Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,89
not long after she returned, the Chisolms attacked. Richard was not here at the time, ye ken. He was back at the MacDougall’s. One of his auld friends from his time there, had called him to come back to be godfather to one of his bairns. Anyway, while Richard was gone, the Chisolms attacked. Lost our keep we did that day.” She shook her head at the memory and dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her apron. “Scattered to the four corners of the earth, we were. ’Twas the saddest of times.”
Aeschene felt an ache deep in her heart. She knew next to nothing about the attacks and wars between her father’s clan and the others in the region. All she knew was that the MacRay’s had once been allies to the MacCullough’s, but something had happened. One day they were allies, the next, bitter enemies.
“But won our keep back, we did. Three years ago,” Frances said with a proud smile. “That be how Richard got his scars, ye ken. One of the Chisolm’s sons is what I heard. Anyway, we lost many men that day. Richard lost his da, all of his brothers, save for Colyne and Raibeart, for they were too young to fight.”
’Twas the saddest of tales and hearing it made Aeschene’s stomach feel as though she had swallowed a bucket of eels. “Why?” she asked in a whisper.
“Why what, m’lady?”
“Why must there be all these wars and battles? Why must men fight over land and holdin’s?”
“’Tis their nature,” Frances answered, as if that explained everything.
“But why do the Chisolms and MacCulloughs hate each other?”
Frances didn’t need time to think on her reply. “Because the Chisolms be nothin’ but a group of blood thirsty sons of whores, my lady.”
While Frances was quite certain she spoke nothing but the truth, Aeschene was certain there had to be more to it than that. “Surely something must have happened in the past to make them hate us so.” The ‘us’ she was referring to, was of course, the MacCulloughs.
“Who kens the truth of it anymore,” Frances replied. “We have been at war with them for as long as anyone can remember.” Momentarily forgetting just who Aeschene was, she added, “But the bigger mystery is why Garrin MacRay broke his allegiance with us and sided with the Chisolms.”
When Frances saw Aeschene’s face burn bright with shame, she reached out and touched her arm. “Och! M’lady, I be so sorry. I just never ken when to keep me own mouth shut.”
Aeschene took in a deep cleansing breath. “Nay, Frances, do not worry it. I, too, have often wondered why my father did what he did.”
“Ye mean ye dunnae ken?” Frances asked incredulously.
Aeschene shook her head, as did Marisse. “We were never told the why of it,” Marisse said. “No matter how many times I asked, or eavesdropped, I could never figure it out. Neither could Aeschene.”
“’Tis the truth,” Aeschene said. “No one would ever tell us.”
“Well, I imagine there be plenty here who would pay handsomely to find out,” Frances said. “For none of us ever knew the reason.”
Apparently, not so much as a sliver of a rumor explaining why Garrin did what he did, had ever been whispered. ’Twas a mystery if ever there was.
This new family of MacCulloughs had settled into a rather nice routine. The boys had seemed to mature overnight, much to their older brother’s amazement. Richard was quite proud of the changes in his young brothers and more than once he praised them for their good deeds.
He had yet, however, to praise or thank his wife for helping bring about these changes. Oh, he knew he should say something but it seemed that whenever they were alone, he had other things on his mind such as joining with her.
Aeschene was proud of the achievements the lads were making and made it a point to let them know on a daily basis. According the Marisse, Raibeart would blush at the compliments while Colyne would stand taller, his smile beaming as bright as the noonday sun.
One damp and misty afternoon Marisse had gone to the kitchens to get mugs of warm cider while Aeschene sat by the fire in the gathering room. She hadn’t been alone for long when Rory came bounding down the steps.
“’Tis only me, Rory,” he announced as he approached.
Aeschene rubbed her hands together before holding them up to the fire. “How are ye this fine day?”