A Time of Madness

by Marti Talbott

  “We will ask Laird Campbell,” said Brin.

  “Will your laird object?” asked Daniel.

  “Most likely not, if he does not abide too much strong drink, that is.” She noticed the look of concern on Daniel’s face and quickly added, “Oh, he is not vicious when he has had a chalice or two, but he sleeps so soundly we cannot wake him up.”

  At last, the MacGreagors relaxed and smiled. All at once, it seemed, they had a thousand questions about her clan, other clans, the ocean, where to find this or that, and where to barter for oats and barley. Most of all, was there a place to bathe nearby where there were far fewer fish?

  Brin answered the first two questions, glanced out over the ocean, abruptly stopped in mid-sentence, and pointed at the dark clouds on the horizon. “Gather your things quickly now. Amos said to bring you inside. He vows ‘twill be a bad storm and Amos is never wrong.”

  Sawney hesitated. “Your clan will kindly give us sanctuary?”

  “Laird Kerr, we live in the middle of nowhere because the King of Scots wants his western coast protected. Few come to see us and never has our clan wanted news of the world more. Now gather your things, the harsh wind will begin soon and ‘tis not easy to abide.”

  She was right. As soon as they loaded the horses, mounted and started down the hill toward the beach, the wind was already starting to blow sprinkles of rain hard against their faces.

  JUST AS AMOS SAID, the village was not far away at all. The path turned inland just before they came to a very large courtyard surrounded by cottages. Despite the harsh wind and the increasing rain, It seemed most of the Campbells had come out to greet them, although they weren’t exactly cheering their arrival. In fact, they were all very quiet. Several women stood near the large double doors of a castle that consisted of two very long floors facing full south. A round, three-story guard tower on the end nearest the ocean was attached to the main building and when they looked up, two men stood in the open-air window watching them.

  Riding beside Keter in the front, Brin giggled and nodded toward the waiting women, “They waste no time, you see. They are unmarried hoping to find husbands among the Kerr.” She looked up, spotted her husband in the guard tower window, and waved. “There, do you see them? Laird Campbell is awake and stands beside Amos.” She halted her horse and started to get down, but before she could, Keter dismounted and held out his arms to her.

  Brin looked behind her, noticed the MacGreagor men doing the same for the other women and frowned. “Why is this done? Do you capture lasses and keep them from running off once they have set foot on the ground?”

  Keter first wrinkled his brow and then smiled, “Nay, we do it to keep them from being trampled. Our lasses are free to leave whenever they wish, though we prefer they do not go alone. ‘Tis too dangerous.”

  She finally accepted his help. “Indeed it is, what with gray wolfs, wildcats and wild boars in the woods. Did you truly see a gray wolf with blue eyes?”

  “Aye we...”

  Brin did not allow him to finish. One more glance at the threatening dark clouds alarmed her. “Inside, all of you, and quickly.” She led the women and children in, but when she turned around, the Campbell men were staring at the MacGreagors instead of helping. She stuck her head out one of the huge double doors and yelled at them. “Have you no care to help them?”

  It was as though their daze was at last broken and soon the answer to their hesitance was clear. The tallest of them was still more than a foot shorter than the MacGreagors, and their muscles were not nearly as well developed. Timidly, they helped lead the horses into the overly large stable and began to unload them.

  It was then Sawney spotted her. Mackinzie stood alone near the side of the castle with her arms folded watching him. He stared at her for far too long before he realized what he was doing, nodded slightly and looked away. He helped unload the last packhorse and when he looked again, she was gone.

  Just before the rain turned to a squall, the MacGreagor men walked past the giggling Campbell women, entered the castle and stopped to stare. The great hall was grander than anything they had ever seen. It was decorated in red and gold with a solid oak table in the middle of the room. The high back chairs had red cushions and on the walls hung an array of weapons the likes of which the men had never seen. Candles in iron holders on the walls brightened the room and there was even a very large chair at the far end, situated on a wooden platform.

  “‘Tis the king’s castle,” muttered Daniel. He bent down, picked up little Flora and then went to stand beside the women.

  Behind them, Laird Campbell descended the last of the stone staircase. “Aye, when he is here, which has only been once in all these years.” He was a rotund man with blond hair graying at the temples. His face was pleasant enough, but his unusually long mustache, longer even than his beard, drew their attention away from his kind eyes.

  Brin ran to him, kissed his cheek and then she hugged Amos. “There, you see, I convinced them. I said I would and I did.”

  “Right you are, wife, right you are.” This day Amos wore the blue with thin green striped kilt of his clan. “You are most welcome, Kerr. This is Laird Campbell and Brin is his daughter. We are...” As if on cue, lightening and then thunder boomed across the sky forcing him to hold his words until it subsided.

  Little Flora screeched and tightly hugged Daniel’s neck, which made Daniel smile and whisper in her ear to comfort her.

  “As I was saying,” Amos continued, “we could not abide leaving you out in this weather. You must agree to stay the nights with us until you have built proper comforts. Agreed?”

  Sawney caught the hopeful look on the faces of the women and at length, nodded. “We will not be a burden, I pledge it.”

  Laird Campbell walked past the MacGreagors, to a table near the throne, picked up a pitcher and poured the entire contents into a large chalice. “Daughter, do you intend to let our guests go without?”

  Brin winked at Gavina. “We keep only enough for one and hide the rest until later so he will sleep through the night.”

  “I heard that,” Laird Campbell loudly said, “and I am not fooled. ‘Tis my keep, when the king is not here, and I’ll search until I find you out.”

  Brin giggled. “He always says that, but once he has had his fill, he forgets to go look.” A moment later, a door at the other end of the great hall opened and three serving women came in carrying more chalices, a large pitcher of ale, and a platter of small round breads.

  Sawney looked for her, but the woman with the magnificent green eyes was not among them and when he glanced down, Dolina had her hands on her hips glaring up at him. “What?”

  “I wish to bathe!”

  Of all the children, even the ones left behind, Sawney had to admit Dolina was his favorite. What she loved most in the world was to get his attention. “Now? Shall I toss you in the ocean, the waterfall on our new land or would you prefer to stand outside in the rain?”

  “First I should like to eat.” She looked at him for permission and when he nodded, she hurried to the table and helped herself to the bread. “I am hungry enough to eat a goat.”

  Laird Campbell chuckled. “Remind me to hide our goat.” He walked back to where his daughter stood and then turned around. “We have prepared a grand welcome feast and the many bedchambers in this useless castle are done up for your rest.” He quickly put up his hand to stop Sawney’s protest. “I’ll not argue the matter, not now when the lot of you look tattered and torn. Sit, Kerr, sit and be fat like me!”

  CHAPTER X

  THEY FOUND THE ALE too sweet for their liking although spices had been added to bitter the taste. Nevertheless, it was the first real meal they’d had in days and each of the MacGreagors greatly enjoyed it. It was wonderful to be inside listening to the rain instead of having to shield themselves from it the best they could with their cloaks.

  Joel came late and found a place to sit next to Senga, which pleased her but not her father. She w
as old enough to marry, but Daniel was not ready to let her go. Still, whom a daughter loves is not always up to her father.

  The Campbells had many questions and if they noticed Sawney did all the answering, they did not let on. So also did the MacGreagors have questions which the Campbells were more than willing to answer. Once Amos began to describe the ships they might see on the ocean, the MacGreagors had enough questions about sailing to ask long into the night.

  THE RAIN HAD STOPPED by the time Paisley finished eating and decided to go for a walk. She was grateful no one noticed except Lenox. He looked concerned when she opened the door, but she smiled to ease his worry.

  It was still cloudy but getting lighter and it was much warmer with only a gentle breeze moving the air. Paisley watched for puddles of mud, rounded the corner of the castle, and found a path. Several of the Campbells watched her, but none tried to prevent her, so she continued on and was surprised when it led to a river.

  This time of year the water gently flowed to the sea instead of rushing and she soon found a rock to sit on. The cut in Paisley’s side hurt, she didn’t feel all that well and knew she should be resting. Still, it was the first time in days she had a peaceful moment to herself and that was worth it.

  What she thought about was Chisholm. In the beginning, she loved him with her whole heart, now her husband was dead and she should be mourning the loss of him. Yet somehow, she still couldn’t bring herself to cry. Therefore, when she spotted a Campbell woman carrying a basket of clothing down the path toward her, she was happy for the diversion.

  Mackinzie almost didn’t see the woman sitting at the edge of the river. When she did, she abruptly stopped and started to turn back.

  “Do not go. Come sit with me.”

  Shocked to have a woman speak to her in a friendly way, let alone wanting her company, Mackinzie shifted her eyes. This was wife to the man who rode the black horse, she realized. Still, she was curious about these people and doubted she would hear about them from the other Campbells. Perhaps if she did not call her a scunner right off, they might be friends...for a little while. “I am Mackinzie,” she said finally.

  “I am Paisley. Will you sit with me?”

  “For a moment.”

  Paisley smiled, waited for Mackinzie to find a rock to sit on and set her basket down. “How many are the Campbells?”

  “I do not know.” She wanted to, but Mackinzie was afraid to ask any questions.

  “Brin said the Campbells do not care if we build a village close by and we are most grateful. Our home burned.”

  “I see.”

  Paisley tried to get more comfortable and Mackinzie noticed her slight wince. “Where are you hurt?”

  “‘Tis nothing.”

  “Hurting is never nothing. Tell me.” Mackinzie stood up and took a step closer.

  “The strings of my sword cut my side on the journey.”

  “Does it hurt more today than yesterday?”

  “A little.”

  Alarmed, Mackinzie lightly touched Paisley’s forehead with the back of her hand. It was hot. “I shall get your husband.”

  Paisley smiled. “I do not have one of those and I am very glad of it.”

  The Kerr man was not married after all, at least not to this woman, and Mackinzie was glad. “Who then?”

  “Please do not ask any of them to come. Two are my brothers. They are tired to the bone and especially tired of caring for me. I am well enough, truly I am.”

  “I will get Tavan.”

  She was gone before Paisley had a chance to stop her. Perhaps it was best to let someone help her. The skin around her cut was red and hot, and denying it was foolish now that they were someplace safe. She waited for someone named Tavan to come but instead, Lenox was practically running when he found her.

  “The lass said you are feverish.” Without another word, he swooped her up in his arms and headed back toward the castle. Before he even got to the door, he started shouting. In his arms, Paisley’s whole body was hot and Lenox was terrified. As soon as Sawney opened the door, Lenox carried her inside.

  Mackinzie stood not far away watching. She possibly had a friend finally and it would be so very unfair to lose Paisley now. Upset, she turned and went back to the river to tend her washing.

  LONG INTO THE NIGHT, Mackinzie sat on a tree stump beside her cottage and watched the big double doors of the castle. People came and went, but none of them was Paisley. Even the man she favored came out. He walked with another, who looked a lot like him and Mackinzie guessed they were brothers. They seemed in a hurry to check on the horses and just as quickly went back inside.

  It wasn’t until Tavan finally came out that Mackinzie got up and went to ask how the woman was.

  Tavan seemed surprised by the question. “She will do just fine, Mackinzie, just fine indeed.” He wanted to ask how she knew the woman was ill, but as usual, Mackinzie walked away before he could.

  SAWNEY WAS ALONE FOR the first time in days in an unfamiliar bedchamber decorated far more lavishly than any he had ever seen. Paisley was asleep, at last, in the bedchamber next to his and he could hear her if she called out. Laird Campbell’s brother, Tavan, brought a potent salve to put on her cut and Sawney could hardly bear watching the amount of pain his sister was in. Yet she would die without it and it had to be done. Brin offered to stay the night with her, which he regarded as most kind since the women in his clan were exhausted.

  So much had happened in a very short time. His father was dead, he was banished, his sister was sick, and the daunting task of building a village lay before them. They required so much and the list of needs overwhelmed him. At least he could look forward to seeing the woman again, whatever her name was.

  Just as he started to unlace his shoes, someone knocked on his door. “Enter.”

  Keter nodded, closed the door behind him, found a chair at the table and sat down. “How is Paisley?”

  “She sleeps finally.”

  “You look as tired as I feel.”

  “I do not deny it.”

  “Cousin, you have done well these past few days.”

  “As have you.” Sawney finally got his shoes off and set them on the floor by the bed. Then he seated himself in a chair across the table from Keter. “I am glad you have come. I fret over all the lies we tell. They are too many for the clan to remember, especially the wee ones.”

  “I have thought that as well but what can we do?”

  “We should say the truth before we are found out and ask the Campbells not to say where we are.”

  Keter lowered his eyes and considered it. “Every clan has its traitors and every lad his price.”

  “Do we have a traitor?”

  “I do not think so, but a laird must understand and keep watch. If we say the truth, the Davidsons may learn where to find us and if we stay the nights here, we put the Campbells in danger.”

  “You are right.”

  “And you are right as well. ‘Tis too hard for the children to remember. Even I am not certain which lie we tell currently.”

  Sawney moved the candle aside so he could see Keter better. “We must go back and fight soon.”

  “Must we? The others did not come with us of their own choosing. Why not stay here? I could be very happy in this place of peace and adventure by the sea.”

  “I am tempted to stay as well.”

  “Sawney, how are we to win a war with so few?”

  Sawney rubbed his brow. “I have thought of that. We could offer the jewels to lairds who are willing to fight with us.”

  Keter’s tired eyes brightened. “For jewels, perhaps both the Swintons and the Kennedys would fight with us.”

  “If they are not already captured and killed.”

  “There is that. Perhaps the Campbells will help us.”

  “Perhaps so, once we tell them the truth.”

  Keter stoked his straggly beard. “I greatly miss Justin. He would know what to do.”

  “I miss him
too. How did he become so wise?” Sawney lightly bit his lower lip. “I have tried, but I do not recall everything Father told me the night before he passed. I remember only two things but I know he said more. He said not to marry until I was certain, and then he said, to first keep myself alive.”

  “He said that?”

  Sawney took a deep breath and let it out. “Aye, he must have guessed what was coming and wanted the clan to live on. Now we choose between keeping ourselves alive and going back to fight.”

  “We are Justin’s clan now. We are all together and we are safe. Perhaps he would not want us to go back.”

  “Aye, but we are smaller now than the Haldane and certain to be set upon by stronger clans. Besides, we left your Mother behind.”

  “I will go get her as soon as we have a home to bring her to. I had planned to do that even before we left.” Keter smiled, reached over, and playfully socked Sawney in the arm. “Your father is right about one thing. A wife may warm your bed at night, but she can make you regret it in the morning.”

  Sawney lowered his voice to make sure no one could hear. “More than I regret Campbell’s barley Ale?”

  “Perhaps we will learn to love it. Good night to you, cousin, tomorrow we begin our new home.” Keter stood up and was about to leave when Sawney stopped him.

  “Then we agree we should tell Laird Campbell the truth?”

  “Aye, he might take back his offer to let us stay, but so be it. Ask to speak to him after the morning meal.”

  AT SUNRISE, MACKINZIE grabbed an apple to nibble on and went outside to sit on the tree stump and watch the castle doors. An hour later, she was still there and as usual, the serving people carried food in and the strangers came and went without noticing her. None of them was Paisley and she was becoming increasingly worried.

  The next to come out of the huge double doors was Brin and when Laird Campbell’s daughter walked straight for her, Mackinzie wondered if she’d best run and hide. Instead, she stood up, tossed her apple core in the bushes, and wiped her mouth.