“Aye, it did go verra well,” Stewart agreed, holding up his skin of whisky in a toast to me. “Here is to the word continuing to spread of your cause, Astrid, and Norse and Scots alike rallying behind our good King Alexander.”
Declan and I met his toast and drank, still marveling at how well the day had gone. How much my words had already affected people before I even met the king, speaking truth to what I hoped to accomplish on these shores. A sense of purpose that only grew stronger the longer I was among these Scots and realized they were no different than the Norwegians I had grownup with, rooted firmly in kin and community, just trying to make a good life for themselves.
“Oksana seems better this eve,” Stewart noted, admiring my husky. Enjoying being outside for a bit tonight, she frolicked at the shore, her white pelt glimmering in the faint moonlight.
“Ja,” I agreed, smiling, elated that she was carrying pups despite the risks on this journey. To know that another generation would soon be born.
“’Tis interesting if not ironic,” Declan had said softly in the few scant moments we were alone earlier, remaining vague. “If you are correct about how far along she is, it coincides with that rogue wolf I saw about.” He’d shaken his head and peered at me curiously. “Though ‘twould be impossible, aye? Wolves and dogs dinnae mate, do they?”
“I could not say.” Yet I had been mulling it over since he’d mentioned Soren’s wolf, Sten, who had frequented our shores with Soren’s second-in-command while he recovered.
Couldshe have mated with Sten?
It was impossible to know. Stranger things had happened. When my talisman warmed, I realized there was truth to my thoughts and bit back a small smile.
“What I wouldnae do for one of Florie’s sweets right now,” Stewart said, sighing, his gaze a little sad as he stared into the flames. “She told me she had sent some, and they were in the satchel she prepared for me, but alas—” he shook his head— “they arenae there.”
“No worries,” I assured him. “There were some beneath the bannock in mine. I will go fetch it as I, too, would enjoy a piece or two.”
“Nay, I will retrieve it,” Declan said, using the fire to light one of the torches we had brought with us to light the way before he left, throwing over his shoulder that I was to enjoy these moments after accomplishing so much today.
“And you should.” Stewart looked at me with the same pride Declan had. “You have well lived up to your promises, Astrid, long before the king even knew you did. ‘Tis carrying great weight with King Alexander, as it should. It proves you are verra much a lass, a warrior, and a fellow countryman of your word.” He nodded once. “And I am verra proud to call you a friend.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, grateful for that. “As am I, you, Stewart.”
I was, too. I felt a kindred spirit in him, from his kindness to animals and his abilities as a devoted warrior, to how he interacted with his closest friends, Declan and Florie.
Seeing an opportunity to nudge things along between Stewart and Florie, I went on. “Whilst we might not have spent much time together, I feel I know you through Florie. She speaks highly and often of you.”
“Aye?” He tried to seem unaffected by that, but I saw the flash of hope in his eyes.
“Ja,” I assured. “She has long painted an admirable picture of you with words alone.”
Stewart was unable to respond with words but seemed to emit a little glow of satisfaction as Declan emerged from my cottage.
“Here it is,” Declan said, returning with my satchel.
Equally eager for one of Florie’s sweets, I set aside the few bundled pieces of bannock I had left, then removed three pieces of almost lovingly wrapped sweets, if I were not mistaken, based on their delicate little plaid ties.
“What do we have here?” I murmured, spying a neatly rolled scroll at the bottom. When I spied the word written on its outer curve in Florie’s handwriting, I couldn’t help but smile.
“What is it?” Declan wondered.
“Not mine,” I said softly, turning my smile Stewart’s way, understanding what had happened, given all the bags Florie had given us were identical. I handed the scroll to Stewart. “I think mayhap I ended up with the wrong satchel in all the haste before we left Mackay Castle.”
He peered it for a moment, as if unsure what to do with it.
“Well?” Declan prompted. “Are you going to read it, friend?”
“Aye,” Stewart said, his voice rough and unsure. “Aye,” he repeated, standing and lighting a torch to see the way, giving us a tentative look. “But I think, mayhap alone as ‘tis late anyway.”
“Of course,” I said before Declan could counter him, clearly not wanting to wait until tomorrow to learn its contents based on his confused look. Offering Stewart a warm, understanding smile, I gestured at what else Florie had clearly made for him and him alone. “Do not forget your sweets.”
Grateful for my understanding, Declan grabbed one of them, insisted we keep the others, and headed to bed.
“What do you think it says?” Declan asked, his hope for a favorable outcome evident in the worry in his eyes. “Surely something good, given the treats she made for him, aye?”
“I would say so.” Loving him all the more for only wanting good things for his dear friends, I gave his hand a quick squeeze and pulled away lest anyone be watching. It was a difficult location for someone to spy on us, yet still. Best to be cautious.
