Hearn turned to Morgan. "And what of you, wench? Do you have anything to offer?"
Well, magic was certainly out. Morgan looked at him steadily. "I could improve the state of your garrison."
"Whoo-hoo," Hearn said with a grin. "Do you think? And just how will you do that, missy? Sing for them? Dance for them? Instruct them in the wifely arts. "
Morgan was accustomed to that sort of thing. Her usual response was to leave the fool lying on the ground moaning in agony, but she could not do the like here. The speed of her journey lay in this man's hands. She bit back a tart reply, content to let her skill speak for itself.
"Let me see your second-fiercest guardsman," she said. "If I can best him on the field, perhaps you will see that I have something to offer your garrison besides a tuneful bit of singing and lessons in stitchery."
"My second fiercest?" he asked. "Why not the fiercest?"
"I prefer to leave myself something to look forward to after a long day of training those less skilled," she said smoothly.
Hearn stared at her in surprise for a moment or two, then laughed out loud. "Indeed. Well, lassie, I'll have the second fiercest fetched posthaste." He looked at the man who had brought Miach's message to him. "Athol, take our young gel here to the lists and have Rupert fetched. Don't let them begin, though, until I'm there to watch." His eyes twinkled. "I wouldn't miss this." Then he turned to Miach and rubbed his hands together. "Now, you, my little friendBuck, come with me. I have work for you. And then," he said with a pointed look at both of them, "and only then will I decide if it is enough to purchase a partially lame nag or two."
"Do you have any nags, my lord?" Morgan asked politely.
Hearn looked at her, then laughed again. He clapped Miach on the shoulder and walked off with him.
Morgan was not reassured. Indeed, though she had what would no doubt be a decent morning of deeds ahead of her, she was not at all hopeful that she and Miach would come away with what they needed. And if they did not, she had no idea what she would do. The burden of her quest demanded that she continue, no matter how.
She watched until Miach and Hearn disappeared into another part of the castle, then turned to whom she assumed was the captain of Hearn's guard. He was still staring at her as if he couldn't quite believe he was being asked to take her to his domain.
"A woman, no less," he said doubtfully.
"Amazing, isn't it?" she asked. "Now, if you'll lead me to your lists, we'll be about our business. "
"Hearn's lads are not unskilled."
"I daresay not, but I need several of Hearn's horses and this is the purchase price. Lead on."
The man frowned at her, then led her away, grumbling.
The rest or the morning passed quite pleasantly. Morgan made quick work of Angesand's second-best guardsman, entertained herself with the rest of the garrison singly or in pairs as they desired, then paused for a small bite of luncheon with Hearn. She contentedly saw to the rest of his men that afternoon. The sun was low in the sky when the fiercest of the lot stepped onto the held and grinned a most unpleasant grin.
Morgan paused to rebraid her hair.
She took another look at the man and asked him if his wife had any pins she might use to get it completely off her neck.
The garrison roared with laughter.
Pins were retched posthaste from some obliging miss. Once her hair was seen to, she politely invited the man to begin. He did and she felt the first crossing of their swords clear to the center of her.
She smiled.
The sun soon began to sink. Morgan regretted that, as she regretted the last lingering bit of weakness she had. In the end, she had to dig deep for stores of strength she usually left dormant. In truth, that was not such an ill thing. It was seldom that she was called upon to test even the beginning of the end of what she could do.
The man cried peace, eventually, and offered her a sweaty hand in friendship.
"I want to know who trained ye, gel," he said, his face dripping and his chest heaving. "I would pay much to be so fortunate."
"I'm not inclined to speak of it now," she said easily, "but I will perhaps tell you before we leave the keep."
The man looked at her closely for a moment or two, then he nodded.
"I'll ask ye again, then, afore ye go. But if you're intending to stay another day or two, I'd like to have another go. "
"My pleasure," Morgan said, then looked about her. Finding the garrison in more or less of a shambles, she considered her duty done for the day and happily retreated to the great hall to look for supper.
