horses and peered skyward when a deep voice echoed from a ledge above them.
“State your business or die where you are.”
“We’re here to see Robert the Bruce. He is expecting us,” Gordon shouted in response.
A tall warrior stepped out of the shadows. “Och, Gordon. I dinna recognize you, man. Go on ahead.”
Gordon nodded and nudged his mount forward. Bryce followed.
They traveled through a long, narrow passageway leading to a small clearing.
“Bryce! It’s high time you arrived.”
The familiar, deep rumble of Alasdair’s voice immediately caught Bryce’ attention. He dismounted, handed his horse over to a squire, then spun around to greet his eldest brother.
When together, they quarreled often, but as he lumbered toward him, Bryce realized just how much he’d missed their banter. But the sentiment changed when Alasdair entrapped him in his heavily muscled arms and hoisted him off the ground.
“Put me down. I canna breathe, you big ox.” Bryce gasped for air and stumbled when Alasdair released him, but quickly recovered his balance.
“I’m glad to see you, little brother.” Alasdair took a step back and frowned. “Mind, you do look thin and pale. What ails you?” His jovial tone shifted to one of concern.
“I’m fine. A wee bit tired from the journey is all.” Rather than explain about his encounter with the MacDougalls, Bryce decided to wait and do so when he met with Robert. The last thing he needed was his brother hovering over him like a mother hen.
“If what you claim is true, then tell me why you are so late in arriving. We were expecting you almost a fortnight ago. When you dinna arrive as planned, I was certain you met with foul play.”
“I’m sorry for any concern my delay has caused, but it could not be helped.
“Now there is a sight for sore eyes.”
Another familiar voice prompted Bryce to turn around. “Cameron! It is so good to see you.” He moved in the older man’s direction.
Cameron was Bryce’s cousin, Sir Simon Fraser’s, closest friend and the captain of the guard at Oliver Castle—the Fraser stronghold in the borderlands. He strode toward Bryce with his arm outstretched. “I’m relieved to see you, too. Alasdair has liked to have gone out of his mind with worry. I told him there was no reason to fash . You have always been a clever lad.” He thumped Bryce on the back and gave his forearm a shake.
Bryce returned the greeting. “How do you fare these days? I have not seen you since the English bastards executed Simon.” He lowered his head and crossed his chest.
“Aye. That was a dark day in Scottish history to be sure.” Cameron mimicked Bryce’s gesture of respect for his friend.
“I’m surprised to see you here. Where have you been keeping yourself?” Bryce asked.
“Once I heard you and your brothers made it safely back to Fraser Castle, I stayed on Oliver Castle with Simon’s wife and daughters. Mary returned from the priory to be with her mam. It has been bandied about the keep she is to marry soon. One of the suitors her father chose for the lass before his untimely death offered a fine price for her hand. From what I’m told, she is quite taken with him. Joan is expecting a wee one in the spring, but visits her mam when she can.”
The news that his cousin’s widow and daughters were safe and doing well came as a welcomed relief. He owed so much to Simon and his family’s welfare crossed his mind often. “What brings you here?” Bryce asked Cameron.
“When I heard the Bruce was returning to Scotland, I arranged to meet him at Turnberry.” He patted the sword at his side. “I may be getting a little long in the tooth, but can still outride and outfight a young pup like you.”
Bryce laughed. “I’m sure you can, my friend, and I dinna plan to challenge you and find out.”
“I was just asking Bryce what took him so long to arrive. As usual, he is giving me a runaround,” Alasdair interjected.
Cameron frowned. “Aye.
“State your business or die where you are.”
“We’re here to see Robert the Bruce. He is expecting us,” Gordon shouted in response.
A tall warrior stepped out of the shadows. “Och, Gordon. I dinna recognize you, man. Go on ahead.”
Gordon nodded and nudged his mount forward. Bryce followed.
They traveled through a long, narrow passageway leading to a small clearing.
“Bryce! It’s high time you arrived.”
The familiar, deep rumble of Alasdair’s voice immediately caught Bryce’ attention. He dismounted, handed his horse over to a squire, then spun around to greet his eldest brother.
When together, they quarreled often, but as he lumbered toward him, Bryce realized just how much he’d missed their banter. But the sentiment changed when Alasdair entrapped him in his heavily muscled arms and hoisted him off the ground.
“Put me down. I canna breathe, you big ox.” Bryce gasped for air and stumbled when Alasdair released him, but quickly recovered his balance.
“I’m glad to see you, little brother.” Alasdair took a step back and frowned. “Mind, you do look thin and pale. What ails you?” His jovial tone shifted to one of concern.
“I’m fine. A wee bit tired from the journey is all.” Rather than explain about his encounter with the MacDougalls, Bryce decided to wait and do so when he met with Robert. The last thing he needed was his brother hovering over him like a mother hen.
“If what you claim is true, then tell me why you are so late in arriving. We were expecting you almost a fortnight ago. When you dinna arrive as planned, I was certain you met with foul play.”
“I’m sorry for any concern my delay has caused, but it could not be helped.
“Now there is a sight for sore eyes.”
Another familiar voice prompted Bryce to turn around. “Cameron! It is so good to see you.” He moved in the older man’s direction.
Cameron was Bryce’s cousin, Sir Simon Fraser’s, closest friend and the captain of the guard at Oliver Castle—the Fraser stronghold in the borderlands. He strode toward Bryce with his arm outstretched. “I’m relieved to see you, too. Alasdair has liked to have gone out of his mind with worry. I told him there was no reason to fash . You have always been a clever lad.” He thumped Bryce on the back and gave his forearm a shake.
Bryce returned the greeting. “How do you fare these days? I have not seen you since the English bastards executed Simon.” He lowered his head and crossed his chest.
“Aye. That was a dark day in Scottish history to be sure.” Cameron mimicked Bryce’s gesture of respect for his friend.
“I’m surprised to see you here. Where have you been keeping yourself?” Bryce asked.
“Once I heard you and your brothers made it safely back to Fraser Castle, I stayed on Oliver Castle with Simon’s wife and daughters. Mary returned from the priory to be with her mam. It has been bandied about the keep she is to marry soon. One of the suitors her father chose for the lass before his untimely death offered a fine price for her hand. From what I’m told, she is quite taken with him. Joan is expecting a wee one in the spring, but visits her mam when she can.”
The news that his cousin’s widow and daughters were safe and doing well came as a welcomed relief. He owed so much to Simon and his family’s welfare crossed his mind often. “What brings you here?” Bryce asked Cameron.
“When I heard the Bruce was returning to Scotland, I arranged to meet him at Turnberry.” He patted the sword at his side. “I may be getting a little long in the tooth, but can still outride and outfight a young pup like you.”
Bryce laughed. “I’m sure you can, my friend, and I dinna plan to challenge you and find out.”
“I was just asking Bryce what took him so long to arrive. As usual, he is giving me a runaround,” Alasdair interjected.
Cameron frowned. “Aye.
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