“Ye, madam, will do as yer bid,” Ewan said. “And ye will remember yer place, which is not to tell the men what they should and shouldn’t do. Perhaps ye managed to get around yer grandfather, and yer husband, but ye will nae get around me. Now leave the hall. I have business to discuss with yer grandsire that does not concern ye.”
To everyone’s surprise Maggie turned about and walked from the chamber.
“Ye see, Dugald,” Ewan Hay said, “ye just need to be firm with her.”
“Ye pompous fool,” the laird said. “Ye cannot even begin to imagine the enemy ye have just made. Before she simply disliked ye. Ye’ve turned that dislike into hatred.”
“She’s just a woman,” Ewan Hay responded.
“She’s Mad Maggie Kerr, and ye’ll live to regret angering her,” Dugald Kerr told the young man. “And in future ye will address me asmy lord, and not by my Christian name. I am yer elder, and ye will respect that I, not ye, am the master of Brae Aisir. I want ye gone on the morrow.”
“Aye, yer the laird of this place.For now,” Ewan Hay said boldly.
Dugald Kerr smiled grimly. “Jesu help us all! Ye really are a fool, aren’t ye?” Then he called out. “Busby! See Master Hay and his people are suitably housed, and bring me a whiskey.” He did not offer Ewan Hay refreshment of any sort but turned his back on him, not speaking again that evening.
Upstairs, Maggie began to marshall her forces. “Keep the children from the hall unless I instruct ye otherwise,” she told their nursemaids. “Grizel, keep the maids from the hall. Tell Busby to use only the men for service. I don’t like the looks of the Hay captain, and as the captain goes, so go his men. Find Clennon Kerr and Iver Leslie and bring them to me. And let me know when my grandfather comes up from the hall.”
“At once, my lady,” Grizel replied, and she ran off to do Maggie’s bidding. When she returned, however, she brought disturbing news. “I’ve spoken with the nursemaids, and gave Busby yer orders, my lady, but Clennon Kerr, Iver, and our men have been locked in their barracks on the orders of the Hay captain.”
“How many men are in their quarters?” Maggie wondered aloud. “I know some of the lads went into the village to celebrate with their families. Find Busby, and tell him I need to see him,” Maggie said to her serving woman.
Grizel nodded grimly, and hurried off. It was almost an hour before she returned with the keep’s majordomo, Busby.
“Bar the door,” Maggie said as they entered her chamber.
Grizel did as she was bid, and then said, “I’ll see his lordship’s door is both locked and barred too.”
When all had been done, Maggie spoke. “It is apparent to me that Edmund Kerr has made an arrangement with Ewan Hay to attempt to steal Brae Aisir for himself. Of course, Master Hay will believe he can outfox my wily uncle, and keep the prize for himself. Lord Hay has obviously decided to gamble on his younger brother’s success, for how else would he gain thirty men-at-arms? How many of our men have been trapped in their quarters, Busby? Do ye know?”
“No more than fifteen, my lady. The others are in the village,” Busby said.
“Get word to them to remain hidden there, and say I charge them to keep the village safe from Hay and his men,” Maggie instructed. “Can the men trapped be freed?”
“Indeed they can, my lady. Their quarters are built against the keep wall where the wall is steepest on the hillside. There is a narrow window in that wall. A man could ease himself through that opening and climb down.”
“Tell Clennon and Iver to take the men remaining, and do so,” Maggie said. “I want them hidden and ready to fight. Not boxed up, and vulnerable to being killed. And best they go tonight while it’s snowing so the remaining storm will cover their tracks. Is there any way to hide their means of escape?”
“I’ll ask them to attempt to do so, my lady,” Busby said. “They’ve raised the drawbridge, and now man the gates themselves.”
“What happened to our lads there?” Maggie asked, concerned there be no death.
“Hay’s men threw them outside and bid them begone,” Busby said, a small smile upon his face. “It was not very wise, for they will have gone to the village and warned the others of what is happening.”
“I want no premature assaults,” Maggie said. “Hay has successfully taken the keep by means of a foul lie, but he will not hold it. However, I need time to consider what must be done and how to do it. Tell Clennon Kerr our men are to remain hidden until I call for them to come to my aid.”
“Very good, my lady,” Busby replied. “Shall I tell the laird what ye have done?”
“Where is he?” she asked.
“Still in the hall,” Busby responded, and again a hint of a smile touched his lips. “He will not relinquish it to the Hay fellow, my lady.”
“He will go to bed in his own time,” Maggie said. “When he does, send someone to me to let me know. I will speak to him then. In the meantime, keep him calm. Once it becomes apparent that the barracks are empty, perhaps we can get some of Hay’s men to take up residence there and get them out of the house at least. Feed them but not lavishly. Just enough to keep Hay from whining, and doing something foolish. As long as he is well fed he is unlikely to complain. Go quickly now, Busby, before the glow of his victory wears off and Hay considers any more mischief tonight.”
“Where shall he sleep, my lady?” Busby asked his mistress.
“Give him the best bedspace in the hall. One near one of the hearths. He cannot come above for these chambers are for the family only. We have no room,” Maggie replied. “I will keep my husband’s chamber locked until he returns home. Go now.” As Busby hurried from his mistress’s chamber, Maggie turned to Grizel. “Have you told Archie yet of this incursion?”
Grizel nodded. “Aye, and, of course, he would try to get up and fight the battle himself. I’ve been sleeping in his bed with him to be certain he needs naught in the night. I can keep him calm and quiet, my lady. But ye should go and speak with him, for he will take it more kindly if ye do.”
