Midsummer Storm

It's Midsummer in Early Renaissance Scotland. Amid black crags and ocean spray, a troubled clan chief weighs a decision that will determine the course of war in the Highlands. Torn between his kin and his king, he summons a secret courier called Silk to carry a message and bring back a response that will help him choose. Silk is a woman skilled at many clandestine arts, but mostly that of remaining unseen, unnoticed, silent. During the long midsummer days, she journeys in solitude when she can and blends unremarkably into a crowd when she must. She spends the dark nights alone and in hiding-until she hears graceful music within the woods. Drawn from hiding to listen more closely, she spies handsome musician Velvet Hugh MacToro. The grandson of a shipwrecked Spanish troubadour, Velvet Hugh practices upon his father's vihuela every midnight as he travels to compete for acceptance into the Guild and a possible position at court. His songs evoke a range of emotions Silk has rarely experienced in her life of stealth: yearning, melancholy, playfulness, passion. She finds herself lingering, silent in the shadows. Inexplicably, the man notices her. Sensitive to the desires of his audience, he improvises a new melody to entice her closer... But enemies move closer also. Horse thieves invade Velvet's camp. Velvet defends himself well, but he is outnumbered. Silk suspects these ruffians' connection with her chieftain's rivals, who seek to intercept her message and ensure that the Highlands rise up against the king. Risking discovery, she creeps behind with her garrote, overcomes one and then another. Velvet drives off the attackers, then joins Silk in adopting the disguise of a pair of festival-goers riding together to Edinburgh. In this way they hope to mislead her pursuers-and hope, even more, for another night of musical intimacy. Clouds gather as darkness falls. Winds grow wild. Love is near as Velvet plays, but enemies are near as well. The storm that strikes at midnight may end the lovers' chances, their romance, even their lives-yet Silk holds secrets still...