nae mind sharing.”
“I am nae interested,” Nareen maintained.
Abigail simply clicked her tongue. “There is naught like having two men to please
ye at the same time. Men are often easily spent, leaving a woman unsatisfied.”
Nareen locked gazes with Abigail, sending her a stern look.
“As ye like,” Abigail groused.
Nareen finished dressing her and turned to making herself ready. Unlike Abigail, Nareen
took time to be certain she had a dagger strapped to her thigh and another one tucked
into her boot. Those were the things that mattered when one was riding across open
land.
“Hurry, Nareen…” Abigail sang out cheerfully. The retainers had returned to take the
trunks, and Abigail was hot on their heels.
Nareen took a moment longer to put on an arisaid. The length of plaid was falling
out of fashion with many, but she’d been raised farther up in the Highlands, where
tradition remained firm.
She was a Grant and would wear the colors proudly.
She used a belt to secure it around her waist. The wool fabric draped down her back,
covering part of her skirt. She’d belted it at the three-quarters point, which allowed
her to pull the end of it up and secure it on her right shoulder with a broach of
silver, with her father’s crest. Fabric draped across her shoulders so she might raise
it to cover her head and protect her from rain. Abigail would insist on a hooded cloak,
but Nareen preferred her arisaid.
She slid a dagger between her belt and back before leaving. The drape of the arisaid
hid it somewhat. There would be hell to pay if it was spotted, to be sure. But she
wasn’t going onto the road unarmed. Her brother, Kael, might have agreed to Saer’s
suit, but he’d also taught her to defend herself in spite of the Church’s teachings.
So she’d forgive Kael, just as soon as she made it clear to her brother that there
would be no matches for her.
Her mind was set.
***
It was a fine day for traveling. The sun was warm, and there was no sign of rain.
But the Ross retainers were not happy with their mistress’s order to ride out.
“It would be best if ye waited on yer father to return, mistress.”
The captain of the guard met Abigail at the top of the stairs that led out of the
tower and into the yard. His tone was respectful but firm. He blocked Abigail’s path
to the yard, gripping the wide leather belt holding his kilt around his waist.
“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail informed him with her nose in the air. She swished
her hand, but the captain remained firmly planted in her path.
“Yer father took a large escort with him,” the captain continued. “I have only limited
numbers of men to provide ye as escort. On the morrow, I will have the proper number
to ensure yer safety.”
The horses were standing ready, along with a wagon holding Abigail’s trunks. She gazed
longingly at them, but Nareen focused on the six Ross retainers. They held their expressions
tight, but there was no missing the look in their eyes that told of their misgivings.
Six was not enough if they encountered trouble.
“We should wait,” Nareen counseled Abigail.
“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail whined.
Nareen shared a frustrated glance with the captain. He had his hands settled on his
belt, which reminded her of Saer.
“Mistress, I would prefer nae to send ye out so poorly attended. The MacKays—”
“Have nae raided in months!” Abigail cried. “I am going back to court. No one will
trifle with me. They will fear I have the ear of the king.”
Abigail started down the steps. Nareen grabbed Abigail’s wrist. “It’s an unnecessary
risk. Ye need to consider those six men. Two are only lads. If there is trouble, they
will suffer for yer choice.”
Abigail’s eyes widened with outrage. “How dare ye tell me what to do. Ye are me—”
She shook off Nareen’s grip. “If ye do nae do as I bid ye, I shall tell me father
I am finished
“I am nae interested,” Nareen maintained.
Abigail simply clicked her tongue. “There is naught like having two men to please
ye at the same time. Men are often easily spent, leaving a woman unsatisfied.”
Nareen locked gazes with Abigail, sending her a stern look.
“As ye like,” Abigail groused.
Nareen finished dressing her and turned to making herself ready. Unlike Abigail, Nareen
took time to be certain she had a dagger strapped to her thigh and another one tucked
into her boot. Those were the things that mattered when one was riding across open
land.
“Hurry, Nareen…” Abigail sang out cheerfully. The retainers had returned to take the
trunks, and Abigail was hot on their heels.
Nareen took a moment longer to put on an arisaid. The length of plaid was falling
out of fashion with many, but she’d been raised farther up in the Highlands, where
tradition remained firm.
She was a Grant and would wear the colors proudly.
She used a belt to secure it around her waist. The wool fabric draped down her back,
covering part of her skirt. She’d belted it at the three-quarters point, which allowed
her to pull the end of it up and secure it on her right shoulder with a broach of
silver, with her father’s crest. Fabric draped across her shoulders so she might raise
it to cover her head and protect her from rain. Abigail would insist on a hooded cloak,
but Nareen preferred her arisaid.
She slid a dagger between her belt and back before leaving. The drape of the arisaid
hid it somewhat. There would be hell to pay if it was spotted, to be sure. But she
wasn’t going onto the road unarmed. Her brother, Kael, might have agreed to Saer’s
suit, but he’d also taught her to defend herself in spite of the Church’s teachings.
So she’d forgive Kael, just as soon as she made it clear to her brother that there
would be no matches for her.
Her mind was set.
***
It was a fine day for traveling. The sun was warm, and there was no sign of rain.
But the Ross retainers were not happy with their mistress’s order to ride out.
“It would be best if ye waited on yer father to return, mistress.”
The captain of the guard met Abigail at the top of the stairs that led out of the
tower and into the yard. His tone was respectful but firm. He blocked Abigail’s path
to the yard, gripping the wide leather belt holding his kilt around his waist.
“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail informed him with her nose in the air. She swished
her hand, but the captain remained firmly planted in her path.
“Yer father took a large escort with him,” the captain continued. “I have only limited
numbers of men to provide ye as escort. On the morrow, I will have the proper number
to ensure yer safety.”
The horses were standing ready, along with a wagon holding Abigail’s trunks. She gazed
longingly at them, but Nareen focused on the six Ross retainers. They held their expressions
tight, but there was no missing the look in their eyes that told of their misgivings.
Six was not enough if they encountered trouble.
“We should wait,” Nareen counseled Abigail.
“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail whined.
Nareen shared a frustrated glance with the captain. He had his hands settled on his
belt, which reminded her of Saer.
“Mistress, I would prefer nae to send ye out so poorly attended. The MacKays—”
“Have nae raided in months!” Abigail cried. “I am going back to court. No one will
trifle with me. They will fear I have the ear of the king.”
Abigail started down the steps. Nareen grabbed Abigail’s wrist. “It’s an unnecessary
risk. Ye need to consider those six men. Two are only lads. If there is trouble, they
will suffer for yer choice.”
Abigail’s eyes widened with outrage. “How dare ye tell me what to do. Ye are me—”
She shook off Nareen’s grip. “If ye do nae do as I bid ye, I shall tell me father
I am finished
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