Page 27 of Fallen
A smile stretched Craeg’s face as he remembered Sister Coira questioning him about the loyalty of those following him. He took great risks letting the folk of this territory learn of his hiding places. He had to if he wanted to rally more fighters to his side. And yet, till now, none but Brochan had betrayed him. As he’d pointed out to Coira, he wasn’t the only one who bore a deep hatred for Duncan MacKinnon.
The rise and fall of voices broke the morning hush, echoing off the surrounding stone, as did the clang of metal. Men sharpened blades as they waited for their bannocks to fry upon iron griddles, and a forge had been built against the valley wall. Craeg passed the smithy hard at work, hammering out glowing splinters of iron that would be fashioned into arrow-tips.
Craeg’s smile widened at the sight of such industry. It pleased him to know that his people hadn’t been idle in his absence. Although he hadn’t announced his plan to face MacKinnon in battle, they had anticipated him.
The folk of this land wanted rid of the oppressive clan-chief as much as he did.
Breathing in the scent of frying bannock, Craeg’s empty belly let out a loud growl. There were few things he liked better in the morning than a freshly baked bannock smothered in butter and honey.
At the heart of the ravine, he came upon a large fire pit. A tall woman with curling blonde hair stood over an iron griddle and was flipping a circular cake over. Her attention focused upon her task, she didn’t see the three men approach.
“Morning, Fen,” Craeg greeted her with a tired smile. He lowered himself down onto a boulder, suppressing a groan as he did so.
God’s bones, he felt eighty winters old this morning.
Fen—Fenella—glanced up, her blue eyes widening as her gaze settled upon him. “Craeg! We thought ye were dead.”
“I didn’t,” Gunn interrupted, before seating himself next to Craeg.
Fenella ignored her man, her attention remaining on Craeg. “How are ye feeling?”
“Hungry,” Craeg grunted. “How about some bannock?”
“Healed, I see,” she replied not bothering to hide a wry tone. “Thinking of yer stomach, as usual?”
Craeg ignored the jibe and instead waited while she cut the bannock into hearty wedges, before smearing it with yellow butter and heather honey.
Watching her, Craeg’s mouth filled with saliva. If she didn’t hand over a slice of bannock soon, he’d have to beg.
When she did, Craeg flashed Fenella a wide smile.
The first bite nearly made him groan in pleasure. The wedge of bannock was gone moments later, and Craeg had his platter out for another.
“Didn’t they feed ye at the abbey?” Fenella asked, dishing Craeg up another two slices.
“Aye … but no one makes bannocks like ye, Fen,” he replied.
“Still haven’t lost yer charming tongue I see.” Fenella’s voice was stern although she was smiling.
“No … I’d have to be extremely under the weather for that to happen.”
Next to Craeg, Gunn snorted. “Stop flattering my woman and tell us what happened … I take it the nuns won’t tell anyone ye were at the abbey?”
The question sobered Craeg. Finishing his third wedge of bannock, he brushed crumbs off his braies. He then met Gunn’s eye.
“They kept me hidden … although things got difficult when the abbey had visitors.”
Gunn inclined his head. “MacKinnon?”
“No … a meddling abbot sent to investigate the abbess.”
“Ye know, I’ve heard rumors about the Sisters of Kilbride,” Gunn said, his expression turning thoughtful. “Three men from Torrin arrived yesterday. One of them said that he once spied the nuns sparring with blunted swords. One of his companions added that he’d seen them bring down deer with longbows in the woods.”
Craeg went still at this news. He remembered then the iron-tipped quarter-staff that Coira carried. He also recalled how skillfully Lady Leanna had wielded a longbow when she and Ross Campbell had helped defend the outlaw camp earlier in the summer.
“After everything I’ve seen of late, I’d believe such tales,” he murmured. “There’s something odd about that abbey.”
His companions digested this news, before Farlan spoke up. “Ye will note that our numbers have swelled in yer absence, Craeg.”
