“You are getting very skilled with the sword, Lady Maira.” Branton lowered his sword and smiled.
“So are you,” said Maira. “I’m sure any day now Lord Beaufort will make you a squire.”
“I hope so.” Branton lowered his head. “I’m not sure the earl will ever see me as anything but a page. That is why I’ve been practicing my skills so hard. Soon, he will choose pages to be trained as squires, and I want more than anything to be one.”
“Keep trainin’ with Maira and prove him wrong,” Morag told him. “I heard Lord Beaufort talkin’ about ye. He thinks ye are nothin’ but a skinny, worthless whelp, so ye will need to change his mind.”
“Morag! Haud yer wheesht,” Fia exclaimed, throwing her sister a scolding look. The girl never knew when to keep her mouth closed.
“He said that?” A look of horror mixed with disappointment washed over Branton’s face. He shook his head and let out a long, deep sigh.
“Morag, ye need to learn to close yer mouth and mind yer own business,” Fia told her in a low voice. If anyone could cause trouble, even without doing it deliberately, it was Morag.
“Maira is very good with the blade,” said Willow, picking a piece of straw off her gown and flicking it to the ground. “But so are you, Branton. You are very skilled with that sword, so I wouldn’t worry about whatever Morag tells you.” Willow smiled sweetly, looking fondly at Branton. Fia swore the girl would flirt with any boy whenever she got the chance. “You are the only page I know who can even handle a sword without dropping it. Believe me; you have a wonderful chance of making it to the position of a squire.”
“Really? Yes, I suppose you are right,” said Branton with a satisfied nod of his head, standing a little taller. Once again, Willow was able to make a man believe anything she wanted, even if it wasn’t true. She had a way of manipulating people that Fia would never even dream of trying.
“Although, I must say, I have no idea why my cousin insists on acting like a man when she is a woman,” continued Willow.
“Nay, you wouldn’t understand,” grumbled Maira. “My father sent me this sword for my birthday two years ago. He understands me, and that is all that matters.”
“Thank you and good day, m’ladies,” said Branton with a bow, heading out of the stables.
“Fia, did ye come out to the stables for yer birthday present or was it just to get away from that long line of men waitin’ to meet ye?” asked Morag, leaning lazily on the gate of the stall.
“You know it was the latter of the two,” said Willow. “Fia, I can’t understand why any woman would run from men the way you do. All three of you do it, for that matter.” Willow fluffed out her gown and fussed with her long, dark hair that was loose and cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders.
“I dinna do that!” Morag stood upright so quickly she lost her balance and had to hold on to the gate to right herself.
“Willow, that’s no’ the problem,” said Fia. “The problem is that ye like men a little too much. Ye and Morag are goin’ to have to start actin’ more like ladies and less like strumpets when ye are around the laddies.”
“I dinna do that, either,” spat Morag.
Willow’s eyes narrowed. Her hands went to her hips. “Mayhap you don’t deserve the present we made for you, after all, dear cousin.”
“Ye made me a present? What is it?” asked Fia curiously. “Let me see it.” She eagerly held out her hands.
“It’s not here.” Maira polished her sword with the end of her skirt as she spoke.
“Really?” Fia looked at each of them and nodded. “I ken where it is, then.”
“No, ye dinna,” Morag challenged her.
“Aye, I do.” Fia smiled and crossed her arms over her chest. “By the way ye were all actin’ last time we visited Imanie, I’d say ye stashed it with her, didna ye?”
“Ye’re right,” Morag agreed with a sigh. “It’s with Imanie because we kent ye would find it if we left it here at the castle.”
“Do you want to go get it now?” Maira raised a mischievous brow.
“Now?” Morag looked up in surprise. “But it’s right in the middle of Fia’s birthday celebration.”
“All the more reason to leave,” mumbled Fia.
“What about all the men?” asked Willow. “They will be disappointed if they don’t get the chance to dance with you.”
Fia hurried over to her horse and started to saddle it. “Then ye go take my place dancin’ with those men, Willow. But I am goin’ to see Imanie.”
“Me, too!” Maira headed for her horse as well. “Mayhap Imanie will show me a few more fighting skills while we’re there.”
“The guards are goin’ to see ye leave,” protested Morag.
“No’ if we hurry,” said Fia. “I noticed the servants bringin’ food and ale to the guards on the battlements as we came out to the stables. I’m sure we can sneak out while they are occupied.”
“I could go for a breath of fresh air. This stable is getting stuffy.” Willow headed over to her horse.
“Then, I’m comin’, too,” said Morag.
“Morag, ye dinna have a horse of yer own,” Fia reminded her.
“It’s no’ my fault Lord Beaufort favors ye three. I’ll borrow someone else’s horse.” She stretched her neck to see the horses in the stalls that belonged to Lord Beaufort’s visitors.
“Nay, dinna cause trouble, Morag. Just ride with me.” Fia helped her sister mount the horse and then pulled herself up into the saddle. “If we’re quick, we can sneak out and still make it back to the castle before the end of the celebration. Lord Beaufort will never ken we left.”
“Do ye think Lord Beaufort doesna ken ye sneak out?” asked Morag.
“He probably does, but he looks the other way,” said Fia, heading for the door. “He also kens that he canna control us, and we will go anyway. If he pretends no’ to see us, then he willna have to tell our faithers and have their wraths upon his head.”
“That’s right,” said Maira. “And if he doesn’t see us leave, he won’t have the chance to stop us either. Now, let’s go.”
A short time later, Fia led the girls into the secret garden where she expected to see Imanie waiting for them. Instead, the garden was empty.
“Imanie,” called out Maira. “Are you here?”
“Somethin’s wrong,” said Fia, scanning the grounds. Everything seemed too quiet. The birds were not even singing.
“Her horse is gone, so she has probably left to collect herbs or to fetch water from the stream,” said Willow nonchalantly.
“Mayhap we should wait and give Fia her present after Imanie returns.” Maira tied the reins of her horse to a tree. “After all, the gift was Imanie’s idea.”
“We canna stay long.” Morag followed after Maira. “Lord Beaufort is bound to ken we’re no’ there and send someone to find us.”
“She’s right,” agreed Fia. “As much as I dinna want to be at the castle, it is disrespectful to stay away long since the celebration is in my honor.”
“Then I suppose Imanie won’t mind if we give you your gift.” Maira walked over to the shed and disappeared inside.
“I’ll bet ye’ll never guess what it is,” said Morag excitedly.
“She probably won’t have to since you usually spill all the secrets,” sniffed Willow.
“Stop arguin’.” Fia acted as mediator between the cousins. “Did ye want me to guess what it is, or no’?”
“No need.” Maira handed Fia a small package wrapped in the broad leaves of the black poplar tree. It was tied closed with vines. The package looked very earthy.
Fia smiled. “This looks like somethin’ that Imanie wrapped.”
“Open it, open it,” Morag coaxed her. She was so excited that Fia expected her to start jumping up and down next.
Sitting down on the ground, Fia put the package on her lap and adjusted the crown on her head. All the three cousins wore their crowns today since Lord Beaufort had invite
d many rich and powerful lords to the castle. He tended to use the girls in his favor to gain respect from the other nobles.
Carefully removing the vines, Fia opened the leaves to see a handmade bracelet. Leather strips made an intricate design. Woven right into the bracelet were several personal items.
“We each put something into the bracelet for you,” said Willow. “I gave you a brass button off my favorite gown.” Willow’s hand went to her bodice.
Fia smiled. “I thought ye told me ye lost that button the last time ye went ridin’.”
“I did,” stated Willow with a sly smile. “I lost it right here when I added it to your present.”
“Thank ye, Willow. I know how much ye like yer brass buttons.”
Morag was next. “I added a piece of dried heather to yer bracelet. It is from our bonnie homeland of Scotland.” She got on her knees and leaned forward, pointing it out to Fia. “I thought ye might like it. Da gave me that sprig of heather the day he brought me to live at Castle Rothbury.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I used to hold it every night in bed as I went to sleep. It made me feel as if Da was with me.”
“Oh, Morag, I ken how much this means to ye. Thank ye.” Fia leaned over and gave her younger sister a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Morag was a pest most of the time, but she did have a big heart. This proved it.
“I added the shell we found when we used to play on the beach when you’d come to visit me in Whitehaven during the summer,” explained Maira.
Fia ran her fingers along the white, smooth shell with the hole in the center. “I remember this. We were only about four or five when I found it and gave it to ye.”
Maira laughed. “Remember, we both wanted it, but my father convinced yours to let me have it since I cried so much louder than you?”
All the girls laughed at that. The bracelet was filled with fond memories of the people Fia loved.
“Did ye see what Imanie put in the bracelet?” asked Morag, pointing it out before Fia could even answer.
“It’s a wooden heart,” she said, noticing the beautiful grain of the wood. There were small holes on either side of it where the leather bands held it in place. On the wooden heart was carved Fia’s name.
“Imanie said she wanted to give you a heart since you were chosen by the queen to belong to the Followers of the Secret Heart group,” Maira explained. “I have a feeling we will all get one at some time or another.”
“No’ me.” Morag let out a frustrated breath, fretting once again.
“Morag, ye are just lucky that Imanie let ye stay and watch our trainin’ these past few years,” Fia reminded her.
“Girls! What are you doing here?” Imanie rode through the back entrance, sliding off her horse and making her way to them in a quick pace. Fia didn’t miss the disturbed look upon her face.
“We came to give Fia her present,” said Maira. “I hope you don’t mind that we didn’t wait for you, Imanie.”
“She was tryin’ to escape the men at the party,” tattled Morag.
“Thank ye all for the beautiful bracelet.” Fia admired it fondly and was about to try it on when Imanie took her arm and dragged her to her feet.
“You all have to leave. Right now.”
“But we just got here,” said Morag.
“It is my birthday, and I had hoped to spend some time with ye,” Fia told her.
“I brought my sword.” Maira held it up. “Can you teach me a few more moves before we leave?”
“Nay. You don’t understand.” Imanie’s brows dipped in concern. “You must get back to the castle anon.”
“What is it, Imanie?” asked Fia. Something was wrong. She could feel it in the signs all around her from the quietness of the forest to the look of disturbance on Imanie’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Imanie rubbed her chest and closed her eyes slightly as she struggled to catch her breath.
“You’re sick, aren’t you?” asked Willow.
“Nay. It’s just my heart. The pain will pass,” said the old woman, holding a hand in the air. “It has been happening lately when I ride too fast.”
This concerned Fia. She had never seen Imanie’s face look so pale. Her breathing was sporadic and not at all like that of a person who had ridden her horse too fast.
“You speak as if we are in danger,” Maira observed.
“You are.” Imanie rubbed her chest again, letting out a deep breath before she explained. “I spotted Highlanders in the woods not far from here.”
“Highlanders?” Willow’s head snapped up in alarm. “What would they be doing on this side of the border?”
“Mayhap they are here to hunt,” suggested Morag.
“I don’t think they are here to hunt.” Imanie made her way over to a wooden bench and sat down. The girls followed.
“Why are they here?” asked Willow.
“They’re spies,” Imanie told them.
“Does this have something to do with those raids on the south coast lately?” Willow questioned.
“I thought King Richard’s army already chased the Scots and the French that were helping them back over the border,” said Maira.
“Aye, but I’ve just had word that Richard has troops of fourteen thousand men and he is moving up the coast of Scotland, headed for Edinburgh,” Imanie told them.
“He is?” This news was alarming to Fia. Her family’s home was in the Lowlands but directly in the path.
“Please, go back to the castle,” begged Imanie. “You will be safe there.”
“What about ye?” asked Fia, concerned for the old woman who didn’t look well at all.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“But the Scots might find you here,” warned Willow.
“I’ll stay and help protect you.” Maira pulled her sword from the scabbard.
Imanie chuckled lowly and continued to rub her chest. She tried hard to steady her breathing. “Lady Maira, you might be good with a sword, but that is no good against an entire clan of Highlanders. Now go before it is too late.” Imanie got to her feet and ushered the girls back to their horses.
“Who told ye this news?” asked Fia.
“I have my sources,” the old woman explained. “But I will not divulge their identities.”
“Are they women from the secret group?” asked Morag, always needing to know more.
“There is no time for talk. You must leave anon.” Imanie hurried them to the entrance of the secret garden.
“Come with us, Imanie,” begged Fia. “I am worried about ye.”
“You know I can’t do that.” Sadness showed in the old woman’s eyes. “I want you all to be strong and use what I’ve taught you to better your lives.”
Fia’s heart jumped at hearing the old woman’s words. “Imanie, ye sound as if ye are sayin’ guidbye.”
Imanie’s eyes became glassy, and a thin smile turned her lips upward. “I have been blessed to know each and every one of you. I have enjoyed training you these past three years, and you are fast learners. Each of you is a strong woman that Queen Philippa would have been proud of.”
“Ye didna train me at all,” Morag reminded her.
“Nay, and I am ashamed that I let old superstitions get in my way.” Imanie unpinned the heart brooch from her cloak and held it out to Morag. “Take this, Morag. You are just as strong of a woman as your sister and cousins, and you deserve it.”
“For me?” Morag’s eyes lit up in excitement as she plucked the brooch from the old woman’s hand. After examining it, she pinned it to her bodice.
“Nay, ye canna do that, Imanie,” Fia protested. “Ye told us that the last time ye brought someone into the group without the queen’s permission, someone died.”
“The queen is dead, and I’m too old to be frightened by superstitions of what might happen,” said Imanie with a fond smile. “Now go, and protect yourselves. If anything happens to any of you, I will feel as if I have failed in carrying out the wishes of our late queen
.”
Shouts could be heard coming from the forest. A flock of birds lifted from a tree in the distance.
“They’re comin’ closer,” screamed Morag. “I’m frightened.”
“Come on,” said Maira, pulling Morag with her over to her horse. “I’ll protect you. Now keep quiet before you alert them that we are here.”
“Hurry, Fia,” said Willow, already atop her horse.
Fia grasped the bracelet in her hand for strength. Something told her not to leave Imanie, and she didn’t want to go.
“Go on, Fia,” said Imanie with wisdom in her eyes. “Your journey starts today. I can honestly say that even I didn’t expect it.”
“My journey? What do ye mean?”
“This Highland clan is one we’ve seen before,” explained Imanie. “It is led by the laird who saved your life three years ago.”
“What does this have to do with anythin’? Have ye had an insight?”
“It’s time you leave now, Fia.” Imanie touched Fia’s shoulder. When she did, a wave of grief passed between them. Fia’s eyes shot up to meet Imanie’s, confirming her suspicions. There was no doubt in Fia’s mind Imanie was saying goodbye forever.
“I will never see ye again, will I?” asked Fia, trying to hold back the tears.
“I’m not long for this world, Fia.” Imanie rubbed her heart again. “But either way, you must know that I will always be with you.”
There was another shout from the forest, and it sounded much closer.
“Go!” said Imanie, pushing Fia toward her horse.
“Are ye sure ye willna come with me?”
“This is my home and where I will stay.”
Fia mounted her horse, clutching the bracelet in her hand. Her emotions ran rampant, and confusion filled her head. Should she stay with Imanie or should she return to the castle with her sister and cousins? She felt torn because she wanted to do both but she couldn’t. She needed to make a quick decision and hope it wasn’t the wrong one.
“Come on, Fia. We need to go now!” Maira poked her head back inside the gate. Morag held on to Maira atop the horse, looking very frightened. Willow turned her horse in a full circle, as the animal was anxious to leave as well. Staying here was no longer an option. Fia had to stick with her cousins and sister and help them get back to the castle before the Scots found them in the woods.
Highland Secrets Page 5