Page 53 of Bride of the Beastly Laird

Midnight came and went and Dahlia was beginning to doubt that Nicol was coming. She was just about to give up and suggest to a yawning Beattie that she head off to her own bed when there came a tentative knock at the door.

The door was quickly opened to the grey-haired man standing there still in his hauberk with his helmet tucked under his arm. Nicol entered the room and clicked his heels smartly.

“Ye wished tae meet with me, melady.” He looked puzzled.

“Did Beattie nae tell ye what I wanted tae speak about with ye?”

“Och. She asked if I remembered the laird when he and his brother were weans. And I told her I did.”

Dahlia beckoned for him to sit beside her at the fire while Beattie took the third chair.

“That may seem a strange request Master Nicol, but I am interested in where the two lads may have spent some of their time when they were away from the castle. D’ye recall?”

He gave a soft laugh. “It is impossible tae forget, melady. The two of them were a law unto themselves. They were bad before their mother died, but after they would listen tae nay one who tried tae rule them. Their faither had nay time for them. I was a member of the guard charged tae keep an eye on them, but they made fools of us every time and took off into the mountains.”

“Where did they go, Nicol?”

He shook his head. “We never did find where the little devils went. We kent it was in the mountains. We followed them more than once but they always managed to lose us. They were clever and very determined tae keep their hiding place a secret.”

“Hm.” Dahlia was despairing. “Ye ken it was in the mountains but ye never found the exact place. Was it a bothy?”

“All I can tell ye is that it is, as ye say, in the mountains. We assumed it was a bothy or a wee cottage somewhere beyond where we followed them. It left the best of us baffled, I can tell ye.”

“D’ye recall the way tae the point where ye lost their trail?”

“Aye. I could retrace me steps there with nae trouble. If ye wish me tae guide ye I could do that. Yet after I come tae the point where we lost their trail, I’d nae be much use tae ye.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I did have me own ideas of where they may have gone.”

Dahlia straightened in her chair. Perhaps Nicol knew more than he’d first said. “But ye never followed them?”

“I wondered, at the time, if we were too close on their trail and the guards in charge had decided tae let the lads be. I even wondered if young James Mackinnon had paid off the chief of the guards as he seemed tae give up the chase very easily in the end.”

“Would ye be willing tae take mysel’ and Master Arran into the mountains in search of the place? Ye’d be paid well fer yer trouble.”

Nicol bowed. “Aye. I’d be willing tae guide ye tae the place where I’m certain the hiding place was. I’d like tae help ye and melord Arran. He’s a fine man and was a good laird during the present laird’s absence.”

“Then I’d be grateful if ye’d say naught about this conversation, Master Nicol. I shall pass on tae Arran what ye have told me and, I daresay, we will make arrangements fer ye tae lead us into the mountains.” She signaled to Beattie who handed Nicol a gold coin from the purse and escorted him to the door.

“Thank ye Beattie. I found Nicol’s information very useful. Now, ‘tis time we were both sleeping in our beds fer we have tae visit the village tomorrow in search of strewing herbs.”

Beattie gave her a knowing smile. “Aye, melady. I shall see ye bright and early tomorrow.”

There were two places in the village where strewing herbs could be obtained. The first of these, a small cottage where Mistress Mab lived with her several children was close to the center of the village. Dahlia was familiar with it because she’d made a trips there once already.

The garden at the front of the cottage was a riot of colorful plants and flowers overflowing along the path and creeping around the doorway in bundles of color. Among them sweetly scented violets and pennyroyal mint covered the ground, sweet fennel waved its fronds along with lavender, basil, sage and tansy.

Mab flung open the door, welcoming her customers warmly, holding one small wean in her arms while another tugged at her skirts. Dahlia returned the warm smile although she was still puzzled as to what Arran’s message meant and why she was to go in search of strewing herbs. She peered into the corner shadows, half-expecting to see his figure emerging.

Inside, bunches of dried herbs, mostly chamomile, lavender and rosemary, hung from the ceiling and beside the fire, drying, werefurther bunches of basil and sage. The small cottage was fragrant with a multitude of scents from the aromatic herbs.

As strewing herbs were always in demand at the castle Mab was not altogether surprised to see Dahlia although the purchase of the herbs was generally left to the castle housekeeper.

“’Tis a rare treat tae see ye here, melady.” Mab bobbed a curtsy and indicated several baskets stacked on an old table that contained an assortment of herbs. “These are ready fer strewin’ and I think ye’ll find they’ll keep their sweet scent fer a good long while.”

Dahlia wondered if Mab was to pass on another message from Arran, but the woman seemed quite focused on the sale she was making and keeping her babe by her side. So, after a few minutes of inspection had passed, Dahlia and Beattie each collected an herb-filled basket and made their way to the door where Beattie proffered several coins in exchange.

“These will bring a freshness to the great hall,” Dahlia said with a smile, “and help to rid us of the distasteful smells of spilt beer, dogs and old bones.”

Mab grinned as she opened the door. “That they will me ladies. Yer hall will be as sweet as the morning rain once ye’ve strewn these over the floor.”

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