The Promise of Peace (11 page)

Nola twisted her hands in her skirt material. “To live at Inversie!

That wasn't what I had in mind in the way of an adventure.”

“Well, it will have to do for now. I'll not send you out of the glen.”

Hoping to soften the blow for her daughter, Gwenyth reminded Nola that Suisan truly needed her and that she was willing to provide Nola harp lessons.

“The harp lessons will be welcome. But do not make plans for me to marry a highlander if the man is Will Macpherson.”

“What's wrong with Will?” Adam demanded. “Uniting our families and lands makes perfect sense.”

“Maybe to you. But you won't be the one tied to Will Macpherson the rest of your life!”

“And I ask you again, what is wrong with the boy?”

Gwenyth feared that the honest answer to this question was that he wasn't Keifer.

“I suppose nothing is wrong with him if you don't mind a man who has no desire to leave the glen. He's content to stay here.”

Adam shook his head. “And what is wrong with that? Being at home in the glen is an attribute, something of which a man—
or
woman—can be proud.”

Nola stared at Adam as if he had an extra head. “What's wrong with wanting to travel?”

Gwenyth hid her smile behind her hand. These two would never agree on this, she feared.

“Besides, Will takes for granted that I will agree to a betrothal when we are of age. If I foster with them, he will be encouraged beyond bearing.”

“Would such a betrothal be so awful?” Gwenyth asked.

“It wouldn't be if my heart didn't belong elsewhere.”

“I see.”

Adam huffed out his breath. “There is no need to decide on your wedding plans tonight. I can accept that you don't see Will as a potential husband, Nola. But I ask that you give him a chance.”

Nola looked at her father. She straightened her spine and held her chin out in that stubborn way she'd done since the cradle. “And I will accept this fostering with grace if you will but grant me one boon.”

Gwenyth felt her eyes grow larger. What would the girl demand?

“What is that?” Adam asked, his expression wary.

“Allow me to accompany you and Keifer when he leaves for training. 'Tis likely to be the only time in my life when I can leave this glen.”

With an audible sigh of relief, Adam said, “Very well. You may go with us.”

Nola spun on her heel and left the room.

Adam looked at Gwenyth. “That went well, don't you think?”

AFTER THE SPRING THAW Adam and Nola accompanied Keifer on the journey to Homelea. Keifer could hardly wait to get there. The horses walked too slow, Nola talked too much, and Adam insisted on resting the horses too often.

By the fifth day, Keifer had tired of even Nola's company. They rode side by side with Adam in the lead.

“. . . don't you agree, Keifer?” Nola asked.

“Agree?”

“You weren't listening.”

“You talk all the time. How's a man to know when you have something important to say?”

“By listening, you great dolt.”

Adam turned in the saddle. “Nola, that's no way to speak to Keifer.”

“He wasn't paying any attention—'tis rude—”

“Enough. Give us some peace, Nola.” Adam turned around.

Nola stuck her tongue out at Keifer. Why he, a nearly grown man, must put up with a child of twelve, he didn't know.

In the absence of Nola's chatter, he heard birds singing and the whisper of the breeze through the trees. But he couldn't enjoy it when Nola was so obviously unhappy.

Nola was no more a child than he was, if he would but admit it. She'd grown two inches in the past few months, and though he tried not to stare, he could not help but notice that the bodice on her tunic needed to be let out to accommodate . . . Keifer drew a deep breath and let it out. Aye, Nola was no longer a child. By the time he saw her next, she would be a woman in every way. He grinned at the thought.

“What is so funny?” she demanded.

“You.”

“You think I'm a child, a pest. Well, I'm not.”

“Not a pest or not a child?”

He could see her struggling to be angry; saw her lose the battle when she smiled.

“Truce?” she said.

“Aye. But a few more minutes of quiet wouldn't do me any harm.”

She laughed, and all was right with Keifer's world.

Later that day they passed the site of the great battle for Stirling Castle along the Bannockburn. Adam's accounting of his part in the battle fed Keifer's agitation.

“Soon I'll be a knight and can take part in such a battle.”

“You don't have to be a knight to fight in a war,” Nola reminded him.

“True, but I must become a fighter second to none in order to protect my family and my clan.”

“Time, hard work, and a lot of bruises stand between you and those golden spurs you covet,” Adam said.

“If a thing is worth striving for, the labor is not a burden.” Of course it wouldn't be easy; Keifer never thought it would be. Why must Nola's father always look at the dark side of things? Keifer refused to allow the man's pessimism to dim the glory of his quest.

Two days later they rode southeast from Edinburgh, and Homelea became visible atop a riverside cliff. As they approached, Keifer could barely contain his excitement. His dream was about to come true.

Black Bryan Mackintosh was renowned for his skill with the claymore and his ability to fight from horseback. Keifer would be among an elite few chosen to train with the man.

“Have you been here before, Da?” Nola asked.

“Aye. I accompanied Sir Bryan when he first took possession of the place. 'Twas not much more than a fortified manor home at the time. I'm anxious to see the new fortifications Bryan talked about.”

They rode across open land where sheep grazed outside of Homelea village. An abbey's spire could be seen above the trees to the east.

The smell of fresh-cut hay wafted on the breeze, and small stone cottages dotted the countryside.

They passed over a causeway and entered Homelea's gate. “These walls are new,” Adam said.

“They look impenetrable,” Keifer said.

“Aye. No one will breach them without heavy siege engines.”

They crossed an open area that led to a second set of walls, far less impressive than the first. A wooden bridge guided them into a large bailey. The taller, fortified ramparts surrounded the bailey of a fortified manor home.

The bailey teemed with people and livestock at midday. Chickens clucked and raced out of the path of the horses while dogs barked a cautious welcome. Someone ran to the keep, no doubt to announce the visitors.

It reminded Keifer of Dunstruan, and he smiled at the memory.

His family was less than a hundred miles away. Surely he would see them before he'd completed his training.

Keifer dismounted and went to help Nola down from her horse.

That at least got a smile of approval from her father.

Adam strode toward a large man in chain mail whose dark hair glistened in the sun.

“Welcome, Adam!” the man shouted. He clasped Adam about the shoulders. “'Tis good to see you, brother.” The men had fostered together, as well as fought together for Bruce. Both turned to Nola. “And this is . . . this can't be your daughter? Grown already?”

Adam grinned. “Aye. Nola, this is the Earl of Homelea, Bryan Mackintosh. Nola is our oldest. And this is Keifer Macnab, your newest student.”

Sir Bryan looked Keifer up and down and said, “Welcome to all of you. There is still some time before the midday meal will be ready, so allow me to show you the improvements I've made.” He offered his arm to Nola, and Keifer saw her blush as she accepted. As Sir Bryan walked them around the grounds, he treated Nola as if she were visiting royalty. Keifer thought he would very much enjoy serving such a man.

Adam said, “I see little evidence of the destruction Homelea sustained.”

“Well, I was very, very careful when I dismantled it.”

They smiled at a secret obviously shared, and Keifer hoped to hear the whole story one day soon. They stepped inside the main hall where trestles were set up and serving girls scurried to set out food and drink.

“Please sit down and help yourself. Lady Nola, I will give you over to young Keifer's care while Adam and I talk.”

Nola sat next to Keifer, and the two older men moved off to await Sir Bryan's wife.

ADAM SAT where Bryan indicated and accepted food and drink from a servant. He drank the cool water, grateful to wash the dust from his throat.

Bryan broke off a piece of bread and handed the rest to Adam. “The boy looks capable—built strong. I understand Seamus has been training him. Why not let him finish the job?”

“Seamus has done well—I think you'll be impressed with Keifer's abilities. But there is some bad blood in the family—our king took the Macnab lands away from Angus and his son for their support of England. 'Tis my understanding that Angus has come to terms with this but that Owyn Macnab considers the land and title his. Keifer may have to fight to keep it, and his sister wants him to be prepared.”

“I see. Seamus can teach him to fight well enough, but Morrigan wants him to have the additional skills of a knight.”

“Aye. That and the contacts he'll make—you and the king among them—will give him allies he can call upon if need be.”

“I'm anxious to see him with a sword. You will stay a few days and watch him train, won't you?”

“Aye. I have no desire to climb back in the saddle for a time.”

Bryan nodded. “I thought you might feel that way. Stay as long as you like. You and I can catch up on news. We were unable to attend Morrigan and Fergus's wedding. Did you go?”

“No, 'twas too long a trip from Moy. They have a son and another child on the way. From what I've heard, they are doing well.”

“I'm glad to hear it. Fergus is a good man, and perfect for Morrigan.” Bryan looked over at Keifer and Nola. “Your daughter will soon be of marriageable age. Hard to believe the time has gone so quickly. Seems like just last week you and I arrived here and beat down Kathryn's door.”

“Aye, so it does. Nola is twelve, thirteen soon, and yes, I've started thinking about her future. I've a mind to betroth her to young Will Macpherson.”

“An excellent way to strengthen that alliance. Always a wise thing to do.” Bryan watched Nola and Keifer again.

Adam wondered what he saw that made him scowl.

“How long has the boy been fostering with you?”

“Six years. I think you'll find Seamus has prepared him well.”

“I have no doubt.” Bryan pointed his chin at the young people. “Those two have become good friends.”

“Aye. As befits foster siblings, no?” Adam and Bryan had shared much over the years, and many's the time he wished they lived closer to each other.

“Nola may only be twelve, Adam, but I'd bet a fair amount of silver she doesn't think of the boy as her brother.”

“What? Has he done something to warrant—”

“Calm down, the boy's behavior has nothing to do with my observation. Nola wears her heart on her sleeve.”

Adam considered this. “Then 'tis for the best that they be separated so she may consider other suitors.” He moved his goblet in circles on the table. “Mayhap Gwenyth was right.”

“Oh?”

“She mentioned the same thing not long ago. Aye, this separation will test them both. If God means it to be, it will survive this time apart and I'll not stand in their way.”

“Parenting isn't easy, is it?”

“No, it is not. How are your young ones doing?”

Lady Kathryn walked into the hall, and Bryan stood and extended his hand to her. “Here's just the person to answer your question.”

All through the meal, as he listened to Kathryn and Bryan talk about their family, Adam stole glances at Nola and Keifer. The boy sat tall, a proper distance from Nola. She said something, and he leaned closer to answer her. She threw her head back and laughed, and Keifer's smile held a definite fondness. Was it more?

Nola placed her hand on Keifer's arm in earnest conversation. Keifer listened, his gaze just shy of entranced. Nola, on the other hand, did not mask her fascination. The girl had a soft heart and never did disguise her feelings well. Though Adam stopped short of calling her affection for Keifer love, anyone could see that she held the boy close to her heart.

Love? Or affection for a wounded soul? For Adam recognized the boy's empty spot—the place where memories of his father belonged.

Adam only hoped that he and Gwenyth had prepared the boy as thoroughly inside—as Seamus had outside—for adulthood. That Keifer would bloom under Bryan's tutelage.

Time would tell.

SEVEN

K
EIFER WAITED FOR NOLA in his horse's stall. Nola and her father would leave soon, and Keifer wanted a few minutes where their words could be private. He assured himself that he didn't need her or anyone else, that he only wanted to give her something. But he dreaded her farewell.

Any other time he would have heard her whistling or singing or chattering to the animals. But today she entered the barn so quietly he jumped when she lifted the latch on the stall door.

She hesitated, and he pulled her into the stall and closed the door. Though her eyes were mirthless, she grinned at him. Then seeing his expression, her grin faded. “Why are you sad? You are getting what you always wanted.”

“Aye. And you've had your adventure.”

The horse walked over to see if Nola had a dried apple for him, but for once her hands and clothes were empty of such treats.

“This trip to Moy? With my father as chaperone?” She pushed the horse's nose away and the beast moved to the other side of the stall. “This does not count as an adventure. Not for me. But being here is what you always dreamed of, isn't it?”