

“Off course,” she said softly. It took several moments before she repeated in a far more confident tone. “Of course.”

As if she didn’t know what else to say she looked at her friends. “Jim, David, this is Adlin. Adlin, my friends, Jim and David.”

Her friends seemed less than impressed, their eyes crawling over him like two predators more than willing to work together to bring down the prey. When Mildred continued to hold his hand when they left the ancient Stonehenge and headed through the woods, he was well aware of the dark looks cast by the other men.

Good. They should want to protect her from what they perceived as a threat.

As he walked, Adlin marveled at actually being in a place he’d only ever dreamt of. This was his first time in Salem, New Hampshire and knew it would not be his last. When her house appeared through the woods it was, in its own way, a homecoming for him.

The old colonial with its sturdy Oak tree out front seemed to patiently await his arrival like an old friend. This had already been and would be for hundreds of years to come, an important part of his life.

He wasn’t surprised in the least when the front door slowly opened and Mildred’s mother stood in the doorway waiting for them. Eyes both tortured and relieved, she stepped out and whispered, “Adlin.”

“Sarah,” he replied. “It’s so good to see you again, lass.”

Eyes as round as her daughters, she shook her head and touched her cheek, “You haven’t aged a day.”

Adlin smiled warmly and embraced her. When he pulled back he said, “Well, it hasn’t been all that long.”

Only then did it occur to her that Jim and David were there. “Of course not. Only a few years or so.”

“That’s right,” he responded and winked.

Mildred turned to Jim and David. “I’m so sorry but the family needs to catch up with Adlin. Can we get together later?”

The men nodded and agreed but Adlin didn’t miss the steady, untrusting look Jim shot him as they walked away. Nor did he miss the waves of jealousy coming off the man.

But that was the least of his concerns right now.

What soon became more pressing was the way he felt when he entered the front door. Time wavered and for a split second he saw what this house looked like when he’d walk into it both in its past and in his future. Not only that, he’d walk into it in its far future. It was a complicated feeling and certainly not the first of its kind.

This house was most certainly part of his life thread pre-laid by the gods.

With low ceilings, he nearly had to duck to go through the doorway. As if he knew exactly where to look his attention swung to the man and woman sitting in the kitchen to the right. Their eyes narrowed.

They’d known he was coming.

“Jonathan, Irene, this is Adlin,” Mildred’s mother said.

Both stood. Both were more powerful witches than their sibling.

Irene, tall and attractive in an earthy way, looked at Mildred. “It’s him.”

“Of course it’s me,” he replied.

When Irene strode his way and slapped him in the face, he remained still. Nose to nose, her eyes narrowed further. “Arrogance might work with Mildred, but not with me. You put my sister through hell for years. Shame on you.”

Mildred’s mother, Sarah, sunk slowly into a chair. Jonathan stepped forward but froze. Mildred clutched the doorway.

He deserved everything Irene threw his way. “Aye, I am sorry, lass. So verra sorry.”

Long and hard she stared at him until she finally said, “Not nearly sorry enough.”

Disgusted, she turned and set to making tea. This gave Jonathan his opportunity. Arms crossed over his chest, he said, “It’s always a bad sign when Irene’s temper erupts. Looks like she knows a lot more about you than I do. Explain to me who you are or get out of this house now.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Mildred piped up.

Adlin cocked a brow at her. “Doesn’t it?”

Jonathan looked between them, his brooding gaze settling once more on Adlin. “It does.”

It was hard not to inwardly applaud this lad’s courage. Though sturdy and well-built he wasn’t nearly Adlin’s size. That he stood up to Adlin as he did spoke volumes. That he did so without a shred of fear in his eyes spoke more. Aye, he was a man of war. When he fought—and he would—it would be with the bravery and conviction of a man who understood both himself and the enemy.

Eyes deadlocked with Jonathan’s, he replied, “I first met Mildred in a dream when she was but a babe. For years I’ve been there, meeting her in dreams as she aged. She was around seventeen when I realized that I’d fallen in love with her. She was twenty when Fate decided that we were meant to meet beyond the dream-state. That was yesterday in this time.”

Before Jonathan could reply, Adlin continued, clenching his fists. “I have been alive for over five hundred years and currently live in what you call medieval Scotland. I dinnae know why exactly Mildred traveled back in time to see me but she did and not for a second will I ever regret it.”

Eyes locked hard and long, her brother wasn’t one to be easily convinced. “It’s clear you’ve already hurt her. My question, have you the power to erase yourself from her memory?”

“No,” Mildred blurted but Adlin put up a hand and shook his head, never losing eye contact with Jonathan.

“Aye, if that is what she ultimately wants.”

“Is that what you ultimately want?”

Adlin appreciated this man more by the second. He thought well considering his short eighteen years. “What I want won’t matter.”

“What do you want, Adlin?”

“I want her to want me for the rest of her life.”

“What about the rest of your life?”

“It willnae be worth living without her.”

Adlin felt Jonathan’s magic stir as he looked deeper then found something. “Age,” he whispered. “Slowly but surely. Without her, age will now find you.”

A warm wind blew within his mind and Adlin closed his eyes. This witch had just seen far beyond what even he could. Stunned, he opened his eyes and nodded. “Aye.”

Jonathan broke eye contact and stumbled back against the counter. Sarah ran over to him. “Son, are you okay?”

He nodded and shook his head. “Theirs is a true love, Mama,” he whispered. “A love that will be much harder on him.”

Adlin stood up straighter, disconcerted and on guard.

“Well deserved I’d say,” Irene spat.

“No.” Jonathan shook his head, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. “Let him be, Irene.”

No war would ever be the same if Jonathan was fighting in it. And Adlin knew full well that World War II was one that’d go down in history books.

Mildred was about to chew her nail but pinched the bridge of her nose instead. “I need to understand everything that just happened here.”

“Of course you do.” Content her son was okay, Sarah went to her daughter. “Come sit down.”

Mildred did, plunking down at the table.

“I’ll make everyone some tea,” Sarah declared because Irene clearly wasn’t.

Irene sat next to Mildred and took her hand. “Are you alright?”

She shook her head but said, “Yes.”

Stumped and a bit off center, Adlin leaned against the wall.

“He’s too powerful for us to get rid of but I can still give him a tongue-lashing if you want,” Irene said.

“If I want,” Mildred muttered, her eyes rose to Adlin’s. “Today’s all about what I want.”

“Today and all the days after,” Adlin murmured.

Jonathan sat as well. “Tell us about your experience traveling back to Scotland, Mildred.”

Her eyes stayed locked with Adlin’s and she softly said, “He’s my experience. There’s little else to tell.”

“I find that hard to…”

“Enough!” Sarah said while she made tea. “Your sister just told you her experience and what she took from it. Leave it at that.”

“But,” Irene started.

“No.” Sarah turned. “No, Irene. Despite how much you love us all, you cannot change what is.” She held her daughter’s gaze. “You simply cannot.”

Adlin felt heartache and confusion rock the room but Sarah’s words kept everyone silent. Sick to his stomach, he watched the family try to cope with all he’d introduced with a steely, silent determination. Shame on him, indeed. What had he done? True, he’d never expected to find her in his time but then again… hadn’t he?

When the gods had told him she was coming and where’d she’d be he’d rushed there, eager to finally see her, touch her. All along, he could have ignored the temptation. He could have sent another to meet her and take her far from the MacLomain clan. He could have been away, visiting another clan.

There were so many ways he could have avoided this.

Her.

Adlin folded his hands and breathed deeply. The truth was the world would’ve no longer mattered had he not been there when she traveled back in time. The truth was he was selfish and so much in love it physically hurt. Did the harm outweigh the good?

Never.

He had been so wrong.

For him.For her. For everyone who mattered.

Her eyes shot to him and he knew without doubt that she had heard his thoughts!

“No,” Mildred said, shaking her head. “No.”

Surprising even him, Mildred vanished from her chair.

A look of horror crossed everyone’s face. Sarah looked at him. “Adlin, where’d she go?”

Petrified, he stared at the empty chair. For all the magic inside him, he felt nothing. “I’ll find her. She’s alright,” he promised and fled the house.

Blind with fear, terrified, he ran.

And ran.

Not traveling nearly fast enough, he shape-shifted into his familiar.

Wide wings flapping he flew through the forest until he arrived at the Stonehenge and banked a sharp right into the cave in which they’d arrived.

Then he flew directly into the small Highland Defiance carved into the wall.