“I’ve spent most of ma life apologizing, praying to appease whoever was around me. It’s going to take me a little while to unlearn those lessons.”
“I understand. Let’s eat before it grows too cold. Mayhap nay second bowl, but we could take a small repast with us.”
“I’d like that.”
Greer and Thor finished their meal, and Greer went to the kitchens to see what she could gather. Thor met with his men and explained their assignment. They all congratulated him since they had no opportunity to the day before, and they all swore to protect Greer as the future Lady Sinclair. By the time Thor and Greer made it into the water, and both stripped to their skin, Greer felt more comfortable with so many men around. Just as Thor predicted, the men spread out and faced away from the water. They were unobtrusive, and the couple enjoyed their time together. They chased one another and splashed until their need to hold each other brought them together. They exchanged several heated kisses before they silently decided they should head to the shore before things went further.
“Thor, who’s that?” Greer jerked her chin to the south of the barmekin.
“I saw them while we were in the water. I dinna ken. They’re watching us, but they dinna pose a threat at that distance. They merely want us to ken they’re there.”
“Gunns? The English?”
“Mayhap. If Blaine doesnae already ken, then I’ll tell him. He can send a scout if he wishes.
Greer hung back before they stepped entirely out of the privacy the willow tree offered. She grasped Thor’s arm, and he turned toward to her. “Are ye sure it’s safe to return? Can they ride to us faster than we can run to the gate?”
“Nay. They canna cover that much ground, and even if they did, there’s two-and-ten of them to our score.”
“But what if there are more we canna see?”
Thor whistled, and the men hurried to gather near them. “Surround Lady Greer until we’re inside the bailey.”
The men drew their swords, sensing what Thor didn’t have to say. They encircled the couple and escorted them back to the keep. The path was nearly half a mile, which made it about a five-minute walk for them. Thor held her hand the entire way as he walked on the side closer to the possible threat. When they reached the bailey, he sheathed his sword.
“I’m going to see Blaine and let him ken aboot those men. Do ye wish to rest more?”
“Nay. I’ll find Rose and see if she needs me to do aught for tonight’s feast.”
“It’s our wedding. Ye dinna have to do aught.”
“I ken, but it’ll keep me occupied for now.”
“Vera well. I’ll look for ye, and we can decide what ye wish to do next.” Thor and Greer exchanged a brief kiss before he watched her take the steps up to the keep’s main doors.
“Thor!”
He turned toward the voice calling him, glad to see Blaine making his way toward him. “Did ye see them?”
“Aye. One of ma men alerted me. We couldnae tell who they are, even from the battlements.”
“Greer spotted them too. It unnerved her. Do ye think it’s more likely the Gunns or the bluidy Sassenachs?”
“I truly dinna ken. Naught reflected off them like they’re wearing chain mail, but the men didna come into the bailey yesterday in more than hose and doublets. Mayhap they willna wear their armor if they arenae attacking. It would certainly make it harder to tell if it’s them approaching. They ken that’ll keep them alive a few more minutes.”
“I’m trying to make this a nice day for ma bride, but I’m concerned aboot staying here much longer. I need to get her to Dunbeath. I dinna want a threat near Rose, and ma clan is larger than yers. We’re better equipped to ward off an English attack, and I dinna want us to create more problems between ye and the Gunns. We’re barely in a truce with them. This is likely to end it. I dinna want to bring the battle to yer gates.”
“I appreciate that. But I dinna think it’s safe enough to travel with Greer right now. Even with yer full score and with some of ma men accompanying ye. We dinna ken what lurks beyond what we can see. Ma patrols ken to keep an eye open for more Englishmen.”
“We could have some of the Sinclair men riding our border come here and help escort Greer and me home.”
“That might be wisest.”
“If there are any signs we need to leave, I’ll send word to Grandda that Greer and I wish to return, but we need more to our retinue. I hate telling him I wed through a missive, but I may have to. If we can wait three days, then we’ll have men from Dunbeath to travel with. If we canna wait that long—if aught happens—then we’ll rely on ma men here and yers, then pick up more Sinclairs when we reach the border. Blessedly, that’s closer to Ackergill than Dunbeath.”
“If it comes to it, where will ye flee?”
“Either the mountains or toward Varrich.”
