Eva knelt and used both hands to pet the dog’s head. Ise-Olcan whined and wagged its tail enthusiastically at her attention. “She has an unusual but pretty name. Does it mean something?”
“She-wolfin Gaelic, lass. Aye, she was a runt of a wolf litter and left for dead. I found her, nursed her back to health, and now she’s kept me. I belong to her. How are ye feeling, Milady?”
Eva raised her brows as she wondered why the woman would ask her such a question. But then she thought perhaps the woman was familiar to her. “I apologize if we met and do not recall. I was ailing when I arrived but am much better now.”
“Och, lass, I am the healer and the laird asked me to care for ye. The birch bark did the trick, aye, as I thought it would, and chased away your fever.”
“My thanks for caring for me. I must have caught a chill on the journey here.”
“Ye look like ye could use some company. Would ye like to walk along with me? I am just headed down the way. I am Willa, and mother to the laird’s man-at-arms, Gideon.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Willa. I am Eva. And pray, please call me such, not lady or milady.” She reached out and took the basket from the woman. “Let me carry that for you. ’Tis the least I can do for the aid you gave me.” The basket was heavy, but Eva used both hands to carry it in front of her.
“Well, Eva, I appreciate that.” Willa snapped her fingers at the dog who immediately heeled beside her.
“What is in here? It is quite heavy.”
Willa chuckled. “’Tis medicinals. I am taking it to the encampment yonder.”
They walked in silence for a little way and then Eva spotted the smoke from the various campfires. Situated among the clearings between the trees sat cloaked people, shielding themselves from view, or perhaps they were cold. Fabric draped from one tree to another in an attempt to shelter them from the elements.
Willa took the basket from her and handed out small vials of medicinals to the people around the fires as they passed. “I wish I could have brought them bread or some food, alas, I have nothing to spare in my cupboard presently. Perhaps I can have Gideon hunt for meat for them when he returns.”
“From war…” Eva assumed the commander-in-arms traveled with Breckin and they were on a mission. She felt sorrowful for the poor vagrants and that she was unable to help them too. With a glimpse at them, she lightly gasped at the large pox-like marks on their faces and hands. Cautiously and keeping a little distance, Eva walked around the small settlement and offered greetings. Among them were older men, women, and some younger people nearer to her age.
The healer spoke briefly to some of them and introduced her to a young woman named Harriet. “Drink the medicinal, Harriet. It shall ease ye a bit. Get some rest.”
“We are hungry, Mistress. Have ye any food?” Harriet asked.
Willa shook her head. “Nay, I’m afeared I only have the medicinal. I shall try to bring food on the morrow or have the men bring ye meat when they return to the holding.”
An older man approached but stopped a good distance in front of them. Eva gently grabbed Willa’s arm to stop her and they turned to face the man. From what she could see beneath the hood of his cloak, his hair was long, scraggily, and practically white. His beard matched the color of his hair and his eyes were an unknown hue and appeared glossed over.
“Fret not, Willa, for I am going on a hunt later this eve. I shall feed this brood.”
“I wish ye good hunting, Gareth. When the laird returns, I shall tell him of your plight here. Breckin will aid ye.” Willa waved as she passed the people on the way back to the lane.
As they walked away, Eva lowered her head, despaired for them, and wished she had the means to give them food, shelter, or care. “Do they live out here alone and unprotected?”
“Aye, they do. The clan forbids them to live amongst the Buchanans. Och, do not despair, lass, because no one would risk getting close to them. All keep a distance.”
She walked next to Willa and Ise-Olcan ran ahead but returned to them and repeated her jaunt. The Buchanans were unkind and unfriendly, she surmised, since they treated the people who ailed in the woods so horridly. “That saddens me; the poor condition of those people and that they are unwelcomed by the clan. What ails them?”
“’Tis unknown but some suspect their ailment is catching, which is why they stay here in the woods. Father Murphy has sent a description of their condition to his order in Edinburgh in hopes they might offer a cure or give suggestions on how to care for them.” Willa reached her cottage and snapped her fingers for her dog. Ise-Olcan ran at breakneck speed until she reached the door of the cottage and whined to belet inside.
“Would you mind terribly if I visited you on the morrow? I can help collect herbs or—”
“I would welcome the company, lass. Not many come out to visit me, even my daughter-in-law, Gideon’s wife, Deena. She despises being on this side of the island.”
Eva nodded. “Well then, expect me on the morrow and we shall have a nice visit.”
“Until the morrow, lass.” Willa disappeared inside her cottage with Ise-Olcan pushing to get ahead of her.
Eva continued her walk in the opposite direction of Willa’s cottage. She kept going until she reached a beautiful church. It was a long building made of heavy stone with a thickly thatched roof. A heavy wooden cross hung above the double doors. She wondered if the church doors were unlocked and pulled at one. It opened and she entered. Inside, she walked between the wooden benches that lined the center lane until she reached a beautiful but crudely-made stone altar.
There didn’t seem to be anyone inside the church. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought about singing. Her favorite cleric chant came to mind and she wanted to sing the words to Salve Regina. With none to tell her it was forbidden, she opened her mouth and let the song flow from her lips and heart:
Queen, Mother of Mercy:
