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“Now Roselyn…”
“Please, just watch.”
Blair stood, helpless, as Roselyn called the hound to her. The dog stationed herself at Roselyn’s left hip and gazed up at the young woman as though awaiting her next command.
Roselyn laid her hand on the huge dog’s back, just between her shoulder blades. “Walk.” Roselyn’s instruction was crisp and clear, and the hound obeyed at once. Freya moved at a sedate pace and Roselyn followed, keeping her palm on the dog’s back as the pair walked along the platform away from him. The edge was to Roselyn’s left, and every time she veered toward the danger zone the dog planted her great paws and refused to budge, forcing Roselyn to shift direction. Several times the pair repeated this bizarre dance until Roselyn approached the end of the dais. Before Blair could call out another warning however, the dog had skirted in front of Roselyn to bring her to a halt before she could march right off the end. The young woman turned and the dog turned with her, this time moving to Roselyn’s right to guide her back in his direction.
“Did you see?” Roselyn smiled up at him when she stood before him again. “She let me know when it was time to turn around.”
“Are you sure you did not count the paces? I know that is how you judge your position in the room.”
“I did, and I do, of course. But Freya does not know that and she got in front of me and stopped me before I could fall. She knows her duty.”
“I am not convinced. You have Meggie to act as your guide.”
“Of course, and now I have Freya too. You saw what she did. How can you doubt her?”
Blair eyed the hound with new respect, certainly, though he remained sceptical. “Aye, well, I suppose ‘twill do no harm to keep her close. HerandMeggie.”
* * *
It was late afternoon and Blair was intent upon drilling his men in the bailey when a shout from the east postern gate disturbed their practice.
“Riders, Laird. Approaching from the east.”
Blair slid his claymore back into the scabbard which hung from his waist and sprinted over to the lookout post. It was past the time when he would have expected to see the search party return, hopefully with the missing travellers from Etal. Perhaps he would not after all need to send a larger force to investigate their disappearance.
“Can ye make out who it is?”
“They are ours, Laird. ‘Tis the McGregor plaid about their shoulders.”
Thank the dear Lord. “How many?”
“Seven, sir.”
“Seven?” He had sent but four men in search of the missing folk. “Is Robbie among them?”
“Aye, I’d say so. Not many men that size…”
Ah, this day was going better than he had hoped. Not only were the search party back, hopefully with news, but God willing his captain-at-arms had also been successful in the quest set for him.
“Lower the drawbridge,” he yelled. “Get ready to welcome our men home.”
“Laird, there are more.” The lookout called to him again. “Two carts, behind the men on horseback.”
A broad smile split Blair’s face. He bounded up the steps to the eastern parapet and leaned out, shading his eyes from the sun which was still high in the sky. The tartan-clad Highlanders were perhaps half a mile from his main gates and approaching at a brisk canter. Further back, maybe two miles distant, the carts made slower but steady progress. There looked to be four people in each wagon, five adults in all and three smaller figures. The folk he had spoken to at Loch Lomond had children with them. This must be them.
“See that Lady Roselyn is informed,” he instructed the lookout at his side. “And Elspeth. We shall require food and shelter for our new clansfolk.”
By the time Blair stood in the middle of his courtyard to welcome the first of the new arrivals Roselyn was at his side, her dog with her. Freya had become Roselyn’s constant companion and it did not escape his notice that she crossed the bailey to join him holding onto the hound’s shaggy coat, her step sure and confident.
“They are here? Is it them? Really?” Roselyn reached for his arm but missed. Blair took her hand and squeezed her fingers.
“I believe so. The men now dismounting are the search party I sent. There are carts behind, so the rest will be here very soon.”
“Oh, I am so relieved. I had begun to think…”
He squeezed her hand again. “I know. But they are here now. Please, you must excuse me for a few moments.” He disengaged his hand and stepped forward to greet Robbie. “Where did ye find Archie and his men?”
