Chapter 2 - Photo of Connor

Shifting uncomfortably in his saddle, anyone who had taken a look at Connor Gilroy would've thought he was new to the saddle at the way he kept twitching in it. But looks could be deceiving, and Hammond MacKenzie knew better. He had grown up with Connor after all, ever since his father had taken him in and literally brought them up like siblings. Hammond loved his sister, but Gillian had been a girl through and through, so it was Hammond and Connor that had ran up and down the Highlands surrounding the MacKenzie lands like two ragamuffins set loose. While Hammond loved Gillian dearly, he and Connor were brother in arms, knowing each other inside and out.

Which was why Hammond casted Connor a scowl when his first in command shifted again, much to his consternation. "Would you keep still Connor? Anyone would think you're a greenie in a saddle, with the way you keep moving." the chieftain of the MacKenzie clan admonished, getting a darker scowl in return.

"You know I dinna want to come, Hammond. I'm only here because you asked me to."

"I know, and I'll be forever grateful to you, but if you're going to be continuing this way, I'll leave you where you are."

"Why must we come for her anyway? If she's managed to survive the last few years alone, I'm sure she dinna need our help." Connor complained. He couldn't help it. While he was a generally easy going man, being back on English lands made him uneasy, not at all liking the fact that his feet was treading on English soil. After all, the last time he was here as a lad almost twenty years ago, he would've been skinned alive had it not been for Hammond's father, the old Chief of the clan.

Quinlan MacKenzie is possibly the kindest man Connor would ever know. He had taken in Connor as a boy of 10, trained him alongside his son, and when he recognized his vigor, specifically brought him up to be first in command. Connor served the MacKenzie clan with both the loyalty and ferociousness that was unrivalled, and everyone in the clan knew his word was second only to the chief.

"You know what I promised Dad, you heard him yerself. I canna go against my word to a dead man. Besides, I have to admit, I'm verra curious meself." Hammond's last sentence was given with a waggle of his brows and a lecherous smirk. Connor rolled his eyes and smacked his best friends shoulder. "Might I remind you that she's yer cousin, Hammond. Don't make a fool of yourself."

"What, I can't just take a look?" Connor laughed, knowing that he meant what he said and no harm would come out of it. Hammond was as playful as a puppy, but with a firm hand, he ruled the clan well and was as respected as his father. The leadership of the clan had been passed on to Hammond upon the old chief's deathbed,  dying from a broken heart and injuries sustained from a deadly attack by their rival Drummond clan. Quinlan MacKenzie had been a fearsome warrior, but age had dulled his senses, resulting in him taking multiple wounds that he never recovered from.

Hammond still warred with the Drummonds, but with both sides recuperating from their last skirmish, a temporary but uneasy truce has been called. Which was why they had finally found the time to travel into the borders between Scotland and England, to finally fulfil his father's wishes to find his sister's daughter upon his deathbed, just two years before. The moment Quinlan MacKenzie had breathed his last breath, Hammond had sent out scouts to search for his mysterious cousin, but only got results a year later. They had to wait another year to defend their keep from the Drummond's consistent attacks, before they finally found the time to come out.

In a way, Hammond viewed it as a holiday of sorts, but Connor was acting like a caged animal the whole time. Even with twenty men at their back, and his claymore strapped tightly against his thigh, just being on English soil alone was unnerving to Connor, for he hadn't stepped foot in it since the day his chief had saved him.

Connor could remember it as if it was yesterday, the demise of the last of his clan from the attacks of the English left young Connor vulnerable, and easily taken in. The Gilroy clan was small, peace-loving with a community of farmers and families rather then warriors and fighters. Even till today, Connor found it unfair that in a bid to gain as much land as possible before the peace treaty between England and Scotland was signed, his family had to be sacrificed, and he almost went with it too had Quinlan MacKenzie not chanced upon him on his travels back from visiting his wife's family.

His grip on his reins tightened as Connor's mind involuntarily brought back the memories of that time, the three days he had spent as a captive. Deprived of food, given the minimal amount of water and forced to work like a slave, Quinlan MacKenzie's arrival had seemed like the descending of an avenging angel, his arms around him after like the warmth of a hearth in winter. Connor never looked back since, but he knew that inside him burned a hatred that he had kept for the English. The treaty had been signed, and he had yet to break its clauses, but Connor Gilroy knew that in him, he could never bring himself to trust the English and their greedy, selfish ways.

"Connor!"

The loud voice of Hammond jolted Connor out of his reverie, only to realize that they had drew to a stop in front of a large, imposing castle that was perhaps just slightly smaller then MacKenzie Keep back in the Highlands. The door was barred shut, with two men standing guard and suspicious looks thrown in their direction. "Would you mind?" Hammond hissed, jerking his head in their direction. Connor swallowed his look of sudden embarrassment at having wandered off in his memories, and pushed his mount forward to address the two men.

"The Laird MacKenzie wishes an audience with the Viscount of Karlsborough, Lord Verrick. We believe that the Laird's cousin, the Lady Mailie MacKenzie's daughter is within the walls of Cavalon Castle."

Within minutes after the guards confirmed their identity, they were allowed in the doors, but at the same time with the creed that their mounts be left at the stable and their weapons must never be drawn. While Connor had his doubts in agreeing to the stipulations, one glare at Hammond was enough to make him nod, however reluctantly it was done.

"It is huge though, I have to say." Hammond stared as they were deposited to wait in the main hall. A large hearth dominated the middle of it, and chairs and warm rugs surrounded the area. Off the side towards the entrance to the kitchen, a long oaken table stood presumably where people of the castle dined. Even Connor had to admit that the castle was impressive. "Your grandfather gave it to your aunt as a wedding gift, wasn't it?"

Hammond nodded, rocking on his feet whilst he answered. "Cavalon Castle has been in our family for years, but because it was so far from the MacKenzie Keep, we usually keep it as a midway point to rest for travels. When Aunt Mailie married to an English lord, Grandfather wanted her to keep a part of the Highlands with her and gifted her the castle."

His nose scrunched in distaste at the thought that a Highland castle was gifted to a lord, but before Connor could provide his thoughts on the matter, the sturdy doors opened to reveal a sturdy looking male whose only vice so far was that he was a little on the short side. And when compared to the large Highlanders currently gracing his main hall, the Viscount of Karlsborough look tiny indeed. "Lord Verrick, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"As I, you Laird MacKenzie. But what proof do I have that you are indeed, the son of my late wife's brother?"

From inside his tunic, Hammond pulled out a pendant that had been given to him upon his twenty first birthday, the arms of the MacKenzie family crested on its surface. Apparently, that was enough proof for the English lord, for he immediately waved them to take a seat upon the chairs. "To what do I owe the visit? I have to admit, I have been wrong but I have not sought to visit my in-laws ever since our young girl was born."

"Father knew. But he also wanted to check on his sister and niece, yet he never had the chance. I'm simply fulfilling his wishes. May we see her?"

"She is... currently, indisposed. However, I have got some rooms made up for you. Do freshen up, and Evelyn will be down in the evening meal to sup."

"Bu-"

"Fret not, Laird MacKenzie. My girl has a gentle constituency, so I wouldn't disturb her now. Please, she will be down later."

Gentle constituency? What a load of rubbish. Connor wanted to scoff. If she had any MacKenzie blood in her, gentle and kind would not be the words he would use to describe the Evelyn Verrick that he had only grown to know by name throughout their monthlong travel to Cavalon Castle. Nevertheless, Hammond seemed to be mollified and followed the directives of the servant tasked to bringing them to their rooms.

---

"Why, Father?"

"They are barbarians, and I would not have them knowing you by face, or in anyway more personally then just your name. You are not to speak to them, and not to see them at all."

"But they've asked for me, how do you expect to go around that?"

"There we go." her father gave a rare smile as Amelia walked in with Evelyn's evening meal he had ordered to her bedroom. As if caught like a deer in headlights, the servant girl paused in her steps when she realized both the eyes of her lord and her lady were trained on her. "W-what?"

"You will take Evelyn's place, to convince the Highlanders that she is well and happy. And throughout the whole time they are here, Evie, you will not go anywhere public that may put you in their pathway."

"But Father-"

"No arguments. They want to see you happy. If the Laird sees you unmarried and acting loud mouth, he would think I have done a horrible job as a father, and I doubt you want to see what they could do, could you?" Before Evelyn could even reply, her father had swept out to get a servant girl to prep Amelia up as her new role, leaving the redheaded true daughter to sit defeated on her bed. "Amelia, they... they are actually here, aren't they? I heard they were brawn... rough, even. Mother's cousin?"

"They are, my lady. And they are every bit a true blue Highlander as I remember from being a girl meself." Amelia responded. Her friend deposited the tray on the side table and moved to sit next to Evie, brushing her hair like a mother would. "Don't fret my lady."

"He thinks wrong. I do want to see what they are like, what they can do. Oh, do you think they have more stories from the Highlands? I do miss the stories Mother used to tell me."

"I'm sure they do, my Lady."

"Amelia, I'm told to help you to dress." the intrusion of a belowstairs servant named Mary came through Evelyn's door, and Amelia casted a guilty look at Evelyn before standing up. "Don't worry, Amelia. It is father's edict, not yours."

"I'll get as much information as I can get and give it to you every night, my Lady. I promise."

Evelyn nodded with a serene smile, acting as strong as she could until the door clicked. Only then, did she get up and instead of the serene smile, a smirk took its place. Her father had said she wasn't to speak nor have them put face to name. But he never said that she couldn't see them.