“That is my understanding also,” Katrin agreed.
Da had already walked off. Katrin sent a look after him. Ah well,he knew little more than she as to when Laird Randolph would summon them to battle.
“Pray follow me. I will show ye your quarters.”
The stone huts seemed smaller than ever with the men inside, but William and Conyer appeared satisfied with the accommodations and made no complaint.
Katrin led O’Hanlon last to the hut where Finlay had passed a night. “I hope this will do, Master O’Hanlon.”
“’Twill suit me fine.” When she turned to him, she found he looked not at the chamber, but at her. A raw measure of awareness sprang to life in the tiny place.
“If there is aught ye or your men need, ye can ask me or Angus, who is my father’s seneschal. I am sure ye saw him there in the bailey, a tall, thin man.”
“I did see him, aye.”
“I shall send a lad to let ye know when dinner is laid.”
“Do not cause yourself any trouble, Mistress Katrin. Ye need not call my lot o’ ruffians into your hall. They will be happy enough at their camp.”
Oh, and that would be a great relief to her. “Are ye certain? We ha’ already set a board for them.”
Again, the wings of his mustache twitched. “I thank ye for that, but they would all be happier if they kept to their camp.”
“I will tell my father so. But ye—” She could not help but send a glance over him, half inquiry, half wonder. “Will ye and your commanders join us for supper?”
He gazed back at her for a moment before he replied, “’Twould be my pleasure, mistress, to dine with ye.”
That was not what she’d meant, precisely. She could scarcely say so.
“Good. We ha’ a fine harper wi’ us at present. I do no’ ken whether ye enjoy a well-told tale, but…” Her voice trailed off. This man routinely beheaded other men with his battle-axe. What did he want with pretty stories?
But he said, “Am I not from Ireland? Did we not invent the art o’ the tale?”
Had they?
“Well, then, I shall send a lad to call ye in.”
“Do that. I will no’ be here, but wi’ my men. Is there a field, mistress, we can use for drilling?”
“Aye, there is. To the south o’ the keep, where we exercise the ponies.”
“Then we shall do well enough. Thank ye for your hospitality.”
“Ye are most welcome.”
But was he? Katrin asked herself that question as she walked away and back to the hall. The Gallowglass were bound to provide a disruption she did not need.
She liked an ordered life. Things in their places and expectations met. The Gallowglass looked to turn everything on its head in noise and confusion.
Such was war, she reminded herself. They lived in a time of battle and strife. She must do her part even if that was but as the mistress of the house.
Even if she’d rather be marching out herself, with a sword in her hand.
Chapter Six
The mood ofthe settlement had changed, so Finlay decided when he took his place in the hall that evening. With the arrival of the Gallowglass troop, the energy had risen along with the noise level. A squad of tents sprang up in the bailey like rather grubby toadstools and armed men strode everywhere.
He’d had a look outside when he came down from his chamber, that belonging to Mistress Katrin’s brother, and had to admit his heart quickened. Many and many were the stories he carried in his head, more than a few of them about such warriors.
