Highland Light (8 page)

Cadell would try to keep his little party out of sight of the MacFarlanes. They had enough trouble skirting the edges of compliance with Donnchadh's signing of the Ragman Roll and pledging fealty to Longshanks. Many who pledged fealty to the Sassenach had not held the pledge a true one in their hearts. How could one pledge fealty to Edward as 'overlord' of Scotland when it was a bald faced lie? Scotland was not and never had been a vassal state. The thought was enough to curdle Cadell's stomach.

He had avoided the entire matter by claiming that MacGrough was naught but a part of Lennox and subject to Lennox. Hiding behind Lennox had bothered him not one bit. Any subterfuge to avoid the situation had seemed to him acceptable at the time. That it had left the MacGroughs out of everything bothered him not. The decision had been made after a great deal of thought. Nothing, which had taken place so far, caused him to gainsay that decision.

So long as he took pains to avoid being seen by MacFarlane, they in turn could avoid seeing MacGrough. Cadell snorted. It would be much better when one could do what was honorable out in the open. He wondered how the two MacFarlane lads explained their mission notifying MacGroughs and the Gregorach that something was stirring in the south? Who knew? It was certain they had something concocted. These days all was chancery and slight of hand. It was disturbing to say the least.

His thoughts having soured his disposition, Cadell slumped in the saddle. He concentrated carefully on the terrain around him. A rock outcropping alerted him that they would now need to be very circumspect and stay out of sight. They were entering MacFarlane territory.

"Gideon."

Cadell softly called out to Gideon as he motioned the lad closer to him.

"We must stay out of sight on this errand. Pass the word, ye must be a wraith."

"Done."

Gideon dropped back slightly then quietly passed the word back.

Cadell left the main trail down Loch Lomond. They turned off on a game trail Cadell knew would take them the long way around. He searched his memory for the old landmarks. He had not taken this way since his youth. The MacGrough led his men quietly south.

Chapter 7

Ailene watched the figures top the ridge then they were gone. A short time later there were moving figures she knew must be the men, on the side of the further ridge. It took her a long time to get her sobbing under control. The other wives and unmarried girls left to go back to their cottages leaving Ailene to her self. She was standing as a statute where he had left her. Tomorrow was soon enough for her to concentrate on the keep. She knew she should be about doing for the people left in her care. Today she was not able to do so.

It was almost as if the clan was in mourning. The breeze gently blew through the glen from the coast. Something was blowing in. Likely it would rain before evening. She could not bring her feet to move. A cloud blew across the face of the sun turning the day dreary. For a moment a ray of sun lit the top of the ridge where the horsemen had disappeared. The clouds began to move in faster. The gray look of rain moving across the land finally drove her to move inside away from the threat of rain.

Ailene knew she should be ashamed of herself. Her behavior was not becoming a laird's daughter. She was sure Edeen would have something to say on the subject later. As she walked into the hall she thought about the bed upstairs. The tears threatened to begin again. Ailene stopped then took a deep breath.

"Nay."

The hall seemed empty without the bulk of the two men. Ailene went into the kitchen not expecting to see anyone. But Idelle was there. Neill's wife was directing Dallas to bring in kindling for the wood box beside the big fireplace. A pot dangled from the pothook.

"Will pottage suit ye well enough this night?"

Idelle asked Ailene as she butchered a rabbit.

Ashamed of herself, Ailene tried to answer her but found her throat all but blocked. She had to clear her throat to get any words out.

"Och, aye."

Idelle looked up at Ailene. She smiled softly.

"Go wash yer face Ailene. The first time ye have ta watch them leave is always tha worst."

Ailene ran out the back door. She collapsed on the bank of the burn where she thrust her hot face and gritty eyes into the cool water. Lifting her face she scrubbed her hands across it. If Idelle could survive it she could do so. She picked herself up from the ground then walked back into the house. Ailene sat on a stool at the big table.

"Forgive me Idelle. I dinna know what is wrong wa me!"

Ailene cried out.

"Come now lass."

Idelle finished cutting the rabbit then took the pieces over to the pot.

"How long have ye had the lad to yerself? Not nearly long enough ye ken?"

Idelle put the butchered animal into the pot. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to the girl.

Idelle reached out to take Ailene in an embrace. Aileen turned to press her face into Idelle's stomach.

"Whesht lass! We all ken how it is wa the twa of ye. We no hold it against ye child. Ye can be strong on the morrow, now ye are a lassie who has sent her lad to war the first time."

The rain was a soft gray mist that filled the yard outside the back door of the kitchen. Ainsley entered the kitchen from the yard. He shook the moisture from his hair and body much like one of the hounds that followed him in. Studiously ignoring the two women, the young man called the three hounds to him then went into the main hall. Ailene heard him doing something with the wood in the fireplace.

She straightened up and wiped her face on her skirt. Idelle gave her a smile then smoothed a hand down her cheek.

"Ye may as well see to the lad. I think ye need to gie him direction, mind. Ainsley is at loose ends as much as ye. He wants to go ye ken, but is too young. He feels badly."

Idelle went back to the pot to stir it.

Ailene went into the hall where she inspected the stack of wood for the fireplace. Ainsley had set a fire in the big fireplace but had yet to light it. Ailene sent him up stairs to check the wood box in her room. He scrambled off glad to have something to do. Ainsley slept in the hall, a foster son from her mother's people, he had been with them since his tenth year.

Dashing out into the rain Ainsley was calling for Boyd and Celan, the other two boys who were being fostered by Cadell. Ailene wondered if perhaps she should have Christal come and stay with her in her room but quickly decided against it. Christal was the object of Ainsley's attention lately. It would not be good if they became too close.

She chuckled at the thought. Up until her wedding night she would not have given the matter a second thought. Ailene understood a good deal more about relationships now than she had before Gideon. A picture of him to surfaced in her mind. She shook her head then went back into the kitchen.

They would light the fire in the hall for the boys later. There was no real reason to do so at the moment. Without the men there would be no big meals and no necessity to keep the hall warm and ready for them. Ailene set about making oatcakes for the lads.

That night Ailene slipped into bed thinking about Gideon and the other men as she did so. She said a prayer for them all. The rain was still falling. It would be a cold night for them out in the forest if they did not have shelter. They would be spending many a damp night in the heather and gorse.

Ailene was glad the men had the waulked plaids to cover themselves. The tales of the hardships The Bruce had already endured again came to mind. Hopefully things would be a bit better now. She wished more clans would declare themselves for the king's banner. That she could only pray for.

Something of Gideon's scent lingered on his side of the bed. Ailene moved into his space. It was cold comfort. She wanted her husband. With a sigh she curled up in the bed and tried to relive every moment of their short time together. Ailene thought about the other seventeen women who would be sending their husbands off too soon. Seventeen other women in Scotland, newly wed, might be feeling as she did now. With a sigh Ailene tried to sleep.

It was three days later when Caelan and Ainsley ran back into the glen from a hunting expedition. Wide eyed and slightly out of breath, they pointed back up the glen. Ainsley managed to gasp out that MacNabs were on their way into the glen.

Ailene ground her teeth. MacNabs were kin to Comyn and were surely seeking information. If they discovered that MacGrough supported Bruce, they would likely take that as an excuse to pillage. This was something she had expected might happen. If not the MacNabs, it would have been the MacNaughtons.

Ailene just had sufficient time to send Caelan down the glen to alert Iver, Lachlan, Hern, Reed, and Seumas to the arrival of their uninvited guests. Ailene did have her bow and quiver just inside the big heavy wooden door of the keep.

The lead horseman rode his horse up and made a show of pulling it up. The animal stamped it hooves as it shook its head from side to side.

"Good day to ye! I would speak to MacGrough."

The man brought his horse under control quickly. Ailene stood on the stone step of the keep. She would not invite the man in. Ailene did not believe this young man was The MacNab.

"Good day to ye, sir. My fayther is no here. He and my husband are awa."

The young MacNab clansman eyed her carefully.

"And where might they be awa to?"

"Well sir, they are awa Glasgow way. Tis spring sir and tis time to buy and sell, ye ken?"

The young man looked around. He noted the warriors with their sword hanging down their backs and spears in hand, making their way up to the house. The five MacGrough warriors were joined by the three older men. There were four MacNabs. MacNab's animal snorted as it threw its head into the air.

"This is a friendly visit, ye ken?"

The clansman again turned his attention to Ailene.

"Och, aye. What is it ye wished to discuss with me fayther? I am chatelaine and if there be anything I may help ye with?"

Ailene continued to keep the smile on her face. The young man blurted out.

"Have ye any lambs ye wish to sell?"

Ailene laughed.

"Nay sir. We are no selling sheep at this season. In the summer we may decide to part with some muttton. Come back then and we shall see. For now we wish to increase our flock and will no be parting with tha creatures."

The clansman turned and motioned to his men to turn as well. The MacNab nodded his head.

"Good day ta ye."

He pulled his horse's head to one side and they all galloped off. They were gone but they knew her father was gone. She had mentioned a 'husband', and perhaps should not have done so. Ailene absently chewed a nail. Nothing she said would have mattered in any case. The MacGrough was not in residence and that would be enough to rouse MacNab's suspicions.

Ailene walked over to her clansmen and they conferred for a moment. They would need to be more cognizant of both the MacNabs and MacNaughtons. Those clans would be making assumptions, which could cause Ailene trouble later on.

It was time to see about building both the escape tunnel and the new wall. It was possible that the main body of the MacNabs was chasing the king. If they continued to concentrate their attention on pursuing The Bruce, their numbers could be reduced sufficiently that they would leave Ailene alone. In any event, training must continue. Ainsley and the younger boys were going to need to hone their skills. Thinking about putting lads no older than ten or ten and one into danger made her angry but what choice did she have? She would have to hold this land for the men to have something to come home to.

Ailene made another decision. The women of this clan would learn how to use a bow. They might need every able arm available to defend themselves. Being a woman was no guarantee against being used and killed. Knuckling under and allowing either of the other clans to turn them from their homes or worse on a suspicion of supporting the king was not going to happen if she could help it.

There was a certain amount of grumbling from the women when Ailene insisted the women come to the training field and learn how to use a bow. After the initial complaining was over with they watched Ailene. They attempted to put into practice what she demonstrated. Ailene did not hold them to it for too long. The double burden of woman's work and the additional chores left to them by the absent warriors meant the days were not long enough.

Ailene with Caelan's help took up the wood floor of the storeroom. The uneven rock beneath the floor was not big enough to admit a grown man. Ailene knew she would need to enlarge the hole. The only good thing was that the rock shelf extended only partially under the foundation. They would be able to dig the tunnel out toward the wash shed. It was men's work. This would tax her and the lads to the limit.

Splitting the rock away so they could dig the necessary tunnel was something she was not looking forward to. The theory was easily related the actual work was another matter. Ailene had searched her father's room. After locating the old storage box she found what she thought might be the drill and splitting tools. Ailene did not recall what her father had called them. The names were not essential, knowledge of their use was another matter. What would be required was brute force.

In the morning Ailene took the tools down to the storeroom and sat on the floor joists inspecting the rock she must somehow remove. A spur of the foundation rock extended down into the ground. The lads would need to scrape out the rubble and dirt, which filled the hole. Then they would have a better idea of how much rock must be removed.

At the same time Ainsley would be skidding rocks down from the head of the glen for the wall that was planned for outside. Ainsley would be using the horse and rock sled for that chore.

The rock sled was old and Ainsley would need to inspect it to see if any repairs needed to be done. It was an immense amount of work. But she had been entrusted with the improvements and she was going to do the best she could. The wall would be made with two walls of dry stone. The interior open section between the two outside walls would be filled with dirt and rubble They would gather some of what was needed from the excavation of a trench on the outside of the wall. More small rocks would be transported from the head of the glen if necessary.