“Well, it is a game,” Sienna answered. “Most games do not make sense. Especially the ones the men favour.”
The three of them chuckled conspiratorially.
“That is true, but it doesnae sound fine that they go to the forest to cut trees simply to throw them around,” Davina added.
Violet simply laughed because she knew Davina was taking a dig at her brother, who took pride in his ability to throw those trunks of wood even farther than his peers. In his defence, throwing such heavy weights needed both strength and precision, so it was no easy feat, even if it made little sense.
“What about yer husband? What game does he play?” Violet asked curiously.
“He loves to spar and hammer throws, and he is quite good at it,” Sienna replied with a fond smile. “Even though he makes me heart troubled when he returns with injuries—a missing toenail, a nicked finger or toe. It is a miracle the man hasnae maimed himself.”
“Is he going to play today?” Siennaasked.
Davina lifted her hand to shade her eyes as she looked at the horizon. “It is still early yet. I do believe he will come. He has vowed to win the sparring contest, after all.”
Violet let out a chuckle.
“It seems Ruaridh has more competition,” she explained, when Davinana gave her a questioning look. “I heard that he has sworn to win the sparring contest over Laird McLeannen, and with your husband in the mix, it’s going to become even more difficult.”
“And don’t forget me braither as well,” Sienna added. “He has talked nonstop about finally beating Ruaridh this year.”
“Nae to disparage me braither,” Sienna snorted. “He is a very good swordsman, but when it comes to competitions like this, his strength lies more with caber toss, hammer toss, and hand-to-hand combat.”
“I know he will be unhappy to hear that,” Violet remarked with a laugh.
It seemed his own family knew his strengths even more than he did.
“He will live. Without his giant ego in his path,” Davinana quipped.
“Are ye going to join the archers today?” Violet asked.
In the last week, she had learned that Davina had a talent with a bow and arrow. Apparently, she had always had an interest in archery, but that interest was now nurtured by her husband. In the last week, she had learned that Davina had a talent with a bow and arrow. Apparently, she had always had an interest in archery, but that interest was now nurtured by her husband.
Both Davina and Sienna had tried to teach her, but it had ended woefully. Somehow, Violet couldn’t seem to shoot straight. She was a hazard that might get innocent people injured if she attempted to participate in archery today.
“I will. Just as soon as I can find me husband. The archers daenae display until midday,” Davina replied with a faint smile. “What about ye, Sienna?”
It seemed she was hoping that her husband would be there to cheer her to victory.
“I am,” Sienna answered. “I cannae let ye win now, can I?”
“We’ll see,” Davina said with a wink, rising from her seat. “I will go now to practice. See ye when the event begins.”
Violet and Davina nodded in reply.
In one corner of the courtyard, she could see Keira with her friends, conversing and playing. At that moment, she was happy that the little girl was with friends her age. She would wager it was not easy for her to be with adults all the time.
Olivia left her with her friends to return to her practice.
In no time, the tables were filled, and the games were set to start with a speech from Ruaridh, welcoming them to his clan for the year’s Highland games.
The people sat in groups, and Violet found herself beside her father. He had been sitting alone, and she had decided to sit beside him so he would not feel alone in a sea of Highlanders.
“I didn’t know the Highlanders had such grand festivities,” He said, looking around wide-eyed.
“Don’t you like it, Papa?” she asked reluctantly, her eyes tracking the men as they arranged the small tree trunks. It seemed the first game was going to be caber toss.
“No, I do. It is definitely airy,” her father replied. “What do they intend to do with all that wood?”
