Beatris had wholeheartedly agreed.
It took them longer than anticipated to arrive at Duart Castle, but the weather had been good, and it was the middle of the day, so she was pleased.
But she hadn’t expected to see how spectacular Duart Castle was, sitting majestically on a promontory, turrets, parapets, and castle walls all making it appear as though it could touch the sky. It overlooked the Sound of Mull and the sea, a true rarity.
Simone must have caught her staring as they climbed up the hill, riding mares abreast. “Quite regal, is it not, Brynja?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” She was unsettled riding her own mount because she hadn’t ridden much, only the small ponies at the nunnery. Simone held the reins of her mount when she needed assistance, and Brynja was grateful. But the castle was unlike anything she’d ever seen.
As they drew near along the coast path, the fortress changed from a dark silhouette against the sky into a formidable mass of weathered walls, its square keep rising defiantly above the Sound of Mull, surrounded by a thick curtain wall. The waters below churned gray-green against black rocks, and gulls cried in the salt-laden wind. The castle seemed to emerge from its crag, as though it had stood watch over these waters since the beginning of time, its stones bearing the marks of years of rough storms and clan warfare.
“It’s monstrous,” Brynja whispered. “How many live here?”
“It changes daily because of the Grants and Ramsays. It’s their way to travel back and forth to the Highlands. It was built by the MacDougalls, but King Robert took it from them and gifted it to the Ramsays, and they gathered with their allies to choose the chieftains. There are two lairds, Maitland Menzie and Dyna Grant.”
“A lass is a chieftain?” Brynja couldn’t have been more shocked.
“Aye, and the two in charge of the fighting forces are husband and wife, Alaric and Eli Grant, who is my niece. He trains the swordsmen, and she trains the archers.”
Brynja said nothing, wishing Hildi could hear what they discussed. Would she be as shocked as Brynja was to hear that lasses were part of their fighters? “The castle looks so tall.”
“The tower house is four stories, and the main keep is three stories tall. The Grants know how to manage chambers, putting three or four beds in each chamber, some meant just for bairns.They have two stables, one for the horses and the other building is where most of their guards sleep.”
“I cannot wait to see inside. It must be beautiful.”
Simone nodded, squeezing one of her hands. “There are two hearths just in the great hall. Tons of tables, benches, tapestries, along with various weaponry on the walls. You’ll see, but I think you’ll be more impressed when you see the courtyard and what’s inside the curtain wall.”
Brynja tipped her head, puzzled by the comment. “Why?”
“After the recent attacks, they moved the archery field inside. It’s smaller than the outside one, but Alaric wouldn’t have his wife practicing outside the walls. There’s a small area for the guards to practice, but the primary lists are outside the wall. You’ll see.”
Once they were at the gates and inside the wall, handing their mounts to the stable lads, Simone said, “Artan will carry Hildi to Brenna. I would like you to come with me. Let Brenna take a good look at Hildi before we join her. Do you agree?”
“Why can’t I go with Hildi?”
“You will, but healers like to see the sick person alone at first. I’d like to show you around the castle, so you know where you’re going. And there are some special people I’d like to introduce you to first.”
Brynja stood inside the curtain wall of the huge castle, looking up at the parapets and the windows of the stone keep. It was surely a glorious place overlooking the sea. Just inside the gates stood a tall man with dark hair peppered with strands of gray. He stood taller than anyone, and he approached them. “Simone,” he said. “Is this the lass I’ve heard so much about?”
“This is Brynja Nyberg,” Simone said. “She and her friend live at the nunnery, but they were attacked on Ulva by unknown assailants. Hagen and his cousins were there. Hildi is still notwell so we brought her to see Brenna. Brynja, this is the past chieftain of Clan Grant, Connor Grant. Also Hagen’s father.”
“Greetings to you, my lord,” she said, not knowing what else would be appropriate. She’d never seen so many men in one place except at the abbey with all the monks. But monks didn’t talk so this was definitely different.
There were men everywhere.
“Welcome to Duart Castle. If I can be of any assistance to you, Brynja, please let me know.”
“My thanks to you,” she said, kneading her tunic a little too hard. Being this close to men who weren’t monks did make her a bit uncomfortable, and she stepped back two paces. What if one of them tried to touch her inappropriately? Should she ask Simone about such a situation?
“I’ll leave you to your tour.” Connor headed back to the keep, almost as if he’d picked up on her state.
Simone said, “Come, I’ll show you the archery practice field. The butts some call it.”
Brynja approached the small archery field, Simone behind her. The closer she got, the more shocked she was. Brynja had never seen anything like it in all her days on Tiree or Iona. Nothing could have surprised her more.
It wasn’t the castle or the keep that held her attention, but the people. This was the world she’d always dreamed of, a world she thought only existed in the land of the Norse. Surely there was something special going on.
Off to the side of the keep stood two lasses, one with red hair and the other with brown hair, both dressed in tight leggings, firing arrows at three different targets. They fired so fast that it made her gasp.
