Page 7 of Highlander’s Devious Ally

“So tell us,” Fenella said eagerly, “what is it that you do?”

Ailith thought for a moment. “Let me give you an example," she said, looking at them and smiling. “But first"—she held a finger up in a warning gesture—“these are closely guarded secrets and if you tell anyone, even your dog, I will be obliged to kill you." She glared at them fiercely, and they both burst into fits of laughter.

“But dogs cannot speak!” Fenella pointed out. “Who could they tell?”

“They can speak to other dogs,” Lyall remarked, sipping his ale. Ailith gave him a playful swipe on his arm and he pretended to be injured.

“Ow!" he cried, scowling. “I may need a bandage for this!”

“Pfft!” Ailith flapped a hand at him. “You need a nanny!”

Lyall was loving this; it was just the way they had bantered with their mother, and suddenly he realized that Ailith had many of the same qualities. She had wit, intelligence, beauty, and charm, but she was also infinitely desirable, and he was fascinated by her. He might even fall in love with her.

He choked on his ale as this revelation hit him. Ailith slapped his back, then looked at him innocently. “Was it something I said?" she asked, smiling mischievously.

Lyall wiped his mouth. “You are a madwoman," he told her, grinning. “Now, if we promise to keep our mouths shut, will you tell us your secret?”

“I will," she said at last. “The first tactic I use is flattery. I wear a very pretty dress, and look at the horse in a completely dense way, but as if am trying to pretend that I know what I am seeking, if you understand me. I pretend to try and lift up its feet so I can see if there is anything wrong with them, then of course my feeble woman’s strength cannot manage it, and I fall backwards on my bottom, dirtying my dress.

“About this time, an obliging gentleman will come and help me up, and by this time I am almost in tears, and I tell him what a kind and courteous fellow he is. He lifts up the hoof, but of course I have no idea what I am looking for, so he points it out to me. I can tell immediately if there is an infection, of course, but he does not know that. I then pretend to look in the mouth, because apparently my husband told me that is the right thing to do, then I run my hands down its legs with all the clumsiness of an absolute simpleton. By this time the seller is trying not to rub his hands with glee, because he can see that I am really clueless.

“At this point I apparently give up, and become a little cross, calling myself all the foolish names under the sun. I ask him about the price of the animal, which is usually much more than it is worth. I struggle with myself, then offer him half that price. He pretends to consider, then names a price halfway between the one he suggested and mine. This is the usual form of bargaining, as you know, except this man thinks he is dealing with an idiot.”

Lyall and Fenella leaned forward, enthralled.

“However, now I pretend to have an idea. I will ask my husband to come and look at the animal. He is an expert judge of horseflesh, after all, and has control of the money, so I go to find him.”

“Why did he not do the bargaining then?” Lyall asked, puzzled.

“Because he is drunk," she replied. Lyall grinned, shaking his head. “Anyway, I have to come back and tell the owner that my husband has drunk all his money away, and half price is all I have. I thank him and turn to walk away. Now, one of two things will happen. He will let me go, or he will pursue me. I may not get the horse, but as you know, that is a risk we all take when we trade, and if I lose, I have wasted nothing more than my time.

“Then again, he may offer to let me take the animal for half price. If he does, wonderful. If he wants to raise the price a little, and it is not more than the price I wanted to pay anyway, I will make up a mythical friend, or make up some other stratagem, and come back with the difference. I never carry more money than I am prepared to pay so I am never tempted to overspend." She emptied her goblet of ale. “That is one strategy, but there are others.”

Lyall looked at her with a mixture of admiration and astonishment. “By God, Ailith...you are a genius!”

She noted that it was the first time he had ever used her name. “No, not a genius, Lyall," she said, “but men can use brute strength and male solidarity. We women have to use our other gifts.”

“I will remember that,” Lyall said ruefully. “There is a lot more to you than meets the eye, Ailith.”

She smiled, and then became serious. “I want to use my skill for good," she said, her voice earnest. “I have very little time to spare, but what I have can be employed usefully.”

“Come and see us,” Fenella begged. “Come for dinner tomorrow night. We have a huge haunch of venison given to us by one of Lyall’s friends, and we have smoked salmon and scallops and—please come!”

Ailith glanced at Lyall, who was smiling at her.

“It all sounds delicious,” Ailith said warmly. “I would be happy to come and dine with you, and you can tell me some more about your enterprise.”

“We also have some very good wine which has just landed from France,” Lyall informed her. “I was waiting for a special occasion and this is the first time we have had guests since Mammy passed, so I think it is worth celebrating.”

Ailith knew about the wine, since she had imported it, but he looked so happy that she said nothing that would spoil it for him.

She stood up. “I must go," she said regretfully. “I have work to do.”

Lyall stood up too, then bowed and kissed her hand. “Until tomorrow," he said softly.

“Tomorrow," she replied.

Fenella came up and gave Ailith a mighty hug. “You are wonderful," she whispered. Ailith kissed her cheek, then, with a little wave, she walked away.