Page 14 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Mabel welcomed her into the kitchen, passing her a basket of vegetables to cut, so she set to her work. Mabel was one of those who would talk, no matter if anyone listened. “These are for the pottage on the morrow. We have a wee bit of lamb to add some flavor. Once you have finished, you can take the chamber down the stairs and to the right.”
“In the cellar?” Meg thought that odd, but what did she know about what took place within a kirk this size? “How many chambers in this building? I’ve not seen one this large before.”
That question gave Mabel enough to talk about for the next hour as she explained every chamber and its use, along with who lived inside. Meg did her best to pay attention, but she was so tired, she cut her finger with the knife. Fortunately, she was nearly done.
Mabel rushed to her side and peered at the cut. “Och, well. You’ve done a fine job, so you may take to your chamber. There’s a well where you can gather a basin of water. I’ll get your food ready once you return.”
Meg filled the basin outside, wishing she could wash her dirty hands with her soap, but it was in her sack that she’d left in the kitchen. She rinsed them, but it didn’t stop the blood from flowing. Once back in the kitchen, Mabel directed her to a chamber, so she took the basin first with her bag. When she returned, Mabel gave her a linen square and a bowl of vegetable soup with a small piece of bread and a glass of mead. She thanked the woman and did her best to make it down the staircase without spilling anything.
Fortunately, a torch illuminated the way at the base of the staircase, so Meg turned to the right and stepped inside a chamber that held four cots. No one else was inside, and it was cool, but it would suit better than the wet ground. The rain came harder as she settled herself and did her best to wash her hands and face. The rhythmic beats hitting the door at the top of the stairs soothed her, reminding her of counting her numbers. Her mother had taught her daughters of the importance of being clean, so she used the soap liberally, finding the aroma more calming than the patter of raindrops. When she finished with her ablutions, wrapping her finger, she foraged and found blankets in a chest, something that made her sigh. Sleeping in a cave was cold, and she’d honestly had enough of it.
Once she’d cleaned up to her satisfaction and returned everything she could to her bag, she found a candle tolight from the torch, then closed the door. She’d cleaned her undergarments at the burn, but found they were still damp, so she hung them on a couple of pegs on the wall. Curling up on one of the beds, she covered herself with a blanket and fell fast asleep.
Running away was exhausting, but far better than marrying an ugly old baron.
Chapter Nine
Magni
Two men shoved the four bairns toward a small dock, a boat tied to it. Magni had no idea where they were, other than the water.
Tora grinned as she climbed onto the ship, exclaiming her delight. “I love widing in boats. I’m going to wave to my mama when we go by.”
“Shut up, lass, unless ye wish to swim to the other side. I would wager ye don’t know how to swim. Do ye?” He laughed, his beady eyes staring at her.
She stared back and said, “But you canno’ swim either.”
He jumped as if burned, then turned away, hollering over his shoulder, “Just sit down. Don’t be causing trouble, wee one.”
Magni said, “He looks like a pirate with that patch over his eye. Do you think he is one?”
Rowan observed the man carefully. “Nay. There are no pirates around here, or I’d have seen a pirate ship pass by my castle.”
The ship wasn’t as big as the usual ferry that went between Oban and Craignure, but Magni hadn’t seen many ships, anyway. What did he know?
Rowan whispered to Magni, “Does Tora know that man?”
Magni shook his head.
“How did she know he can’t swim?”
From the opposite side of the boat, Tora looked at him and pointed to her forehead. “I see it hewe.”
“She’s a seer,” Lia explained. “The heavens gave her a special talent.”
“What’s a seer?” Rowan asked.
“She can tell what’s going to happen, or sometimes she knows things that are only in your mind.”
“Tora, what am I thinking?” Rowan asked.
“That you think I’m stupid, but I’m not. I’m wiser than you.”
Rowan stomped his foot, but he jerked to face front because Pirate Man was back with someone else.
“He’s hairy,” Magni whispered. “He has hair everywhere. Even coming out of his ears and his nose.” He made a face and looked at Rowan.
“Aye, he is. I’m calling him Hairy.” Rowan nearly giggled but kept it in, staring at both men.
