Mist Warrior (56 page)

BOOK: Mist Warrior

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Branan's expression turned stricken.
“
I told ye
—
”

She
turned in his arms and
quickly touched her fingers to his lips, silencing him.
“
You know activity is good for both of us. You hired the best midwife to tell you everything I have always said.
”

His worried expression eased only slightly.
“
Aye.
”

“
It matters not the abuse my insides are suffering, remember the midwife also told us that a kicking babe is a strong one.
”

He smiled and kissed her brow, then looked back at the graves.
“
Why did ye gift a flower to my father?
”

“
Because I wanted to thank him too.
”

His
sea-green
eyes sparked with a glorious fire.
“
Careful, lass, ye may spoil me.
”

“
You are already spoiled.
”

“
Och, lassie, now ye wound me. Be easy on my battered pride.
”

She rolled her eyes again.

Branan placed another gentle kiss on her brow
,
then slowly turned to face the graves, sighing heavily.

“
Would you like to be alone?
”

“
Nay,
”
he whispered, holding her hand.
“
I need ye here
,
beside me.
”
Branan
knelt before the graves and slowly drew his gleaming claymore.

A memory intruded on
Catriona’s
thoughts, of standing in the chapel, Branan kneeling before the priest and offer
ing the weapon. The priest
anointed
it
with
holy water, murmuring the blessing
s of Saint Michael, purifying the blade
of the innocent blood it had claimed.

Carefully Branan rested the hilt on his father's grave so the blade lay across it and touched his mother's.

He took a deep, shuddering breath.
“
Mother, Father, I have succeeded,
”
he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
“
I have reclaimed what is mine and found justice.
”
His voice broke
,
but he grabbed another deep breath.
“
I miss ye.
”

Catriona covered her mouth, her throat and her heart aching.

Branan
touched the hilt of his claymore, the gold wedding ring glittering on his finger.
“
But I have achieved more than that. I truly found my heritage and the legacy you left for me. Not in land or title, not in possessions or gold, but I have discovered the love you shared. I have found the strength of soul.
”
For a long moment
,
he remained silent, staring at th
e graves, then bowed his head
, his body quivering.

Catriona felt a hot tear slide
down her check. She touched Branan’s
font si size="+0" face="Garamond"> head, her fingers stroking his
thick, glossy black
hair.

He looked up at her, his sea-green eyes turbulent and shimmering like the ocean. His lips lifted as he
caught her hand and
kissed
it
, then he turned back to the graves.

“
Now, 'tis I who look forward to the birth of my bairn. I will make one last promise to ye. My son shall bear the MacTavish claymore in c
ourage and honor. And mother....
”
Branan
paused, smiling brightly.
“
He shall hear the stories of the chivalrous knight and his beloved lady every evensong.
”
Again he paused, inhaling deeply.
“
May ye both finally find peace and love in the arms of the Almighty,
”
he whispered.

Slowly, Branan rose and picked up his claymore. Catriona watched him uncertainly as he returned it to its scabbard. Again
,
he took her hand in his. He kissed her cheek and smiled.
“
I ha' walked the path, Catriona, now 'tis time for me to turn to a new road.
”

She grinned up at him and he led her away. The
y walked for a short distance. Catriona
frowned, thinking on his words.

“
Branan?
”

“
Aye, lass.
”

“
Telling our child the stories, I can understand. But what about the sword?
”

“
What of it?
”

“
What if this babe is a girl?
”

Branan
chuckled, a deep rumble throep >”
“
Then the lass had better be as good at wielding a sword as ye are with a bow.
”

Author's Note

The internet has proven a valuable resource for this work, starting with Branan's clan, MacTavish. In the era this story takes place, the clan's Gaelic name is MacTamhais
,
but is pronounced MacTavish. I chose to call the clan MacTavish to give the correct pronunciation a basis with modern readers.

There has also been a great amount of question and debate regarding the history of Scottish clothing. Many authors, movie producers, and others have done all they can
,
but unfortunately
,
the ancient records still have some holes. I wrote this story several years ago and only recently dusted it off
for publication as an eBook
.
A
t the time, here is what my research uncovered.

The Scottish plaid (also called a brat) was worn by all. But there is significant question if the garb was truly the kilt-type plaid made popular in blockbuster movies. There is a good chance
,
Mel Gibson would not be attired as he was in Braveheart. Remember, many of the monuments dedicated to historical figures were created many years later when legend had grown larger than life.

The plaid is a simple volume of fabric, woven by
clan women, and used as a cloak. M
any times
,
the man wore it over his shoulder, secured by belt and brooch to keep it out of the way. The leine or leint was a long dyed or undyed shirt, usually descending to the knees and secured with a belt around the waist.

Many men in the clans also wore a jacket called an inar
,
which could have sleeves or not, more like a vest. If the man wore this, he didn't wear a leine under it
,
but wore trews. In the era of this novel, trews were more like snug fitting breeches rather than underwear, or could also be loose and long trousers, made of soft leather or cloth and very sturdy. It depends on the style of the particular clan.

Most readers realize that the advent of the plaid denoting colors of a particular clan came well after the Renai

,
but thread count can many times pinpoint an area and time period
. The
change
signifies a sale
to another clan
,
or even more ch
anges
,
if they sold outside the
country.

A mention should be made about locations and titles. The Royal Forest of Inglewood existed during this time period, with the castles mentioned in the story. The Royal Forest was exactly that, the king's forest, and the title of Warden was granted to a person to manage these lands for his king. As time passed, this title became hereditary. But within and around this royal forest, lands were also granted to be held by families as the feudal system dictated.

Penrith Castle has been documented from licenses to crenellate to William Strickland. Brackenburgh Tower resides near the fork of the king's roads and might have been used for trade. The Manor House at Newton Reigny carries an ancient serjeantry
,
given to the de Reigny family by Henry I. There are documents about Thistlewood with its
“
parallels with Scottish Tower-houses.
”
All of these edifices have their own rich history
,
which only sparks the imagination. My research into these keeps and towers resulted in this story.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this work as much as I have enjoyed writing it. If you would like information about the clan MacTavish visit
www.mactavish.org
(the website
,
although active when I did my research for this novel
,
is now a poignant memorial). Information about Scottish clothing was researched at www47.pair.com/lindo/Scotland.htm
,
but this site is now also defunct. Castle information was obtained through the book,
The Medieval Fortified Buildings of Cumbria
by Denis R. Perriam & John Robinson, Cumberland and Westmoreland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, 1998.