“Aye, we will keep yer secret. Yer wife will be well pleased and reward ye handsomely.” The man winked at Cailean.
Thomas and Cailean picked up the large and heavy rolled-up rug and hoisted it to their shoulders. “Thank ye, Thomas.” They carried it into the kitchen, where Bessie directed them to place it in a storeroom.
“I ken after yer work, ye both need food to restore yer manly energies. Would ye care for a tart?” With mischievous smiles, they gladly accepted her offer.
“Please, do nae tell Elayne about the rug. I got it to surprise her. Thomas helped me barter.”
“Oh, she will be so happy and surprised. That is a wonderful gift and I ken she will love it for yer new home.”
“Aye, especially as it is shades of blue, which she says remind her of the loch, where we ate many of yer delightful picnics, Bessie.” The cook’s eyes brightened with delight.
“Ye both need another tart for all yer carrying a heavy rug to please Elayne.”
“Thank ye, Bessie. Ye make the best tarts of anyone.” After a few bites, Thomas’s mouth was smeared with the sweet berries.
“Bless yer heart, Thomas. Ye are a kind lad. Ye take another one with ye for later. I ken ye are still growing and hungry.”
Thomas took one and wrapped it in a small cloth Bessie gave him and tucked it in his trews pocket. “Thank ye. I will enjoy it later.”
Thomas and Cailean left the kitchen, and Cailean dropped a generous number of coins into the lad’s hand. “Ye can save these coins or buy yerself more food at the fair. Thank ye, for yer help.”
“What should I tell Elayne if she asks?”
“Tell her ye helped me move furniture in the great hall. We will go there now and ye can help me, so she kens ye are telling the truth.” Thomas gave Cailean a devious smile. “One must always tell the truth if one is able.” Cailean winked. The men moved a table and benches before Thomas returned to assist the blacksmith.
Elayne sent Mrs. Logan to look at the items for sale while she remained at the tables to sell their items. Mrs. Logan took a few small items from their table to barter with. Armed with a disarming smile, Mrs. Logan sauntered among the tables with great delight, taking her time making thrifty decisions.
Mrs. Logan bought ribbons and laces, fabrics, and spices to season their food. She found a few fragrant oils to use in making more soap. Elayne had used the rest of the oils in the last batches they made. With sparkling eyes and a smile, Mrs. Logan returned to their tables and excitedly shared with Elayne the items she had purchased by bartering.
“Ye made good bargains with these. We will have to explore the tables tomorrow, as more merchants may yet arrive. More clans are also still arriving, and I have seen their warriors striding through to go drink ale and eat by the food tents this afternoon. The laird and his family may arrive any time. I ken Cailean’s sisters will want to purchase yer linens and embroidered items as they did last year. I remember they said afterward they wished they had purchased more from ye.”
“Aye, I have several pieces set aside especially for them to see.”
Later, the laird and lady of the MacPherson clan arrived with their family and steward at the merchants’ tables. The steward carried his book and quill to mark the items the housekeeper wished to purchase for the castle. Merchants were quite pleased to sell to the laird and his family, for they always paid in coin. The laird and his family stopped to speak to everyone at Elayne’s table.
“Daughter,” Laird MacPherson said, “I ken ye hide the best swords until I come to see them.”
At his request, Thomas jumped in to show him the swords William and he had crafted in addition to the trophy dirks to celebrate the games. Elayne pointed to the sword on the table that she’d made, then removed another sword partly from its sheath to allow the laird to withdraw the weapon the rest of the way for his inspection.
“Lass, this is a beauty.” The laird admired it as he removed it from the leather sheath and held it up to the light, feeling its weight and balance, and inspecting the hilt, blade, and design. “I will purchase yer sword, William, for the champion of the games, and three of the trophy dirks from ye. Elayne, I will purchase yer sword for myself.”
“Nae, my laird. Ye must accept my sword as a gift from me,” Elayne said.
“After ye saved my son’s life, his men, and countless others? Hardly. Besides, ye will need this coin as ye assume yer duties to shore up defenses, purchase materials, and secure extra food stores to see the clan through winter months.” Laird MacPherson placed a large quantity of silver coins in William’s hands. “I will leave it with ye, William. Thank ye. Ye, Elayne, and Thomas make our clan proud of ye and yer work.”
Cailean’s brothers each bought trophy dirks, and Marion and Katherine lingered over the linens and soaps that Elayne and Mrs. Logan had created. Cailean’s sisters bought both items and also lanterns to surprise their husbands with later. They placed their items in large baskets and were accompanied by guards as they strolled to the other tables.
Later in the day, lairds and ladies of other clans shopped at their tables and purchased many items.
Elayne left the market tables to prepare for dinner. Her father and Mrs. Logan would join her and Cailean later. After she had dressed, Cailean came to their chamber and pulled her into his arms.
“I missed ye, Elayne. How did yer things sell?” Elayne watched the play of his muscles as he washed at the basin and changed into his liene, tartan, and kilt. Extra guards had been posted on the castle and castle grounds. The watches were shared with warriors from their allies. But Cailean took his duties seriously as a warrior, sworn to protect his family and clan.
“The sales were good. Yer father bought three trophy dirks and a sword from my father to award to one of the champions.He bought one of my swords for himself. I tried to give it to him as a gift, but he insisted on paying. Yer sisters bought linens and soaps, which pleased Mrs. Logan.
“Thomas is happy he can keep his hard-earned coins since this year he can eat in the great hall. I ken he wants honey cakes tonight at the food tents. What of yer meeting with the lairds?”
“The lairds are pleased with the business deals we struck. We are talking tomorrow about the expansion of the agreements and other clans we may wish to engage in business with. Ye should join us. It is yer rightful place.”
