confounded.
“Will ye tell me of your home? I wish to hear of it,” she said, taking another swig of ale. Her reaction seemed to amuse him.
“What do ye want to know?”
Rosalia handed him the wine sack and he took a healthy drink. “Howbeit we make a compromise?” he asked, handing it back. “I will answer what ye ask, and in return, ye have to answer what I ask.”
He waited for her response as she took another sip. “’Tis a deal as long as ye donna attempt to keep me further from my journey. Ye appear to be a man of your word. I will have it—your word.”
Ciaran nodded his head in consent. “Agreed. Ye have my word.”
“Good. Now tell me of Glenorchy.”
He chuckled as if he was sincerely amused. Leisurely, he stretched his long legs. “Glenorchy stands at the northeast end of Loch Awe. The northwest side is where the River Orchy enters the loch. The land around Glenorchy forms an island on which sits my home. And where is your home?”
She lounged casually in the chair. “My home is in Scotland but verra near to England’s border.”
He wiggled his fingers for her to take another drink. “Is that where your horse was trained?”
“Noonie? Aye. Ye forget it was my turn to question,” she scolded him.
“Aye.” He held up his hands in mock defense and then held out his palm for her to continue.
“If your home is on an island, how do ye get there? Surely ye donna swim,” she blurted out as she laughed—actually laughed. She could not remember the last time she had laughed. Why was she so warm?
“Ye can get to my home by boat or by cabhsair .”
“Can ye view the loch from all sides of your home?” Rosalia put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
“Aye, but ye see the mountains on all sides as well.”
She sighed. “It sounds beautiful.”
“’Tis. And your home? What loch is it near?”
“My home doesnae sit on the loch. ’Tisnae far to travel to it, though. I enjoy watching it and hearing the water.”
“Aye. Peaceful,” he agreed.
She took another drink and handed him the wine sack. “Is it my turn or yours?”
“Your turn to ask,” Ciaran said, handing it back.
“Tell me of your family.”
“My family. My mother and father have passed. As ye know, I am eldest. Aiden is my second brother and then I have Declan, the youngest. Tell me of your family.”
“I donna have a brother or sister.”
“Are your mother and father still living?”
She paused, looking down at her hands. “Aye. How far is Glenorchy from here?”
“Two days. How did ye end up in the clearing where Donaidh and Seumas found ye?”
Rosalia rubbed her hands over her face. “The pain was shooting and I needed to rest. I was only going to stop for a short time. I fell from Noonie and everything went black.” She took another swig of ale and handed him the wine sack. “I heard tales of fighting in the Highlands. Men fighting to protect what is theirs and such. Do ye fight or have a need to defend your home from another clan?”
“Aye, the bloody Campbells. Why is your horse named Noonie?”
“’Tis the name to which he has grown accumstomed. The bloody Campbells? Tell me. Why do ye fight?”
“Ye didnae answer the question. I asked why such a name for your horse.” Ciaran raised his eyebrow and waited for her response.
She was not exactly thrilled to answer him, but she did make a promise. “My mother named him. She often said I ate as much as my horse and I ne’er missed a noon meal. She said we were alike in that regard. Now… I will hear about the bloody Campbells. Tell me. Why do ye fight?”
“’Tis a question that has nay easy answer. Glenorchy was originally owned by the Campbells.”
“The bloody Campbells,” she slurred.
He laughed. “Aye, the bloody Campbells. Glenorchy was bestowed upon the MacGregors for allegiance. The MacGregor Chief at that time helped Alexander II with his conquest of Argyll. The MacGregor Chief was one of the leaders
“Will ye tell me of your home? I wish to hear of it,” she said, taking another swig of ale. Her reaction seemed to amuse him.
“What do ye want to know?”
Rosalia handed him the wine sack and he took a healthy drink. “Howbeit we make a compromise?” he asked, handing it back. “I will answer what ye ask, and in return, ye have to answer what I ask.”
He waited for her response as she took another sip. “’Tis a deal as long as ye donna attempt to keep me further from my journey. Ye appear to be a man of your word. I will have it—your word.”
Ciaran nodded his head in consent. “Agreed. Ye have my word.”
“Good. Now tell me of Glenorchy.”
He chuckled as if he was sincerely amused. Leisurely, he stretched his long legs. “Glenorchy stands at the northeast end of Loch Awe. The northwest side is where the River Orchy enters the loch. The land around Glenorchy forms an island on which sits my home. And where is your home?”
She lounged casually in the chair. “My home is in Scotland but verra near to England’s border.”
He wiggled his fingers for her to take another drink. “Is that where your horse was trained?”
“Noonie? Aye. Ye forget it was my turn to question,” she scolded him.
“Aye.” He held up his hands in mock defense and then held out his palm for her to continue.
“If your home is on an island, how do ye get there? Surely ye donna swim,” she blurted out as she laughed—actually laughed. She could not remember the last time she had laughed. Why was she so warm?
“Ye can get to my home by boat or by cabhsair .”
“Can ye view the loch from all sides of your home?” Rosalia put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
“Aye, but ye see the mountains on all sides as well.”
She sighed. “It sounds beautiful.”
“’Tis. And your home? What loch is it near?”
“My home doesnae sit on the loch. ’Tisnae far to travel to it, though. I enjoy watching it and hearing the water.”
“Aye. Peaceful,” he agreed.
She took another drink and handed him the wine sack. “Is it my turn or yours?”
“Your turn to ask,” Ciaran said, handing it back.
“Tell me of your family.”
“My family. My mother and father have passed. As ye know, I am eldest. Aiden is my second brother and then I have Declan, the youngest. Tell me of your family.”
“I donna have a brother or sister.”
“Are your mother and father still living?”
She paused, looking down at her hands. “Aye. How far is Glenorchy from here?”
“Two days. How did ye end up in the clearing where Donaidh and Seumas found ye?”
Rosalia rubbed her hands over her face. “The pain was shooting and I needed to rest. I was only going to stop for a short time. I fell from Noonie and everything went black.” She took another swig of ale and handed him the wine sack. “I heard tales of fighting in the Highlands. Men fighting to protect what is theirs and such. Do ye fight or have a need to defend your home from another clan?”
“Aye, the bloody Campbells. Why is your horse named Noonie?”
“’Tis the name to which he has grown accumstomed. The bloody Campbells? Tell me. Why do ye fight?”
“Ye didnae answer the question. I asked why such a name for your horse.” Ciaran raised his eyebrow and waited for her response.
She was not exactly thrilled to answer him, but she did make a promise. “My mother named him. She often said I ate as much as my horse and I ne’er missed a noon meal. She said we were alike in that regard. Now… I will hear about the bloody Campbells. Tell me. Why do ye fight?”
“’Tis a question that has nay easy answer. Glenorchy was originally owned by the Campbells.”
“The bloody Campbells,” she slurred.
He laughed. “Aye, the bloody Campbells. Glenorchy was bestowed upon the MacGregors for allegiance. The MacGregor Chief at that time helped Alexander II with his conquest of Argyll. The MacGregor Chief was one of the leaders
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