“What?” Craig said, spreading his hands and looking bewildered. “What did I say?”
They all seated themselves at Deryn’s table and Deryn sat next to Maddy. Craig and Darla sat opposite, and the children crammed onto the ends. All three of the children were smeared with dirt and had straw sticking to their clothes but they all looked so pleased with themselves that Maddy didn’t have the heart to tell Rory off. She was just glad—and a little relieved—that he was making friends.
Darla served the pottage whilst Maddy poured everyone a mug of her coffee. Craig sniffed it, took a sip, and screwed up his face.
“Ugh! What’s this? Tastes like bog water! Where’s that whisky ye promised me?”
“It’s a little early dinna ye think?” Deryn said. “I have a bottle I’ve been saving for special occasions. If ye eat all yer dinner and drink all yer coffee like a good boy, mayhap I’ll get it out.”
Maddy and Darla took their places, and they all began to eat. For a while there was no conversation as everyone tucked into the meal. Maddy was surprised to discover that she was famished. She’d never eaten pottage before. It was like a thick stew full of lots of different kinds of vegetables. There was bread to go with it and with the coffee to wash it down with, it was a half-decent meal—Craig’s comments about her coffee notwithstanding.
“So, Madeleine,” Craig said with his mouthful, gesturing with a crust of bread. “How are ye finding life out here in the wilds?”
“Busy,” Maddy replied honestly. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard in my life.”
Craig barked a laugh. “Aye, lambing season is always a tough time of year. Why Deryn insists on being a sheep farmer I dinna know.”
“Aye, ye do,” Deryn put in. “I keep telling ye that wool is the future. The burghs are expanding and that can only mean growth for the wool market.”
Craig pulled a face. “Aye, so ye keep telling me, but we’ve yet to see it and until we do, I’ll keep going the way I am, thank ye very much. More wool means traveling to market more often, traveling to market more means more chance of being recognized and ye know how I feel about that.”
“You’re not a sheep farmer then?” Maddy asked.
“Nay, lass. We raise Highland Cattle. Half the trouble of raising sheep although I’ll grant the reward is lower. Ye should come over and visit. I bet young Rory would love to meet our calves.”
“Yes, do!” Darla added. “It would be lovely to have visitors for a change.”
“Can we, Mama?” said Rory excitedly.
Maddy held up her hands in surrender. “I think I’m outvoted, even if I wanted to object—which I don’t. Thank you for the invite, both of you. Rory and I would love to visit.”
“Excellent!” Darla said. “In fact, it’s the spring festival in a few days and it’s our turn to host the celebration this year. Why dinna ye come along?”
“The spring festival? What’s that?”
Darla and Craig regarded her as though she was a simpleton. “Only the best knees-up of the year!” Craig said. “Dinna ye have spring festival where ye come from? It’s a chance for everyone to get together after the long hard winter and celebrate having made it through the dark times and to look forward to the easy days to come!”
Darla frowned at her husband. “Ye just like the excuse to get drunk!” She turned to Maddy. “Ye would be most welcome to join us, my dear. Everyone from the locality will be coming. It will be yer chance to meet everyone.”
Maddy wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. Meet everyone? How many people would be there? What if Rodric found out?
As if reading her thoughts, Deryn said, “Dinna worry, lass. There is a small community out here. People who choose to live away from more conventional society—and we dinna rat on our own. Yer presence willnae reach any ears that it shouldnae. What do ye say? Would ye like to go?”
Maddy thought about it. The spring festival sounded like fun and what harm could come of having a bit of fun? Besides, it would be good for Rory.
She nodded. “Rory and I would love to come to the spring festival!”
“That’s settled then!” said Darla. “Who wants more pottage?”
The meal passed in easy companionship. Maddy was content to eat and listen as Deryn, Darla and Craig discussed the business of running a farm. She didn’t understand half the things they discussed or recognize half the names they mentioned but she didn’t mind that. She found herself relaxing, her troubles evaporating amid the good-natured banter and flowing conversation.
This wasn’t so different, she thought, to being at home. How many times had she sat around having dinner with friends? And these peoplewerefriends, she realized suddenly. They were warm and kind and friendly, and they accepted her without expecting anything in return. Her eyes flicked to Deryn. Was he her friend too? Or was he becoming something more?
The boy, Sean, suddenly appeared at his father’s side. “Rory’s never heard of the Red Man, Papa!” he said in an outraged voice. “Tell us the story of the Red Man and the Fae princess!”
“Never heard of the Red Man, eh?” Craig replied, pulling his son onto his lap. “Well, we best put that right, hadnae we?”
He launched into a story about a young lad who fell afoul of the Fae—fairy-like creatures from what Maddy could tell—by spying on one of their rituals one night. In retaliation they painted him red from head to toe with a paint that would never come off. The lad was turned out of his village because they thought him cursed and he was forced to wander the land searching for a cure. He never found it and thought he was doomed to be alone forever. But then he stumbled into a fairy ring where a fairy princess was holding court. She thought his coloring was the most handsome thing she’d ever seen, and they fell instantly in love. They married and lived happily ever after.
