Beware of the Wolves

Chapter 6: Lady Máili Lyall

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"What do you mean?" Margaret asked again, confusion filling her tone.

I rolled my eyes, sinking deeper into the warm bath. I lifted my hand, watching droplets of water slowly roll down my pale arm.

"I mean exactly what I said. He did not lie with me. He sorted the fire, bid me goodnight and then left." I explained with exasperation for the third time.

"But why?" She pressed, putting her book away to give me her full attention.

Sighing, leaning my head back against the edge of the metal tub, I wished I had an answer.

"I do not know. I worry that I did something wrong, or that he does not find me appealing in that way." I fretted.

I couldn't tell her the rest of our conversation, that he had used his family's beliefs as a reason to not have me. Still, the niggling voice of doubt in my head told me that I was not desirable.

"Perhaps he simply had too much to drink? Sometimes when men are intoxicated, they cannot...perform." she suggested awkwardly.

I shrugged. Torian had not drunk much last night, he had enjoyed a drink of wine or two but had turned to water after that.

"Perhaps," I conceded uncertainly, "But that does not explain why he left to sleep elsewhere."

Margaret hummed, opening her mouth to speak but quickly silenced herself when Claude came back into the room.

"All of your things have been packed, Lady Máili. Are you ready to be dressed?" Claude chirped, picking up the soft linen towel that had been resting by the fire.

I nodded and stood, shivering as the chill air of the room hit my skin. At least the towel would be warm. Claude wrapped it tight around me and Margaret stood and offered her hand to help me out of the tub. I made sure to step onto the fluffy pelt that covered the stone floor.

Once again I was dressed in my riding gear, ready to make the journey to my new home. Margaret helped brush and dry my hair, her face sullen and withdrawn.

"It will not be too long before I see you again, and you are always welcome to come and visit me, I'm sure." I smiled, meeting her eyes in the reflection of the mirror.

The smile she gave me was tight and didn't reach her eyes. There was something she wasn't telling me.

"I can finish getting Máili ready, Claude, go and make sure her things are being packed in the carriage and that her horse is being made ready?" Margaret ordered quickly, only spurring my curiosity.

Claude nodded and made her way out of the room, glancing back just before she closed the door behind her.

I pushed my chair back and turned, clasping my friends hands in mine, "Tell me what troubles you."

She knelt, her dress rustling. Her eyes darted around before looking up at me and she tightened her hands in mine.

"I did not feel it was my place to say anything before, but you are my closest friend, my sister in all but blood and I feel that to be able to protect yourself, you must know." She began in a hushed whisper as if scared someone may overhear.

Worry for what she was talking about had me frowning and a sense of unease settled over me.

"The land in which the Lyall's reside is wild and full of stories. I know how you enjoy your riding and walks, and as much as I know the Lyall's to be a good family, they are often talked of in these stories. They say at night, the howls of wolves echo across the glens, that in the morning, farmers find their animals missing or slaughtered. People go missing. Great beasts with glowing eyes have been seen in the darkness of the forests. Keep your wits about you, my dearest friend, for I would hate if you became another person spoken about in these tales." She warned me, fear shining in her eyes.

My thoughts went back to the night I had seen the huge dogs with glowing eyes wandering through the castle grounds and a lump formed in my throat. I did not want Margaret to worry however, nevermind how her words had seeded fear in me.

"I am a Lyall now, Margaret. They will take care of me, they have promised. We live in a land rife with such stories, and you will find they are often sourced by drunkards or young children with strong imaginations. There is nothing to worry about, I swear." I comforted, forcing an easy smile onto my face.

She nodded, mulling over what I had said before returning my smile, "Yes, you are. Lady Máili Lyall. You must write to me and tell me of what you find, and you must inform me the moment that man realises he is most lucky to have you by his side."

Laughing and nodding, I leaned down to kiss her cheek. She spun me around to face the mirror again and went back to braiding my hair before pinning my hair net into place.

Suddenly she doubled over with a hand over her mouth and her skin went pale in the reflection of the mirror. I was on my feet and by her side within a second, guiding her to take a seat before pouring her some water.

She took slow sips before she relaxed and leaned back in the seat.

"There may be something else I need to tell you." She admitted shakily, "I'm with child."

My face lit up with joy for her. I knew it had been something she'd always wanted, to be a mother. Grinning, I sat beside her.

"This is good news!" I exclaimed, "Congratulations!"

She grinned back, the colour returning to her cheeks, "Thank you, Máili."

"Have you told the Duke, your husband yet?" I asked, still brimming with excitement.

"Not yet. I wanted to be sure, but I have woken up feeling sick the last week or so and the smell of certain foods makes me horribly queasy. I will tell him soon." She replied, reaching for my hand, "And when the baby arrives, I would be honoured if you would agree to be the Godmother."

Delight flared through me, my grin widening further as I tugged her tight into my arms.

"Of course!" I cried out, "I would love nothing more."

It would give me an excuse to return to court and be with my friend. I didn't want to miss this. When her time approached, I would all but demand that the Lyall's bring me back so I could be by her side. Margaret sniffed, tearing up but quickly wiped her eyes and stood.

A knock on the door had us sobering up and we were both quick to stand as my new husband entered the room. He bowed his head when he spotted Margaret.

I felt strangely awkward now that we were man and wife, I was unsure of how to act with this new dynamic.

"Ladies." He greeted, "We are ready to leave. Your father is waiting downstairs to say goodbye and I believe your husband is looking for you, Lady Margaret."

Margaret nodded, pulling me into another tight hug. I wrapped my arms around her, my eyes squeezing shut as I filled with melancholy. I always missed her.

"Remember what I told you." She whispered by my ear, "And don't forget to write to me."

"I'll remember both." I promised, letting her go with a small moment of hesitation.

She bobbed her head to Torian before slipping by his muscled frame and I found myself nervous now that I was alone with him.

He was wearing a loose white shirt today, the strings left undone to show a glimpse of what I knew was a sculpted chest. A black coat was on top and he looked more like a highwayman from the romantic tales than a high ranked noble. Dark blond hair fell messily over his eyes, making them seem darker than I knew they were. The vibe was entirely wild, yet it suited him.

He looked around the room as if searching for something to make conversation about.

"You slept well?" He asked suddenly, rocking on his feet.

A smile tugged at my lips. His nervousness was slightly adorable and I wondered if he felt as unsure of how to deal with me as I did with him.

"I did, thank you."

But I want to know where you slept.

"Good...good..." He trailed off, nodding to himself.

"My father is waiting?" I prompted gently, struggling to hide my amusement.

"Yes!" He almost shouted, making me jump.

I took his offered arm, my hand resting on his elbow. We walked silently together down the stairs and outside to the courtyard. My chest tightened the closer we got, each step taking me towards my new life and away from the places I knew.

The sun was hidden by heavy grey clouds that threatened rain, I could practically smell it on the air; an odd trait I had always had. Claude hadn't left my cloak out for me and even though my dress was warm, if it rained I would freeze.

Breò-chlach was whinnying and snorting as he fought against the poor stable boy that held his reins. Torian made a huffing noise and I looked up at him. His hazel eyes met mine with a look of concern.

"That beast is wild. I don't know how I feel about you riding him, it can't be safe." He sniffed.

"I have been riding him since I was a girl, he is simply nervous around those he is unsure of. He'll calm down once we get on the road." I said defensively, lifting my chin.

He hummed, "We will be riding for a few days, you will let me know if you get tired and you can ride with me and rest."

Saying no more on the matter, I simply nodded my agreement to put him at ease. I wouldn't get tired, and I had slept while riding Breò-chlach before. I trusted him.

Looking around, I spotted my father talking to Lord Lyall on the other side of the courtyard. I didn't want to say goodbye to him, his cold demeanor would only make it harder and my arm still sported the bruise he had given me yesterday.

Avoiding horses and soldiers running around the courtyard, Torian maneuvered me across to him. I gave him a small curtsey, keeping my eyes on the cobbled ground.

"I will have the rest of your things taken to you once they're packed at the manor. I hope you have a safe journey." My father stated, his dark gaze boring into me for a moment before he looked away.

There was no 'I will miss you', no wishing me well with my marriage and no hug of farewell. Lord Lyall was frowning at my father but I was far too used to his lack of care towards me. Nodding, I allowed myself to look up at him, to soak in his features so I could remember my father who I felt sure I would not see again for a very long time.

"Goodbye, Father." I murmured, trying to push down the grief that filled me.

He grunted a reply.

"I will see you the next time you are at Court. Safe journeys." He said to Lord Lyall who gave him a tight smile, watching him walk away.

Neither men said anything as I stared at the retreating back of my father. Tears brimmed, threatening to fall and I looked up at the darkening sky to try and make them go away.

"Your father seemed a far happier man when we discussed your engagement to my son." Lord Lyall noted.

I snorted, my eyes meeting his, "I am sure he was happy to be rid of me."

"You are not close?" Torian asked, turning me to head towards Breò-chlach with his father in tow.

"We were, but not since my mother died." I answered honestly.

Torian nodded, watching my stallion warily. Breò-chlach stomped a hoof, shoving his face into my shoulder in greeting. I smiled, stroking his neck. At least somebody was happy to see me.

"Good Gods!" Lord Lyall cried, "That's your horse?"

I laughed and nodded, enjoying how both men seemed be so taken aback by my horses size.

"As I assured your son, Lord Lyall, he is more gentle than he seems." I said, still smiling.

Lord Lyall circled round my horse, his hands going over his haunches and down his legs, "He's a beautiful creature for sure, and remember Máili, formalities are not needed between us. You can call me by name."

I nodded, even though I felt uncomfortable calling him by his name as he requested. Formalities had been drilled into me from birth.

Torian cradled his hands together and gave me an expectant look, "We will be riding until we reach the inn where we will rest for the night."

I placed my booted foot in his cradled hands and boosted myself up into the saddle. Gathering the reins, I kept them tight to stop Breò-chlach from deciding to run ahead.

"Thank you." I murmured to him, smiling.

He smiled back before climbing up onto his own ride. Breò-chlach nipped at Torian's stallion who snorted and I pulled him back.

"Are you going to be warm enough, wife?" Torian asked, taking note of my lack of a cloak.

I looked back up at the sky, inhaling deeply. Rain was definitely scenting the air. Torian was watching me with a slight frown and I blushed at being caught sniffing like a dog.

"I believe all my cloaks have been packed and I'm not sure in which trunks." I replied, already feeling the nip of cold wind.

"That won't do." Torian frowned, shrugging off his own cloak and passing it over to me.

I opened my mouth to protest but he gave me a look that had my mouth snapping shut again. I wrapped the cloak around me, tucking it in and I could feel the warmth his body had left. Before I could thank him, our party began to move and Torian trotted out to the front to join his father. I took my time, trailing behind even though Breò-chlach tugged at the reins from the want to go faster.

There wasn't many who travelled with us. A few armed men with a wolf crest on their capes, one in particular that rode close next to me, probably on the Lyall's orders.

Hours went by swiftly. I admired the rolling green hills and purple heather, the sound of birds chirping as we followed the road. The soldiers around me all laughed and chatted amongst themselves, sometimes including Torian in their conversation. They all spoke in Gaelic, a language I rarely spoke after my mother's death. I may have been rusty, but I caught my name a few times and the mention of how my father had treated me as we left.

I'd never seen nobles interact as freely as they did with their soldiers. They seemed more like close family rather than master and servants. I watched with curiosity, picking up the pace so I could ride a little closer to my new husband. He glanced at me and I gave him a small smile which he returned.

Lord Lyall... Alsander, I reminded myself, gave me a grin.

"You look comfortable in a saddle, daughter-in-law, do you enjoy riding?" He inquired.

"I do, very much." I replied happily.

"So does my son, you can enjoy that together." He declared, giving Torian a look.

"I will take you riding once you have settled down and show you our land." Torian agreed.

"I would like that." I said honestly, trying to gauge my husband's mood.

He seemed more withdrawn than he had this morning but I could excuse that as weariness from having been riding for so long. Even I was beginning to get a little tense.

I lapsed back into silent and watchful, content to listen to the surrounding conversation.

Just as I had predicted, rain began to fall. It drizzled at first, tickling my face with gentle drops before it got heavier. The wind howled against us, blowing the cold rain right into my face. My eyes strained to see and the hood did little to keep my hair dry. I leaned forward in the saddle, my teeth chattering from the freezing cold. Even in my leather gloves, my fingers were numb, barely holding onto the reins.

I was glad when we finally road into a quaint looking village. Droplets of icy water trailed down me and I was sure I looked more like a drowned rat than a noble lady. Torian dismounted quickly, his hands gripping my waist to help me down off Breò-chlach. I was shivering, every extremity numb and trembling.

"Are you alright, wife?" He asked with a voice full of concern.

I nodded, even as my teeth chattered and I clinged onto a surprisingly warm Torian.

"Just c-cold." I chittered.

He chuckled, wrapping the cloak tighter around my shoulders. It didn't help much, the material was soaked through and I swore it was beginning to freeze.

Lord Lyall came over and looked me over in concern, placing the back of his hand against my forehead.

"Get her inside, our rooms should be ready, we sent riders ahead. I'll have someone get dry clothes from her trunk. Sit her by the fire and take the wet clothes off as quickly as possible before she gets sick." He ordered his son firmly, leaning in close to him to whisper words I only just managed to catch, "Remember she's not quite like us. She'll feel the cold a lot more than us and she's more prone to catching illness. You need to take care of her, my male."

I frowned but said nothing, unable to think properly because of how much I shivered to realise how strange what he had said was. Torian nodded, looking somewhat guilty, and quickly ushered me inside. I followed him numbly, focusing on simply trying to put one foot in front of the other.

A small blast of warmth hit me when he opened the door to our room. The fire blazed and I was thankful it had been lit for our arrival. Numb fingers undid the laces that held the cloak on my shoulders and I paused when realising that Torian would have to help me with the laces of my bodice.

He stood behind me and moved my hair over one shoulder, his warm fingers brushing like feathers against my cold shoulder. I stood stock still as he untied the laces and bit my lip nervously as the dress pooled around my feet, leaving me once more in only my damp shift before him.

I could feel the heat of his body against my back and held my breath when his own fanned over my bare shoulder. He inhaled deeply by my neck and let it out in a deep rumble that had me shivering. I should have been confused by the sound, or wary, instead I found myself wanting to lean back so I was pressed against him.

"Sit by the fire, wife. You're freezing. I will go and find some dry clothes for you amongst your things." He murmured gently.

His hand pressed against the small of my back and his touch lit a fire in my body. Hesitating for a moment, Torian's hand pushed me towards the chair by the fire. I padded across the wooden floor and sat, closing my eyes against the scalding warmth the fire gave off.

I gave Torian a grateful look as he wrapped a fur pelt around me, tucking it in so I was completely covered. He gave me a once over before nodding to himself and turned for the door. Watching him leave, I let out a heavy sigh once the door was firmly closed, taking the tension that had built between Torian and I with it.

Wife. He hadn't called me by my name, and I wondered if he ever would. There was something possessive about the way he called me wife, as if he were staking his claim each time he spoke to me. I found that a part of me, the instinctual part that haunted me with more feral thoughts, felt a flurry of exhilaration each time.

Pondering on this, on my new situation, I ended up nodding off by the fire.