Chapter 31
The Inn
Dani helped Duncan return the horse to the stables before they made their way towards the Inn. As they approached the Inn the presences of another Immortal ran through them, Duncan tried to reassure Dani that it must be Cassandra but as they entered the Inn Cassandra was not there. Rachel rushed over to Duncan as he entered "I was getting worried.I thought I'd have to send out a search party". Dani backed away as Rachel came up to them but Duncan held firmly onto her hand so that she couldn't run, he gently pulled her into the Inn "Rachel this is my friend Dani" Duncan said his eyes scanning the room, Rachel extended her hand but Dani moved away "sorry, Rachel she's a little tired" Rachel noticed that Dani looked like a hunted animal, fear could be clearly seen in her eyes as they darted around the room "it's all right Duncan.I understand. come with me I'll show you to your room" Rachel said as her hand on patted Duncan's arm. As they walked through the bar Duncan eyes were still trying to locate the Immortal, as they got to the stairs Rachel stopped and turned back to Duncan "I've only the one room tonight.but there will be another free tomorrow".
"That's ok Rachel.one room will be find" Duncan didn't miss the look in Rachel's eyes, he wished he had time to explain everything to her but it would have to wait Dani was his priority now, he would have to talk to her later. "I'll need the other room for Cassandra, she should be arriving soon" Rachel nodded and continued up the stairs, she unlocked the door "the bathroom is just down the hall.this is a quiet room so you shouldn't be disturb. Dani walked into the room, Duncan stood with Rachel by the door "thanks Rachel I don't know what I'd do without you". Rachel handed him the key "I'll leave you alone.come down when you're ready".
Duncan walked over and sat beside Dani on the bed, he put his arm around her shoulders. Dani instinctively rested her head on his shoulders "I'm sorry Duncan" he held her tight "you could've talked to me you know.you didn't have to face this alone.and going without your sword what were you thinking?" Dani looked up at him, he realised how exhausted she looked, and as she went to speak he pressed his finger to her lips "we'll talk about this tomorrow, I think you really need to get some sleep".
Duncan sat on the bed watching as Dani undressed and slipped between the sheets. He went to leave but Dani caught hold of his arm "please stay with me at least till I'm asleep" Duncan sat down beside her, as he stroked her hair she closed her eyes, he watched her until her face relaxed as sleep overtook her. He then quietly left the room locking the door behind him, and he went back to the bar to see if he could find the other Immortal. Rachel met him at the bottom of the stairs "Is everything all right Duncan?"
"Everything is fine she sleeping.I haven't eaten all day.I know it's getting late but do you think you could rustle me up something?" Rachel put a hand onto Duncan's cheek "I'll see what I can do" she said as she turned to go behind the bar "Oh.I forgot to tell yea.you've another friend here.he's over there" Rachel said pointing to a table in the shadows. Duncan narrowed his eyes to see if he could make out who was there before he approached but it was only as he got within a few feet that he recognised the man "Robert Hamilton?"
"In the flesh dear boy" Robert said standing up with his hand outstretched; Duncan shook Robert's hand "What brings you here?" Duncan asked as he sat in a chair opposite Robert "I've just arrived.thought I could do with a vacation and I've never been here before" Duncan heard Robert's words but he had a feeling that Robert wasn't telling him the truth but why would Robert lie to him. "What about you Duncan.are you on vacation too?" Duncan smiled at Robert "not exactly.I'm here with a friend" Robert looked around the bar "so where is this friend of yours?" Robert said as he watched Rachel walking over to them carrying two glasses of ale and a plate of sandwiches "I thought you might like a drink while you chat" she said as she put the glasses and the plate down on the table. "Thanks Rachel" Duncan said as he picked up one of the glasses "I'll be at the bar if you need anything else" she said as she walked away. The tone of Rachel's last statement wasn't lost on Duncan; she had sounded like she didn't trust Robert but he would have to wait until later to ask her about it.
Robert left a few hours later they had spent the time talking over old times and where their travels had taken them. Several times Robert had steered the conversation back to Duncan's unnamed friend, trying to find out a name but the more he tried the more determined Duncan was that he wouldn't find out but a feeling in Duncan's stomach told him that Robert already knew who was upstairs. Duncan waited until Robert had left the Inn to return to his room at the local guesthouse before he collected the plate and glasses, returning them to the bar. They talked about old times both seeming to steer the conversation away from the present. After several more drinks Robert drained the last of the whisky he had in his glass "it's getting late I really should be going, I'm staying in the hotel by the loch.you and your friend should drop by tomorrow we could all have lunch" Duncan nodded "maybe.maybe" Duncan said as he watched Robert walk out of the Inn.
Duncan waited until Rachel had managed to get the last of the locals to go home to their beds before collecting the empty glasses from the surrounding tables. He then walked over to the bar, Rachel reached up and took a dusty bottle from the top shelf "I've been saving this for a special occasion.do you want to try it.it's really old.do yea think your man enough" Duncan laughed "I think I can handle it" Rachel poured to whisky, then she joined Duncan on the other side of the bar, she handed one to Duncan as she sat on the stool next to him. Duncan took a drink "Nice.really smooth.Rachel, I sense that you don't like my friend Robert" Rachel dropped her eyes to the bar and then back up to meet his gaze "do you mind telling me why?" Duncan asked. "he came in here about two days after I'd seen Dani in the village.he wanted a room, there's something about him.something in his eyes I just don't trust, so I told him that I didn't have any.he then asked a lot of questions.mainly about a young woman.from what he said it must have been Dani.call it feminine intuition but there's just something about him I don't like" Rachel waited for a reaction from Duncan "why would he tell me that he had just arrived?"
"I don't know but he's been in the village for a while now" Rachel replied. Duncan ran his hand over his chin "well at least that might explain what happened on the mountain.but what does Robert want with Dani?" Rachel knew that he wasn't really asking her that question just thinking aloud, she reached forward and rested her hand on Duncan's knee "I don't know Duncan.I know he's your friend but be careful".
Duncan lifted Rachel's hand to his lips "Thanks for all of this I don't know what I'd do with out you.but I'm sure there is nothing to worry about" he then slipped off the stool and started to take the glasses round the bar "O no you don't" Rachel said stepping into his path "your dead on your feet.I'll finish up here.anyway hadn't you better check on Dani" Duncan smiled and nodded his agreement, he then lent forward and kissed Rachel on the cheek "goodnight".
"Goodnight Duncan.there's extra blankets in the wardrobe if you need them" she said as Duncan started to climb the stairs, he turned back to her "thanks".
The Inn
Dani helped Duncan return the horse to the stables before they made their way towards the Inn. As they approached the Inn the presences of another Immortal ran through them, Duncan tried to reassure Dani that it must be Cassandra but as they entered the Inn Cassandra was not there. Rachel rushed over to Duncan as he entered "I was getting worried.I thought I'd have to send out a search party". Dani backed away as Rachel came up to them but Duncan held firmly onto her hand so that she couldn't run, he gently pulled her into the Inn "Rachel this is my friend Dani" Duncan said his eyes scanning the room, Rachel extended her hand but Dani moved away "sorry, Rachel she's a little tired" Rachel noticed that Dani looked like a hunted animal, fear could be clearly seen in her eyes as they darted around the room "it's all right Duncan.I understand. come with me I'll show you to your room" Rachel said as her hand on patted Duncan's arm. As they walked through the bar Duncan eyes were still trying to locate the Immortal, as they got to the stairs Rachel stopped and turned back to Duncan "I've only the one room tonight.but there will be another free tomorrow".
"That's ok Rachel.one room will be find" Duncan didn't miss the look in Rachel's eyes, he wished he had time to explain everything to her but it would have to wait Dani was his priority now, he would have to talk to her later. "I'll need the other room for Cassandra, she should be arriving soon" Rachel nodded and continued up the stairs, she unlocked the door "the bathroom is just down the hall.this is a quiet room so you shouldn't be disturb. Dani walked into the room, Duncan stood with Rachel by the door "thanks Rachel I don't know what I'd do without you". Rachel handed him the key "I'll leave you alone.come down when you're ready".
Duncan walked over and sat beside Dani on the bed, he put his arm around her shoulders. Dani instinctively rested her head on his shoulders "I'm sorry Duncan" he held her tight "you could've talked to me you know.you didn't have to face this alone.and going without your sword what were you thinking?" Dani looked up at him, he realised how exhausted she looked, and as she went to speak he pressed his finger to her lips "we'll talk about this tomorrow, I think you really need to get some sleep".
Duncan sat on the bed watching as Dani undressed and slipped between the sheets. He went to leave but Dani caught hold of his arm "please stay with me at least till I'm asleep" Duncan sat down beside her, as he stroked her hair she closed her eyes, he watched her until her face relaxed as sleep overtook her. He then quietly left the room locking the door behind him, and he went back to the bar to see if he could find the other Immortal. Rachel met him at the bottom of the stairs "Is everything all right Duncan?"
"Everything is fine she sleeping.I haven't eaten all day.I know it's getting late but do you think you could rustle me up something?" Rachel put a hand onto Duncan's cheek "I'll see what I can do" she said as she turned to go behind the bar "Oh.I forgot to tell yea.you've another friend here.he's over there" Rachel said pointing to a table in the shadows. Duncan narrowed his eyes to see if he could make out who was there before he approached but it was only as he got within a few feet that he recognised the man "Robert Hamilton?"
"In the flesh dear boy" Robert said standing up with his hand outstretched; Duncan shook Robert's hand "What brings you here?" Duncan asked as he sat in a chair opposite Robert "I've just arrived.thought I could do with a vacation and I've never been here before" Duncan heard Robert's words but he had a feeling that Robert wasn't telling him the truth but why would Robert lie to him. "What about you Duncan.are you on vacation too?" Duncan smiled at Robert "not exactly.I'm here with a friend" Robert looked around the bar "so where is this friend of yours?" Robert said as he watched Rachel walking over to them carrying two glasses of ale and a plate of sandwiches "I thought you might like a drink while you chat" she said as she put the glasses and the plate down on the table. "Thanks Rachel" Duncan said as he picked up one of the glasses "I'll be at the bar if you need anything else" she said as she walked away. The tone of Rachel's last statement wasn't lost on Duncan; she had sounded like she didn't trust Robert but he would have to wait until later to ask her about it.
Robert left a few hours later they had spent the time talking over old times and where their travels had taken them. Several times Robert had steered the conversation back to Duncan's unnamed friend, trying to find out a name but the more he tried the more determined Duncan was that he wouldn't find out but a feeling in Duncan's stomach told him that Robert already knew who was upstairs. Duncan waited until Robert had left the Inn to return to his room at the local guesthouse before he collected the plate and glasses, returning them to the bar. They talked about old times both seeming to steer the conversation away from the present. After several more drinks Robert drained the last of the whisky he had in his glass "it's getting late I really should be going, I'm staying in the hotel by the loch.you and your friend should drop by tomorrow we could all have lunch" Duncan nodded "maybe.maybe" Duncan said as he watched Robert walk out of the Inn.
Duncan waited until Rachel had managed to get the last of the locals to go home to their beds before collecting the empty glasses from the surrounding tables. He then walked over to the bar, Rachel reached up and took a dusty bottle from the top shelf "I've been saving this for a special occasion.do you want to try it.it's really old.do yea think your man enough" Duncan laughed "I think I can handle it" Rachel poured to whisky, then she joined Duncan on the other side of the bar, she handed one to Duncan as she sat on the stool next to him. Duncan took a drink "Nice.really smooth.Rachel, I sense that you don't like my friend Robert" Rachel dropped her eyes to the bar and then back up to meet his gaze "do you mind telling me why?" Duncan asked. "he came in here about two days after I'd seen Dani in the village.he wanted a room, there's something about him.something in his eyes I just don't trust, so I told him that I didn't have any.he then asked a lot of questions.mainly about a young woman.from what he said it must have been Dani.call it feminine intuition but there's just something about him I don't like" Rachel waited for a reaction from Duncan "why would he tell me that he had just arrived?"
"I don't know but he's been in the village for a while now" Rachel replied. Duncan ran his hand over his chin "well at least that might explain what happened on the mountain.but what does Robert want with Dani?" Rachel knew that he wasn't really asking her that question just thinking aloud, she reached forward and rested her hand on Duncan's knee "I don't know Duncan.I know he's your friend but be careful".
Duncan lifted Rachel's hand to his lips "Thanks for all of this I don't know what I'd do with out you.but I'm sure there is nothing to worry about" he then slipped off the stool and started to take the glasses round the bar "O no you don't" Rachel said stepping into his path "your dead on your feet.I'll finish up here.anyway hadn't you better check on Dani" Duncan smiled and nodded his agreement, he then lent forward and kissed Rachel on the cheek "goodnight".
"Goodnight Duncan.there's extra blankets in the wardrobe if you need them" she said as Duncan started to climb the stairs, he turned back to her "thanks".