Mist Warrior (10 page)
“
Well now,
”
Courcy said, finally bringing their conversation to a close.
“
We must be off and I’m sure my betrothed needs to rest after expending so much energy.
”
He rose and the others followed suit.
“
Oh
,
don’t worry about me,
”
Catriona said.
“
I am well rested.
”
“
Your fortitude is admirable,
”
Courcy replied.
“
But I mean to give Gavin and Branan a tour.
”
“
What a wonderful idea,
”
Catriona said, smiling.
“
I must admit, I also wish to see more of
the land surrounding
Brackenburgh. I shall have the servants saddle a palfrey and join you.
”
“
You will do no such thing,
”
Courcy snapped.
Catriona stared at him, her expression gradually changed from defiant to pouting.
“
You...you mean to keep me from the only family I have left?
”
She had schooled her features into the perfect wounded expression
,
but Branan clearly saw the glint of cunning in her eyes. He almost crowed his laughter. As a child, Catriona had discovered a talent at manipulation
,
but now
,
Branan witnessed how she turned that talent into an art.
Courcy blew out his breath.
“
Nay, my sweet
, I do not mean to do that, but
—
”
Catriona never let him finish. She laughed in delight and impulsively kissed his
cheek.
“
Oh, thank you, Richard!
I knew you would understand. Now, I’ll just have the servants ready my mount and tell the kitchen staff to prepare
a wineskin, as well as
some bread and cheese to take with us.
”
She stepped off the dais and headed straight for Branan. Looping her arm in his, she faced Gavin who took her other arm.
“
We have so much to talk about,
”
she said cheerfully.
“
Ten years is a long time, Branan.
”
“
Aye, lass,
”
he said grinning down at her. The trio moved purposefully toward the doors, leaving Courcy spluttering.
“
You had me worried for a moment, sister,
”
Gavin whispered, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.
“
I feared you would disappoint us and not convince Courcy to allow you to go.
”
She gave a soft but very unladylike snort.
Branan chuckled.
“
Ye have’na changed a bit, lass.
”
She smiled up at him, an action which caused Branan’s heart to tighten in his chest.
“
Thank you,
an>
“
Now, let’s go before Richard figures out a way to change his mind.
”
While the servants prepared their mounts, Courcy showed them around the active bailey. Catriona accompanied them, her arm remaining firmly entwined with Branan’s. It seemed no matter what Courcy thought of it, Catriona wasn’t going to release him. Branan couldn’t blame her, admitting that he enjoyed her company and the feel of her hand on his arm. Plus, he had a suspicion if she did release him, Courcy would find a way to send her back to the keep.
People and animals crowded into the large bailey. Many merchants haggled their wares in Brackenburgh’s famed marketplace. Other people bustled about tending to their duties and to various animals that were the standard business of Brackenburgh as a strong keep. The squawking and baying of
numerous
creatures
,
along with the voices of people trying to be heard
,
created a cacophony of barely organized chaos.
The outer walls of the keep stood tall, their battlements and towers providing a clear defensive view of the land around them.
“
We received a license to crenellate a few years ago
,
so the merlons and embrasures are brand new,
”
Courcy said.
“
Despite Brackenburgh’s reputation as a trading center, we are also quite defendable.
”
On the east side of the bailey, the river helped form part of the defense, it was wide and surged angrily, a mass of white foam and dangerous rapids, moving too forcefully to freeze in winter.
Branan also noticed the small door in the wall. He frowned.
“
Why do ye have a passage in the wall? The river looks too treacherous to ford.
”
“
Correct, MacTavish,
”
Courcy replied.
“
The passage is simply to afford workers access to repair the walls on the riverside. Spring flooding can sometimes undermine the stone and it would not do to have my walls topple around my ears.
”
“
Aye,
”
Branan replied, chuckling.
“
Come, there is more to be seen.
”
They stopped first at the blacksmith’s shed. To Branan’s surprise, Courcy had four smiths working over the forges. Their main production–weapons.
“
I equip my mercenaries with only the finest steel,
”
Courcy said, hefting a well-crafted broadsword.
“
What I have that is extra
,
I sell for a nice profit.
”
Branan gazed at the stockpile of weapons.
“
This is more than simply equipping a raiding party,
”
he said softly.
“
Ye seem able to outfit
a small army.
”
Courcy
said nothing, his smile
cryptic.
They passed wood workers and tanners, armorers and bow makers, all
p
rod
ucing a large amount of equipment
. They moved toward the stables and Branan quickly spotted many horses which would make fine battle mounts. He took an unconscious step forward.
Courcy chuckled.
“
Understanding your experience with horses, I wondered how you would react to these.
”
Branan’s gaze beheld only the fine steeds.
Catriona leaned closer.
“
Careful, my lord, afore you begin salivating. If Richard sees
it
, he will only increase their price.
”
Branan swallowed reflexively, blinked, then glared down at her as he realized he had once again fallen neatly into her jest.
Catriona rewarded him with an impish smile.
“
Good, solid stock,
”
he said to Courcy, pushing down his annoyance at the mischievous sprite on his arm.
“
Aye,
”
Courcy said.
“
We will have need of them
,
but there is still more to show you. Come, let us fetch our mounts.
”
Branan nodded
,
still wondering exactly what Courcy plotted.
The small group traveled northwest on the king’s road for a few hours. The forest grew thick around them. Catriona remained relatively quiet, riding in the middle of the group
,
but still next to Branan.
He noted that both of them became the object of Courcy’s attention and began to worry over the man’s darkening expression. They turned on a smaller road, traveling straight north along the Roe Brooke, then stopped for a quick meal of the bread and cheese Catriona had brought.
Catriona dismounted, stretching her back with a small sigh. She glanced around and scowled.
“
I could be wrong but are we not near Thistlewood?
”
Gavin looked up sharply, also gazing at the surrounding woods.
“
Aye, sister, you have it aright.
”
She flashed him a bright grin and Duguald chuckled.
“
Och, lassie, ye are a Godsend.
”
Branan scowled.
“
I have ne’er heard of Thistlewood.
”
Gavin, Catriona, and Duguald looked at each other as if sharing some secret jest. Branan found it rankled him to no end.
Courcy stepped forward, looking at Catriona in surprise.
“
I have selected Thistlewood for a reason
,
but I did not expect you to have determined it.
”
“
Anyone with knowledge of Thistlewood’s history would be able to see your reasons.
”
Branan tried to curb his frustration.
“
This is the first time I’ve heard of the place.
”
“
That be good to hear, lad,
”
Duguald said.
“
for if ye dinna ken of it, Strickland willna either.
”
“
I doona understand.
”
“
Thistlewood was a part of ye mother’s dowry when she married yer da.
”
Branan arched an eyebrow.
Duguald chuckled.
“
Yer grandsire, as Warden of Inglewood, was quite a wealthy man. Your mother was his only issue. The tower here had fallen into disrepair
,
but when your parents toured their holdings, they fell in love with the place. In honor of their marriage, they decided to rebuild it and yer da chose the hall and tower b
e built in the Scottish fashion
–calling it Thistlewood.
”