Mist Warrior (16 page)

“
Ye speak wisely, Master Gordon, what would ye like to know?
”

Several people voiced their desires, creating a small cacophony. Branan laughed and held up his hand for silence.
“
I canna hear all of ye at once.
”
His gaze remained locked on Gordon.

“
I would fancy learning of yer sire,
”
Gordon said softly.
“
Yer true sire.
”

A bitter pang swept through him. Branan wanted nothing more than to learn about his sire through the man himself
,
by real experience
,
but that had been stolen from him.
“
Aye,
”
he said slowly, trying to keep his voice light.
“
But ye ken I have learned only what was told to me.
”
He paused and fixed a mischievous gaze on Duguald.
“
The best person to spin that yarn is the man who first told it to me. Uncle Duguald, I pray tell them of when my da and ye first met me mother.
”

Duguald's green eyes sparked.
“
Aye
,
laddie, 'tis a good yarn. Well now,
”
he said warming to the subject.
“
Raulf MacTavish was a braw
,
and ye womenfolk would say, bonnie lad. In fact,
”
he said, gesturing dramatically at Branan.
“
If ye doubt me words, look upon his son
,
for ye shall see Raulf gazin' back at ye.
”

A few women giggled and spoke in whispers behind their hands, many directing pointed glances at Branan. He felt his face grow hot.

Catriona also chuckled
,
but it was a soft sound only he could hear. She looked up at him, her blue eyes shining in the firelight.
“
Aye,
”
she whispered, easily mimicking Duguald's brogue.
“
Ye are a most bonnie and braw lad.
”

His embarrassment burned brighter
,
but he could not help the deep laugh that escaped him.

Duguald continued.
“
Raulf, God rest his soul, was always an adventurous lad. He constantly explored the land around him.
Near drove our da tae
distraction. He'd hie himself off explorin' and
they'd search for him for days. Most often he'd come home on his own, blathering about the great discoveries he made
,
then suffer a good thrashing from Branan's grandsire for makin' his mother worry so. But as soon as the welts healed, he was off again.
”
Duguald paused, his eyes twinkling merrily.
“
Only one person was finally able to make him cool his heels.
”

“
Branan's mother!
”
a
voice cried. Others agreed, their rapt attention focused on Duguald.

“
Aye, laddie,
”
Duguald said, wagging a finger at the young man who spoke.
“
When that happened, I knew the lad was smitten to the core. But as I said, growing up, Raulf has the wanderlust. Branan's grandsire finally gave up when he realized the thrashings did nary a good, so he asked me to watch his back. I had a good case of the wanderlust meself, ye ken.
”
He paused, pulled a small flask from his belt and took a drink. He handed it to Branan who also drank.

Catriona looked up at him curiously.
“
What's that?
”
she whispered.

“
Scottish whiskey. Ye want to try some?
”

She took the flask and sipped cautiously. Abruptly
,
she screwed up her face and shivered.
“
That's awful!
”

Branan roared his laughter. He took the flask from her and handed it back to Duguald who winked at her.

Catriona coughed
,
but she too laughed.

“
Raulf,
”
Duguald continued,
“
i
nsisted on seeing England
,
even though there be no love lost betwixt our blood and the English. Raulf, with his pleasing looks and silver tongue could talk himself out of trouble as fast as he got himself into it most of the time. When his words failed, he was bloody fine with his claymore.
”

Branan swallowed hard. Strickland now possessed his father's claymore.

“
We traveled south and finally reached Inglewood. Raulf was enchanted with this place. We stayed for a time in the township near Penrith Castle and that's where Raulf met Lady Raina.
”

“
Was she as pretty as they say?
”

“
Aye,
”
Duguald said with a bright smile.
“
She was a bonnie lass. This was a chance
,
but fated meeting. We explored the small market and behind one of the merchant booths, we heard a woman cursing in a fashion that would curl yer hair.
”

Branan's elbow lightly poked Catriona in the ribs.

“
Stop it,
”
she whispered
and laughed,
“
I want to hear the story.
e="="Garam”
She moved closer into his embrace.

Branan chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“
Yet the fear we heard in her voice was very real. Then she cried out in pain and fell silent. Afore I could stop Raulf, he drew his claymore and charged behind the booth. We only saw the back of a man's cloak as he disappeared into the trees. The woman lay in an unconscious heap on the ground. I feared her dead and bade Raulf to get a away afore we were blamed for her murder. He, of course, ignored me and gently held the lass in his arms. As I said, she was a bonnie creature and I ken Raulf was in trouble the moment he clapped eyes on her. But her lip was bloody and she had a red mark on her face the size of a man's fist.
”

Branan stared at the ground. He could picture it exactly, having seen similar marks on his mother's face too often.

“
She opened her eyes only for a moment and said something to Raulf I couldna' hear. But what she spoke captured him completely and took his heart for ransom. Only much later
,
did he tell me her words.
”

“
What did she say?
”
a
nother person asked.

“
Help me.
”

Branan squeezed his eyes closed. Murmurs rippled through the group.

“
Aye,
”
Duguald said, nodding.
“
Ye no doubt guessed the man who struck her was Strickland. Those in the marketplace gathered around us. When Raulf told them what happened, they dinna accuse us as I had feared. All knew Strickland and his rages. They told us who the lass was and how to find her home. Imagine our surprise when we discove
red she was Raina Neville, the W
arden's daughter.
”

Another man chuckled.
“
Methinks you did not agree with Raulf to take her home
,
but give her forthwith to one of the merchants to do it.
”

Duguald laughed.
“
Aye, laddie, ye have it aright. But Raulh tht. Butf wouldna hear of it. Now that I ken what she said to him, I can understand his resolve. Chivalry ran deep in his veins. We took her home and I was certain we'd swing from the hangman's noose the next day. But her father, while highly suspicious of us, was more concerned for the welfare of his daughter. He invited us to stay the night as a reward. I knew it was to keep an eye on us. If Raina awoke, and disavowed our story or if she died, he wanted us there to execute justice immediately.
”

“
She was still unconscious?
”
Catriona asked.

“
Aye, dinna awaken until late that night, the poor lass. But when she did, she told her father the truth
,
then begged to see Raulf to thank him herself. Raulf had paced our chambers most of the night, worried sick about her
,
but when she summoned him
,
ye had ne'er seen a man so happy.
”
He paused and chuckled again.
“
Except, mayhap, her father.
”

“
Why was Strickland not punished?
”

“
Och, he was. I dinna mention one thing because we learned it only after she awoke. She was Strickland's betrothed.
”

Others whispered in surprise.

“
Aye, but her father had made the arrangement, not realizing what a knave Strickland was, nor knowing Raina detested the sod. She and Strickland argued constantly
,
but this was the first time he had struck her. In the company of her father, he was a sniveling truckle. Raina's sire was furious
.
T
he betrothal had been agreed upon
,
but the contract hadna been signed. He broke off all dealings with the Stricklands and fined the family a good pence or two. As a reward to us, he invited us to stay as long as we wished.
”

“
That is why Strickland hated me da,
”
Branan said.
“
When the betrothal was broken he lost claim to the Wardenship. That power was what he really craved.
”

“
Aye. We stayed on and everyone saw Raulf and yer mother were falling in love. Her sire saw it too
,
but while he sincerely liked Raulf, he worried over joining his daughter to a wandering Scotsman.
”

“
Understandable,
”
Gordon said.