“Now that you mention it,” she replied with a smile. “This dress itches like nobody’s business and I stubbed my toe.”
“Ye know what I’m talking about.”
“Oh, you mean the fact that I’m hundreds of years out of my time?” She waved a hand airily. “Honestly, I’d forgotten all about it.”
Emeric’s frown deepened.
“Oh, all right,” she said, throwing up her hands. “I’m actually terrified. But what good is that going to do? So are we gonna collect this grain or what?”
Before he could reply, the barn door creaked open and a stout man with a grizzled beard emerged.
“Emeric!” he bellowed in a voice as rough as gravel. “Is that really ye, ye old bastard?”
Emeric grinned at the man. “Aye, Angus. And who are ye calling old?”
The men clasped arms in greeting, an obvious warmth between them. They looked to be around the same age but where Emeric was tall and broad, Angus was stocky and short, like a barrel.
“Who’s this bonnie lass?” Angus asked, turning to Anna.
Anna wasn’t sure of the protocol so she just nodded. “I’m Anna. Nice to meet you”
“A pleasure,” Angus said. “Any...um...friend... of Emeric’s is a friend of mine.” He gave Emeric a very obvious wink.
Emeric rolled his eyes. “Oh, for the love of God, Angus. Anna is a guest at Dun Achmore, that’s all.”
Angus roared with laughter, slapping his thigh in mirth. “Oh, ye are still a terrible liar! I’ve known ye long enough to tell when ye fancy someone!”
Anna kept her expression carefully neutral. She wasn’t sure whether to feel mortified or secretly pleased by Angus’s comment.
Emeric glared at his friend. “Enough of yer nonsense,” he warned. “Dear God, man, ye are as bad as Aislinn.”
“Aye, all right,” said Angus dismissively. “I’ll behave. To what do I owe this honor, anyway?”
“I’ve come to check the grain tallies.”
“Oh, really? And here’s me thinking ye’ve come to visit an old friend.”
“Nay, Angus. I’d not visit ye unless I had to,” Emeric returned, a crooked smile on his face.
“Well, that stings,” Angus replied with a dramatic hand to his chest, but there was a glint in his eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched. “But such is my lot in life. This way, then.”
Angus led them into the barn. The space inside was cavernous, with thick rafters holding up the roof. Sacks of grain were stacked to form high towers that seemed to scratch the ceiling. The air was thick with the sweet, earthy scent of barley and wheat, and mixed with it was the tangy aroma of rye.
Underneath the low-hanging rafters, sprigs of drying herbs hung down in clusters. Dried rosemary, thyme, and sage leaves crackled when touched by soft drafts of wind sneaking in through the small gaps.
“Here it is—the best of the season’s harvest, ready to go up to the keep,” Angus announced with a flourish, pointing to a row of large sacks he had set aside. They were tied up neatly with thick twine. Angus patted a sack, sending up a small puff of dust.
Emeric bent down to examine the sacks. Untying the neck of one, he picked up a handful of grain, letting it trickle slowly from his hand. His brow furrowed as he looked over the line of sacks that had been separated from the rest. He glanced up at Angus.
“This isnae enough. This isnae even half of the castle’s portion.”
A shadow crept over Angus’s face. “Aye, I’m sorry. I’ve done all I can but there isnae anymore.”
Emeric stood. His expression was tight, bordering on anger. “We willnae be able to last the winter with this.”
Angus swallowed thickly. All his earlier levity was gone and now he looked old, the lines on his face deepening. He lifted a hand to scratch gruffly at his beard.
“I know, Emeric. The harvest was poor and ye know the constraints we work under. I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a solution. We could try to ration it out, but we both know that would only last for so long.”
