Agnes crept over to the door and heard the sound of her daughter weeping. She knocked on the door tentatively and called: “Emmy! Emmy, what is wrong?”
There was no answer for a moment, then there was the sound of a sniff, and Emilia’s trembling voice answered, “Go away Mammy, I will be fine.”
But she was not fine. Adam had left, taking the hopes of the whole village with him, and he had broken her heart.
It had now been a little over a week since his departure, but rather than missing him less, she was missing him more with every day that passed. She was riding out towards the croft of the McKay family who had helped them when Trojan was injured so that she could take them some extra food. She had a lot to thank them for. Her first taste of sensual pleasure had happened there, and she would always have good memories of the family for that reason. When the little cottage came in sight Emilia felt a surge of warmth go through her. This little house would always be a special place.
Presently she reined in outside the cottage door, and the first person she saw was Mara, who screamed joyfully, ran up to her and tugged at her dress, then held up her arms so that Emilia could pick her up. Emilia kissed her and swung her into her arms then Mara hugged her, giggling.
Suddenly she looked over Emilia’s shoulder and frowned. “Where is Prince Adam?” she asked, her little face a picture of disappointment.
“He has said that I must say sorry to you,” Emilia replied. “But he has gone to see a little sick boy today.”
Mara nodded understandingly, then squirmed her way back down to the ground again.
When Ina came out and saw what Emilia had brought she almost burst into tears.
“Mistress, ye are a godsend!” she cried. She looked through the linen-wrapped package Emilia had brought of dried meat, dried fruit, and every kind of grain imaginable. “I will be able tae bake so much bread noo!” she cried. As well as all the food, there was a rare treat—a big flask of honey.
Ina clasped it to her breast. “We will hae it after oor supper,” she said joyfully. “Thank ye kindly. Come away in, mistress, and have some ale wi’ us.”
She ushered Emilia into the cottage and they sat companionably drinking ale for a while, then Ina began to prepare the midday meal.
Emilia began to help her by cutting and peeling turnips, humming a folk tune while she did so.
“There is nae need for ye tae help, mistress,” Ina said a little self-consciously. “I can manage.”
Emilia shook her head and carried on with the work. “I have done this before many times, Ina, and I am glad to do it.”
Ina gave a little shrug, then Emilia began her folk song again, and Ina joined in, and soon they were singing and laughing together in harmony, and the meal was ready in half the time it usually took to prepare.
They had just finished when the men folk came in for their midday meal, all filthy from head to foot and absolutely ravenous. They were delighted to see Emilia, particularly when Ina showed them all the food.
Hamish shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “Thank ye, mistress,” he said gratefully. “Feedin’ this lot”—he pointed to his three strapping sons—“takes a muckle great load o’ grub!”
“I ate all yours last time!” she pointed out.
“Aye, you an’ that man o’ yours!” Hamish laughed. “Never seen a bigger fella!”
The meal went on with a loud hubbub of conversation, with everyone talking and laughing across everyone else. Emilia joined in with a few words of her own, but mostly she sat back and listened.
This is wonderful,she thought happily.A poor but happy household. How I would love to have all these big brothers!
The atmosphere was warm with love, and she basked in it for a while, till suddenly, above the noise of laughter and loud voices, she heard the sound of hoofbeats—many of them—together with the snorting and neighing of horses.
She rushed to the door and opened it. Outside were a dozen horsemen, all whooping and shouting, spurring their horses into a furious gallop. They had burning torches in their hands which they had used to set fire to the thatched roof of the barn, and it was now a blazing inferno as the flames spread to the wooden walls. The barn contained the greater part of the animals’ winter fodder, and without it they would starve, and without the animals, so would the family.
“Whit are they daein?” Hamish cried, horrified. He ran outside before anyone could stop him in an instinctive reaction to protect what was his, even though it was a futile and ultimately suicidal gesture. One of the men came hurtling towards him on a massive gray warhorse and with an almost casual swipe of his sword, cut him down as Hamish ran towards the barn.
Ina screamed as she saw her husband being murdered in front of her eyes, and was about to rush over to him, but Emilia screamed at her as the whole house was now on fire.
“He is my man!” Ina cried hysterically. “I cannae leave him oot there!”
Ina had lost her mind and could not see that she had to get away from the fire. She was moving slowly as if she did not know where she was. Emilia was panicking. She had to try to save the children.
She took Mara in her arms and tried to get away from the fire that was spreading quickly. She managed to get out at the last moment, but she was the only one who made it…
She had Mara in her arms, who was crying excessively and Emilia was trying to conceive what had just happened. She had saved the little girl’s life, but Mara would never see her loved ones again.
