“Oh, ye wouldnae have heard yet.” Ranald quickly told him all that had happened since he had departed shortly after the wedding. “We are just returning from Dunfermline. I was sent ahead to tell everyone. ’Tis strange that these dogs set out no rear guard.”
“They had set one in the wood. He is dead,” Artair muttered, then shook his head. “Wheesht, ye leave people for but a few months and they stumble knee-deep into trouble. Aye, and my Jennet wading right into it up to her pretty neck.”
“I dinnae think ye could have been much help.”
“Ye cannae be sure, son.”
“Weel, at least she isnae huddled in the tower house.”
“There is some truth in that. And where are ye off to?” Artair asked when Ranald started to remount.
“I am going to tell Hacon what is happening here.”
“And what else?”
“What do ye mean?”
“Can ye tell him how many men? How weel armed they are? Do they hold any of the people of Dubheilrig?”
“I dinnae ken all that. How can I find such things out?”
“Not you—me. Ye wait here a wee while.”
“And what do you plan to do—march up there and ask? How can you find out all that?”
“Laddie, I could get up there, tweak their leader’s nose, and be gone ere the mon felt the pain of it.”
Ranald was just preparing to tartly respond to that boast when he realized Artair was gone. Cursing softly, he returned to peering up at the tower house. He saw no sign of Artair and wondered how long he should wait for the man. The battle did not appear to be going in Dubheilrig’s favor. Considering that many of the better skilled men-at-arms were with Hacon, he decided that was not surprising.
Just as Ranald began to fear Artair was not returning, the man’s rich voice came from behind him. “Weel, it doesnae look good, laddie.”
“We are losing,” Ranald muttered as he turned to face Artair.
“Aye, but they arenae winning yet. ’Tis that low dog—Balreaves.”
“Curse him and his mother!” Ranald slammed his fist against the stone wall. “He must have ridden here direct from Dunfermline.”
“He has a goodly number of men, weel armed and hard-eyed. They have a few siege weapons as weel. Aye, a trebuchet and a mangonel. They mean to knock down the walls. Old Lucais must have something to equal those because some of the rocks that are going inside the barmkin are being hurled back out, but I couldnae see exactly what the weapon was.”
“Can he keep that up verra long?”
“Nay, I shouldnae think so. Balreaves will be o’er that outer wall soon, and all your people will have to retreat to the keep itself.”
“I wish there was some way to let my family ken that Hacon and the men are near at hand.”
“It might ease their minds, but it cannae make them fight any harder than they already are. Best we cease talking and hie back to Hacon with the news.”
“Do ye have a mount?”
“Aye, beyond the trees o’er there.” He pointed to the line of trees west of the village. “I was a wee bit curious when I got so near to the village and no one hailed me. That didnae seem right to me.”
Ranald slapped his forehead with the palm of his left hand. “I should have noticed that. What has happened to my wits?”
“I imagine they’ve gotten a bit rattled, if ye hit yourself verra often,” teased Artair. “I will meet ye on the road to Stirling. Dinnae worry about being seen once ye get out of sight of the village. As I said, I closed the eyes of their rear guard and they havenae replaced him yet.”
“Where on the road?” Ranald asked as he mounted.
“I will find you, laddie. Dinnae fear.”
