The Dark Laird
CHAPTER ONE
Scotland, 2006
"How many times do I have to tell you the trip is pointless?"
Bethany Campbell rolled her eyes at her friend and colleague for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she adjusted her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose and returned her attention to the medieval document spread out before her.
"Are you even paying attention to me?" Lisa said, her eyes wide.
Bethany turned, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, I am, but this is important to me."
"I know it is," Lisa admitted. "What is it we're looking for again?"
Bethany lifted her eyes from the paper for a moment before lowering her gaze again. When she'd asked Lisa to come with her to Scotland, she'd been vague about the reason. How could she explain the real reason she came here? Would her friend believe her story? Of course not, she thought. She didn't even believe it herself. At first.
"Have you ever noticed how obsessed I am with medieval history?" Bethany asked.
Lisa nodded as she shuffled through the mounds of papers. "You should be on Jeopardy," she said with a smile.
Bethany sighed again. "Haven't you ever wondered why my last name is different from my moms?"
Lisa nodded again, her dark eyes lifting to meet Bethany's lighter ones.
"I asked her that very same question," Bethany said. She glanced around and scooted her chair closer to Lisa's. She leaned her elbows on the table and rested her chin on the back of her hand. "I'm adopted."
Lisa gasped. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. Bethany nodded and returned her attention back to the birth records on the table. Lisa snapped her mouth shut and stayed quiet for a full minute.
"But how does that explain your obsession with medieval Europe? How does that explain why you begged me to come to Scotland? Why didn't you tell me before?" Lisa asked.
Bethany removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She glanced around the tiny reading room. Positive they were the only ones in this part of the library, she dropped her hands to her lap. She leveled her gaze at her friend and took a deep breath.
"I'm going to tell you a story. It's the story my mother told me, and I don't want you to interrupt until I'm done."
Lisa nodded, her light brown eyebrows furrowed in a deep frown. "I promise."
"It was 1986. My mother and father were finishing up their last day of research in Scotland. They had just left the Campbell Inn, a renovated thirteenth century castle, when they happened across a little girl dressed in a long blue gown. At first, they thought it was one of the actors."
"Actors?" Lisa asked.
Bethany nodded. "The Inn hired actors to dress in medieval costumes to make it feel more authentic." With a slight shrug of her shoulders, Bethany resumed her tale.
"The little girl spoke in a strange language and repeated the word 'papa'. My parents took her back to the castle and tried to find her parents. No one at the Inn recognized the girl, but most swore she looked exactly like the first Laird of the Campbell Clan, Daegus. My parents decided to take the little girl with them and keep trying to find her parents."
Bethany paused, tears welling in her eyes. She swiped them away with a sigh. "The little girl was me, Lisa. Mom and Dad never found my real parents so they raised me as their own."
Lisa leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her small chest. "But how does that explain your love of medieval Europe? Why, exactly, are we here?"
"I think I was born in thirteenth century Scotland and, somehow, traveled through time when I was a little girl."
Bethany watched Lisa's expression. Her dark brown eyes shifted to the table top and she blinked several times before she lifted her chin. Her face was pale, but there was a grin on her face.
"It would explain a lot," she said. "You knew how to speak Gaelic without ever taking a class or reading a book. You just know things that normal people would never know. Like how many sheep it takes to make enough wool for a dress, or how to churn butter."
Bethany stiffened, her eyes widening. "You believe me?"
"Of course I do! I'm your best friend in the world. If you are from another time, we'll find you in here," she said, pointing to the papers on the table.
Bethany lunged for Lisa, wrapping her in a tight hug. She never thought Lisa would believe her, but she did! Soon, she would have all the answers.
***
"I can't believe there isn't a single Campbell anywhere in all these papers," Lisa huffed as she pushed the yellowed papers away from her. She stretched her arms over her head and stuck out her lower lip.
"You look like you're pouting," Bethany teased.
"I am pouting. You'd think that somewhere in Scotland, there has to be at least one Campbell birth in six hundred years."
Bethany opened her mouth to reply, but quickly shut it again when a sharp rap sounded on the door behind them. The friends shared a silent glance, wondering if someone had overheard them. Bethany shook her head as Lisa jerked her head toward the door.
The door opened a crack and a small, elderly woman poked her grey head inside. Her pale skin hung from her face in heavy folds, nearly hiding her ice-blue eyes. Her tiny mouth turned up into a smile when she noticed the two girls inside.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help overhearing," the old woman said in a sugar sweet voice.
Bethany risked a glance at Lisa whose face had turned from white to green in a matter of seconds. Bethany's heart slammed against her ribs and her mouth went dry. She coughed nervously. How much had the old woman heard?
"Exactly what did you overhear?" Bethany asked. The words came out squeaky and low. For a moment, Bethany thought she'd have to repeat herself.
The old woman smiled wider and pushed the door open fully. Her tiny body, covered from head to toe in bright red wool, was bent over a gnarled cane. Her silvery curls tumbled around her ears like cobwebs, but her voice sounded young and strong.
"I heard you say that not one Campbell had been born in over six hundred years."
Bethany released her breath in a loud rush, her hand resting against her thudding heart. Her eyes darted to Lisa who had slumped back in her chair, eyes closed, taking several deep breaths.
"It's true, you know," the old woman said. "Not a single Campbell born since 1203. 'Tis said they were cursed."
Bethany sat up straighter. "Cursed?" she asked. "By who? Why? When?"
The old woman laughed, a cheerful sound almost like wind chimes. "Slow down, dearie. Bessie can only answer one question at a time."
Bethany licked her dry lips and started over. "Why were they cursed?"
"'Tis said a young witch did the deed. The witch was in love with a man, The Dark Laird, they called him. But he only wanted one woman…the Campbell lass."
Bethany shook her head. "When did the witch curse them?"
The old woman furrowed her brow, the tip of one wrinkled finger tapping her drooping chin. "I believe it was just after The Dark Laird signed the betrothal. That would have been when the young lass was three. The year would have been 1206."
Bethany turned her gaze to Lisa. Her friend regarded the old woman warily, her teeth nibbling on her lower lip. Lisa turned her head toward the table and rolled her eyes. Bethany shook her head and turned back to the old woman…but she was gone.
Shoving the chair back, she stood and hurried into the dim hallway. She glanced left and right, but there was no one around, only stacks of dusty books and shelves lined with rolled papers. Shaking her head, she leaned against the door and crossed her arms.
"If what that old woman said is true, then I was the last one born. She said one other thing, too. She mentioned the Laird wanted the youngest daughter. Why?"
Lisa stepped closer and shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe he was into little girls. I'm kidding," she said when Bethany gaped at her. "Maybe her father was rich? Did you ever think he wanted her just for the money?"
"It's possible," Bethany whispered. "I have to find out what happened to my family."
Lisa nodded and stepped back into the tiny reading room to grab her purse. She fisted her hands on her hips and sighed loudly, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. Bethany mimicked her and, after several long minutes, Lisa turned to face her again.
"Alright, we can try. But I'm warning you, Beth, if one weird thing happens I'm going to be on the first flight to Florida."
Bethany nodded once and strode down the hallway toward the main lobby of the library. At the desk, a tall woman with dark brown hair and thick glasses stacked books from the counter onto a rickety cart. She stopped and smiled when Bethany leaned her elbows on the smooth counter top.
"Do you have any more birth records?" Bethany asked.
The librarian shifted her gaze from Bethany to Lisa. "I gave you all the records you asked for."
"I know, but I'd like to go back further, if I could."
"How far back do you want to go?" the still smiling librarian asked.
"I want to go to the beginning of the Campbell Clan."
The librarian lost her smile. She adjusted her dark brown glasses and folded her hands on the desk. Bethany took a step back, afraid the woman would lunge across the counter and choke her.
"I'm afraid our records don't go back that far, Miss. You would have to contact a Campbell personally to see those records."
"But I don't have that kind of time," Bethany said. Not to mention the fact the Campbell line ended with her. "Please, if you have anything else, I would be very grateful."
"Like I said," the librarian huffed. "There's nothing else."
The woman turned away from her then, resuming her work and ignoring them completely. Bethany gaped at the back of the woman's head, her mouth hanging open. She stamped her foot and turned to face Lisa. She threw her hands up and shook her head.
"She says they don't have anything else."
Lisa chewed her lower lip. "Maybe we can go through them again. We might have missed something."
Bethany nodded and brushed past Lisa on her way back down the hallway. In the tiny reading room, piles of yellowed papers littered the desk and floor, journals and books lay open to various pages and empty soda bottles lined the back of the table.
"We're going to be here for a while," Bethany said under her breath.
Moving into the room, she picked up a stack of papers and read slowly through the names. Angus Campbell born in 1201, Doreen Campbell born in 1206, Daegus Campbell born in 1279…wait a minute.
"Lisa, I found him!"
Lisa looked up from the book she had her nose buried in and leaned over to scan the paper. She stared at the paper for several seconds, her brows furrowed in concentration.
"You found who?" she asked.
"I found my father."
Bethany read the name again. Her heart thumped inside her chest. Her mouth went dry. Her head whirled. It was true! He was real!
"The old woman said the Laird of the Campbell clan was named Daegus, right?" Bethany asked.
Lisa nodded. "I think so."
Bethany pointed to the name scrawled near the bottom of the page. "This is him."
Lisa sat back in her chair. "What do we do now?"
Bethany never took her eyes from the page. "We go to the inn."
***
An hour later, at the car rental company, Bethany still gripped the paper in her hand. She hadn't intended to steal it from the library, but she couldn't leave the proof behind. True, there was no record of any children born to Daegus Campbell, but it was enough for her.
"Can I help you?"
Bethany stepped up to the high counter and smiled at the middle-aged man in the bright red vest. His eyebrows looked like two furry caterpillars trying to conquer his eyelids. She coughed to cover an unexpected giggle.
"I need to rent a car please."
"Any preference on make or model?"
Bethany shook her head. At this point, she didn't care if he gave her a scooter. "Anything is fine. Whatever you have."
The man pounded at the keyboard for a second before smiling. "It seems you're in luck. We have one car left. Would you like the additional insurance?"
Bethany shook her head. She shifted her weight, anxious to find the old inn. What would she learn there? Would they have additional documents? Perhaps someone who remembers what happened the day her parents found her. She jumped when the man slid a piece of paper at her. She snatched up the pen and scribbled her name.
"The standard time is one week. If you'll wait outside, Richie will bring the car around for you. Do you need a map?"
Bethany nodded, snatched the map he handed to her and went back out into the chilly afternoon. It only took Richie a minute to pull up in the smallest car she'd ever seen. The roof only came to her shoulders. How am I going to fit in this damn car? She caught Lisa's expression over the roof and shook her head.
"If you make one reference to sardines, I'll make you walk."
Lisa laughed as she slid into the passenger seat. Bethany grumbled as she folded her five foot eight inch body behind the wheel and tossed the map in her friend's lap. Her head bumped the roof and her knees nearly touched her shoulders. Beside her, Lisa looked over the map provided by the rental company and pointed out the windshield.
"It's that way, Goliath."
Bethany glared at her giggling friend as she started the car. They left Edinburgh and entered the countryside. The little car chugged and struggled every mile as they made their way up the coast.
"There's a town a few miles up the road," Lisa said. "Mind if we stop so I can find a bathroom and grab some coffee?"
Bethany nodded. She needed to find a bathroom too. The coffee didn't sound half bad either, but she wanted to make it to the inn before dark. What would she say? Excuse me, I think I traveled through time. Could you tell me the way back to the fourteenth century? She rolled her eyes as she navigated the tiny car into a nearly empty parking lot and shut off the engine.
Lisa jumped from the car and disappeared into the closest store before Bethany unfolded her legs and stepped out into the cold evening air. She stretched her arms high above her head, pulling the kinks and knots from her back and shoulders.
Lisa emerged five minutes later, two steaming cups in her hands. She inclined her head toward the shop as she sat the cups on the roof of the car.
"There's a bathroom, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's gross."
"I don't care about gross right now, Lisa. The inside of the car will be even more gross if I don't go now."
She hurried into the store, made her way to the closet they called a bathroom and instantly wished she hadn't. Mounds of paper towels littered the brown floor. A series of cracks marred the surface of the mirror. The back of the toilet was missing, exposing the water inside. The smell of stale urine and recently cleaned vomit brought tears to her eyes. She never touched the grimy seat as she finished and nearly ran back to the car.
She squeezed into the drivers seat and glared at Lisa. Her friend had the audacity to smile at her. Lisa held out one of the steaming cups.
"You could've warned me," Bethany mumbled.
"I did," Lisa replied. "You never listen to me."
Bethany took the cup and brought it to her lips. She inhaled the spicy aroma and took a careful sip before handing the coffee back to Lisa. She started the car and turned back onto the north road.
As the scenery rolled by the windows, Bethany cast nervous glances at her friend. Should she tell her about the dreams? She hadn't told anyone about the dreams, not even her mother. They'd been too personal. Too real.
"There's something I didn't tell you," Bethany said.
Lisa cocked her head and took another sip of her coffee. Bethany took a deep breath and blew it out forcefully.
"I've had dreams about my life in the past…not my life, but dreams about a man from the past."
Lisa perked up. "A man?"
Bethany nodded. "I don't know his name, but he's always there. He stands in the background, he watches me."
"Is he cute?" Lisa asked.
Bethany glanced at Lisa. "Why do you ask that?"
"If I were having dreams about a cute man from the past, I'd never get out of bed."
"It's not like that. He never touches me, never speaks. He just watches. Almost like he's waiting for something to happen."
Lisa shrugged and turned her attention back to the rolling hills and green pastures. Bethany focused her eyes on the horizon. The sun dipped behind a low mountain, casting the sky in a blanket of amethyst and orange. A shimmering loch stretched on and on to her left. Pressing her foot harder on the accelerator, Bethany urged the tiny car faster.
Two hours later, they rolled into the small village of Haverston. A narrow, one lane road wound through the middle of thatched cottages and, in the distance, a chapel sat in the center of a vast field, solitary and foreboding. Slowing the car, Bethany looked right and left as they passed each small cottage, but she could see no one.
Past the village, the road abruptly ended at an access road made of loose gravel. Bethany stopped the car and turned off the engine with a heavy sigh. The empty field sat to her left, a wide loch to her right. She opened the door and took a few steps away from the car.
"Maybe we should try the church," Lisa said as she came up beside her.
Bethany glanced behind her and eyed the eerie church. She shook her head and turned to face the access road. She crossed her arms over her middle and started down the gravel path. She could hear Lisa grumbling behind her, but she paid her no attention. The more she walked, the more uneasy she became. A low hum sounded in her ears and her head pounded. Her knees trembled and beads of sweat rolled down the center of her back.
Turning a bend, she stopped short, a sharp cry coming from her lips. She jumped when Lisa bumped into her.
"Why did you stop?" Lisa asked.
Bethany pointed. Directly ahead of them stood the magnificent Campbell Inn. Once the home of mighty lairds and fierce warriors, the structure stood tall and proud like the inhabitants of long ago. Four stories tall and just as wide, the building dominated the area. A wide, arched doorway held two heavy wooden doors. At each corner sat a round tower, tiny slots cut into the stone at various heights.
The area in front of the old castle had been cleared of all debris, but behind the fortress loomed a dense forest. To the right, Bethany could see the loch gleaming in the fading sunlight. Her breath escaped her lungs in a loud rush.
She took a shaky step forward and another until she reached the wall to the right of the entrance. Her eyes drifted closed as the sound of laughter filled her ears. A woman's laughter, quickly followed by the deeper laughter of a man. Her fingers trailed along the rough stones as she walked to the corner of the building.
Behind the inn, several smaller buildings were arranged in a semi-circle. She could see the kitchen, the stable, the blacksmith's shop and others. Loud clangs of steel on steel echoed in her head. The cluck of chickens and the grunts of pigs. The clatter of hooves as the horses were led to the stable.
"Come back to me."
Bethany jumped, her hand covering her mouth to stifle her scream. Before the small cluster of buildings, a man sat astride a massive black horse. He looked ready to kill. The heat in his ice-blue eyes turned her mouth to cotton, made her palms sweat. The arrogant tilt of his head turned her knees to jelly. His hands gripped the reins loosely, but she knew they were the hands of a warrior. Calloused and rough. Strong hands.
His lips moved, but no sound came out. She strained to hear him, but the only sound was the rustling of the leaves in the tress. She took a shaky step forward and he was gone. Bethany searched the clearing, but there was no sign of the man from her dreams.
"Why are you sweating?" Lisa asked.
Bethany turned to answer her, but her mouth refused to work. Instead, she shook her head and stepped around her. She headed back toward the front of the inn and pushed open the heavy door.
She stood on a wide landing just inside the entrance. Three narrow steps led down into the great hall. To her right, a spiral staircase rose to the floors above and a matching staircase also sat on her left. Directly in front of her, six long tables sat in groups of three and were situated in front of a raised platform. On the platform sat a wider, longer table obviously reserved for the Laird and his family. The left wall boasted a massive fireplace that five grown men could easily stand in and above that fireplace hung a huge claymore, its hilt decorated with hundreds of small rubies.
Bethany stumbled down the steps to stand in the center of the hall. To her right, hung on the wall, were seven portraits. Each one framed in gold and arranged in a straight line, her eyes fell on every face. The first was of a man and woman seated together in this very hall. The man had broad shoulders and a head full of bright red hair. The woman, much smaller than the man, had darker hair and a broad smile that lit her eyes.
The next five portraits showed boys, the youngest looked to be five or six while the oldest might have been no more than twenty. Each of the boys had the bright red hair of their father and the wide smiles of their mother. Bethany's eyes fell on the last portrait and she heard a strangled sound come from her throat.
"What is it?" Lisa asked from the doorway.
"It's me," Bethany whispered.
The little girl sat on the grass, a small puppy clutched in her lap. Her dark red hair fell free around her shoulders and a shy smile played around her lips. Her green eyes sparkled through the painting, as if she knew a delicious secret. Bethany touched the corner of the frame. Her fingers grew warm, tiny needle pricks ran up and down her arm and a low buzzing sound formed in her head.
Panting now, she tried to pull her hand away. The portrait held her. Called to her. The buzzing increased. The tingling in her arm became painful as it spread through her entire body. She swallowed hard.
"Come back to me."
She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the deep voice inside her head. It rose above the buzzing, pounding in her ears. Her legs seemed heavy, unable to move. Her head pounded. I want to go home. Her eyes flew open and she stared up at the smiling girl. She willed it to be true. Wanted it to be true. Her heart thudded in her chest. Her arm lowered away from the painting and she took a step back. The tingling in her body faded and the buzzing disappeared.
Bethany took several deep breaths and raked her hands through her tangled curls. She needed to find an employee to rent a room for the night. Then she would ask her questions. The first thing she needed was a soft bed. Her stomach rolled and her head swam. The dizziness washed over her so suddenly, she thought she might pass out. She steadied herself with a hand on the wall until the dizziness passed.
She turned around but Lisa was gone. The blazing lights that lit the room only minutes before had been replaced by glowing torches. The pungent smell of smoke stung her nose and brought tears to her eyes. A fire raged in the giant hearth, the great logs cracking and sending sparks onto the cold floor.
"Saints be praised, you've returned home!"
