Gadd was spitting mad! He was furious with Finn. How dare that nincompoop become so familiar with the Chief? To think he could sit besotted, next to the Chief and take meals with her each day. Gadd knew exactly who was going to marry his stubborn, wilful, spoilt niece and Finn was not going to be the one. He had already picked out a certain General, who was going to be instrumental in advancing Gadd's ambitions to become the next Chief of Dalmahoy.

Gadd sat in his personal loft, nursing his whisky. It tasted even more delicious now that his plans were finally coming to light. His spy Alfie Fingal was presenting Gadd, with some rather incriminating evidence against the current Chief of Dalmahoy.

'I tell you Sir,' Alfie implored. 'I saw them with my own two eyes.'

Gadd scratched his beard. 'No. It's impossible. The wench would never dare befriend DeMartino.'

'Sir, when the Chief went riding on the beach. DeMartino was there. He approached her. They talked. They walked. Together. She did not stop him approaching her. And then they seemed to disagree about something. He walked away. She sped off. We had to ride like hell just to keep up with her.'

'Maybe it was nothing,' Gadd shrugged.

Let me tell you what I saw yesterday,' Alfie grinned, showing his crooked teeth. 'They met at a spot, just inside the DeMartino border. They looked real close and intimate.'

Gadd stared at Alfie fixedly. Could it be true? Could his idiot niece be cavorting with the enemy? Why, that was just the weapon needed to dethrone her!

'What were they doing?' Gadd questioned.

'I was being careful and did not go too close. But they were not talking like strangers or enemies, Sir. I tell you something is going on with those two.'

Gadd did not respond. His mind was running like a steam train.
How to catch her in the act? No wonder she was not interested in any of the Dalmahoy men. She had her sights set on the DeMartino Chief! Well if truth be told, DeMartino was built rather like a giant. Enlarged frame, tall, muscular shoulders and limbs, rugged features.

Gadd could accept her attraction to DeMartino. He wickedly plotted her demise. He would not question Grisell. He would not tell her bed-ridden father. No. He would bide his time and his ultimate plan would fall into place and he, as the last standing Blane, would become Chief by default. He enthusiastically anticipated his new role as Chief. First order of business would be to adopt a stricter approach over the clan. His soldiers and warriors, he was content with. The rest of his tribesmen, he planned to make them slave for their meals and increase the hours of tilling the land. They were lazy and did not work hard enough, unlike him. He would make them slave harder. They needed to become more subservient. He would ration their meals. They were greedy and ate too much. Second order would be to dissolve the Council. They would not be needed. He would be the authority. His word would be final. Anybody who disagreed would have their heads chopped off.

'Do not reveal to anybody what you have discovered,' Gadd ordered.

'Shouldn't we report her to Council, Sir?'

'Not yet. Let us gather more ammunition against her,' Gadd sharpened his sword distractedly.

'Okay Sir. Permission to leave?'

Gadd nodded. He could not contain his excitement. Nobody must suspect his ambitious plan.

Grisell walked aimlessly along the border wall that Finn had been repairing. For the life of her, she could not understand how Finn could have lost his balance and fallen. He was athletic and sure-footed. How could someone as sprightly as Finn end up dead? He was young, extremely meticulous and never reckless. Grisell wanted to scream.

She wanted Finn back, alive next to her. It was a cruel fate to lose one so young, at the prime of his life. He was a true comrade who stood by her side. She mourned his loss. Grisell walked the perimeter, until she found herself at her secret spot with Eskine.

'What's wrong?' He observed her unhappiness and glassy eyes.

'Hi Eskine.' She mumbled. 'I have lost a dear friend and soldier,' she lowered her head, hiding her grief.

He placed his hands gently on her shoulders. 'I'm sorry for your loss. What happened?'

'An accident, whilst mending the wall,' she answered.

'Have a seat here,' he pointed to the grass. As she sat, he took her hands in his.

'It will hurt,' he held her eyes. 'You must celebrate the good times you remember.'

She laughed softly. 'Just the other day, I tried to drown him. He threw some choice words at me.'

He smiled. 'It seems you had an enjoyable friendship.'

'Because we were the same age, growing up, we often did things together. We spent a lot of time in each other's company.'

'Keep remembering those moments,' he encouraged, 'they make the mourning easier to handle.'

She wondered if he used that encouragement himself. She knew he was an orphan. Did he miss his beloved parents as much as she missed her delinquent mother? She suspected he had enjoyed a loving relationship with his parents. She wanted to ask him, but she suspected he would not be comfortable to share that with her.

Grisell's eyes shifted to Eskine's, when she felt his fingers caress her arm. Her eyes held his, she saw his dark eyes aroused with passion. She ran her tongue over her lower lip self-consciously.

'I do not want to take advantage of you when you are mourning your dearest friend, but I want to kiss you Grisell.'

She swallowed. Her head shifted towards him. She closed her eyes. She heard his soft groan, as their lips met. Her arm curved around his neck. He pulled her closer, flush against his sturdy chest, deepening the kiss. She held him tightly savouring the kiss.

'How is your wound,' he whispered.

'Getting better,' she smiled. 'I'm subjecting it to lots of exercise.'

'You're brave,' he grinned. 'I like that about you.'

'Thank you. Much as I am enjoying your company. I should head back.'

'Okay,' he sighed, disappointedly.

'Tomorrow evening, I will treat you to a surprise late supper.'

'Eskine, I didn't say I am meeting you tomorrow. I need to be careful.'

'We will be careful together. Now promise me you will come,' his lips teased hers seductively.

'I will,' she caved in, enjoying his kiss.

'Okay. Off you go. I will keep watch.'

'Bye Eskine. See you tomorrow,' she smiled and ran off.

'Does she suspect anything?' Gadd's work roughened palm glided over Iona's thigh.

She giggled and shoved a juicy grape into Gadd's mouth. 'No. The Chief believes everything I tell her. She doesn't question the bills or request to see the books. I've moved enough money for you to buy your boat and a cache of arms to destroy the entire DeMartino tribe to smithereens.'

Gadd smiled delightedly. His fingers trailed over her hip to her waist. Iona lifted his hand and traced the abrasions on his palm, sustained by rope burns from being on the ships and his fair share of hard labour in tilling the grounds when he was much younger. She pressed her lips to his palm.

'Hard work don't kill anyone,' he grinned. 'Besides, your men respect you more if you work with them. It's a good lesson I learnt from my brother when he was Chief.'

'How does the Old Chief feel about Grisell being leader? Does he support her leadership?'

'The old fool thinks she is doing an excellent job,' Gadd snorted. 'He shoots down everything I suggest. When I point out her errors, he says he made plenty more mistakes at her age. He tells me to hold her hand and fully support her!' Gadd slapped his hand on the bed angrily.

'Be patient love,' Iona patted his cheek gently. 'You have the perfect weapon to destroy her. She is sleeping with the enemy. Very soon you will take your rightful place as the true Chief of Dalmahoy, and all your soldiers support you one hundred percent.'

'I'm biding my time,' Gadd nodded, gulping down his whisky. 'But we must keep up pretences. She must never know, we know her secrets. Nor must she ever become suspicious of the purse.'

'Don't you worry about the purse,' Iona laughed softly. 'I inflate all the prices from the lists she requests me to procure.'

'It's very comfortable here,' Gadd murmured, but I must go see to some errands. Keep the bed warm for me,' he rose putting on his trousers.

'No one else is allowed in my bed but you love, you know that.'

He slipped his hat on, nodded and left Iona's quarters through her back door.

Grisell was enjoying her early evening bath. It was beautifully scented with dried lavender buds floating about in the water. She could not contain her joy. She was certain she was in love with Eskine. He was so beautiful. His smile was so adorable with his rugged good looks, tall, muscular, majestic. He was built like a Roman God. And he desired her as much as she did him. The burning question was; should she give herself to him? Dare she? What would happen if she married a Dalmahoy and he discovered his bride, the Dalmahoy Chief was damaged goods? Would he expose her? Would she be decapitated? Would she receive the same fate as her mother?

Grisell lifted her feet above the water and dunked them in again. She slowly added another jar of hot water into her bath, and closed her eyes. Her thoughts haunted her again by her delinquent mother. The pain in her heart, hurt like a knife wound when she thought of the numerous times she'd tried to win her mother's affection.

And her pathetic attempts to win her mother's love. She had tried and tried and tried to be a better child, to please her mother, but nothing worked. She dutifully obeyed all her mother's instructions. Grisell had showed empathy, when she'd wanted to hug her mother and her mother would shove her away, claiming she had a headache. Eager to please her mother, she would acquiesce when her mother sent her to bed, two hours early, so she could entertain her lover. The more Grisell had tried to appease her mother and win her love, the more her mother rejected her.

Grisell remembered too, her third birthday. Vaguely she remembered her nursemaid, smiling happily and wishing Grisell a happy birthday. She hadn't understood what happy birthday meant, but she intuited it was a good thing as her nursemaid had hugged her, and put on her prettiest dress for her. Her father too had greeted her, lifting her into his arms, twirling with her saying "happy birthday."

When her father had left the room, Grisell had waited patiently for her mother to offer the same greetings but it had never come.

'Do hurry and finish your breakfast,' her mother had ordered. 'Nurse is waiting for you to take your lessons.'

'What does "happy birthday" mean?' Grisell had enquired of her mother.

'It's the day you are born child! On the same day each year, people will acknowledge the day by saying: "happy birthday!" Why the non-sensical attachment, I don't know.' Her mother had huffed and drank her tea, pointedly disallowing any further conversation. Grisell had wanted to know when was her mother's birthday, but she though better of asking her intolerant parent. Grisell had hurriedly finished her breakfast, excused herself and wished her mother an enjoyable day. She hadn't expected a response and hadn't received one.

Tears streamed down her face, in her bath, as she thought of her mother. She felt humiliated now at her infant self's weak, feeble attempts to gain her parent's affirmation. She wondered what had been wrong with her? Why had her mother hated her, rejected her, considered her unworthy of her love? Perhaps it was the pressure to bear an heir. Like herself, all she heard continuously, was "marry and produce an heir." Perhaps her mother resented her, because she was forced to marry, compelled to bear a child.

Grisell contemplated herself as a potential parent. She knew if she had a child, she would love it. She would tend to her child, adore her child, nurture and shower it with affection. She imagined a little Eskine. She giggled. Dark eyes, wild unruly hair, cute little monster with a determined mind of his own. She hopped out of her bath, in haste now to go to Eskine.

She discovered she was a little early. Eskine was not there as yet. She paced around, eager to be in his arms, ready for his love and affection. She plucked a wild flower and tucked it into her hair. The yellow petals, contrasted attractively against her silky blonde hair that hung loosely about her shoulders. Her gypsy style dress, the colour of deep green ferns, with glossy fronds, like in the rain forest hung caressingly against her skin, and its length, wrapping around her ankles.

About fifteen minutes later, she heard hurried foot steps behind her. Instantly, her knife was in her hand from its sheath at her waist, ready to attack. She hadn't expected it to be Eskine, the footsteps were too loud and hurried, but there he was standing in front of her all fine-looking, adorable and eatable.

'Eskine.' She replaced her knife to its sheath, threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. 'I like kissing you,' she murmured, tightening her arms around him. She heard him chuckle and looked up into his eyes.

'I can hardly relate this Chief to the initial one that was cool and distant and kept me at arms' length,' he smiled.

She smiled, drawing his head down and indulged in a long passionate kiss. She wished she could lay in a bed with Eskine, her flesh naked against his.

'You smell beautiful,' he whispered, pressing kisses to her throat, 'like fresh flowers from the field.

She was startled when he held her shoulders and stepped away from her. Why didn't he want to kiss her? Why was he disengaging himself from her embrace?

'Eskine? What's wrong?'

He raked his fingers through his unruly hair. 'We have a problem,' he announced quietly. 'And I apologise. I have not brought you supper.'

'"Problem?" What problem?' Her internal antenna flared.

'You were followed last night.'

'What! That's impossible.' She laughed softly.

'You were,' Eskine hissed angrily, turning away from her.

'Are you mad at me?'

'No!' He turned back and gently took her hands in his. 'Not at you Grisell. At me! I have been reckless. I've let my guard down. I have compromised you!'

She shook her head, 'No.'

'Come with me,' he laced his hands through hers, lifting a finger to his lips for her to remain quiet.

'Where are we going?' She whispered.

'Not far,' he whispered back, as he led her further into his camp, to a metal triangular enclosure. 'I have one of your men here,' he whispered.

'What!' She exclaimed.

He nodded. 'After you left last night,' I waited, wanting to scout the place. I heard footsteps. First, softly on the grass; then the sound of movements against branches. There was no wind. So, it was either an animal or human. I circled and came from behind and found a Dalmahoy guard. I've restrained him and kept him here. It's why I came to you late tonight. To make sure nobody was following you again.'

'Oh dear Lord!' She clutched her chest. 'And was anybody following me?' she felt foolish and incensed that she had also been reckless.

'No. Nobody followed you,' he stated.

'So, who do you have here?'

'I don't know his name, but he is wearing Dalmahoy armour.'

'Let me see,' Grisell's face was lit with fury and indignation.

Eskine unlocked the chain. He stepped into the dark enclosure and tugged Grisell in by her wrist. It was dark. There were no windows.

She allowed her eyes to become accustomed to the darkness. It was tiny, barely two meters by two metres. There was no furniture or any fittings. The triangular metal structure was literally erected on grass.

At the far corner against a wooden pole that held the structure upright, she recognized the uniform of one of her guards, but his head was covered in a hood, so she was unable to see his face.

'Can we have the door a little ajar?' she whispered.

He nodded, opened the door and walked towards his prisoner and removed the hood from his head. Grisell was astounded to see it was Alfie Fingal, one of her trusted and formidable soldiers. Well hardly formidable if Eskine had discovered and restrained him, without much effort it seemed.

'Alfie Fingal!' She hauled out her knife, ready to pierce his heart.

'Grisell no!' Eskine's hand stopped her.

Her head shifted back to Alfie. His face was contorted with rage. His eyes filled with hatred and promise of death.

'You want to kill me Chief! You are the traitor! Sleeping with the enemy,' he spat in the direction of Eskine's feet. 'It is you who shall be beheaded in the morning Chief.'

'You need to respect your Chief,' Eskine rushed forward. His elbow and knee pummelled into Alfie's midriff.'

Alfie gasped for breath. His eyes dazed. His head bobbed about unsteadily.

'I answer to nobody about my private life Alfie Fingal,' Grisell's voice thundered. 'You can call me traitor if I have compromised the lives of any of our tribe or the security of our land.'

He lifted his head. His face twisted again in furious ire. He tried to free himself, angrily jerking at the straps that held him prisoner.

'You die now,' Grisell vowed. She grasped the knife at her waist, ready to dart it at the heart of Alfie.

'Or you can live,' Eskine countered.

Her head darted towards Eskine. This was not negotiable. Alfie was going to die tonight.

'Your Chief is not a traitor,' Eskine announced. 'Nor am I.' Neither of us are colluding to bring our tribes down.'

Alfie grunted. Jerked his body violently, trying to break free.

'Either you choose to die,' Eskine offered, or you live. The price you pay to live is your silence.'

Alfie directed a cold filthy look, Eskine's way. 'I could lie to you today and save my life, and betray her in the morning,' he jerked his head disgustedly towards Grisell.

She hauled her knife in the air and aimed it directly at Alfie's torso. It pierced him with precision, at his arm, just below his shoulder, as she'd intended. He felt the pain, but Alfie refused to wince or indicate his pain. It was a flesh wound and would not be needing urgent medical attention.

Eskine inhaled heavily, closed his eyes for a second, before he commanded Grisell's attention.

'I will not negotiate with an insubordinate, mutt who is testing my patience,' she warned.

Eskine tried again. 'Sure, you can lie tonight and go back on your word tomorrow, but if you do you shall surely die. I promise you, you shall surely die. I will kill you, the next day or next week or next month. So, if you do not value your life, say so and you will be put to death right now. If you wish to live, you shall not ever speak of your Chief or me to anybody, ever!'

Alfie was quiet. He did not want to die. He wanted to live. He was ambitious. He wanted to advance in his career. There were great opportunities for him, as a soldier. He planned to get to the top.

'I will stay silent,' he offered.

Eskine relaxed his shoulders, cast his head, towards Grisell. She was unmoved. She wanted Alfie dead. To be spied on by your own guard is unforgivable betrayal. She was incensed because she was not a traitor. She'd never had any intention ever to betray her clan in any manner whatsoever. She did not consider having a relationship with Eskine as traitorous, especially when Eskine had co-operated with her more than once to keep their island secure from attacks from legitimate enemies.

'Who are you relaying your Chief's whereabout to?' Eskine questioned.

'General Gadd Blane.' Alfie's eyes held Grisell's contemptuously.

'What!' Grisell exclaimed in shock.

Eskine was unsurprised. He had never liked Gadd, found him to be conniving like a snake.

Uncle Gadd! I trusted him! I considered him my mentor, counsellor, confidant, my trusted advisor!

'He plans on taking your place,' Alfie announced quietly. 'He feels he should be Chief, and you being a woman, should be working in the kitchen. Let me assure you in no uncertain terms he has already planned your demise. Though he has not mentioned how.'

'Why are you telling me this tonight?' Grisell questioned. 'I am your Chief. Why didn't you bring this planned insurrection to me when you first had knowledge of it?'

Alfie shrugged his shoulders. 'I believed General Blane when he informed us soldiers, repeatedly, that DeMartino was the forbidding enemy and needed to be destroyed, but he hasn't treated me like an enemy,' Alfie's head jerked in the direction of Eskine. 'He's fed me well and treated me well.'

So, Alfie was not showing goodwill to her. He was smitten by the DeMartino Chief!

'I didn't want any of my tribe knowing I held a Dalmahoy as prisoner,' Eskine responded. 'Like you,' Eskine smiled, 'I also have to deal with my soldiers' repeated whining to blow up the Dalmahoy to smithereens.'

Grisell looked at Eskine. A far away expression filled her eyes. Why was she and him having to pay a price for the stupidity and misguided antagonism of their forefathers? Both tribes could live peaceably on the island. The land had sustained both tribes for over five hundred years. Why could they not make a peace treaty and live harmoniously?

'You're saying, your tribe is demanding you blow us up?' Alfie questioned.

'Almost every night at the supper table,' Eskine answered with a straight face.

Alfie had heard and observed many adjectives linked to the name of Chief Eskine DeMartino, like courageous, fearless, brave, bold, invincible, but dishonest or deceitful were not amongst those adjectives.

'Seems us at the bottom of the food chain have been lied to about our leaders,' Alfie mentioned quietly.

Eskine studied Alfie Fingal. His instincts were always right. He believed Alfie was no threat to him or Grisell.

'I'm going to set you free,' Eskine announced. 'You may return to your camp.' He cut off the straps from around Alfie's hands and feet. '

Grisell surveyed Eskine, as he untied Alfie. She too believed Alfie was no longer a threat. Somehow tonight, Alfie drew the conclusion that neither the DeMartino, nor Dalmahoy Chiefs were traitors to their respective clans.

'Blane will expect a report from you,' Eskine prompted.

Alfie measured Eskine with his eyes. 'I will report that I observed the two of you meet. That you were in conversation for a short while and that my Chief returned to her quarters.'

'That is the ___ conservative truth,' Eskine nodded, his eyes smiling.

'Good evening Chief DeMartino, Chief Dalmahoy,' Alfie exited the enclosure, rubbing at his wrists, to restore the circulation.

Eskine bid him good night, but Grisell had remained silent.

'Are you okay?' Eskine took her hands in his.

She closed her eyes and nodded. 'I cannot believe we were so careless, but only because our respective people have misguided notions about us, not because we are traitorous by nature!'

Eskine laughed, taking her into his arms. He held her tightly, against his chest, embracing her quietly.

'And secondly,' her voice was muffled against his chest. 'Uncle Gadd! He's the real traitor! He plans to usurp my position as Chief!'

'Unfortunately for Blane. The rules are inscribed in black and white. Direct descendants of rulers become tribal leaders, not extended family.'

'Doesn't stop him from conniving,' Grisell murmured quietly.

'I don't want to talk anymore,' he murmured, his one hand at her nape, caressingly, the other tightly at her waist.

She laughed softly, her arms wrapping around his neck. 'That had been my only intention, when I saw you tonight,' she whispered.

He removed his coat and spread it on the grass. 'This should become our new meeting point,' he murmured. 'It is a lot more private,' he pushed her onto his coat and leaned over her.

'I want to kiss you,' she smiled, pulling his head down to ravish him.

'You are beautiful Grisell,' he murmured huskily. He worried at her buttons, until he had access to her cleavage. His tongue laved the soft flesh. She raked her hands through his hair, her fingers caressing the sensitive spot at his neck. He groaned pleasurably. She cried out delightedly when his teeth nibbled at her aroused nipple. He took it between his lips and pulled gently. She sighed loudly, pressing her legs together. The ache between her thighs unbearable. She wanted more, needed more. As if reading her mind, his palm rode up one thigh. He lifted his head, holding her eyes. His palm pushed at her thighs, forcing them apart. His fingers rode higher, finding the soft flesh of inner thighs.

'Eskine,' she half sobbed, half choked on his name.

'Yes?'

'I do not think you should be touching me there,' she whispered in a rough whisper, that was almost begging him not to stop.

'I want to,' he countered hoarsely. 'I want to touch every part of you, taste every part of you and possess every part of you.'

She pushed him off her. 'I'm scared,' she mumbled.

Eskine inhaled heavily. He sat up wrapping his arms around his knees. He watched as she re-buttoned her dress. She was so beautiful. Her face so angelic. Her lips blood red and thoroughly kissed. His manhood throbbed violently inside his pants.

'I plan to make love to you Grisell,' he vowed. 'Very soon.'

He stood up, extended his hand to help her up.

'I don't think I should return tomorrow,' she stated.

He nodded. 'I will keep a look out for you each night,' he grinned.

'Good night Eskine,' she smiled and kissed his lips.

'Good night Sweet Grisell, till we meet again.'

                                                   -end chapter nine-