Declan paused to watch then turned to George. “When’ll this be done?”
George rubbed his neck uneasily. “Three days, mayhap four, me Laird . The rain slowed the work.”
Declan frowned, considering. “Make it two. I will leave some lads with ye for a few days if needed. We cannae afford another delay. The forest road’s too quiet these days, and quiet roads breed trouble.”
George nodded solemnly, understanding the weight behind his words. Bandit activity had grown worse these past months, and a single weak link between villages could mean lost lives.
They moved next to the granary, a stout stone building near the stream.
Declan inspected the hinges, the locks, and the cart path leading to it. “Supplies must stay guarded,” he said. “If raiders come, they’ll go for the food first. Make certain two men keep watch here by nightfall.”
Howard nodded briskly. “Aye, me Laird . We’ll double the watch till further word.” Declan gave a curt nod of approval.
As they turned back toward the square, Killian fell into step beside him. “Ye ken, Declan, this place looks better than the last. The folk seem steady.”
Declan glanced at him, his eyes thoughtful beneath the furrow of his brow. “Aye, they’ve spirit enough. But it’s nae spirit that’ll save ’em if they’re caught unaware. Every wall, every post, every man must be ready.”
Killian chuckled. “Always seein’ trouble before it comes.”
Declan’s lips curved in a grim smile. “It’s what keeps men alive, Killian. Trouble never sends word before it arrives.”
A few women waved shyly from the well, and Declan gave a brief nod of acknowledgment. He admired their quiet resilience, folk who worked hard without complaint, trusting him to keep their world from falling apart.
The clouds above were darkening fast, heavy and low as if the heavens themselves were ready to burst. The wind picked up,sweeping through the trees with a mournful whistle, stirring the horses and the cloaks of the men.
“Look there, me Laird ,” Killian said, his voice half a shout above the gusts. “That sky looks fit to open any moment now.”
Declan followed his gaze, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the clouds churning like storm-tossed waves.
“Aye, ye’re right,” he muttered. “No sense in ridin’ back to the castle in this. We’ll make camp here in Woodgreen for the night; best to keep the horses dry and have the men fed before we move again.”
Killian nodded, already turning his horse to relay the command. “Aye, me Laird . I’ll have the lads set up in the stables.”
Within moments, the men moved into action like a well-trained force. Some began gathering wood and unloading supplies into the stables while others fetched water from the stream that ran behind the blacksmith’s hut.
The villagers hurried to lend a hand, bringing armfuls of straw, bundles of peat to place under bedrolls, and baskets of provisions. The clang of hammers, the murmur of voices, and the crackle of fire soon filled the cool, damp air.
Declan led his horse to a young guard. “See that he’s brushed down and fed,” he ordered. The lad nodded eagerly and led the animal away.
Killian returned, his hair tousled by the wind and his grin crooked. “Camp’ll be ready in no time, Declan. The villagers seem pleased enough to have us stay; they say it keeps the bandits at bay when we’re near.”
Declan’s lips twitched faintly. “Then I reckon we’re doin’ them a service even while restin’.”
Howard, the village guard, approached just as the first drops of rain began to fall, soft and cold.
“Me Laird,” he began, bowing his head slightly. “If ye’ll allow it, ye can take me family’s cottage for the night. It’s small but dry and warm, and it’d honor us to have ye rest there.”
Declan gave a small smile, touched by the man’s offer but resolute in his choice. “That’s kind of ye, Howard, but I’ll stay with me men. A leader who sleeps under a comfortable roof while his men face the rain in the stables deserves none of their loyalty.”
Howard’s expression softened, admiration flickering in his eyes. “That’s noble of ye, me Laird. We are lucky to have a master like ye.”
Declan only gave a brief nod, adjusting his cloak against the drizzle. “A man’s strength lies in standin’ beside his own. I’ll nae forget what ye offered, though. Keep yer family dry and fed.”
With that, Howard went to assist the others as thunder rumbled faintly across the hills.
By dusk, the rain had begun in earnest, drumming steady. The men gathered within the wide stables, their laughter echoing through the space as they settled among the horses and the hay. Fires crackled in iron braziers, sending up smoke that mingled with the earthy scent of rain-soaked leather and straw.
Declan sat near the center on a bale of hay, his back against a beam, watching as his soldiers shared bread and stories in the flickering light.
