Alva waved at her with her son by her side. The rest of the kitchen staff was outside also, but so far, she had not seen Elen and she wondered where she could be.
Siena spotted Agatha who was laughing with Duncan. Siena had never seen her look so young. “Have you notice that Duncan and Agatha seemed to get along very well?”
“Aye, I think that Duncan likes Agatha very much.” Roderick laughed. “Could have another wedding coming up, lass.”
“I hope so. Agatha deserves to be happy.”
The air was filled with the aroma of roast boar. A pit with two spits were set up in the middle of the crowd. All the women had fixed side dishes and they were lined up along the tables.
When it was time and the cooks had declared the pig was done a cheer went up and everyone filed by the boars with their trenchers to get a big portion of pig.
Roderick insisted that he and Siena would go last to honor his clan.
He was a good one, Siena thought.
Just as they were getting ready to get their food, Elen marched across the compound dressed in all her glorious green color. Roderick was speaking with Duncan and not paying them any attention.
“You are defiantly The Green Woman tonight.” Siena laughed.
“Have to hold up my reputation, lass. I should have known that ye could take care of yerself. How do ye like ourBeltane?”
“I think it is a very nice celebration. Still cannot believe the cows change from white to brown, however.”
“Ye of all people should believe.” Elen laughed. “I’ve been busy putting out all the fires in the keep. Tonight, after ye have eaten, you and the laird will go to the bonfire and pick up a stick to light the fire in your room. ’Tis considered lucky.”
“Aye, we will,” Siena said.
Then Elen leaned in to whisper, “Beltaneis the union of Earth and Sky. Tonight, ye will be sensual and passionate with the joy of conception.”
Siena jerked back and she felt her face burn as Elen laughed and went on her merry way. Lovemaking wasn’t something Siena cared to talk about to anyone but Roderick. Now she wondered if tonight she would conceive.
She guessed time would tell.
Chapter 15
Balan Castle
Northumbria, England
Balan Castle stands on a somewhat elliptical mound overlooking the River Wansbeck. Flags flew from the towers. By all appearances, everything looked peaceful, but turmoil was brewing inside the castle’s gray walls.
Baron Cinge Bertram sat behind his desk drumming his fingers upon the desk. His outlook was dire. He admitted to himself that he’d been a spendthrift and squandered much of his wealth, but he had always had Berwick and his son’s men to back him up . . . until that damn Scot took Berwick and killed his son.
Now that his son had been gone for over a year. He didn’t have enough men to retake Berwick and guard his own castle. He’d love to attack Black Dawn as his son once had and hopefully murder Laird Scott.
But Cinge knew he couldn’t do that. His only pleasure was knowing that the laird suffered every day for the loss of his son.
A knock on the door interrupted his brooding thoughts. “Enter.”
“Sire, Lord Malcolm is here to see you.”
“Show him in,” Cinge barked. He straightened his jacket, so he’d look presentable instead of desperate. He ran his hands through his brown hair, slicking it back away from his face.
In no time, Lord Malcolm strolled into the library and Cinge motioned for the man to take a seat. Malcolm reminded Cinge of a fat rat with his beady eyes. “Would you care for something to drink?”
“I’ll have what you are drinking.”
Cinge poured another glass of red port into a goblet and refilled his own, then sat the bottle on his desk. When he handed Malcolm his glass, Cinge asked, “What can I do for you?”
