If her father’s army faced Marshall’s wrath then so be it. She wouldn’t hold herself accountable any longer. And with her mother’s fury there was no way she could remain.
She spotted Griffen standing with a few of his comrades in the distance. Emlyn called to him and he turned.
“Aye? Did I not tell you, Branwyn, that I could get her to come?”
“You did and I thank you.”
Emlyn smiled. “I thank you as well, Grif. I have a favor to ask. Will you and a few of your comrades take me to Scotland?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The journey back to Gunn land was hastier than his travel to Sean’s. James was anxious to get home. Once he tended to his errands, he would take to his bed and wait. Lord it would kill him to hold up so long, but now he wouldn’t mind company visiting him. For he wanted to be around his comrades and clan again. They would help pass the time and make the wait go faster.
He passed through the gates and kept riding until he reached the keep. Inside, he found Grey leaning over parchments. When he didn’t look up, James cleared his throat, and made a sound to alert him.
“I’ve returned.”
“So I see. You didn’t stay long,” Grey said, and continued to shift the parchments and seemingly found the one he was searching for.
“Nay, I wanted to speak to you about Emlyn.”
Grey dropped the parchment he’d picked up and approached. “You do?” His brow furrowed with a look of concern and ire. “This is unexpected.”
James groaned. He knew that look and if he had to wager on it, he’d bet that his laird had done something he wouldn’t like.
“Aye, I have thought of a way to get her to return to me.”
Grey slumped into the nearest chair. “I’m sorry, James, but I doubt she’ll return no matter what you do. Not after the hurtful and disparaging things I said to Alexander about her. She was standing only a few feet away at the time.”
“What did you say?” He sat in the chair opposite of his laird, stunned by his admission. For one thing, it was unlike Grey to divulge anything to the king, and for another, he wasn’t aware his laird had been disgruntled with her.
Grey took a breath. “I didn’t know you’d want her back, so I told Alexander that she had no care for what she did to you and that we were glad to be rid of her. I spoke rather bluntly and practically called her rabble.”
James firmed his lips and rubbed his forehead. “What did she say to that?”
“She asked if it was true and I said aye. I’m sorry, James, och after the hurt she caused you, I just wanted her gone. And now you say you want her back? Why would ye torment yourself further?”
“Aye, I do want her, always will. I understand, Grey, why you said what you did, but it shan’t matter. She will return to me.”
“How do you plan to enact this miraculous feat and gain her accord?” Grey raised a brow and appeared skeptical.
James grinned. “I have a plan. I will tell you of it later. There’s something I want to ask of you. I’ll need your agreement before I can send my message.”
“What is it? I’ll do anything to aid you, you know that.”
“She’s skilled with weapons. I deem she has more patience than Duff. She’d make a good trainer for the young warriors-in-training.”
Grey’s eyes bulged slightly and James suspected his laird would balk initially at his suggestion. Now to assert his reasons.
“She’ll be a good teacher. After, that is, I speak with her and give her our convictions on how you like the young lads trained. I’m sure the position would suit her.”
“I’m not certain Duff will give up his position, och if he does then she can see to the new trainees if you deem she’d take to the calling.”
“Aye, Duff’s been griping for years about having to train the young ones. He does better with the seasoned soldiers.”
“If you deem this is the only way to keep Emlyn here, then I shall agree.”
“There is that and …” James wouldn’t divulge his entire plan at once. “I need to be off.” He stood but Grey stopped him.
“Wait, before you go, I wanted to speak to you about your position.”
James flinched and found his seat, becoming dejected. He knew his ability to guard was nullity and now the moment he’d dreaded in the last weeks was finally upon him. Yet he never expected Grey to actually remove him from his post. When he remained silent, James took it upon himself to ease his laird’s discontent.
“I cannot guard, Grey, and you wish to remove me from my post. Don’t be bothered for I’ve accepted it.”
Grey shook his head. “I want to raise your position, not remove you from it.”
James found himself frowning. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve wanted to replace the guard at the keep for some time. I need you to handpick six men. You will show them their duty; oversee them for I haven’t time to handle this matter. I never had to explain such duties to you, Duff, Sean, Kenneth, Greer or Colm. You all were with me since I was wee and you were raised to protect me.” His laird’s words pitched as emotion stole into his voice.
James was surprised by Grey’s request. It was something they had discussed in recent years, but with all that had happened they had never gotten around to it.
“I’m honored by your request, Laird. I will ensure the guardsmen are up to the task.”
“It is not a request, James. It is an order. There’s one more thing,” Grey said, and he pulled his book of parchments from his tunic. “I’ve been studying your drawings.”
He took the bound pages from him and set them on the table. “Aye, what of them?”
“I want you to be the only person who tends the wounds of our soldiers. Whether they get them on the training field or in battle, only you will care for them.”
James glanced at the parchments, when an unpretentious feeling came over him. He wasn’t wont to look at Grey. “I never …” He couldn’t explain.
“You know more about such injuries and we could use your skill, James. I’ll even give you an apprentice so you won’t have to devote all your time to it. Say aye and I promise to reward you.”
“I don’t need a reward, Grey, ‘tis just … I never wanted to be a healer and …” He could never say nay to his comrade, and nodded. “If that is what you need of me, then I am pleased to aid the clan.”
Grey rose. “Come with me.” He led him outside. “Can you walk? Does your leg still pain you? It’s a ways.”
“Aye, it does pain me, but I can walk. Where are we going?” James ambled beside his laird and tried to keep pace with him.
Grey kept silent on their walk. He led him to the lesser-known path that the guardsmen used. They strolled by the round stable and James nodded to Jonny, the stable lad, as they approached and passed. At the end of the lane, James noticed several men erecting a building. They walked past the cottage where Emlyn had stayed, and for a moment, James looked at it, wishing she was still within, wishing he could enter and find her there. But he knew she’d gone.
“What are they building?”
Grey stopped and peered at the structure. He didn’t speak, and James made out the size of it. It was a good sized building, constructed of stone. The timber was erected for the roof, but the thatch hadn’t been set yet.
“Your home.”
James turned back to Grey. “Why would you have this built for me?”
“Because you have always served me without ever asking for anything in return. I want to reward you. Don’t reject my reward, James, because I swear, I’ll knock ye on your arse if you say nay.”
“When will it be finished?” He grinned at the gesture and was pleased by it.