The Enemy Within

Chapter 13

It was the morning after her duel with Gadd Blane and Grisell felt the debilitating loss of uncle, her mentor and guide. Even Eskine's confession of his love for her, beautiful as it had been, could not dampen her pain. It shrouded her like an icy, piercing cold frontier lashing her at two hundred and sixty miles per hour. His death was more traumatic than his betrayal.

She'd skipped supper the previous night, now breakfast prepared for her, was equally unappetizing. She hadn't eaten a thing, just sipped her coffee. Grisell sat at one of the tables under the sun, her thoughts on Gadd. Breakfast was brought to her but she hadn't touched it. She mourned the loss of Gadd and was distraught that one as young as Iona was no more.

Leaving her breakfast untouched, she walked aimlessly about the site, remembering when she was six, how Gadd had taught her with sticks, how to fight. He'd taught her how to control the handle of a sword, to deliver maximum impact. Who would have thought, it would ultimately be against him? She smiled to herself, thinking about the first time, as a teenager, after almost eight years of tutelage under Gadd, how in her training, she had managed to defeat him as her opponent. He played it down, telling her, he'd let her win, but she knew she'd won fair and square.

As Grisell walked aimlessly about, two of the young ladies rushed to her with animated faces. Grisell smiled at them, peeking into the baskets they held up for her inspection.

'Chief,' the first one beamed. 'Look my garden vegetables are ready and I want it sold when our ships goes to trade again.'

'My produce too,' the second young lady offered Grisell one of her juicy looking Forelle pears to sample.

Grisell laughed, she wiped the pear down on her dress and took a bite. She munched on it a bit, savoring its juiciness and its fleshy texture. 'Very nice,' she nodded. 'I believe our commercial produce are in abundance and ready for export. I don't see why yours can't be included. Go give General Blyth an inventory list and quantities you want to put on board and tell him your prices,' she took another bite. 'He will be in command of the ship leaving in two days. You will receive your money when the ship returns.'

'Do we pay him ten percent?' One of them asked?

'What?'

'Apparently, our other farmers had to pay General Gadd ten percent, on previous shipments.'

Fury renewed itself on Grisell's face. She consoled herself that his death was just desserts for his fraud.

'I was not aware of that,' Grisell hissed angrily. 'I had not sanctioned it! You need not make any payments to anybody,' she advised. 'Your quantities are small and should not be taxed. I will instruct the Board to circulate a communication, that all private trade are not to be taxed.'

'Thank you Chief,' they chorused appreciatively.

'Good work,' she smiled. 'Experiment with more produce you wish to offer for export.'

A week later, Grisell watched enthusiastically at the land reclamation project in progress. The men were overly enthusiastic and working at an accelerated pace to take possession of their reclaimed land. Grisell had thought she would have to crack the whip to get them motivated, but they were zealously working full steam ahead of their own will. Even the ladies and young ones were actively collecting stones and rocks to contribute to the workload. Grisell felt joy and honour to be Chief of such faithful clan members. A broad smile etched her face, caused her eyes to light up. She hugged her arms around herself and walked with a spring in her step. Without realizing it, she subconsciously found herself at her and Eskine's secret meeting place.

'Hello my darling heart.'

Grisell lifted her head and found herself face to face with Eskine. She took a few seconds to process that she'd arrived there on automatic pilot mode. She smiled, throwing her arms around him.

'Eskine!' she breathed happily.

He returned her smile. 'I'm delighted to see you smiling again,' his eyes were filled with concern. He hadn't mentioned to her his observation over the last few days of her noticeable weight loss and the haunted look in her eyes since Gadd's demise.

'I'm so happy,' she gushed, pressing her lips to his.

"'Happy" to see me?' He asked hopefully

She laughed. 'Umm___'

'Oh. Not me,' he mumbled dejectedly.

She fixed her eyes on his, the pad of her index finger caressing the nape of his neck. 'Have you noticed anything down at the beach?' She asked in a fervent whisper.

He grinned. 'Dalmahoy's certainly up to something down there! What gives?'

'We're reclaiming the land ___ expanding our property,' she answered with obvious pride.

His eyebrows shot up. 'Is that what you up to Dalmahoy?' He grinned. 'All my men been asking me, what gives down there, and I had no clue! Was that the secret you were reluctant to share with me?'

'Yes,' she giggled.

'Wow! That is an amazing idea. Would you mind too much if I copied you?'

She laughed. 'Not at all.'

'I dare say Chief Blane, I feel upended by your achievements.'

'You shouldn't,' she cupped his face. 'My clan are forever complainers. That motivates me to find creative solutions.'

'I feel better,' he smirked.

She giggled gleefully again.

He pressed his lips to her forehead. 'I have an errand to run. Can I bring a supper for you and I tomorrow night?'

She looked away. Food just didn't seem appetizing recently. She ate the bare minimum. Some yogurt in the morning; skipped lunch and picked at tit bits of supper that was served to her each night.

He shook her shoulders gently, wanting her to respond in the affirmative.

'Okay,' she whispered. 'Please ___ not too big a feast,' she pleading unfailingly.'

He nodded. Pressed his lips to hers, extorting a long, pleasurable kiss,' and quickly departed.

As Eskine re-entered his side of the DeMartino property, he found Sorcha Lees, leaning against a tree, her arms folded, waiting for him, a scowl on her enraged face. He hid his surprise, continued his walk in her direction, without faltering.

'Sorcha?' He raised his eyebrow questioningly.

'Who is she?' Sorcha spat venomously. 'Now I know why you don't invite me to your bed anymore!

-end chapter 13-