“I’m sorry ye hae tae hear that,” he said. Elvira gulped and shook her head. “It’s naething more than I’m used tae. It’s just… I suppose I hae gotten used tae moving freely about the village. Dae ye understand now why I hae tae leave?”
“I dae, although I’m struggling tae see why ye stayed here for such a long time in the first place.”
“It’s my home. At least it was. This is where Ma and Da fell in love, where I made friends, where I helped people. Nae everyone is like them. McKovac poisons minds and picks them tae spread his hatred around the Highlands. The sooner we break the stranglehold he hae on this place, the better,” Elvira said. They all geed their horses and continued moving forward.
Thankfully, they did not encounter another patrol before they reached the tavern, where they stabled their horses. Michael and Rab stayed with the cart, while Rory and Tarbuck entered the tavern with Elvira, who hunched her shoulders and tried to be as unassuming as possible. Night was a cloak that had been draped over the land, and thankfully there were no guards in the tavern. Rory nodded to Tarbuck, telling him to go stand in a corner. This way, if there was trouble, at least Tarbuck could attack from a different angle and perhaps surprise any assailant.
Elvira walked through the tavern, growing in confidence as she did so. She noticed a few people looking towards her, although they did not dare say a thing. She moved to her regulartable in the corner, the one she had occupied many times before, offering her wisdom and insight. Rory joined her. It didn’t take long for someone to come over.
“I’m sorry, I could nae help but notice ye…are ye Romani? Dae ye offer palm readings? It’s just we hae someone who used tae-”
Elvira lifted her gaze and drew back her hood. The person who had approached her was a man called Liam. When he saw Elvira, the color drained from his face, as though he had just seen a ghost.
“It’s me, Liam. I hae returned.”
“Oh, lass… when we heard about yer farm we all thought… oh, is ye gran well? And the wee ones?”
Elvira smiled and nodded. It felt good to be in a familiar place again, with familiar people. “Aye, they’re fine, at least for now. Can ye fetch the others? Ones ye know we can trust? I hae some news,” Elvira said. Liam moved around the tavern, speaking to certain people. While he did this, Elvira and Rory returned outside to stand with Rab and Michael. In a short time, Liam led a group of people out of the tavern and found her. Elvira and Rory quickly described everything that was happening in the village, and how McKovac needed to be stopped.
“Aye, things are only getting worse. As every day passes he loses more and more of himself. I dread tae think where it’s gaeing tae lead before the end,” Liam said.
“We need help,” Rory replied. “Unfortunately, our leader is reluctant tae take up arms against yer Laird. We hae villagers willing tae fight, but they are untrained. If we band taegether, however, we might be able to attack McKovac from two directions. He cannae defend in every direction at once.”
“And ye should get a message tae Hamish as well. We need tae speak tae him. If he truly disapproves of his Da’s actions,then he needs tae start showing it. We want tae meet with him and create a plan that will end all of this hostility once and for all. It is time for us tae be free from McKovac’s cruelty, tae be free from living in fear.”
Liam and the others nodded. They agreed to harbor the small group and protect their secret, while sending a message to Samuel. Elvira was relieved to hear this. Samuel had saved her once before, and he was sympathetic to the Romani people. It finally seemed as though the tide was turning for the better. Perhaps it was only a matter of time before the Highlands were safer for her people.
16
Tarbuck and Rab decided to stay with the cart, fearing that the goods and the horses might be stolen. They also wanted to be on hand at the tavern in case any guards came by. While there were no rooms free, Tarbuck and Rab were offered the stable. They had slept rough before, so had no qualms about taking up such an offer. The other villagers were hospitable, offering their rooms. There was one buxom lady called Elaine who had taken a shine to Michael. Her eyes gleamed and she practically dragged him away. He was open-mouthed like a fish, but was so stunned he couldn’t utter a single word of protest.
“I think he’s in for a memorable night,” Tarbuck chuckled as the large, voluptuous woman hauled Michael away. The poor man looked intimidated, but that feeling may not have lasted for the entire night. Liam offered her and Rory a room in his house, which they gladly accepted. He only had a small house, and he apologized that he could only offer a single room. Elvira told him that any help was appreciated, and they would make do. Rory immediately undid his cloak and arranged it on the hard floor, using it as a makeshift blanket. While Elvira appreciated thechivalry of the moment, it felt wrong that he should suffer such hardship.
“Rory, at least come on the bed until we are ready tae sleep. Ye deserve more than the floor.”
“Believe me, I hae slept in worse places than this,” he chuckled.
“But those days are over,” she patted the bed and shifted over. The bed creaked as his weight settled upon it. It felt as though she was in the water and the tide rolled underneath her. It was almost powerful enough to roll her body towards him.
“Aye, I suppose they are. Ye know, sometimes I still cannae believe that I hae a forge all to my own. When I think back tae the abandoned cabin that Anne and I used tae live in, oh, the wind blew through at night and the rain always found a way in. I never thought there would be any escape.”
“I’m glad that things are better now.”
“Oh aye, all thanks tae Anne. She never stopped trying tae get us a better life.”
“She sounds wonderful. I’d like tae meet her. Where is she now?”
“She lives on a farm with her husband, Finlay. It was actually a funny story. They were both trying tae trick each other. She thought he was the son of a wealthy Laird, and he believed she was the niece of an important merchant. In the end, they dinnae hae much more than each other, but that was enough.”
“It often is. My parents dinnae hae much more than that. They always taught us tae rejoice in family because these are the things that last forever, longer than gold or jewels or anything else.”
“What happened tae them?”
Elvira sighed and dipped her head. She tapped her fingers on the blanket. “Ma died nae long after childbirth. The strain was tae much for her. And Da… well, he fell foul of McKovac’s hatred.Ye know, we only ever tried tae help people. Da was a farmer, tilling the land. Ma helped people by reading their palms. They never asked for trouble. It found them, though. Da found people attacking some Romani woman, sae he went tae defend her, and he got a sword through his stomach. It feels like we are only one moment away from death,” she shook her head.
“I’m sorry. It’s nae right. But yer parents sound like good people. I take it ye inherited these gifts from ye Ma? Palm reading, I mean.”
Elvira nodded and smiled. “I inherited more than that. People say that I am the spitting image of her. But aye, when I was old enough, I could sense that people needed solace and comfort. I try to help people where I can. Everyone needs a wee bit of advice now and then, and sometimes just speaking tae someone can help.”
