when an arrow struck me,” Mairin said. “He did a fine job.”
“Tell us what you need,” Maddie urged. “I’ll make sure you have it as soon as possible.”
Keeley thought a moment as she surveyed the sleeping warrior. She’d need a whole host of herbs and roots, but she preferred to find those herself. She didn’t trust others to recognize the plants she used.
Instead she asked Maddie for water and bandages and broth so Alaric would have some sustenance. It was important for him to keep up his strength. A weakened man didn’t fight off illness as well as a strong and fit warrior.
She instructed the older woman on what she wanted done for Alaric in her absence.
“But where are you going?” Mairin asked with a frown.
“I must go forage for the roots and herbs I need for my medicines. If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait until the morrow and that might be too late.”
“Ewan won’t like that,” Mairin murmured. “He’s very firm on going outside the walls of the keep.”
“If he wants his brother to survive, he won’t make a fuss.”
Maddie grinned. “ ’Twould seem our laird may have met his match in you, Keeley.”
“Still, it would be better if you were to have an escort,” Mairin said. “I’d go with you myself—’tis God’s truth I’d welcome a walk and some fresh air—but Ewan would never let me hear the end of it.”
“You aren’t allowed even a wee walk outside the keep?” Keeley asked incredulously.
Mairin sighed. “ ’Tis not the sentence you think it is. Ewan isn’t overbearing. He’s worried, and with good reason. We have many enemies, and until I deliver this babe safe and sound, I am a target.”
When Keeley continued to stare at her in puzzlement, Mairin let out a long breath. “ ’Tis a long story. Perhaps I’ll tell you all about it tonight as we tend to Alaric.”
“Oh nay, my lady. ’Tis not your duty to stay awake with Alaric. He’ll be just fine in my care. A woman in your condition needs all the rest she can get.”
“Still, I’ll sit with you awhile. If nothing more, it will be a way to pass the time. I won’t sleep for worrying over Alaric anyway.”
Keeley smiled. “Very well then. Now if I may, I must be off before I lose good light.”
“Maddie, see to the supplies and do as Keeley instructed. I’m going to walk her down to the courtyard and ask Gannon and Cormac to accompany her on her search. Ewan won’t allow anything less, I’m sure.”
Maddie chuckled. “You know our laird well, my lady.”
Maddie turned and hurried out of the room. Keeley brushed her hand over Alaric’s forehead one last time before she followed Mairin from the chamber.
As Keeley expected, the laird argued only as long as it took her to inform him that if she didn’t gather the things she needed, his brother would suffer. Grudgingly he sent three of his men with her, though none looked pleased with the chore.
“They never like looking after women,” Mairin whispered next to Keeley. “I am the bane of their existence, for they are assigned regularly to me.”
Keeley grinned. “I heard a lot about you during our journey.”
Mairin scowled. “ ’Twas disloyal of them to speak behind my back.”
“They didn’t speak as much as they hinted,” Keeley corrected. “And Gannon refused to answer a direct question. He said ’twas disloyal.”
Mairin laughed outright, earning her suspicious frowns from the men.
“Come, mistress,” Gannon said in resignation. “Let us hasten to the forest so we can return quickly.”
“No need to act as though a death sentence is being carried out,” Keeley muttered.
Mairin laughed softly. “I’ll wait for you in Alaric’s chambers, Keeley. In the meantime I’ll make sure he is comfortable and that your instructions are carried out.”
Keeley nodded and fell into step behind the group of warriors assigned to watch over her. Despite her initial irritation at the idea that she couldn’t simply leave
“Tell us what you need,” Maddie urged. “I’ll make sure you have it as soon as possible.”
Keeley thought a moment as she surveyed the sleeping warrior. She’d need a whole host of herbs and roots, but she preferred to find those herself. She didn’t trust others to recognize the plants she used.
Instead she asked Maddie for water and bandages and broth so Alaric would have some sustenance. It was important for him to keep up his strength. A weakened man didn’t fight off illness as well as a strong and fit warrior.
She instructed the older woman on what she wanted done for Alaric in her absence.
“But where are you going?” Mairin asked with a frown.
“I must go forage for the roots and herbs I need for my medicines. If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait until the morrow and that might be too late.”
“Ewan won’t like that,” Mairin murmured. “He’s very firm on going outside the walls of the keep.”
“If he wants his brother to survive, he won’t make a fuss.”
Maddie grinned. “ ’Twould seem our laird may have met his match in you, Keeley.”
“Still, it would be better if you were to have an escort,” Mairin said. “I’d go with you myself—’tis God’s truth I’d welcome a walk and some fresh air—but Ewan would never let me hear the end of it.”
“You aren’t allowed even a wee walk outside the keep?” Keeley asked incredulously.
Mairin sighed. “ ’Tis not the sentence you think it is. Ewan isn’t overbearing. He’s worried, and with good reason. We have many enemies, and until I deliver this babe safe and sound, I am a target.”
When Keeley continued to stare at her in puzzlement, Mairin let out a long breath. “ ’Tis a long story. Perhaps I’ll tell you all about it tonight as we tend to Alaric.”
“Oh nay, my lady. ’Tis not your duty to stay awake with Alaric. He’ll be just fine in my care. A woman in your condition needs all the rest she can get.”
“Still, I’ll sit with you awhile. If nothing more, it will be a way to pass the time. I won’t sleep for worrying over Alaric anyway.”
Keeley smiled. “Very well then. Now if I may, I must be off before I lose good light.”
“Maddie, see to the supplies and do as Keeley instructed. I’m going to walk her down to the courtyard and ask Gannon and Cormac to accompany her on her search. Ewan won’t allow anything less, I’m sure.”
Maddie chuckled. “You know our laird well, my lady.”
Maddie turned and hurried out of the room. Keeley brushed her hand over Alaric’s forehead one last time before she followed Mairin from the chamber.
As Keeley expected, the laird argued only as long as it took her to inform him that if she didn’t gather the things she needed, his brother would suffer. Grudgingly he sent three of his men with her, though none looked pleased with the chore.
“They never like looking after women,” Mairin whispered next to Keeley. “I am the bane of their existence, for they are assigned regularly to me.”
Keeley grinned. “I heard a lot about you during our journey.”
Mairin scowled. “ ’Twas disloyal of them to speak behind my back.”
“They didn’t speak as much as they hinted,” Keeley corrected. “And Gannon refused to answer a direct question. He said ’twas disloyal.”
Mairin laughed outright, earning her suspicious frowns from the men.
“Come, mistress,” Gannon said in resignation. “Let us hasten to the forest so we can return quickly.”
“No need to act as though a death sentence is being carried out,” Keeley muttered.
Mairin laughed softly. “I’ll wait for you in Alaric’s chambers, Keeley. In the meantime I’ll make sure he is comfortable and that your instructions are carried out.”
Keeley nodded and fell into step behind the group of warriors assigned to watch over her. Despite her initial irritation at the idea that she couldn’t simply leave
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