I turned at the sound of her voice. “Mother… Màhri ?”

There was movement in the trees beside the road. The horse was one I recognized, my father’s favorite. “You shouldn’t be out here. If someone sees you...”

“They’re too busy being outraged that someone they banished saved them,” she said, her voice trembling with anger.

“Ian banished me. I can’t stay here. It would put you in danger. That I canno have.”

She dismounted and moved slowly to put her arms around me. “Oh, Duncan... But, where will you go?”

“I met a cousin of ours. A man named Connor MacLeod. He’s taken me on as a student.”

“Connor? Surely no on would name a child that... In your great-grandfather’s time, there was...”

“I will not lie to you. It is the same man. I am like him, but he’s no more a demon than I am.”

She crossed herself, “Duncan, if he is the same... Oh, Blessed Mary, I cannot bear it. How will you live? What is he teaching you?”

“He’s a fine man, Mother. He has property and owns a grand ship. I’ll be leaving Scotland to travel with him. He loves the sea and will see me through to get my papers. He wants me to learn to read, but I think not. Reading is for clerks and priests.”

“Now you sound like your father. You may change your mind, someday.”

“Connor’s a skilled swordsman and promises to teach me more of the skills I’ve seen him use.”

“But… I will never see you again, will I?”

I looked around me. The leaves were turning. I could see smoke from the evening fires rising from the village behind her. “If I came back the old gossips would start again. I will send money for you. I could send for you… make a home for you.”

She shook her head. “No… Oh, it is tempting, but Duncan, I must help the others. Many women lost their men to Kanwulf and his men. The women must care for each other, as we have always done. It is my part in the clan.”

I could not argue with her. The women had always taken care of the wounded and the dead and her strong hands and voice had always been there among them. With Ian dead, another war chief would be chosen, but his widow would be a power in the clan. Without her demon spawn son to cause doubts, she would lead as she always had.

I knelt to her, “Give me your blessing, if you will, Mother.”

She lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. “I see a man, not a demon. I see the son I nursed and swaddled and loved… and love still. May the blessing of your mother and Mother Mary and all the saints keep you safe from harm.”

Her voice broke and tears were in her eyes. I took her hand and kissed it. One last time I looked around at the hills of Glenfinnan. “I will remember what you taught me, Màiri MacLeod, Mother…”

I turned before she could see the tears in my eyes and started off down the old road. I would miss the beauty of the trees and hills of home in the autumn.

Most of all, I knew I would miss her.