Page 41 of The Falcon Laird
“Ach,aye, but a priest o’ the old Celtic Church. Those traditions run strong here in Galloway,” Fergus said. “Many parish priests, rectors in small churches, still follow the old Celtic rules. I wear the Irish tonsure, see.” He tapped his head.
John glanced at Gavin. “Priests o’ the old Church are common enough in the more Celtic areas of Scotland. The Roman Church frowns on them because they still marry and hold farms and own livestock and such. And their sons inherit positions as priests in village churches. ’Tis very different.”
“The old rules are fading, but not quite yet,” Fergus said. “My father was a priest, and his afore him, and so on. My name, Macnab, means son o’ the abbot. But only one of my eight lads wishes to follow the Church, and he is with his brothers now, following the Bruce instead. The two wee lads want only to follow their older brothers.” He looked around the courtyard. “Ach, but Kilglassie is a bit o’ a ruin now, eh? How will you garrison this?”
“It will take time, but repairs can be made.”
“The damage would have been worse but a storm came up the day of the fire, and doused the blaze.”
“You were here?” Gavin asked.
“Aye. Lady Christian left her daughter with my wife and me.” Fergus pointed. “You need to repair that yett straight away. The castle is wide open. You will need a smith to make the chains right again for the portcullis.” He glanced at Gavin. “When does your garrison arrive?”
Gavin paused. “I do not know. Oliver Hastings will send forces later.”
Fergus’s face darkened and he spat on the ground. “Oliver Hastings! If you are with him, man, I cannot be a friend to you.”
“I am here on King Edward’s orders. Hastings is not my commander.”
“Good, then.” Fergus frowned. “There are some English allies here in Galloway, where some Scots favor English over the Bruce. But we support Bruce’s fight. I am honest about that, Gavin Faulkener.”
“I appreciate that.”
“So let there be peace between us. I would not see harm come to Lady Christian.”
“You have my word. Now, sir priest, can you help find laborers to do the repairs here?”
Fergus peered at Gavin for a moment, his hazel eyes clear and forthright. “I can bring you a blacksmith, and men to lift stones and cut timbers, if you have grain or meat with which to pay them.”
Gavin raised an eyebrow doubtfully and cleared his throat. He would not reveal that there were stores aplenty here, though he wondered if Fergus Macnab already knew about them.
“Cheese, perhaps? Ale?” Fergus ventured.
“Coin,” Gavin said. “I can pay wages. Tuppence a day for carpenters, six for masons.”
“Aye, well, coin,” Fergus muttered. “They could use that at fairs in the big towns, come spring. But food and livestock are more welcome in the winter months. But I will send men here to ask for work. Do not shoot at them when they arrive.”
Gavin huffed a laugh, feeling as if he had been scolded for shooting the yard-hens. “We shall declare a truce in order to repair Lady Christian’s castle.”
“Well enough. I wish to see Lady Christian,” Fergus said as he lifted his sack. “My sons said she was ill, and my wife sent along some eggs and cheeses.”
“She will be glad of that. She has been very ill, aye, but recovering now.”
“God save her. Moira and I heard what happened to the party of Bruce’s women, and we knew that she had gone with them, leaving with—” He stopped suddenly. “Tell me how is it she is wed to another Sassenach? I thought she would never do that.”
“A long story, Father,” John said.
Fergus looked at him. “You’re a Scot. Keith, is it? Fine clan. How is it you are with the English?”
“I made my pledge to Edward, as many have, so I could travel with my nephew Gavin while he was ambassador to the French court. Before that, I spent a few years in the Holy Land.”
“That was good work, defending the faith.” Fergus looked at Gavin. “So you are part Scots?”
“My father was English, and my mother a Keith from Perthshire,” Gavin explained. “We have cousins in Selkirkshire—Keiths of Kincraig, if you know of them.”
“I do! Kin to the Marischal of Scotland, Robert Keith. Good family. So you are only half Sassenach. Good. That will help you here.” Fergus smiled. “I would see your lady now. Where is she?”
“This way.” Gavin led Fergus to the tower. “I wonder if you have heard news of the Bruce.”
