Sure enough, on entering the solar they found Tyra staring pensively into the fire. He left Annora seated in the chair beside her, gratified by Tyra’s welcoming smile to Annora, despite her usual coldness toward him.
Now for the meeting with Tormod.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
As he’d anticipated, Lamend had already given Tormod an outline of what had taken place during their day’s outing and Tormod was full of questions.
“What were yer thoughts during yer travels? Did ye find the clan lands tae yer liking. And what of the villagers?”
Edmund couldn’t help chuckling at Tormod’s transparency. He could not hide his eagerness for Edmund to be enamored with the land of his birth.
“Dinnae fash, Tormod. The land is astonishing in its beauty. I’ve ne’er before come upon such a bonnie place.”
Tormod greeted this remark with a wide smile.
“And I was impressed with the hard-working weavers and what Lamend told me of the lucrative trade routes ye’ve established wi’ the Norsemen and the Continent. That is certainly somethingto build upon and develop, so that trade goes far beyond our own islands and the mainland, nae tae mention England, in the event of a war.”
“Those are the thoughts of a laird, concerned fer the prosperity of his people, Edmund,” Tormod said softly.
Edmund shrugged. “Mayhap. I’ve been impressed with the little I’ve seen so far. I’ve yet tae gauge whether the islanders consider me tae be their rightful laird or an upstart.”
Tormod huffed in amusement. “Ye forget, lad, that one look at your visage and anyone who kent yer faither will see him there as plain as day.”
“Yet, fer all that, I suspect there is someone here fer whom me presence is unwelcome and who wish harm tae me or me lady – or tae both of us.
“How so?” Tormod tilted his head, one brow arched in puzzlement.
“Did Lamend nae tell ye of the rider I gave chase tae?”
Tormod shook his head. “I’ve heard naught of this.”
“We were nearing the castle when I spied a horseman in the trees near the road keeping pace wi’ us. I turned me horse and entered the forest, intending tae ask what he was daeing there. He fled and I pursued him, but lost him among the trees.”
Frowning, Tormod gazed for a few moments into the fire blazing in the grate before looking up, his expression troubled.
“A bandit?”
“Mayhap it was someone intent on robbery. Yet Lamend assures me that such miscreants keep well away from the castle, fer fear of the guards.”
“Who else would menace ye like that? Tormod kept on shaking his head, convincing Edmund that the Elder had no idea who the mysterious rider could be. “D’ye have any thought as tae who it was?”
“Nay. I thought ye may ken someone who would wish us ill. Is there another lad who has pretensions tae the lairdship, who would wish tae chase me away from this place?”
“There may be some on the Council who have yet tae be convinced ye are our true laird, but none I could think of who would wish ye harm. Are ye certain the man ye saw had evil intentions?”
Edmund snorted. “’Tis hard tae think well of the rider. If his intentions were harmless, why would he have fled as he did. I pursued him for some distance. I assure ye he was nae an honest traveler.”
“This concerns me greatly, Edmund. I shall make enquiries. Meanwhile I will order our guards tae patrol the road leadingtae the castle tae ensure there are nay unwelcome strangers thereabouts. I will ask them tae explore the woods fer any trace of the man ye saw.”
Edmund bowed. “Ye have me thanks, Chief Tormod. I bid ye goodnight.”
Tormod took two steps toward the door, paused and swiveled, raising hand. “Did ye have plans fer tomorrow?”
“Nae yet. I suspect the Lady Annora will be spending time with the seamstress. I may take time tae spar with me man Lionel, who was seeing tae our weapons today.”
“Ah. So ye’ll likely bide here all day?”
Edmund studied the old man. It was plain to see Tormod had something in mind yet he was reluctant to speak of it.
