Lord Of The Isle
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“How much farther is this Dungannon?”
“Not far.” Hugh urged Boru to the crest of a steep hill. Hidden in the valley behind it was Dungannon. The fortified village skirted the north shore of a lake, its walls now enlarged to enclose all of the Dominican abbey within the fortifications. On a crannog jutting into the lake sat the dark and ominous castle of the same name, Dungannon. The rain beat harder on the lee side of the hill.
To Morgana’s eye, the castle and its walled town looked like a great black spider crouched in the center of a shimmering, intricate web.
Her brooding unease shot to full-blown alarm. The castle was completely surrounded by water! She bolted upright, banging the crown of her head on Hugh’s chin. “Put me down!”
Hugh tasted blood, because she’d caused him to bite his own tongue.
“Put me down, I say! I’ll wait here for your man to come with my horse. I refuse to go one step farther in your company. Put me down!”
It was becoming difficult to retain sympathy for her plight in Hugh’s mind. Where was the woman’s gratitude? He’d put an end to the cruelty Kelly and his men had dealt her. He’d saved her life. She should be kissing his hands, begging his grace and expressing her thanks, not haranguing him at every turn. “No. I will not put you down.”
“Why not?” Morgana demanded imperiously.
“You should know better than to ask that. A woman alone isn’t safe in these climes.”
“I command you to put me down. This instant!”
“Lady, you do not command me to do anything,” he responded. “Be silent!”
“No!”
“Now, you listen to me,” he countered, goaded out of his usual reticence. “This is Ulster. More than that, this is my land, Tyrone! Here a woman does not speak again when a a man commands her not!”
Morgana twisted on his thigh, turning halfway round to glare at him. “I’ll scream my bloody head off if you don’t put me down at once! I don’t know who you or where you are taking me or what purpose you have to your actions. You’re frightening me, and I’ve had quite enough fright for one day and night.”
“Morgana of Kildare, I gave you my name. It is Hugh O’Neill. That is my home, Dungannon Castle. I am taking you there for the purpose of cleaning you up, giving you shelter for the night, then sending you on your way at first light.”
“Will you swear by that on your immortal soul?”
“Woman, you delude yourself, thinking you’ve had fright enough for one day and night,” Hugh declared in an ominous, threatening voice. “Do you provoke my temper at this hour, you’ll know what true terror is before morning comes. Now, keep your tongue behind your teeth.”
To the north, over Slieve Gallion, thunder rumbled and lightning stroked the sky. A responding cord smote Slieve Gullion, whence Morgana had come.
Morgana’s banked temper nearly burst forth. She knew better than to believe a word he’d said about sending her peacefully on her way. Come morning, someone might remember that James Kelly had named her as a Fitzgerald. She’d never get clear of Dungannon Castle then.
“Very well,” Morgana said, having the last word. She snapped her shoulders and, head upright, glared at the castle. She mustn’t give in to her weariness or let down her guard. If it cost her a night’s sleep to stay alert to the arrival of his man bringing the horses, so be it. The very moment she was reunited with Ariel, she’d leave for Dunluce.
Only a light rain was falling by the time they reached the portcullis. It was raised to admit Hugh and Morgana, and closed behind them. She shuddered when the gate groaned as it was lowered. That was not a good sign.
The village streets were dark and narrow and fairly quiet. She silently searched each crossroad, looking for a postern gate at the end of the cobbled street that might give exit outside the town walls.
In the town’s square, there was some celebration occurring. Hugh spoke to numerous men who hailed him from the doorway of a tavern, but he didn’t tarry. Morgana clutched the dripping tartan to her shoulders, her eyes on the open avenue ahead, which ended at a stalwart portcullis barring entrance to the castle.
It looked more terrifying up close than Traitor’s Gate at Dublin Castle. Morgana’s heart rose to her throat. A Fitzgerald woman in Dungannon—that couldn’t be borne. Now, when it behoved her to faint, she couldn’t.
Hugh held Boru still, waiting for the portcullis to rise. As soon as it had, he guided the horse at a measured pace over the long bridge, crossing the lake into the fortress. Morgana’s fingers exerted incredible force where they gripped his forearm, which brought questions to his mind. How had she come to acquire her unusual and unwomanly strength? Was she a protegee of Grace O’Malley, piratess extraordinaire? More importantly, was she actually a Fitzgerald, as Kelly had claimed?
Torchbearers and grooms rushed to meet him. Hugh dismounted and surrendered Boru’s reins, then reached up to help the woman down to the cobblestones, saying to the servants, “Wake Mrs. Carrick and tell her to come to me in the round tower. Fetch hot water and clean cloths. Both my guest and I are in need of hot baths.”
“I can’t possibly go inside tracking all this mud and filth,” Morgana stammered, clutching at every imaginary straw she could think of to avoid stepping foot in the castle proper. Hugh dropped his hands from her waist, letting her stand on her own. The light from the torches showed how filthy and battered she was. Few hags had ever looked worse. He inclined his head in the direction of the open well in the bailey yard. “Would you prefer that I have servants douse you naked with water from-that well?”
“Of course not,” Morgana answered, without looking for any well. Her gaze was fixed past Hugh’s right shoulder. “I can’t go in there! I can’t!”
The desperation Hugh heard in her voice caused him to swing around to look beyond the wide-open doors of the great hall. A measure of pride filled him, for the well-lit, stately chamber, filled with dancing courtiers and elegantly dressed and coiffed ladies, gave proof of how hospitable and elegant his home was. The happy strains of melodious harp and lute accompanying a tenor’s sweet voice entertained a bevy of noble guests.