Highland Light (9 page)

As Ainsley saw to the sled, she checked her measurements on the floor of the storeroom. Caelen was put to work scraping the dirt and rubble into a bucket, which he then emptied outside. He had been instructed to call her when he either reached rock or the excavation was the height of a man. While that was taking place Ailene went out to see Tavin about the sheep.

Lambing was over and she wished to know how many lambs had survived. Ailene was thinking about perhaps selling some of the ewes if necessary. She knew where Gideon had concealed the money but wished to leave it alone if at all possible. There was always a market for mutton and older sheep could be turned into money if sold. That would require a trip to Glasgow however. Ailene was not sure a trip that far away was feasible. Who to send was the real question if it became necessary.

Unless, Ailene had an interesting thought, she could send a messenger to the MacNabs and see if they wished to purchase a few of the older ewes. She instantly dismissed that as entirely too dangerous. It would be inviting trouble. The MacNabs were best left alone. However if the clansman turned up again she would offer the sheep to him then.

The fields were greening and if nothing untoward happened they would have a good crop of oats and barley come fall. The cattle under the care of Tavis, Tavin's twin, were doing well. Ailene was grateful the MacFarlanes had chosen other cattle to 'lift' than MacGrough cattle. This spring the cattle had been productive. If they could only keep all the wee ones alive, there would be plenty in the larder come winter. She walked down to the two cottages set side by side where the twins had lived as long as she had been alive.

The morning fog had lifted. It appeared a watery sun might break through the high clouds that were streaking across the glen from the coast. The scent of gorse drifted through the glen. Ailene breathed deeply of the perfume of the highlands. The scent of pine and juniper, moss and damp earth exuded from the land.

Another winter behind them and the entire clan had come through safely. No one had been lost to hunger or disease this winter. Soon there would be two new bairns joining the MacGrough clan. Sheena was due in fall and Ailsa would have her babe shortly. Ailene hummed as she strode through the growing sunlight.

Chapter 8

Cadell had found the old track he was looking for. It was still used by deer and other game. Cadell thought it might have been used by the old dark ones generations ago. The rain had started. It was a fine mist, which would have them, soaked through very soon. Be that as it may, he was determined that they reach the cave he remembered using years ago. This route had been passed down to him from his father. It was not easy but it was safer, It wound around rock outcroppings and trees.

Gideon followed Cadell. As he did, he watched for and memorized each landmark. That the route took them out of their way was inconsequential. It took them around the small clusters of cottages. No one could say the MacGroughs had been seen heading south. The track they followed showed signs of being very old. Gideon made a note to ask Cadell for the history of this route when they did stop for the night.

Finally The MacGrough recognized the odd looking rock formation he was looking for. He grunted in satisfaction. They would be able to get out of the rain this night. He raised his hand halting the column behind him. Cadell dismounted, reaching out he took his horse's bridle.

There was a width of scree, which must be crossed. That was best done on foot, leading the animal. Once safely across the loose stones that formed an area where snow slides often took place in winter, there was a stand of pines. The trees were incredibly old. All the lower branches were gone. The grazing was scant but there was enough for the animals for one night.

What the MacGrough was really looking for was in the rocks that formed the boundary of the scree slope. Partially hidden by gorse and brush was a cave. The animals were hobbled and the packs quickly removed. The men were glad to find shelter from the drizzle which soaked them. There would be no fire. There was not sufficient dry wood to build one. They would spend a cold night but it would be out of the weather.

Gideon was glad for a respite from the rain. He was so damp it was difficult to keep his teeth from chattering. He took his waulked plaid from the pack then wrapped himself in the tightly woven cloth. Cadell put his pack next to Gideon and did the same. Gideon noted Cadell did not appear to be quite as affected by the cold as he was.

Cadell noted the slight shivering Gideon was experiencing.

"Cold lad?"

Gideon managed to get an acknowledgement out.

"Aye."

Cadell took the regular plaid he had worn all day from under the walked plaid he had draped over his shoulders. He put the cloth over Gideon.

"I see yer blood is a wee bit thin. Ye will get used to this lad."

Wrapped in three layers, one of which was the waulked plaid, Gideon's teeth finally stopped chattering. The woolen cloth trapped his body heat. Slowly he began to warm up.

Once he could talk again, Gideon asked Cadell about the history of the trail they were using. They talked about the Picts, the old dark ones who had been in the land before the Scots.

All of the men ate a bit of the dried meat then wrapped themselves in their plaids to sleep. Once he was warm Gideon returned Cadell's plaid to him. Cognizant of Ailene's warning regarding Cadell's health, he did not want to take advantage of his father in law's kindness.

Gideon lay wrapped in the cloth Ailene had given him. He would have preferred to be in their bed, holding her. But as that was not to be he would learn to bear it. Gideon prayed for God to help Ailene and keep her safe. The keep and the glen were in her care. All of them, knew how tenuous a matter that could be in these times.

The feud between the king and the Comyn Bailliol faction made it dangerous to side with the Bruce. The Gregorach was allied with Bruce so they were not a danger. The MacFarlane's were keeping their heads down. Unless pressed by the Sassenach would do no harm to Bruce's supporters. The MacNabs and MacNaughtons were the main danger faced by Ailene.

Gideon added the king to his prayers that night. If Robert The Bruce was not able to unify the country, Gideon could see nothing good in the future. At least here he had a chance.

There had been no chance in Vrana. Only death and destruction awaited a Knight Templar in Vrana. One could die here; one could also fight and perhaps not die. Dying with a sword in hand was preferable to dying tied to a stake and being consumed by fire as the supposed representatives of God watched.

Gideon shifted to avoid a rock on the ground which was pushing into his hip. He silently began to pray again asking God to forgive him for the anger he felt toward the Pope. He had found nothing in the gospel where Jesus told the apostles to burn heretics at the stake. Again he had to ask for forgiveness. It did little good. Anger was a fever in his blood. It took him some time to master his emotions and obtain enough peace to sleep.

Morning came too quickly to suit Gideon. He bit his lip to keep from groaning when Kai accidentally kicked his leg while stretching in his sleep. Gideon shifted away from the older warrior and rose.

It was no longer raining. He walked to the mouth of the small cave. He stood in the shelter of the bush which partially covered the mouth of the cavern. There were still stars out but he thought there was a slight pale light over the hills on the far side of Loch Lomond.

Looking at the loch reminded him that they needed to seek water later. They had used one container of water camping here in the high reaches. They would need to replenish their supply at the next burn.

There was a slight noise behind him, hand on his dirk, Gideon spun around. Cadell stood in the darkness behind him.

"I could no sleep. These old bones no take easily to rough ways. The lass tried to make it easier by sending another waulked plaid, but after a time, the hardness is no bearable."

Cadell closed the distance between them then leaned against the wall of the cavern.

Gideon was still silent as he stared out at the glen of Lomond laid out before them. Finally he turned his dark head toward Cadell.

"Today we will reach Glasgow. Around mid day I would guess."

"Aye. I would hear tha news before continuing on. A few questions here and there before we make for Kilwinning. Careful questions mind. Perhaps we should send Dalziel into town to scout out any news. I would no care to come to tae attention of tha Sassenach garrison, mind."

Gideon nodded.

"That would be for the best. One man does not raise as many questions as ten."

"Aye. Gideon, ye wake the others. A bit of bannock and we are awa."

Gideon turned away. He quickly shook the other men awake. It was time to be up and moving.

Cadell did not need to bother asking questions. All Glasgow was full of the tale of the Bruce's victory over the Sassenach at Loch Trool. He was sorry to have missed the fun but kept his own counsel and made no comment. It was not likely that the king would stay long at the scene as the Sassenach still sought him. Cadell thought The Bruce might perhaps be closer to Maybole.

By twos the men of MacGrough left Glasgow for Maybole. Gideon stayed with Cadell. The other men knew their way to Maybole. Cadell meant to keep the lad with him, as Gideon still did not speak Gaelic well enough to be on his own. Speaking English to the wrong person could find him dead.

Gideon was learning as quickly as possible but there was a gap yet that needed filling. Not that Cadell minded the lad's company. He was quiet, was his son in law. But that did not bother Cadell. They spoke when one or the other had something to say or a question.

They finally found the king close to Maybole. Cadell was ushered into the presence of the king himself. Clad in a plaid and trews, the king was dressed no better than one of the men he rode with.

Cadell took Gideon with him in order to make it plain that his son in law was his heir. It was a pleasant surprise for The MacGrough to find that the Bruce did remember him. He also remembered Gideon and inquired as to the health and happiness of Ailene as well.

Gideon was his usual reserved self. The lad was carefully polite to the king. Gideon's manners appeared to please the king. Cadell advised The Bruce that news of the Loch Trool victory was blazing through the lowlands. They also spoke of the attitude of the clans from the Loch Lomond, Loch Long headwaters.

The MacGrough was happy that the king had noticed how quickly they had joined him. Their speedy appearance told the king they had been on their way to join him before they heard of the Loch Trool battle. The king welcomed the laird of MacGrough, his heir and the eight horsemen he brought to the campaign.

Shortly after arriving to serve with the king, the MacGrough contingent found they were digging ditches in the dark at Loudoun Hill. The horses were left in the care of Banner. Banner had instructions to bring the horses around should the MacGrough need them if things were to go badly. They took Adair with them. The MacGrough men were to fight on foot. Gideon said little but listened to the instructions given. He had his instructions from Ailene. Those were to stay close to Cadell. That was his first priority.

Gideon and Cadell told Adair to stick close to Gideon. Adair was nervous. Gideon noted his nervousness. That was normal under the circumstances. Gideon spoke quietly to the boy so as not to be heard by others.

Having to speak English was a drawback in the present circumstance. He reassured Adair that his first battle had indeed been a nerve wracking experience. The boy calmed somewhat in the company of Gideon. The other MacGroughs clustered around Cadell.

Backs and arms aching from the digging, they stood waiting. The charge of the heavy cavalry caused Adair to turn pale. The thunder of the charge was so loud that almost nothing else could be heard. Gideon looked over at Adair then clapped him on the shoulder. Gideon having been trained as heavy cavalry understood that the slight narrowing of the road between the bogs was going to cause the horsemen a great deal of difficulty.

The knights were forced into a funnel. Adair stood sword in hand next to Gideon. Gideon and Cadell looked at each other with a grin as the first of the horsemen hit the first ditch that had been dug then hastily concealed.

Cadell nodded toward the MacDougall warriors who were dodging around and through the chaos of the bogs where the cavalry was struggling. The second ditch caused the cavalry untold damage.

At that moment the MacDougall warriors met The Bruce's highlanders. Cadell uttered the MacGrough war cry as he lunged forward to meet the enemy. Adair howled along with the other MacGrough warriors. Gideon picked his target and went after the man before him. It was stab, slash and suddenly all was blood. It was spattered everywhere. Gideon knew Cadell was beside him his sword taking down the MacDougalls advancing on them. Adair nearly lost an arm to a heavily muscled highlander. Gideon took the man's arm off with a sideways slash. Adair recovered then waded into the path of another MacDougall.

Cadell's next stroke took down the man to one side. Another MacDougall lost his sword but flipped up the axe he carried on a wrist strap. The axe wielding warrior slashed at Gideon only to be impaled on Gideon's sword. They were covered with the slime of the bog and blood. The blood of MacDougalls and their own. Suddenly it was over. The trumpet sounded. The English force was in retreat. The MacDougalls followed with Bruce's foot soldiers in hot pursuit. Then they were called back as well. Cadell looked at Gideon. Gideon nodded as he began to look around for their men. Adair was in place next to Gideon.

The boy was bloody and had various cuts on his arms. A quick inspection by Gideon revealed Adair's wounds were minor and would wait until later. Dalziel was bleeding from what had been a glancing blow to his head. Ross was limping but still able to move. Sim was supporting Kai who had apparently twisted his ankle dodging a MacDougall's axe. Manius and Neill were grinning as they came over to slap Adair on the back. They congratulated the lad on having survived his first battle without major injury.