A heavy mist had fallen overnight, muffling the jingle of the horses’ bridles and the creak of the cart. A weak sun cast a milky light over the fields, and the mood was sombre, though a rush of joy had taken Rowenna since her antics of the night before. She only wished she could have dissuaded Jasper from sending Maeve away, but she hadn’t dared ask for anything after lying with him. She had learned her lesson. She wasn’t about to shatter the tentative trust that had grown between them on Maeve’s account.
The lass looked miserable, snuggling into her furs because the day was brutally cold and gloomy. Rowenna had been forced to ride with Joan and her daughters but got no conversation from them. Jasper took the lead with Randel, and a party of men took up the rear. They had to take care in troubled times.
After a few hours of travelling on hard roads, they reached the limit of Glendenning land and passed over into Carstairs territory. They entered some woodland, which was deathly quiet, where the mist hung in the trees. The sky darkened overhead, and rain began to fall as they drew deeper into the woods on a narrow path, barely wide enough for the cart to pass.
Suddenly, there was a shout of alarm, the crack of twigs and the jingle of a bridle up ahead. Rowenna strained to see as a cloaked figure emerged from the trees on a huge horse and thundered towards Jasper and Randel. The scrape of swords being drawn echoed about the woods.
‘Who goes there,’ shouted Jasper.
The cloaked figure drew his horse to a skidding halt, blocking their path. Then he slowly pulled back his hood, and Rowenna heard Jasper curse.
The rider was strapping, with a black beard and a shock of wild, dark hair giving him a rough beauty. He showed scant respect for Jasper as he spat on the ground.
‘Well met, Glendenning.’ His voice was a gritty snarl.
‘Is it?’ said Jasper. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Getting in your way, as usual. But I would speak to you without prying ears,’ he added, glancing at the women, his gaze lingering on Rowenna far too long.
‘I’ve no time for this. Get out of my way.’
‘Make time, or it will go badly for you,’ hissed the man. Then he drew his horse level with Jasper and said something in a low voice that Rowenna could not hear.
Judging by the fury on Jasper’s face, they were clearly not friends, and what did he mean, ‘go badly for you?’ To Rowenna’s surprise, Jasper glanced back with a thunderous look and shouted at Randel to stay put and tether the horses. Then he kicked his horse forward, and the two men rode out of sight, up an embankment and down the other side.
‘What is he doing, going off with that ruffian?’ cried Joan to no one in particular. ‘Who is that man? Why is Jasper leaving us in the middle of nowhere?’
‘Tis not for long, Lady. Best we just stay here, quiet like, and wait for Jasper,’ said Randel.
‘I’m cold, and we cannot tarry here when there’s miles more to go,’ whined Glenna.
‘I’m in no hurry to move forward,’ said Maeve, which earned her a rebuke from her mother.
‘We have discussed this, and you are to be wedded and bedded by tomorrow, and there is nothing more to say, so hold your tongue and do as you are told.’
Tears sprang to Maeve’s eyes, and Rowenna pitied her, but she had other worries.
‘Who is that man, and what is his business, Randel?’ she asked.
‘Can’t say,’ muttered Randel.
‘Can’t or won’t?’ cried Joan.
Randel merely shrugged his shoulders and turned away, and then he received the full force of Joan’s outrage. Whilst Joan hurled a torrent of abuse at Randel, Rowenna took her chance, slipping off her horse and hurrying up the side of the embankment, taking her crossbow with her, thankful that she had kept to the habit of always carrying it. Hunger constantly stalked her at Fallstairs, so she hated missing out on game, and the Marches were lawless. You did not last long if you were a woman unprepared for the worst. Taking cover behind a tree, she strained her ears to hear Jasper’s conversation.
‘Why would I trust a single word that comes out of your mouth, Strachan?’ he said.
Rowenna gasped. Strachan. Was he not a great enemy of the Glendennings? Talk around the castle had it so. Why would he be here? She braced her crossbow with her foot and pulled back the string to load an arrow as quietly as possible. The wind wafted their exchange her way.
‘You must heed this warning, Glendenning.’
‘You have no reason to show loyalty to me, so why should I trust your warning,’ said Jasper.
‘Because I came here at great risk.’
‘Where are your men?’
‘I have none with me. I had to ride quickly and quietly and not attract attention. Take my being alone as a gesture of good faith. If you continue down this road, you will die, and so might your women, either within the castle walls or on this road to Annancross.’
