Written In Stone

him, with him inside of her, while they galloped across the land. There was no end to their lovemaking, the different positions, and the different places. It got to the point that the rest of the household was afraid to walk outside if Muredach and Bettina were out, having come across the pair in the throes of passion once too often. They learned to be careful, though it seemed to be catching since one of the maids overheard Fergus telling his wife to meet him in the hayloft.
    Even Muredach's brothers felt the sting of loneliness, and it wasn't long before Crinan was courting the baker's daughter, and Duncan was s wooning over one of the crofters’ daughters. Malcom went to visit a distant cousin in Edinburgh, and had recently sent a missive announcing his engagement to a lovely lass and was bringing her home to meet the family. Findon was the only one unattached to a particular lady, and when asked about it, he simply shrugged. Findon had yet to tell his parents of his decision to join the priesthood. He spoke with the abbey priest, and was encouraged to tell his family and ask for their blessing. Findon wasn't sure what they would say, but with four out of five brothers married, he was sure there'd be enough grandchildren in their future that his mother wouldn't be too upset. He wasn't sure how his father would take the news, though. The Mor men were warriors, had always been warriors, but he hoped there was now room for a priest in the family.
    Coming into the parlor where his mother was having tea, Muredach asked, " H'ave ye seen Bettina?"
    "Not for some time. She's probably out ridin' her horse or tendin' the flower gardens. Ye know how she likes to get her hands in the dirt." Maud smiled at him.
    "Aye, she does at that." He grinned and started for the gardens. When he didn't find her there, he went to the stables, but no one had seen her there either. Muredach didn't want to panic, but he was starting to worry. Bettina hadn't been out of his sight since the night they'd first made love, nearly five months ago.
    Back inside, he looked through the kitchens, went to their chamber, and checked again. He even went to see if she'd gone below to help the laundry maids since there seemed to be no end to her generous nature. She was nowhere to be found, and the fear he'd felt tingling around the back of his neck was now a cold hand of fear around his heart. "Da," he said as he entered the great hall. "Bettina's missin'. I've searched everywhere for her."
    "Now, doona fret so, I'm sure the lass has not gone far. We'll get some men together and look for her. Did ye look down by the loch? Perhaps she went for a swim."
    "No, but she wouldna go with out tellin' me." Muredach paced the floor.
    "Maybe she forgot. Let's go see."
    Muredach and Fergus rode with a handful of men to the loch, but Bettina wasn't there either. Fergus sent them in different directions to see if she had just gone for a little walk, but there was no sign of her. Then one of the men shouted, holding up his arm. Muredach rode to him and took the cloth he held. It was a piece of Bettina's dress, along with a piece of the red and black tartan of the Llewelyn.
    "The Llewelyn has her!" Muredach gritted through clenched teeth. "Da, fetch the men and head toward the Llewelyn's castle. I'll take these men with me." Muredach didn't wait for an answer; he heeled his horse and was off at a run. With his men close on his heels, it was no more than a couple of hours before they reached the cleft of rocks that marked the beginning of Llewelyn land. A spear stuck in the middle of the path, another piece of Bettina's dress attached to it. Muredach reined in his horse and looked around.
    "Alright Llewelyn, I'm here," Muredach shouted. "What be ye wantin'?"
    "Ye know what I want, Mor. Bring the Holy Spear of Christ to the valley loch and I'll be tradin' me daughter for it. And come alone," he bellowed. "I can see everythin' from there, so I'll be knowin' if ye are alone."
    "Bettina, are ye all right, lass?" Muredach called out to her.
    "Aye," she said, but he could hear the fright in her voice.
    "Doona worry, lass. Ye'll be fine. I'll be back with the spear. Llewelyn, ye harm a hair on her head and ye'll die at the valley loch, ye hear?"
    There was no reply. Muredach and his men turned their horses and rode hard back the way they'd came, meeting Fergus and the rest of their men. Muredach related what Llewelyn said and left it to Fergus to make a plan while he rode back