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Chapter Thirteen
Aindreas
Aindreas stifled a groan as he rode his horse. It was a sweltering day. The sun was shining brightly, and he could see the town coming upon them in the distance. He ground his teeth, trying to push away the irritation at having been called to duty by his father, not understanding why, out of all his trustworthy men, his father had given him the duty of shopping with his aunt and his father’s mistress. Surely, there were better things for him to do, such as drilling the squires, practicing with the guards, and speaking with the village speakers.
Unfortunately, Alisa had found him in the courtyard, sparring against Marcus, who had been barely capable of keeping up. The soldier was drenched in sweat and gasping while his movements slowed.
“Ye can do better than that,” Aindreas recalled laughing while watching Marcus stumble.
“I’ve hardly been awake, Aindreas,” Marcus had moaned.
“Aindreas,” he remembered his aunt calling to him.
He stilled at her voice, his skin crawling while he wondered what his aunt was scheming. She hardly ever came to him for anything. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as he slowly turned around. When he faced her, his heart had stilled, seeing Blair standing behind his aunt, fidgeting with her hands while trying not to look his way.
“Oh, thank the heavens,” he remembered Marcus gasping, hearing his body thump onto the ground.
“Yes, Aunt,” Aindreas had said, looking between Blair and Lady Alisa, wondering why the pair were together after the morning they shared.
“Yer father has asked that ye accompany us to town today. His,” Alisa had paused, her mouth twisting as she tried to think of the words. Her gaze had turned to Blair before she finally continued, “Blair has need of new clothes.”
Aindreas remembered how he gripped his sword, the anger surging within him at such a request. He had better things to do than go shopping, but he knew he couldn’t say no without argument. And even then, his father would get his way.
He glanced over his shoulder at Castle Lachlan, becoming farther and farther away, almost a speck in the distance. So much for practicing with the men, he thought with a sigh. Returning his attentions forward, he told himself he could speak with the town’s elder. The day didn’t need to be wasted. He could make plans with Ervin to fortify the town against attack from the MacAlisters.
Aindreas gazed at the fields before him on either side. Several boys sat near the path, watching their flock of sheep. A black and white dog perked up, cocking its head to the side in mild interest while the boys stabbed their sticks into the dirt.
Watching these boys in the fields made Aindreas worry if they were truly ready for an attack. The MacAlisters could come at any time. They were known to attack within the night, taking children and women and leaving the men to bleed to death. They could spike soldier’s drinks without anyone being the wiser.
Aindreas was worried his father’s head was elsewhere. Glancing at the carriage, his heart thudded in his stomach, wondering why the laird was so interested in his mistress’s attire rather than the fate of the castle. People’s lives were at stake, and here Aindreas was, escorting the ladies to get fitted for dresses.
It would have angered him if it wasn’t for the look on Blair’s face.
She stared at the world as if it was new to her. Her eyes followed every leaf drifting along with the wind. She smiled at the dog, twiddling her fingers at it.
“Good day!” she called to the boys, who smiled brightly at her.
Aindreas chuckled, shaking his head as the boys leaped to their feet, chasing after the carriage while waving their hands. “Good day, my lady!” they called after her. “Good day!”
Blair laughed as they continued following her, blowing kisses her way and giggling. The dog barked cheerfully. Aindreas shook his head at them, watching as they stopped on the dirt path, noticing the mud caking their bare feet.
“What in heavens are ye doing?” Alisa’s biting tone came from the carriage.
Aindreas narrowed his eyes, watching as Alisa grabbed Blair’s hand and lowered it into her lap.
“Can’t ye keep a wee bit of modesty to ye?” Alisa sighed in frustration while shaking her head. “I swear, it’s as if ye never had a mother to teach ye how to act proper.”
Aindreas watched the joy leave Blair’s eyes and ground his teeth, jerking his horse towards the carriage. It was as if his aunt knew exactly what to say to hurt Blair. He felt both compelled to pull Blair into his arms and console her and snap at his aunt, tell her to leave Blair alone.
However, how was his aunt to know the girl had grown up without a mother to care for her and teach her the ways of the world? But, she was only enjoying her time outside the castle walls. Before his father had found her, she had been alone in her cottage, tending to her home without a soul to talk to. Of course she would be excited about going into town.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” came Blair’s soft voice. “I won’t do it again.”
“See that ye don’t.”
Aindreas shook his head. He shouldn’t get involved. Knowing his aunt, she would probably treat Blair worse if he scolded her. His nails dug into his palms, the touch biting while he drew away from the carriage. With a flick of his wrists, he surged the horse forward until he rode in front of the driver, leading the way towards the town. He could make out the first houses on the outskirts.
As they drew closer, he found several women in the fields, gathering vegetables while boys ran from barking dogs. Girls hovered over buckets of water, washing garments and linens while men chopped wood. The dirt path became cobbled, and soon they were surrounded by houses and shops.
