Yeah, right. She had a feeling it was going to be anything but easy. Yet it was a start, which is more than she’d had this morning.
The wind picked up off the river, blowing Abi’s hair out behind her and bringing the smell of wet leaves and mold. It was the smell of autumn and the leaves were beginning to turn to beautiful shades of red and gold.
“Get out of the bloody way! I’m trying to dock!”
“Ye get out of the way yerself, ye blackguard! I was here first! Wait yer bloody turn!”
Two rickety-looking boats were bobbing in the middle of the river, their pilots gesticulating wildly at each other. Both were trying to dock at the pier that stuck out from the riverbank but the wharf was almost full with several flat-bottomed barges already tied up there, leaving only one berth available. It was clear that neither of the boat captains wanted to wait to dock and unload their cargo.
And they were not the only ones. The river was extremely busy, with craft moving up and down in both directions. A few appeared to be fishing vessels but most were those flat-bottomed barges that seemed to be bringing in supplies. Abi saw oak barrels, coils of rope, bundles of withies tied with string, piles of what looked like ore, and a hundred other things she couldn’t name.
“What’s that all for?” she asked. None of it looked like the kind of supplies needed to run a castle.
“War,” Clyde replied. “Supplies to make weapons ready for when Laird Campbell has raised his army. Then we’ll march to battle!”
Excitement shone in the lad’s eyes and his voice throbbed with pride. Did he actuallywantto fight? People in this time were all loopy.
Somehow, she’d not only fallen through time, but she’d fallen into the middle of a war. Perfect! Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse.
“Why?” she asked. “What’s this all about?”
Thomas and Clyde shared a look, as if unable to believe she didn’t know all this already.
“Lord Reid is sworn to serve Laird Campbell of Clan Campbell,” Thomas answered. “As are we all. He’s in the east, gathering his army, and when he’s ready, we will make war on Clan Muir.”
“Right. But you haven’t answered my question.Whyis Clan Campbell going to war with Clan Muir?”
“Because...because they’re our enemies!” Thomas replied.
Abi stared at him. Dear God, didn’t they evenknow? Were they going to risk their lives for this Laird Campbell just on his say-so? Yep. Crazy. Absolutely crazy, the lot of them.
“I think I’ve seen enough,” she said quietly. “I’d like to go back now.”
She turned and began walking towards the castle but balked as she spotted Malcom standing by the gates. He was laughing with the guards, his lanky form instantly recognizable. Of everyone she’d encountered so far, Malcolm had been the most hostile. If he’d had his way she’d have probably been burned as a witch by now. She considered turning around and walking the other way but that would only lead back to the river.
So she squared her shoulders, put on her best haughty expression, and looked straight ahead as she approached the gates. Malcolm spotted her, broke off his conversation with the guards, and turned to her with an approving nod.
“Much better.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Yer clothes. I’m glad he ordered ye to change out of that whore’s get-up ye were wearing.”
Whore’s get-up? But she let that pass. Instead, she focussed on the second part of what Malcolm had said.
“You’re gladwhoordered me to change?”
“Reid, of course. And only right too. The lord canna have his woman running around looking like a common whore.”
“Er, Malcolm,” Clyde said nervously, coming up behind them. “I’m sure Lord Reid wouldnae like his woman being referred to in such a manner.”
Abi stepped forward, jabbing her finger at Malcolm. “Now listen here, you— ”
She cut off abruptly as the import of what Malcolm and Clyde had said sunk in.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean,Lord Reid’s woman?”
Malcolm shrugged, but there was a savage gleam in his eyes. “What business is it of ours who our lord takes to his bed?”
