Hesitantly, she opened the cottage door and walked to the gate. She found herself standing at the top of the hill and below her many men gathered and trained. The Gunn soldiers appeared formidable when they went at each other. Her father’s men likewise trained with such heart and fearlessness.
Emlyn sat on a grassy spot and pulled her knees up, clasping them with her hands. She watched the sessions with interest, and noticed Duff far-a-field and could hear his shouts from where she sat. His face reddened, and he cuffed the back of one of the young soldier’s heads when he missed a strike from a sword. She found herself grinning because his surly nature would’ve made her nervous too, had she trained under him.
A rest was called and many of the men ran up the hill, sprinting to get away from their daunting leader. None spoke to her as they passed, but she smiled and laughed to herself at their woeful expressions.
“Milady, I see ye found the fields. It was only a matter of time before ye did.” Duff approached and sat next to her. “Been keeping our James busy these days? I haven’t seen him.”
“Good day, Duff. Nay, I haven’t been with James. I was watching the practice. You do well with the soldiers, but they seem to frustrate you.”
He bellowed a grunt. “Aye, they do. No matter how hard I am on them, they just don’t seem to be able to master the simplest task. What do you mean you haven’t been with James? We haven’t seen him since he arrived.”
Emlyn shielded her eyes with her hand and looked back at the field where a handful of soldiers remained. “Nay? I haven’t either.” She didn’t wish to discuss James and hoped Duff wouldn’t bring him up again. “Some of your soldiers are dedicated.”
“They’re seasoned soldiers and have no need of rest.”
“Ah,” she said, understanding. “Mayhap if you try a little patience with the lads, they wouldn’t be so nervous around you.”
Duff scowled. “Do you deem, milady, that they wouldn’t be nervous when they come upon a foe and must use their swords effectively?”
“They must learn the skills before they would ever meet with a foe. Aye, learn to walk before they can run. I would stick to basics and not be so grating on them. Let them work at mastering the movements without you breathing down their necks.”
Duff appeared to want to ring her neck with his burly hands. Emlyn kept her expression serene and showed no fear of him even though she wanted to flee for her life.
He opened his mouth but spoke not a word.
“I meant no offense, Duff, and I am certain you are the best at what you do. It is just an observation. Pay me no heed.”
Grey approached and called Duff. Without a word to her, he rose and walked hastily away. She knew she’d angered him, but that was no remarkable feat because the man usually seemed irate about something.
Emlyn wished she could get her sword and use it to train with the soldiers. How she missed the exercise. Were that she could work out her frustration, she probably would feel better about the situation.
“Emlyn, I will see you in the hall.”
She looked up when Grey shouted to her. With a nod, she rose and followed him. Her steps slowed, and she kept a pace behind him, for she wasn’t wont to walk with him. His mood seemed unappeased this morn, and she was afraid that she might be the cause.
When she entered the great hall, she found Grey had already taken a seat, and the room was vacated by his clan. Awkwardly, she approached and stood next to the table.
“Be seated.” His voice lowered and pitched.
Emlyn took the chair closest to her, three from him. “Laird Grey?”
“Duff tells me you haven’t seen James since you arrived. Is that so?”
She folded her hands on her lap and her shoulders slunk. “That is so. He said farewell and left me the night he took me to the cottage.”
“Where did he go?”
“I know not.” Emlyn lowered her gaze. “I am afraid I hurt him and he’s not pleased with me. I would ask that you tell me what happened with Marshall and my father. James told me that he found out about my trickery. I despair that my family is in danger.”
Grey leaned forward. “You don’t realize, do you, lass?”
“Realize what, Laird Grey?” Emlyn was about to rise, for she understood he was angry with her and she was certain he wasn’t about to tell her any word from her father or that of Marshall.
“How much you mean to James.”
She shook her head and kept her eyes lowered. Surely he beheld anger toward her, if his voice gave any indication. “I do not wish to discuss James, Laird Grey. He is released of his duty and I won’t hold it against him for wanting to get back to his life. I’ve detained him long enough from his duties.”
“Aye, it matters not, for I should tell you … Laird Ross told me our king is displeased by your treachery and Marshall means to wage full out war with your father. We will deal with our king’s displeasure, och I don’t know how your father is going to appease Marshall.”
“I must leave at once. Will you supply a few men to escort me?”
Grey rose. “What can you do? You should not worry about such matters and leave these political dealings to your father and Marshall. Your father bade you to do whatever it took to leave off Marshall and now you want to go back? It is foolhardy.”
“I do mean to return home. I should’ve realized how much jeopardy I put my family in. I will not allow them to be killed because Marshall wants me. If he wants me then he shall have me. One life for thousands …”
Grey cursed under his breath and banged the table with his fist. “So you will sacrifice yourself and be a martyr for those in your clan even though they cared not a whit for you when they sent you to him in the first place? You are the most confounded woman a man could … What of James? You’ll leave and have no care of his feelings for you?”
His harsh words made Emlyn want to weep, but she maintained her composure somehow. “I do have a care of his feelings, Laird Grey. That is why I choose to leave. I never promised him anything … and he never bespoke of promises to me. I am not wont to cause him any further pain.”
Grey rounded his chair and kept moving down the side of the long table. He looked back at her and seemed to get lost in his thoughts. When he looked back again, his face appeared angry with a scowl.
“I don’t understand what you want from me,” she said, becoming perplexed by him.
“You are either the most imprudent woman alive or James is the most unlucky. Very well, lass, I’ll arrange for your departure immediately.”
*****
Grey simmered with anger. For that lass could try the patience of a saint, and yet he knew from experience James was no saint. Still, he did not deserve her reckless spirit. After he returned Emlyn to the cottage and bid her to stay there, he sent off a missive to Donal. On the morrow he’d remove the lass from his land.
His steps hastened, and he entered the garrison. That was the only place he could think of to find James. Near the back of the barracks, where James and Sean had made somewhat of a home for themselves when they’d been his guard, he found him sitting on his cot.
He stood in shock at what he was seeing. “James … are ye going mad?” Grey took in the sight and his heart rent and went out to his friend. Not only that, but his chest tightened at seeing James so distraught. “You look like cosh.”
He chuckled. “Aye? Well, Laird, I feel like shit. And, nay, I’m not going mad. I am as sane as I’ve ever been. What brings you by?”
Grey pulled a wooden chair that sat nearby and set it next to his cot. James sat around hundreds, if not thousands, of arrows, all carved to perfection. He frowned at the sight, for it seemed his guardsman had been busy.