Sigimor shooed the boys away and turned his attention to Jolene. He wondered at the fleeting look of sadness he caught on her face before she smiled at him. The mention of Harold usually brought a look of fear.
"So your cousins have not managed to drive Harold away?” she asked as he joined her by the fire and sat down in the heavy oak chair facing her. “I assume that was their intention."
"Some of it,” replied Sigimor, smiling when the boys suddenly hooted with excitement and ran out of the room. “Off to conquer new lands, I suspect."
"Reynard is enjoying the company of other children. I suddenly realized that he was kept very much alone, yet ‘tis clear he likes to be with other boys, to play with them, and get loud and dirty."
"There werenae any other children at Drumwich?"
"There were, but none were equal in birth. Peter had three other children, but he did naught for them save make sure they did not starve and always had a roof o'er their heads. My father did the same with his bastards. I was just chiding myself for simply accepting that arrangement."
"I doubt ye could have changed their minds."
"Probably not. Your uncle is a very odd fellow,” she began.
"Ye will hear no argument about that."
She briefly smiled, then continued, “Odd and clearly without restraint. Yet, one cannot fault him on how he cares for his children,allof his children. Most lords ignore those children bred outside of the marriage bed, or, as Peter and my father did, toss a few coins their way and think themselves most generous. Yet your uncle gathers them all in, raising them right along with his legitimate sons, and offering them a chance at a better life. He does it with those people who have been cast aside, too."
"Aye, my uncle collects the lost and the outcast. Always has. He also makes more enemies than friends which is why Ewan is the laird now. Poor Ewan thought his father somewhat mad until Fiona pointed out that he wasnae, that he was simply a spoiled child in a mon's body.” He grinned when she laughed, but then quickly grew serious again, reaching out to clasp her hand in his. “We will slip away tonight, lass."
"Ah, I had wondered if that was why you had sought me out and spoke of Harold. After all, he has been about for the whole time we have been here."
"Aye, I was hoping a clear opportunity would present itself, but it didnae. E'en so, we must leave ere Harold brings our fight to these halls."
Jolene nodded, knowing he was right, yet reluctant to leave Scarglas. She had been a little overwhelmed at first, but that had faded quickly. For two days she had felt safe, been comfortable, and had found a good friend in Fiona. All that despite Harold's presence. She hated to give that up, to return to the wearying chore of eluding Harold until they reached Dubheidland where she would have to confront another large group of strangers.
She grimaced faintly as she thought of Reynard. He would not be pleased to leave his new friends and the fun he had playing with them. It did not help that he was really too young to fully comprehend the necessity of leaving.
"Ye will like Dubheidland, lass,” Sigimor said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Oh, I am sure I will. I was just thinking that Reynard will not be pleased with this news."
"Ah, there is that. Do ye want me to speak with him, lass?"
"That would be cowardly of me,” she said, resisting the urge to immediately agree and send him off to see to it.
"Nay. Why should ye want to give him bad news, and that is how he will see it, especially when it will be verra hard to make him understand. Tis my plan, so I will tell him. And, I will make sure Ciaran and a few of the other lads are about when I do."
"How will that help?"
"With the other lads there he will be wanting to take the news like a mon."
"Like a man? He is barely three years old!"
"Doesnae matter. He willnae want the lads to think him naught but a wee bairn. And, the older lads will ken that this is how it must be, far better than he will. Reynard is a verra clever lad, better spoken and able to understand a lot more than one would expect of a child his age. Howbeit, sometimes children can get another child to understand things better than any adult can. So the other lads will tell him the truth as they see it after I leave them."
"In a language he can understand,” Jolene said and nodded. “Then coward I shall choose to be. You may tell him."
Sigimor sprawled back in his seat and grinned at her. “Ye still look a wee bit guilty. Dinnae thrash yourself o'er it. Ye have had to give the lad a lot of bad news of late and get him to do a lot of things he didnae want to or understand. More than your share. No harm in taking a wee rest from it."
"I suppose not, though it did not trouble me so much before. I think, ‘tis just that it has been a peaceful two days and he is so happy right now."
"Aye, most like. Now, why did ye look so sad when Fiona took her bairn and I came to sit with ye?"
Caught up in her thoughts of all poor Reynard was being forced to bear because of Harold, Jolene spoke the full truth without thinking. “Ahearn felt so nice in my arms. I am three and twenty, childless when most women my age have already borne a few children.” She blushed as she began to realize what she was confessing. “It was nothing important."
Sigimor stood up, leaned over and lightly kissed her. “Tis important if ‘tis making ye feel sad. Ye were just feeling a natural, womanly craving for your own bairn.” He winked at her as he started out of the room. “Dinnae worry. Ye will be holding your own bairn soon. Aye, I will give ye as many as ye want."
