“No pain or return of the fever?” Gybbon asked.
“Nay,” she said, and decided it was not a lie, that she felt warm simply because she had been enclosed inside a blanket-covered cart bed for two days. “Do ye ken, I ne’er went much beyond the village. Yet, the first journey of any distance I take, I do so under a blanket and see naught.”
She decided not to mention all the times she and Andrew had lifted the blanket at the sides and peeked out like children spying on their parents. It had also allowed in more fresh air, which was welcome. The fact that a few times one of the men riding alongside of the cart had waved at them told her Gybbon probably already knew about those peeks.
“I promise to take ye for a good ride once ye are healed and ye can look at all ye want.”
“Any sign of Robert?”
“The MacFingals say he is following us, but he stays far away, and now that we are actually on the land of Gormfeurach, they appear to be slowing down even more. I expect to see some of my brother’s men soon.”
“Ye mean we are getting that close?”
“Weel, ’tis still a few hours but, aye, we are close.”
“Good. Have ye seen Freya?” she asked, worried because her pet had leapt out of the cart the last time they had stopped and had not returned.
“She is sitting up on the seat between two MacFingals. Jumped up there the last time we stopped.”
“But Robert will surely recognize her.”
“By the time he gets close enough to even see her there, he is close enough for us to see and reach. They have already checked on that. She will be fine. I am nay so certain Nanty will be though, if he doesnae stop teasing them about how they talk to her.”
Mora laughed. “She must be enjoying herself, although she is rude to go out there when we cannae.”
“I am nay sure she kens a way back in.”
“Oh. Nay, I suppose she doesnae.”
“I could grab her and hand her in.”
“Nay, she is outside and surrounded by people. I willnae deprive her of that just because I feel comforted when I can pet her. She will let ye ken somehow when she wants back in here.”
“Keep the water skin then, and the journey is almost over. Ye have been a verra good lad, Andrew.”
“Thank ye. I have to be sure to stay alive for Mora,” he said.
“Aye, that ye do.”
Gybbon saw a sadness cross Mora’s face, but then she smiled at the boy and gave him a brief hug. Gybbon tugged the blanket back in place and rode up beside the MacFingals, the cat sitting up happily between them. Andrew was carrying too much worry and sorrow for a young boy, but he could think of nothing that would ease it save, perhaps, the return of the brothers lost to France and an end to Robert. Gybbon promised himself that he would do what he could to find out what had happened to their brothers. His family had connections in France and it might be time to make use of them.
“Who comes this way now?” asked Ciaran as he shifted forward on the cart seat so Freya could tuck herself behind him.
Looking at the group of men riding out of the trees far ahead of them, Gybbon laughed briefly. “Some of my brother’s men.”
“How can ye tell?”
“I am fair sure that is Nicolas at the fore.” He raised his hand in greeting and the man he thought was Nicolas waved back. “Aye, it is.”
“Can we now let the lass and the boy out of their cage?”
“Nay just yet. I am sure they are my brother’s men, but even if they are not, they show no inclination for battle.”
“Shall I just sit here then or move forward?”
“Just wait.”
Ciaran nodded and waited. Gybbon sat on his horse with his hand on his sword. He did not see Harcourt, but was not really disappointed by that. The man had a family and a keep to run. He would see him at Gormfeurach when he got there. So, he sat and watched the men ride up to them.
