Chapter 6

Angus Murray wasn't surprised the next morning to find his new guest already seated at his table. Spread out before the man were various metal kitchen and hearth utensils. The fancy-dressed fop was examining each one as if he had never seen them before in his life. Angus felt very little could surprise him anymore. This man probably came from a court where they had servants to even wipe their arses for them.

Morag was already up as well, bustling about the kitchen, and talking to herself, as usual. She seemed not at all put out by the new guest; instead, she still seemed excited at the "adventure," as she put it it. She was probing the man for bits of information as to who he was and his business in Scotland, but he seemed distracted with his strange game.

"What are you doing?" Angus demanded.

"What? Oh, just an idea or two. Your wife has been telling me all about yesterday. Quite an exciting story, I must say. You were very lucky not to get swept up in that scoop."

Scoop? "Are you a relative of the lady?"

"'Relative?' Well, yes…and no. It's complicated," Silver looked sidelong at the man. "But I am here to take care of her, if that's what you mean."

He picked up a spoon, peered at it closely. "Tell me, how much has Steel told you of his…business here?"

Angus shook his head. "Nothing. He showed up, with the woman in tow, and-"

"He said we had things that didn't belong to us, didn't he Angus?" Morag added brightly. "He said they belonged to someone else and we had to give them back right away to where we found them. We were going to do what he said," she arranged a bowl and small cup on a tray. "Are you friend or kin to Steel?"

Silver's brows creased slightly. "No. But I'm going to look for him," he added. "I don't think you'll be seeing him again. That would be be for the best, I think. He's a dangerous individual."

"I gathered that," Angus pulled on his boots. "We're fine with seeing the back of him. Will you be paying his bill?"

Morag shot Angus a warning look, which he ignored, but Silver only smiled genially.

"Of course. You've been very hospitable, both of you."

"Well, I'm off on some business," Angus stood up. "We're expecting other guests, so the sooner you're out of here-"

Silver returned his attention to his spoon. It may have been a trick of the light, perhaps Angus was still tired, but he seemed to have covered it with his hands made it disappear.

"I quite understand. We'll be leaving soon."

Angus only grunted, and stormed out, saying nothing else. Morag made a face after him.

"I'm sorry about that, Mr. Silver, our Angus, he can be a bit rude in the morning," Morag picked up the tray. "I'll just be taking this up to Miss Sapphire now."

"Ah, best not to disturb her right now," Silver said. He opened his hand, and Morag thought she saw a bright silver ball in the palm. What a magic trick! "She needs her rest."

It's all right Silver, she may come upstairs. I am feeling somewhat…peckish.

"On the other hand, she might enjoy some of your delightful breakfast, Madame. Go on ahead."

Silver shrugged, and returned his attention to the utensils. He was certain he could create something useful from some of these trace metals, and detect Steel's whereabouts.

Angus strolled down the street, glad to get some air and see some normality. He didn't notice the murmurs of the other villagers, the worried whispers, the stares, until he saw his friend William. He was a friend from the "old days," meaning the days Angus was not quite the honest innkeeper he was now. He hailed him, but his friend only looked concerned as he strolled up.

"What is it? What's going on?" Angus was confused.

"What do you think is going on? What have you been up to? Do you know that there are soldiers, government soldiers on their way here?" William whispered. "They are armed, and looks like they want trouble," William's eyes narrowed. "You've got some people under your roof, don't you?"

Fear settled in Angus' stomach. "Just travelers. What did you think, I had Prince Charlie staying at my very own inn?"

"One of them's in the Highland dress, isn't he? Look Angus, I don't know who you have, but if I were you I'd get them out, right now. It's trouble, sure, no matter who they are."

Angus squeezed his friend's arm in thanks. "I'll get them out, now. And if anyone says-"

"I know you're no Jacobite, Angus," the unspoken words, Even though your father was, didn't have to be said. The past was the past. "It may be nothing, but-"

But Angus was already running back to the inn as fast as he could.

Morag carefully entered the room, and saw Sapphire sitting on the bed, her back resting against the wall. She did look very weary and a bit sad, Morag thought., over the loss over of her man, undoubtedly.

"I've brought you some porridge and milk," Morag said gently as she could, setting the tray down on the table next to the bed. Sapphire touched the edge of the bowl.

Oats, milk, butter, water. Nothing dangerous.

Until you eat it. From Silver's response, it sounded like he had. She smiled, and Morag took that as her cue to sit and stay a bit.

Sapphire took a taste of the porridge. "It's delicious."

Morag beamed. "Thank you, milady!"

"Please, call me Sapphire."

Hoping the woman would not take offense at her speaking so familiarly, Morag tentatively offered, "You must miss Steel very much, milady – I mean, Sapphire."

Sapphire couldn't help but smile at the woman's efforts. "Yes. Yes, I think I do. Even though we haven't always agreed with each other."

"Angus and I, of course we've been married a long time, and we haven't often agreed either. I mean, I wanted us to go with our Donald to the Americas, but Angus wanted to try to make a go of the inn. He didn't much fancy going to such an uncivilized place either. But I know he misses Donald terribly, although he doesn't say so. He's our only son, after all," Morag nodded towards Sapphire's stomach. "I imagine Steel would feel the same way towards his son, no matter what happens. I mean, Highlander or Lowlander, we all feel the same, don't we? Once these wars are over, it will be for the best. No father really wants his child to die in war."

Sapphire went quiet, considering the human's words. "I wonder if the War will ever be over."

She placed a hand on her belly, feeling the concealed energy within. It would be soon, very soon now. Before now she had not given much thought to this...process other than the completion of Steel's demand for the creation of a new Element. Sapphire had conceded only because she eventually came to agree with her partner's assessment that they needed to augment their forces against the Enemy. Even so, she resented how he had virtually compelled her to do this. But something else was unsettling her, she slowly realized.

Prior to today, to both of them, the new Element gestating within her had only represented a promising stratagem in the war against Time, a potential advantage. This would be the secret weapon deployed against them that they would not expect. But now, curiously, Sapphire's mind was reconsidering everything she had previously thought.

Steel himself had never expressed any intention for this new Element other than to function as a weapon against the Transient Beings and the Primordials. She hadn't expected him to - it was the same with all of them – their purpose, their very existence, was to ensure Time did not break through. Yet, everything had changed so much. In the initial days of the Transient offensive (in reality, ever since their release from the petrol-station trap), Steel had become so single-minded, even obsessed, with overcoming their adversaries – perhaps also with erasing the embarrassment of his having miscalculated and becoming trapped. Sapphire had first begun to suspect Steel's mind when they, along with the other Elementals, had retreated to the Bunker. Once they were attacked, and retreated abruptly, Steel had revealed his plans to her. Sapphire had been shocked at what he had in mind all along, but especially upsetting to her was that he had not asked for her input, as a partner should. But this was War, and he was only doing what he had been trained from creation to do. Sometimes it meant not revealing your mind, being suspicious of even close comrades, and doing whatever it took for victory to be achieved, even at the expense of others. Undoubtedly, it would be the same for the new Element – from the moment of birth, it would be trained to fight – and fight ruthlessly - against the Enemy. Before, Sapphire wouldn't have thought twice about it, but now…

Sapphire found herself thinking that, no matter what happened, if the Element survived the birth-process that is, she must do whatever she could to ensure that there could be a future for this child other than the endless War. Was this a mother's instinct? What about the father…?

Morag misread her meaning. "Oh, don't fear lass, the wars will be over soon…well, one way or the other." She suddenly looked anxious, if she might have offended her, but Sapphire shook her head.

"No, you are right…they will, I'm sure of it too."

Sapphire, is everything all right?

Yes, Silver. What is it?

This innkeeper fellow is back, and he seems quite agitated. It looks we may have to vacate the premises, rather quickly I'm afraid.

If he is concerned about us staying…

It's not just us, Silver replied, and Sapphire detected the alarm in his thought. All of us. It appears we've been compromised.

Sergeant Taylor slipped into the small tent, making sure he went unseen by his comrades. To his delight, he saw the Highlander still within, dangling from the tripod, motionless and silent. His head was slumped down to his chest, his long blonde hair hanging in his face. Dark streaks of blood stained the front of his shirt, but hopefully he wasn't dead yet. Sergeant Taylor had a personal score to settle with this Highland bastard.

Sergeant Taylor planted himself solidly in front of the man in what he thought was an imposing posture. "'Ere, you. Wake up, you."

He prodded the man in the chest. As far as he could see, the man had gotten off lightly from the Colonel, as he didn't look too badly beaten. If he had had his way, he would have flogged this bastard to near-death and then strung him up from the nearest tree, preferably in front of his family if they were around, and then would have burned down his house for good measure.

The Highlander didn't move, didn't seem to have heard him, or maybe he was playing possum. To wake him up good, Sergeant Taylor drew his fist back and punched the man in the gut, then immediately yelped, grabbing his hand. It had been like hitting a sack of rocks.

However, it seemed to do the trick of rousing the prisoner. He slowly raised his head; clearly, every movement caused him pain. He stared at the man, but didn't show any fear. Sergeant Taylor smiled, relishing the moment despite the awkward punch. He would make this bastard pay for embarrassing him in front of his men, to whom he liked to think looked up to him as a veritable god of war. A bit of fun with the prisoner and who was to know afterwards?

"Not so high and mighty now, are you?" he sneered. "Just another Highland rat, aren't you? You'll soon learn some manners. I'll teach you 'em."

Steel recognized the soldier from the group that had confronted them by the standing stones. A brutish sort of human, obviously hoping to humiliate what he saw as his human adversary. This could possibly work to his advantage.

Steel suddenly jerked his body forward. Of course he could not reach the man, but it had the effect he intended. The startled soldier jumped back, clumsily falling over his feet.

Steel laughed rudely, and injected a Scottish burr into his voice, playing into the role. "You nae face me like a man," he accused. "English coward!"

Sergeant Taylor glared at Steel, enraged. He picked himself up off the dirt. This was not how the game was supposed to go. "You'd best shut your mouth or…"

"Or what? What will you do?" Steel taunted, "You great greasy pig-shagger!"

Enraged, Sergeant Taylor whipped out his knife and menaced Steel with it. But far from being frightened, the Highlander only smiled, and Sergeant Taylor soon realized he'd made a very big mistake…

To be continued…