Highland Guard (16 page)

“So, what ye are saying is that the men of Glencullaich are best at defending and may nay be so verra good at offense.”

“Aye. Every mon there will fight to their last breath to protect their homes, e’en the ones nay born there. And, if too many of the men fall, those women will pick up the swords and stand in their place. Glencullaich is more than their home. ’Tis in their blood, their hearts. They all live weel here and we ken how rare a blessing that is.”

“Aye. I can see why though. ’Tis true there are ones who like a wee fight now and then to add something to what they think is a dull life, but most just want peace. They want to tend to their shops or their fields, marry, sire a few bairns, and ken that those bairns willnae be cut down whilst still nursing just because some fool wants something he has no right to.”

“There will always be such men.”

“And that is our curse, isnae it.” He stared into the camp when several men arrived dragging three cows. “And mayhap it would be best if Sir Adam would just get on with it so we can kill him. Much more of this and Glencullaich will have to replace a lot of livestock.”

“Mayhaps the drovers and the shepherds can find a safer place,” Nicolas murmured and then scowled as, after the cattle were taken off to be slaughtered outside the camp, the men who had brought them handed over several sacks to two surprisingly large women. “Foragers. Appears our neighbors are also suffering because of this.”

“And I suspicion Annys will be thinking of how to help them if they need it after all this is cleared away.”

“Of a certain.” Nicolas shrugged. “’Tis what one must do, isnae it, e’en if it is done with as kind a heart as your lady has. This trouble has come here because of her, because of David’s kinsmen. She kens it isnae her fault but also kens that this wouldnae be happening if nay for the greed of David’s family.”

“Ah, look. That is Clyde, isnae it? The tall mon who is picking what he wants from the things the foragers, and thieves by the look of it since no one can eat candles or candlesticks, have returned with.”

“Aye, that would be him. Saw him once when Sir Adam came to rail at David. That mon has a darkness in him that e’en gives me the chills. He is the killer we all fear whether we want to admit it or nay. He kills without a hint of remorse or regret, mon, woman, or child, makes no difference. And if the way Biddy died is any sign, he can enjoy himself in the doing of it if he chooses.”

“A mon who badly needs killing.”

“Verra badly. If I was a good bowman, I would take him down from here and, I promise ye, nary a mon there would come hunting us.”

“Weel, I believe I have seen enough.”

Harcourt carefully moved away, staying low and quiet until he could stand out of sight of the camp, Nicolas following and doing the same. Then they kept to the cover of the trees and shadows until they reached the place where they had tethered their horses. Harcourt said nothing as they rode back to Glencullaich, keeping a watch for any of Sir Adam’s men, until the keep came into sight.

“A part of one can understand the mon’s desire for this place,” he said as they slowed their pace and let down their guard a little. “Good land, plenty of water, a fine strong keep. But he doesnae want it for the right reasons, for what makes it such a prize.”

“The people and the peace of it all.”

“Exactly. He
will
bleed it dry and destroy the lives of all these people. Nay just Annys and Benet but every mon, woman, and child here. There can be no bargaining with him.”

Nicolas nodded. “None at all, but ye kenned that.”

“I did. ’Tis just me reminding myself for I ken the mon has to die. He will ne’er let it be, nay matter what he may promise if cornered and pressed for a vow.”

“Do ye think your lady hopes for some bargain, some pact that will end this?”

“Oh, aye, she hopes but she also kens it will nay happen.”

As Harcourt rode through the gates he saw Benet on the steps up to the keep. The child smiled and waved at him, while idly stroking his lamb with his other hand. Seated comfortably on the lamb’s back was the cat. Harcourt’s heart lightened at the welcome from his son. He decided to ignore the boy’s strange companions, as well as Nicolas’s laughter. It was not as easy as he thought it should be because too many others in the bailey were grinning or laughing at the sight.

“Harcourt?” Nicolas called softly as they dismounted and the stable boys came to take their horses.

“Dinnae speak on it,” Harcourt muttered.

“Just have to say one wee thing. Ye do ken that, if ye find a solution to what must separate ye and Lady Annys, that when ye leave here with the lad and her, ye leave with those two creatures as weel, dinnae ye?”

“Mayhap I can find a solution to them, too.”

“Ah, sorry, old friend. Ye take them, too, or ye put a pain in the wee lady’s heart that could burn ye as weel.”

Harcourt knew that. He simply did not want to think about it until it was absolutely necessary. He walked up to Benet and lightly ruffled the boy’s hair. When the lamb stretched its neck up, clearly asking for a pat as well, he sighed and gave it one. The cat just stared at him as if daring him to put his hand close enough to get it properly shredded. Harcourt glared back.

“Dinnae ye like Roban?” asked Benet, scratching the cat’s ears and laughing when it loudly purred.

“Roban and I are in the midst of a parlay,” he said.

“Dunnie says he is a good cat. Kills lots of mice and e’en takes them outside so the wee bodies dinnae muck up a place. Says he doesnae stink up the place like the other he-cats either, so he may nay need to geld him.”

It was difficult but Harcourt smothered the urge to look at the cat who had growled softly when Benet had said that, seeing it as giving in to the nonsense of seeing the animal as more than it was. “He can do that to a cat?”

“And a dog.” Benet frowned. “It goes wrong sometimes and can kill them so I dinnae think I want him doing it to Roban but
Maman
says they fixed that and she gives them something to make them sleepy and still and it works so maybe I could let them try but since he doesnae stink things all up I dinnae see why we have to.”

It took Harcourt a moment to thread his way through that long, long sentence, but then he nodded. “That decision can wait. Where is your mother?”

“In there.” He pointed to the door of the keep.

“Ah, I see, weel, thank ye, laddie.”

Harcourt went in search of Annys, finally finding her in the herb garden. She sat back on her heels when he crouched down next to her. The welcome smile she gave him warmed him as much as Benet’s had, just in a different way. This was what he wanted, that welcome, that home, and he vowed he would find a way around the things that could separate them.

“Herbs for cooking or medicines?” he asked.

“Most are for medicines. Salves for wounds and burns.” She studied his face and sighed. “I am going to need a lot of that salve, aye?”

“Aye, love. I fear ye are. An awful lot indeed. And soon.”

“Sir Adam has arrived to lead his army.”

Harcourt frowned at Nathan who sat down opposite him at the table in the great hall. A maid hurried over with a jug of ale and a tankard for the man. Harcourt waited impatiently as the two flirted but a serious Nathan soon dismissed the woman.

“Ye think he is done gathering his army then?” Harcourt asked Nathan.

“Aye.” Nathan took a deep drink of ale and sighed with pleasure. “He has left the gathering of the men to Clyde. And, just a thought, when we talk about this to Brett best we be careful mentioning that mon. Dinnae want wee Ella kenning that her beloved cat shares a name with such a mon. Would break her wee heart.”

“Ella who didnae blink an eye when her Clyde trotted into the great hall during the evening meal and set a dead rat at her wee feet? If I recall, she smiled, scratched its ears while telling it what a good lad
he
was and then gave him some cheese. Methinks that wee lass is made of much sterner mettle than ye think. But, aye, we willnae let her learn of it if it can be avoided.”

Nathan nodded. “It was Clyde doing all the work. I am nay sure Clyde is verra good at leading so many men or judging their strengths and weaknesses. The men he would set out to watch for anyone attacking or spying on them were near to useless. A lot of the men are naught but swords for hire. Some may be skilled but I dinnae think they are tested in any way to be certain Sir Adam is getting his money’s worth.”

“I hope this leaves the MacQueens naught but beggars.”

“After how hard Sir Adam tried to destroy the prosperity here that would be a fine piece of justice.”

“It would indeed. So, so ye think he will attack soon?”

“Aye, I do. If he had nay done more than trot through camp to count heads, I wouldnae see this visit as some signal that he is about to act. But, he has had his tent set up and e’en had Clyde bring him a few lassies.”

“Willing?”

“I believe so. They acted as if they kenned him and happily scampered into his tent.”

“What exactly do ye mean by a few lassies?”

“Four. Think he means to share with old Clyde. That mon didnae look quite as grim as he usually does.”

“Weel, then mayhap the fool will be too exhausted to attack us on the morrow.”

Nathan laughed. “Now that is a fine thing to wish for.”

“And that is just what I am doing. Wishing for some peace from it all, if just for a wee while.”

“Ah, and am I right to think that ye want that peace so that ye might woo a fair maid?”

Harcourt nodded. “I want to romance my woman tonight, to give her some pretty words, feed her some fine foods, drink a toast to her beauty, and give her a few sweet memories to cling to during the coming trouble.”

“I didnae hear anything about making a few promises in that listing,” said Callum as he joined them at the table.

Irritated that he had not heard the man approach, Harcourt took a moment to think on how to respond. “Ah, weel, I am nay sure I can give her any. Nay sure I should, in truth,” he said.

“Because she must abide here and ye must return to Gormfeurach?”

“Aye. I have looked at that problem from every side and see no answers. When this fight is over I must ride away from her and Benet again. At least this time I will pause to say a proper fare-thee-weel,” he muttered and took a drink of his ale.

“There is a solution. Ye stay here with her and the boy. Aye, ye willnae be able to openly claim him as your son, but that doesnae mean ye cannae still be a father to him.”

Harcourt ached to do just that. He wanted to spend his nights wrapped in Annys’s arms, perhaps make another child or two, and his days teaching Benet how to be a good man and laird. The desire to have that was growing so strong he was often trying to think of ways to get the land he craved yet not have to go back to Gormfeurach. He did not think Annys would want a husband who lived by selling his sword, however.

“If I walked away from Gormfeurach and that land that awaits me, I would be coming to her with nothing,” he said and held up his hand when Callum started to speak. “What I do ken right now is that I must cease thinking on it all. There will be an army at the gates soon and war requires a man’s full attention.”

“Verra true.”

“And the first thing we need to do now is to start bringing the people in, securing a hiding place for as much of the livestock as is possible, and do a careful tally of what we have for drink and food.”

“I will gather up a few men and see to that,” Callum said as he stood up.

Nathan also stood up after gulping down the last of his ale. “I will join you. First we best tell Dunnie to send whate’er wagons and carts he can to the village and ready a place to put whate’er stock gets brought inside the walls.” He looked at Harcourt. “Mayhap ye can get Annys to bring as many of those benches she has under near every window in the keep down here. More places to sit are always best. Mayhap the young ones could begin filling up buckets or whate’er else will hold water and set them close to anything that can burn. We will be soaking down that sort of thing but it can help to have more close at hand to keep it all wet.” Nathan suddenly noticed that Callum and Harcourt were staring at him. “Why are ye looking at me like that? Have I grown a fat, hairy wart on my face?”

Harcourt laughed and shook his head. “Nay. It was the e’er-growing, extremely clever list of preparations ye were giving us. It was a wee bit of a surprise.”

“Dinnae forget, my da once had near every clan for a hundred miles round thirsty for his head on a pike. In the years when it was verra bad, we could find ourselves fighting off attackers near to once a month.” He shrugged. “I would see what went wrong and think of ways to mend that weakness, or sort out that confusion that took time and attention away from the fight and staying alive. Ewan once told me I could ready them to live under a siege lasting several years without them suffering any real hardship if I set my mind to it.”

“I think he may be right in that.”

“Warn your lady that the people will be coming in fast once they get the word. She needs to make it clear where they cannae go while inside the keep,” he added as he followed Callum out the door.

Harcourt was still shaking his head as he stood up to go find Annys. If he had had to choose one man to plan out how to survive a siege, it would not have been Nathan, but Ewan was right. Nathan was a planner. Even as he and Callum had walked away, Nathan had been working aloud on that long list of what he felt needed to be done, right down to having everyone in the village clearly mark what belonged to them before bringing it inside the walls as it would save arguments when the battle ended and they could all begin to collect their belongings and go home.

He left the great hall just as Annys stepped inside from the bailey. The dazed look in her eyes told him she had already met Nathan and had probably been given a long list of things to do. Harcourt walked up to her and opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by her raised hand. He watched her lips move as she repeated something several times, even though he could not discern what. Then, abruptly, her eyes cleared and she smiled.

“Sorry, but I needed to set firmly in my mind all Nathan told me and that required me to repeat it to myself several times. I am certain it is fixed firm in my head now. I believe it is going to be verra, verra busy here for a while.”

“Nathan did surprise us. The mon has some verra sound ideas and thinks on things I would ne’er have considered need doing or fixing. He might find himself called on from time to time now that his secret is out. ’Tis a most valuable skill he has there.”

“Verra valuable. S’truth, having him give me specific things to do, things I can see will be most helpful, e’en safer for us all, makes me feel safer as weel.” The last words emerged in a trembling voice that belied her claim and Annys took a deep, steadying breath. “I am afraid and I am also deeply, blindingly furious.”

She sighed with relief when he pulled her into his arms for she needed it. Annys refused to think that need revealed a weakness. She knew that if he was not back in her life, she would have been wanting a comforting embrace from Joan, or David if he was still alive. Whether she believed it or not, she just wanted someone to hold her, pat her back, and tell her everything would be well. When Harcourt did just that, she had to smile.

After staying in his arms long enough for his warmth to chase away the chill of fear, Annys stepped back and gave him a quick kiss. “Now I must see to my assigned duties. I may have to borrow a few men to help me move the benches and turn David’s bedchamber into a nursery.”

“A nursery?”

“Aye, and ’tis a wondrous idea. ’Tis the one place we will put all the wee ones with a few women or girls to tend them. Not only will they be safer, and easier to collect if we must flee the keep, but it frees their mothers to help if it is needed.” She started up the stairs, stopped, and turned to look back at him. “Oh, and Nathan says ye need to speak to Geordie and decide what to do with him.”

“I havenae the time for that.”

“I think ye may want to find it. Nathan says he is an archer.” She tossed him her keys.

Harcourt gaped, retaining just enough of his wits to catch her keys, and then staring at her as she disappeared up the stairs. Shaking free of his shock, he immediately headed down to the cell holding Geordie. The man leapt to his feet and came to the door of the cell as Harcourt approached.

“Something is happening, aye?” he asked, gripping the thick bars. “What is it? An attack?”

“We got word that Sir Adam has joined his men so we are preparing ourselves for the attack that is certain to follow soon.” Harcourt leaned against the bars and studied the man. “I am here to talk to you and decide if I can trust ye enough to let ye join our side.”

“And how do ye think ye can make such a decision? And why would ye want to?”

“One can always use another mon in a fight such as we are facing but I think ye may have a skill we have a particular need for. First, I need to ken why ye have no clan name. Ye were outlawed?”

“Nay, just tossed out of the clan. Laird said any of them could kill me without fear of punishment, though few would even try, but I am nay outlawed.”

“What did ye do?”

“Put an arrow through the arm of the laird’s son. Bastard was beating on a wee lad and ye could see he wouldnae stop ’til he had killed the boy. He had that look, ye ken.”

Harcourt nodded. “So, ’tis true. Ye are an archer.”

“Aye, though the lad took my bow and all. Only got a sword and a knife or two from, er, collecting them as I wandered about.”

“Did ye kill for them, Geordie?”

“Killed only one mon because he had the urge to kill me.”

“What are ye doing with Sir Adam then, for I have heard naught yet to mark ye as one of his ilk.”

“Mon has to eat, doesnae he. Only skill I have is fighting. Once my laird made me a broken mon I couldnae just walk o’er and join another clan’s fighting men. Jaikie took me along with him when he decided to sell his sword.”

“But ye didnae tell them ye were an archer?”

“Didnae have my bow but I had a sword.”

“How good an archer are ye?”

“Weel, I havenae seen too many better than me, but a lot who be worse.”

For reasons Harcourt suspected he could never adequately explain that not quite humble statement decided him. “Weel, best we get ye cleaned up and give ye a bow then,” he said as he unlocked the cell.

“Ye are done deciding then?” Geordie asked, stepping cautiously out of his cell as if he expected a hasty killing rather than freedom.

“They have verra skilled archers. Near twenty of them. I have about a dozen adequate ones.” He watched as Roban unfolded himself from the cot, jumped down, and sauntered over to them, only to walk out of the open cell through the bars.

“He does that to taunt me,” grumbled Geordie.

“How does that cursed animal still get into these places?”

“He comes out of there,” said Geordie, pointing to the storage room across from his cell.

“It! ’Tis a cat, nay a person,” snapped Harcourt as he grabbed the torch from the wall outside Geordie’s cell and followed the cat.”

“’Tis a he-cat, isnae he? Got balls. Makes it a he.”

Harcourt sighed. “Calling an animal a name or he or she makes it more than just something to keep the rats out of the meal or put in a stew and that leads to trouble.” He ignored Geordie’s chuckle.

The cat slipped around an odd stack of old trunks. Harcourt looked at the torch he held and saw the flame move as if there was a breeze in the cellars. He moved closer to the wall, looked behind the trunks, and then swore. There was a door there and whoever had used it last had not shut it all the way thus giving Roban a way in. Somewhere at the end of the passage would be another opening and Harcourt needed it shut.

“I believe we have just found one of the tunnels David used to leave the keep for a tryst. He was a randy fellow cursed with overly pious parents.” He handed Geordie the torch. “Ye go first.”

“Ah, and here I thought ye trusted me.”

“Nay,” he said as he followed Geordie into the passage. “I need an archer. Need doesnae require trust. That takes longer.”

At a few places they had to bend a little to clear the ceiling, but it was a sturdy, well-built tunnel in all other ways. It curved upward near the end leading to a set of stone steps. Harcourt got to the top, moved up next to Geordie who had opened a rough slat door, and looked into the stables. One of the slats was broken at the bottom, leaving just enough room for Roban to come and go as it pleased. He stepped farther inside the stable, startling Dunnie so badly the man fell back against one of the stall doors.

“Where did ye come from, sir?” asked Dunnie as he struggled to compose himself.