“My Lady!”
“That is my word. Abide it,” the raven spat.
“But My Lady…”
I turned then and fixed my eyes on him. I could feel my heart beating hard. The raven wanted to rip him to shreds. “Who was my father?”
“You…you are the daughter of Boite.”
“And who is my uncle?”
Artos paled. “King Malcolm.”
“I am no pampered lap dog, Artos. I’m made of the stuff from my father’s line. You will not disobey the blood of MacAlpin.”
“Yes, My Lady,” he said, the blood completely drained from his face. He was shaking. He’d seen the raven and had feared it.
“You, sir,” I said, waving to the farmer. “Has your case been heard?”
“No, My Lady.”
“I shall hear it as we ride.”
“Ride?” he replied.
“To Nairn,” I answered, then looked down at the girl. “My maid shall bring you a tonic for your boy.”
“Thank you, My Lady,” she said, a relieved, and mildly shocked, expression on her face.
“Anyone else seeking the justice of Moray today?” I asked the assembled crowd.
One of the Christians stepped forward. “We’ve come to offer our services to your court, Lady Gruoch. We’ve traveled from the court of King Malcolm ready to serve you and the Mormaer of Moray.”
I smiled as nicely as the raven would allow. “Please give these men supplies so they may travel back to my uncle, the king,” I said, glancing back at Artos. “Their services are not required in Cawdor.”
“But, My Lady, Cawdor doesn’t have anyone from the holy brotherhood providing ministering to your household,” one of the holy men protested.
“Correct,” I replied. “Nor do we need any. Safe travels to you, gentleman,” I replied, then turned to the farmer. “Your name, sir?”
“James, My Lady.”
“Let me assemble my supplies and a guard, and we’ll see what we can do about that fever.”
The man looked stunned. “Many thanks, Lady Gruoch.”
I nodded and headed back upstairs.
It was time to get busy.
Chapter 13
“My Lady,” Ute protested as I packed my box full of the medicines I’d brought with me from the coven, “the Mormaer wouldn’t want you leaving the castle in your fragile condition.”
“Fragile? What about me is fragile?” I retorted, annoyed, as I pulled out several small bottles and mixed a draft. I then applied some distilled oils to a salve. When I was done, I packaged both up and handed the bundle to Ute. “Take this to the lass, Tira, who Artos nearly had lashed. Tell her but two sips once a day of the draft, but to rub the oils on his chest and feet. If she sees no change in two nights, let me know and I’ll go see the boy.”
“My Lady, you are with child! You will risk the life of your unborn healing these children.”
“No, I won’t. I am learned in such craft, Ute. I know how to handle medicines and sick people.” Epona had taught me well. Now, at last, I had a chance to use my skills. While Gillacoemgain had asked me not to leave the castle, there was no way he expected me to sit at home for months on end. Surely, he would understand. I hoped.
I finished packing my boxes and then headed outside where a small guard, and the farmer, waited.
“We’ll escort you, Lady Gruoch,” one of the soldiers said. He was an older man, one of the more regular guards I saw roaming about the castle.
“Thank you, though I hardly expect trouble during an impromptu trip. But thank you, all the same.”
“The Mormaer would have our skin if anything happened to you. He might have it anyway knowing we let you out of the castle,” the man replied.
“Your name, sir?”
“Standish.”
“Well, you can just tell the Mormaer there was no stopping me. That would be the truth,” I said, winking at him. I then turned to James, the farmer who’d spoken up. “May I ride with you?”
Bemused, he smiled. “Of course, My Lady.”
After I settled into the bench alongside the farmer, we headed out. Thora, who’d been playing with one of the stable boys, caught sight of me. Leaving the stick she’d been chasing behind, she ran to catch up.
“Almost missed an adventure,” I told her.
She barked at me.
I looked back at the boy in the yard. I’d seen the lad a few times now. He was the one who’d lured Thora away at the wedding. I’d need to make an effort to seek out this child who’d won Thora’s heart. I waved to him.
Grinning, the child waved back then ran off.
“You said you were waiting to have a case heard?” I asked James as we rode.
“I’m rather glad it’s your ear I have on the matter, Lady Gruoch,” he told me then. “My problem is one of matrimony. I want to wed the daughter of my neighbor, but he won’t give her up without more of a bride price than I can afford to give. She’s not his only child. He’s got five daughters. I could win any other bride for a better price, but my heart won’t have it. I love the girl.”
“Then I shall speak to this man in exchange for your time today.”
James laughed. “Old Douglas, what’s he going to say to the King’s niece?”
“Let’s hope he says yes.”
At that, James laughed.
We rode from Cawdor Castle a short distance toward the little village of Nairn on the Moray Firth. The sky was bright blue colored, stray clouds drifting overhead. The weather was warm. We rode for a while when the farmer guided his cart toward a small farmhouse. The little white building, the roof made of thatch, sat in a lush green field.
“There are three children here who have the fever, assuming they are still alive,” James said, directing his cart toward the house.
A woman stepped outside the little cottage, wiping her hands on her long skirts. We stopped just before the door. She eyed the Moray men suspiciously.
“Afternoon, Flora,” James said as he pulled the wagon to a stop. He got out then turned and offered me his hand.
“And what’s this all about? Are those…are those the Mormaer’s men?”
“They are,” James answered, “and this is the Lady of Moray.”
“You’ve brought the Lady of Moray to my house?” the woman said, and I could tell by the expression on her face that she hadn’t really meant to say it out loud. “My Lady,” she said, curtseying to me.
“Please,” I replied, reaching out to take her by the elbow. “James says your children have taken ill with fever. I thought I could help.”
“You, My Lady?”
“I have some skill with herbcraft,” I replied.
“Please come in,” she told me and led me inside the little house.
I turned to the soldiers. “I’ll call if I need you.”
They shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
Within, the place was over warm and smelled of the animals who shared the home. The air felt sticky. From the back of the house, I heard a small cough. I followed the woman who led me to the back where three children lay on pallets. Each looked deathly pale. The smallest, a little girl, coughed miserably. At once I knew she had an infection in her chest.
“May I?” I asked, kneeling down beside the little girl.
Flora nodded.
“Well, now, little lass,” I said, sitting beside the girl. She had hair the color of straw and wide blue eyes. Her brothers looked wide-eyed at me from their bed nearby. “Sounds like you swallowed a frog. Have you? Did your brothers slip a frog into your broth?” I asked her.
Despite themselves, all three children giggled.
“It hurts when I swallow,” the little girl said.