Page 21 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
“We could be well prepared by that time,” Rhuad said.
“Agreed, yet we must keep our preparations flexible.We may want to make changes once we receive the information that your man will gather.”
“True.Might it be wise to send two men?Together they could gather information in less time.”
“Yes, but two strangers visiting a remote fishing village would get more notice than a single man.Perhaps one who is seeking information on how to avoid Castle MacFearann on his way to the west.”
For the first time in their conversation, her husband grinned.“I like the way you think.I know exactly who to send on this mission.I’ve a new squire.Jamie MacShennan, he is fostered from clan MacShennan and is not well known among the local villages, yet.He is smart enough to be able to succeed in gathering information.”
“Excellent.We should speak with him before he leaves, so he understands exactly what we need to know as well as the best ways to avoid revealing himself.”
“I will send him to you, my lady.While you speak with him, I will inform Dougal of our change in plans.”Rhuad stood and held his hand out to her.”
She waved it away.“I will wait here for your squire.”
“As you will.”He left.
Seona remained at the table studying her ale.Had she changed Rhuad’s mind about involving her in the coming rescue?He’d been very reluctant at first.
My brother did me no favors by requiring the handfasting.
Clearly Rhuad preferred to see her as a wife and as such thought she should be subservient to all his demands.He would learn differently.
Conflicted as her roles of wife and seneschal might be, she had never been subservient to anyone and was not about to start now.She had more education than most women and a greater understanding of logic and mathematics than many men.Even Raeb tended to listen when she spoke from knowledge and logic, as was her habit.
Persuading Rhuad to listen had not been easy.She’d been forced to lead him through the entire logical process of planning.Yet in the end she’d been successful.
Pray heaven I will have equal success convincing him of the necessity to involve me in the rescue.
His mother and sister would need the comfort and understanding of another woman, especially if any fighting spreads into the abbey itself.Whether her husband wished it or not, Seona was determined to take part in the action.Doing so was the only way to assure success.
Chapter Four
Castle MacFearann,on the Scottish Northeast Coast
Morning February 27, 1297
