Page 78 of My Scarred Laird
If he trusted any horse with his wife, it was this massive beast.
Islay had named it Murdock, and the other one Blair.
Blair had become Egan’s horse, and Egan had fallen in love with the creature.
His horse had fallen in the last battle they had, and he hadn’t tried to find a new one, but when Islay had come out of the trees with her new horses, Egan couldn’t pass it up.
He liked that Islay had named the horse for him and Blair often followed Egan around when Egan was outside.
He came to the training and never flinched around the fighting.
Egan was grateful for his new horse and Callum was also happy for him.
They saw the keep in the distance and made their way.
They heard someone yell to open the gates and they rode into the small bailey, surprised to see more people than they assumed.
Callum got off his horse and heard someone gasp, “It’s the Scarred Laird!”
Callum fought to keep from rolling his eyes, and Islay got off her horse moving toward him, holding his hand.
Someone shushed the whisperer, and he moved forward, “How can we help ye strangers?”
Callum looked at them, “I’m your new Laird. Per the king’s request.”
The man’s eyebrows flew up his head, “Ye are? We are no longer under McGavin’s banner?”
Callum shook his head, “Nay. I had him killed. Almost a month ago. Ye havena heard any of this?”
They all shook their heads, “Nay. We doona get much news out here.”
Callum nodded, “Aye. It doesna seem to be so.”
The man held his hand out to Callum, which Callum took, shaking hands.
“I am Duncan. I am the steward here. I do my best here. After McGavin killed our laird and his family, along with a lot of the men in our small army we have had a lot of hardship. Our resources have been severely limited.”
Callum saw that most of the people were dirty, and they looked skinny.
“He took your food?”
Everyone nodded, “We had ta pay a tax ta him of more than half of our harvest. We have had ta go without for a long time. Most of the adults tha’ are left have taken ta makin’ certain the little ones are at least well-fed.”
“How many live here?”
“A lot of the village homes were destroyed when McGavin swarmed the keep, and we have had ta make do. We all live in the keep. There is no privacy, and we havena had the easiest winter. Sickness ran rampant through the close quarters, and we havena had enough men ta rebuild the homes.”
He heard Egan swear softly, and Islay sucked in a breath, and Callum said, “More died didna they?”
Duncan nodded, “We had no healer ta help. She died when she tried ta help the troops.”
Callum shook his head, “Why did ye no’ ask for help?”
Duncan shrugged, “Who would have helped us? We were supposed ta have a good laird, and we did before McGavin killed him. He took care of us. Gave us a good life. But once our new Laird took over, we couldna’ do anything bu’ listen ta wha’ he told us ta do.”
“Well, tha’ time is over. I’m your new Laird now.”
Duncan nodded, and someone said, “But wha’ abou’ the rumors we have heard? Arena ye the Crippled Laird?”
