Sorrow has Human Heart

The life of an exile was a hard and lonely one. He dropped his head into his hands, shoving the leather bound book aside. However much he attempted to make his place here, he never would find a home in the castle. He was respected by the castle inhabitants but it was a cautious respect. They suspected, even if they didn’t know for certain, that the name he used was a given one and not one of his own choosing. Little to know that the man they called Kenneth Beaton was not mortal. Or he had been such some twenty years ago.

Most if not all of his memories of that former life had been stripped from him upon his exile. What fragments that remained were shadowy things, fleeting images. A full moon, a dark haired woman kneeling by the side of a stream bank and washing the blood from a man fallen in battle. A third; a blond man pursuing his prey on horseback by night. Their names and identities had been long since forgotten.

“Beaton!”

The cry had him starting, turning to see the visitors standing in the doorway. Fourteen year old Ailein Duinn and his younger sister, if he recalled them correctly. It was strange to see the two of them without their brother. “What is it?”

Adele sniffled, wiping her nose on her shirt sleeve. “Jamie. He’s fevered. Mother sent us to find ye. You’re a healer. Ye mun do something, please.”

They must have ridden hard to get to the castle, for all it was a mile or two from the manor house. Kenneth cursed softly. “Show me, lassie.”

She broke into a run, racing ahead of her older brother and Kenneth. There was an extra horse waiting by the fresh mounts that a stable hand brought out for them. Adele all but vaulted onto her horse’s back and kicked it into a canter. It left Kenneth and Ailein with no choice to follow at the same speed or be left behind.

Their mother was standing at the doorway to the manor, tears streaking her face. “Ye came. Can ye save my child?”

“All I can do is promise to do what I can.”

The oath cut him like fine thread. Kenneth bit down on his lower lip. He might not have the power he’d once had. Healing had to come from herbs and mortal tools, not what had been his by right. “Let me see the laddie.”

The room was smoky with the peat fire, the window shut tight against the cold wind. Kenneth coughed, eyes burning with tears as he opened the shutters to let in some fresh air. Jamie’s mother let out a squeak of protest before Ailein led her from the room.

Adele lingered for a second, watching him. “Ye can save him, aye?”

“I dinna know, child.” He hated the words as he said them. Adele’s eyes were filled with tears and her lower lip was quivering.

“Please…”

Kenneth knelt, brushing a stray strand of black hair from her face. “Have ye kent me ever to lie to you?”

“No,” She turned away, shoulders slumping as she shut the door behind her.

Kenneth turned towards the small figure curled up on his side. The blankets had been thrown off sometime earlier. Now the boy was shivering, eyes shut tight with pain. “Can ye hear me, laddie?”

All he got in response was a soft whimper. Kenneth knelt by the side of the bed, resting one hand on Jamie’s forehead before he pulled away. The boy was burning up with fever. “I’m so sorry. Your brother and sister brought me as soon as they could.”