Supper was quiet and intimate that night. Folk had grown used to the presence of the Gallowglass and not many were in attendance. The fare was simple and those there left off their casual conversing to hear Finlay play.
Indeed, Finlay thought Reagan O’Hanlon dozed in his seat, head tipped onto one great fist, when the interruption occurred. A ruckus at the front door that intruded into the song Finlay sang. Raised voices and a servant putting his head in apologetically, seeking Anders MacMurtray’s eye.
“My chief, apologies, but there is a messenger. He says it is important.”
Anders sprang to his feet.
A heavily armored man strode into the hall and directly to the head table. He did not pause until he faced Anders.
“I come from Earl John Randolph,” he said then, loud enough for all to hear. “He bids ye call up your clan for war.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“But Da,” Katrinsaid, not without a measure of desperation, “ye are being unreasonable. It makes perfectly good sense for me to go.”
They were alone, Katrin and her father, in the small chamber off the great hall that served him as a den, a refuge, and a meeting place. No refuge now. He had been busy without cease since daybreak, calling up the clan and organizing for departure in a mere matter of days, seeing to more details than even Katrin could number.
She knew all too well he did not want or need her to pester him. But she had not much time. They were to muster in order to meet up with others of Earl Randolph’s forces as they moved south from the Western Highlands.
He waved a hand at her. “Lass, do no’ bother me now.”
“If no’ now, when? List to me. I ha’ been training wi’ Reagan—”
“Reagan?”
“O’Hanlon. He says I am ready.” She set herself. “To go to war.”
That made him stop and stare at her as if seeing her there for the first time. “Wha’?”
Patiently she repeated it all. “Master O’Hanlon has been training me even as—as Geordie did. He says I am better prepared than many o’ the men who shall lay aside their hoes and pick up pikes.”
“Ye be my daughter.”
“Aye, so.” She tipped up her chin. “Ye are going, are ye no’?” That little detail had filtered through to her afterthey heard out the messenger last night. Da had not marched out since, well, since Geordie had taken up the responsibility and gone in his place.
Da said, “I will go at the head o’ my men.”
“Then I will go wi’ ye. Ye should ha’ one o’ your blood at your side. Da”—her voice caught—“I love ye. That is why I will no’ let ye march off alone, to die for my sake.”
“I love ye also, lass. And that is why I will no’ give my permission for somewhat so daft. I will scarce be alone, will I? Our men and the Gallowglass go wi’ me.”
Fear, deep and terrible, stirred in Katrin’s heart. “Forgive me, Da, but I am twenty and seven years old and do no’ need your permission. I am my own woman.”
“I ken ye be. But lass, if this fight goes badly, as well it might, ye will be the only surviving member o’ this family. Aye? Ye can do yer best for me by staying back. Marry a good man. Carry on the line.”
“Da—I had to stand and watch Geordie go off, no’ to return to me. Do no’ ask me to do the same for ye.”
“’Tis a woman’s fate to stand. ’Tis the way she fights. Now leave off and let me think.”
It felt like getting dashed with a basin of cold water. Da did not mean to hurt her. To disregard her feelings. He no doubt felt overwhelmed and, aye, pressed for time, and mayhap a wee bit worried himself that he might not return. This possibility of battle had been so long promised and so slow in coming.
And to march into England—aye, it was a daunting prospect.
But for her to be swept aside as a mere woman, well, it stung.
She possessed wisdom enough, though, to leave him then. To leave it then. Hands shaking, she went back out into the hall, where there was still a score of tasks to accomplish. Mundane yet necessary things.
The female servants stood in groups talking and expressing their fears. What she must do was go to her chamber. Gather her ownthings now, while she had the chance. A pack with spare clothing. Things she had borrowed and now appropriated from Geordie, like the padded leather jerkin and light armor.
