Page 15 of My Scarred Laird
When dawn started to peek through the window, she slipped from his room after writing him a small letter.
She hoped that he would be all right.
That he would know that he at least had one person not afraid of him. When she saw him ride this morning on his massive stallion, it made her smile.
He was so capable, and she wished that others would see him as she did.
She could only hope he would accept her in exchange for her sister.
* * *
That night,Callum rode back to the bailey and she watched him as he walked into the great hall.
Everyone hushed their speaking, and she could see Callum fight to not roll his eyes.
She bit her lip and Callum walked toward the high table, sitting in the seat meant for him as Laird.
He gestured to some of the servants to get him a setting and they scrambled to do so as if it wasn’t what happened all the time.
She stayed in the back, watching as everyone stared at Callum.
He stood, “Ye may eat. I willna hurt ye.”
Everyone turned back to their food and Islay bit her lip, as Callum ate alone.
No one dared to come up to him, and she could tell he struggled a little with some of the silverware.
He was stubborn and wouldn’t switch hands, just ate with the hand that didn’t look like it fully closed.
She watched him eat with careful precision and wished she could eat at his side.
He looked so lonely up on the high table, and she hated it.
When he finished his food, he stood and walked out of the room, and the conversation started up again.
She didn’t understand why they didn’t speak like this when Callum was around.
She wanted to understand. So she went to the housekeeper, Roberta.
Roberta was in the kitchen cleaning when Islay walked inside.
Roberta gave her a tight smile, and Islay hated the fact that she wasn’t accepted yet, though Roberta had her helping with the noble women that lived on the second floor of the keep. She wished she could find a way to get the people to accept her here.
“Can I help ye, lass?” Roberta asked, and Islay nodded, “Can ye tell me why everyone is so scared of the Laird? Why they don’t seem ta accept him?”
Roberta stopped cleaning and put her hands on her hips, “I donna ken how tha’ is any of yer business lass.”
Islay sighed, “I ken ye donna trust me, but I came here for a reason. All I want ta do is ken why everyone seems ta fall silent around the Laird. I thought he was well respected and loved.”
Roberta dropped her hands, “He is. Mostly, well, no’ mostly. People have heard his screams in the night for years though and they feel like he is some sort o’ demon. Like he is possessed.”
Islay felt her eyebrows rise, “He is nae a demon. He has headaches that overtake his body and cause him ta cry out in pain. Does no one go inta his rooms and check on him?”
Roberta shook her head slowly, “Only Ewan and I enter the Laird’s solar. Everyone else stays clear.”
Islay gave another sigh, “That isna fair ta him. He is in pain. And needs someone ta help him. He isna possessed. He is just hurting.”
Roberta gave a soft sigh of sadness, “Because of his scars most people believe him ta be possessed because most would die from wounds like the ones he received. But he didna die. He in fact has done more than anyone could even imagine.” She shook her head, “He has been through more heartache than most people will. Even through all of tha’ he is a good Laird. Fair and just. He has helped our clan be prosperous. With his brother at his side the entire way. But most of the villagers and the noble women tha’ live here are all wary of him. They question often as ta why are we so prosperous. They seem ta believe he made a deal with the devil ta live and ta help our clan. It’s the newest rumor.”
