"It does vex me,"Kenneth muttered, but there was no real heat in his words. Despite himself', he found her blather oddly endearing. It reminded him of the bubbling burns that crisscrossed his lands – constant, energetic, and somehow soothing' in its own way.
They continued on,Sophie's endless stream of words punctuated by Kenneth's occasional grunts and half-hearted attempts at silence.
"Tell me about yer clan,Laird MacAdams," Sophie chirped, her curiosity seemingly insatiable. "Are yer traditions very different from ours?"
Kenneth sighed."Aye, I suppose they are. We're kenned for our strength in battle and our loyalty to kin."
"Och, that sounds fascinatin'!Do ye have any special ceremonies? We have a bonnie harvest festival where?—"
"We've our own ways,"Kenneth interrupted gruffly.
Undeterred,Sophie pressed on. "And what of yer family? Do ye have any siblings?"
Kenneth's jaw tightened."Just the one. Me sister, Arabella."
"Only one?How bonnie! I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. Is she older or younger? What's she like? Does she?—"
"Younger,"Kenneth cut in. "And entirely too nosy for her own good. Much like someone else I could name."
Sophie laughed,the sound bright in the night air. "I'll take that as a compliment, me laird. Now, what about marriage customs? In our clan, we have this tradition where the bride must?—"
"I thinkthat's enough questions for now, lass," Kenneth said, his tone brooking no argument.
But Sophie was not so easily silenced."Oh, but there's so much more I want to ken! Like, how do ye choose yer warriors? And what about?—"
"Silence, lass!"Kenneth snarled, his patience finally snapping. His voice was low and dangerous, carrying the weight of a man accustomed to instant obedience. "Yer endless prattlin' is drivin' me mad. Hold yer tongue or I'll find a way to still it for ye."
The momentthe words left his mouth, Kenneth felt a wave of shame wash over him. He saw Sophie flinch, her body tensing against him, and he cursed himself inwardly. He was no better than her brother, threatening a lass who'd already suffered so much.
The silencethat followed was heavy and oppressive, no longer the peaceful quiet he'd craved. Kenneth swallowed hard, tasting bitterness and regret. He opened his mouth to apologize, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he tightened his arm around Sophie, hoping the gesture might convey what he couldn't bring himself to say.
The silenceonly lasted for a few moments; it was clear that Kenneth's influence only had so much hold over the spritely woman. "Silence?" Sophie echoed, as if the word were foreign to her. "But there's so much to talk about! For instance, I've always wondered about Highland music. Do ye play any instruments? I once tried to learn the harp, but?—"
Kenneth groaned inwardly,realizing this was a battle he was unlikely to win. Despite his irritation, he found himself impressed by her quick mind and genuine curiosity. Her questions, while numerous, were thoughtful and showed a keen interest in his people and their ways.
"Very well,"he conceded. "I'll answer three more questions. Choose them wisely."
Sophie's facelit up with delight. "Oh, thank ye! Now, let me think..."
'Her eyes werebright with curiosity as she turned to Kenneth. "I've always wondered, how do ye track a criminal through the wilderness? Is it true ye can tell where they've been just by lookin' at broken twigs and disturbed leaves?"
Kenneth felta flicker of surprise at her genuine interest. Despite his resolve to remain distant, he found himself drawn into the conversation. "Aye, it's true. But it's more than just twigs and leaves. Ye have to read the whole story the land tells ye."
Sophie leaned forward,eager for more. "What do ye mean by that?"
"Well,"Kenneth began, his voice taking on a teacher's cadence, "ye look for things out of place. A snapped branch at shoulder height, grass bent in an unnatural direction, even the absence of morning dew where someone's passed. It's about seeing the forest as a whole, not just individual signs."
"That's fascinatin',"Sophie breathed. "Have ye ever tracked someone for days?"
Kenneth nodded,surprised to find himself enjoying her enthusiasm. "Once, aye. A cattle thief who thought he could outsmart us by crossin' a river. But he dinnae count on the mud he tracked onto the rocks on the other side."
"How clever!"Sophie exclaimed. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she asked, "Do ye think ye could track me if I tried to hide in the forest?"
For a moment,Kenneth allowed himself to imagine it – Sophie darting through the trees, him in hot pursuit, the thrill of the chase. He quickly shook off the thought, but not before a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Aye, lass,"he said softly. "I daenae think there's anywhere ye could hide that I wouldnae find ye."
By the timethey reached the waiting carriage, the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. Kenneth's head was pounding from the constant chatter, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. There was something refreshing about Sophie's unguarded enthusiasm, so different from the calculating politics he usually dealt with.
