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And it was over a simple meal of meat pie and cider that a friendship formed between them.
Iain realized Yesenda was a very interesting woman to talk to. Her perception of the world was refreshing, and he smiled a lot. He even burst out laughing at one of her stories from the abbey. She did not realize it, but Iain thought she was a natural storyteller. She would mimic voices and make facial expressions of subjects she was talking about, like a bard.
It was no surprise that soon his niece Mysie and nephews Michael and Domhnall joined them, including some of the MacGregor children. Iain watched Yesenda effortlessly include them all as she became even more animated with her storytelling. She had their rapt attention.
“And then what happened?” Mysie asked with her eyes wide open.
Yesenda replied, “Well, she lulled theEach-Uisgeto sleep by running her fingers through his water weeds and muddy hair. She sat by the loch watching the fire burning and she kept her nerve. She did not want to get carried away into the deep waters and have her flesh torn from her bones.”
Mysie gasped and shook her head. “Aye, that would not be very nice.”
Yesenda continued as the children quietened down. “Finally, when the creature fell asleep, he revealed his true form. He was not a handsome braw man at all but the deadly water horse. She quietly inched her body away from the fire and the loch and ran for her life!”
“She was wise and very clever,” Izara Fletcher said in awe. Izara was Brodie Fletcher’s daughter, and the story enthralled her.
“And what do you think the lesson of the story is?” Yesenda asked.
“Never trust a braw man, especially if he tries to tear the flesh off your bones,” Iona MacGregor said. The other children chuckled.
Iain glanced at Yesenda and grinned.
“I ken what the lesson is,” Mysie said.
“Go on, tell us,” Yesenda encouraged her.
“A lass should only court an ugly man with short hair and small teeth.”
They all burst out laughing at her comment.
“What is the moral of the story, Yesenda?” Iain asked when they had all quietened down.
“You can never tell what a person’s true nature is just by looking at them and when you face danger, you must remain calm and not let fear control you.” Yesenda smiled as the children started nodding their heads.
At that moment, Iain felt his heart fill with so much warmth he thought it might explode with the depth of feeling he was experiencing. He just continued to gaze at Yesenda.
Yesenda could not remember the last time she shared such an enjoyable meal in such good company. It was one of the most pleasurable experiences of her life.
Iain was an easy conversationalist and had so much knowledge about the area and the clans. But it was the way he spoke of his kin with such love and loyalty, that won her over and the way he did not balk when Mysie jumped up on his lap and ate some of his pie. But what she enjoyed the most was seeing him laugh and his eyes fill with warmth. It was a beautiful thing to behold. It was in those moments Yesenda forgot about the burdens that came with being a keeper of secrets.
***
These Ordinary Moments
The following afternoon, Yesenda walked within the grounds of the Keep. She found it too noisy to sleep, given creaky floorboards and adjusting to new surrounds.
It was while she was in the courtyard that she felt a familiar presence.
“Yesenda?”
“Hello, Iain.”
“I thought it was you. Where are you headed?”
“I was hoping to get some fresh air and familiarize myself with the area.”
“Do you mind if I join you?” Iain asked.
“Not at all.”
