Page 19 of The Plight of a Scottish Lass
He bellowed to one of the guards. “Stop pishing in the moat or I’ll cut your rod right off.”
“Sorry, Chief. It was an accident. I waited too long,” the man answered with a grin.
“Mayhap you’ll see your log floating down the way if you have another accident.” Hell, but he hated to see men act like pigs. They’d all worked so hard to take care of this castle that he’d never allow them to destroy any part of it.
Even the moat.
“Pish in the forest or lose it, Bearnard.”
“Aye, Chief!”
Bearnard was in charge of the men when he, Artan, and his brother were not around. Perhaps he needed to rethink this. As if reading his brother’s mind, Brian said, “He does the job well whether he pishes in the moat or not.”
Thane cast a sideways glance at Brian that let him know he still didn’t appreciate people degrading their land. “We’ve worked too long and too hard.”
His brother followed him to the stables, two stable lads rushing out to take care of their mounts, handling them while he dismounted, calming the beast the way they should. “I’ll brush him down, Chief.”
“Many thanks to you, Theo. Take good care of him. I hope to have a warhorse for you someday soon.”
Mora must have seen them approaching because she came barreling down the steps from the keep, across the courtyard,waving her arms before she jumped on him to give him a big hug. “Where is she?”
He set her down so she could hug Brian. Then she swung back around to face Thane, chasing behind his long steps as he continued toward the keep.
“Tamsin. The lass in the water who nearly drowned. Is she coming along? Where does she live? Did she die?”
The villagers who had come inside to work stopped to listen, but he waved his arm to insist they move on and ignore their conversation. He knew that wouldn’t happen, but he wanted them working, not gawking.
“We left her with the new healer in Duart Castle.”
Mora began her usual barrage of questions. “Who is that? And who is at Duart Castle? What’s her name? Where are they from? Who—”
He turned to her and took both her hands in his. “Mora, I promise to reveal all, but do your brothers a favor and find us a couple of meat pies. Lamb, beef, whatever you have. And bring me a goblet of ale or two into my solar, and then I’ll tell all. It was a long journey.”
Mora smiled and said, “Of course, Thane. I’ll gladly get you some food. Cook just made berry tarts. Would you like one? Or mayhap two?”
“Nay, just the meat pie and a hunk of bread. Something not too stale yet.”
Mora took off on a run as soon as he opened the door for her, then he stepped inside, Brian behind him. He hung his mantle on the peg by the door and left his sword in the stand nearby, his own stand he insisted to have for himself. He couldn’t imagine handling anyone else’s weapon. Plus, it prevented anyone else’s hands from touching his beloved sword.
Brian followed him into his solar and sat at a chair on the other side of his desk, setting his feet up on a stool once he removed his boots.
“Are you comfortable now, Brian?”
“Aye, quite. That was a long trip you dragged me on, Thane. Two days nearly. We didn’t need to stay so long. I don’t know why you insisted on talking with the man who was leaving with his wagon of goods. How did he know they were there, anyway?”
“Because word travels fast on the Isle of Mull.”
The door opened and Mora flew in, balancing a tray just so before whirling around to set it on the desk. “Four meat pies and a big hunk of the dark bread just dropped off here. Fresh. And it’s delicious. Cook bought it from the traveling minstrel just this morn. Unusual, but he had extra bread. And I’m sure you will love it, Thane. It’s the dark kind you prefer.”
Thane’s mouth watered as soon as his gaze fell on the fragrant meat pie and the chunk of bread. “You brought honey, Mora. Many thanks.”
“Aye. I missed you both, Thane.” She smiled, her innocence and bright outlook something he depended on every day. After the situation the three were left in many years ago, he often wondered how she could stay so positive, so happy, but he’d have it no other way.
His dear sister announced, “So I’m ready to hear all.” She sat down and folded her hands in her lap, looking from one brother to the other. “I can be quiet so you may talk. Either of you or both of you. Who wishes to go first? I love to hear all that happens outside our clan.”
“Not much to tell,” Brian said before he took a big bite of the beef pie.
Her face fell, but then she turned to Thane. “Nay? Naught?”
