to her sweet mare and mounted, believing with all her heart that Alick would find his way to Thane land before she was forced to marry Osbert. And if he did not, she would escape on her own. She had to.
She feared Osbert would travel with them since he lived on the other side of the woods from Thane land, but he did not join them. They traveled with five Thane guards. It was a quiet trip home on the cloudy gray day, but no one bothered them. They arrived home before nightfall, and Fia greeted them just past the stables, Nab delighted to see them home. “Papa!” he shouted.
Her father dismounted and picked the lad up, tossing him into the air and making him giggle. “How’s my wee warrior? Did Fia take good care of you?”
Nab nodded, something she was secretly pleased to see because his innocence always made him tell the truth, contrary to his brother. Roy loved to see others chastised or punished, so he often lied to ensure others were punished. He wasn’t a favorite amongst the help because of that bad habit.
Her father was oblivious to his lying. Or mayhap he did not care.
The boys ran ahead and her father yelled back to her, “Branwen, you and Fia will bring in all our things.”
She nodded, knowing it was her job to carry four saddlebags while Roy carried none. At least Fia was here to help. They’d have the chance to speak as long as they did so in undertones.
“How did it go?” her friend asked.
She kept her eyes downcast and answered, “Some parts good, some not.”
“Are you betrothed to Osbert Ware?” she asked, her gaze locked on Branwen’s as they moved from horse to horse to get everything. “Please tell me ’tis not true.”
“’Tis true, but I’ll not marry him.”
“Oh, dear. While he’s not horrible to look at, he has six bairns, and I’ve heard it said he’s too tight to hire any help. Makes the eldest daughter do everything. She’s both maid and cook. And takes care of the bairns. Besides, he’s much too old for you. What good news could possibly overtake that?”
They strolled slowly toward the keep, adjusting and reshuffling the saddlebags they carried plus two extra sacks of unknown objects brought back by her sire. “The good part is I met someone I like verra much.”
“Who?” The excitement on Fia’s face warmed her heart. She was a true friend.
“Alick MacNicol.”
“From Clan Grant? ’Tis where you were, aye? Truly? Good for you!” In her excitement, she spoke a wee bit too loudly, nearly giving away their chatter, but she recovered quickly.
“It could have been good. He requested permission to court me.”
“And?”
“My sire denied him.”
“That daft old fool,” she whispered, glancing around to see who could possibly overhear them. They managed to hold the door open and they set their items on a table in the hall. Roy raced over to grab something from his saddlebag, and he couldn’t resist taunting her.
“Fia, Branwen loves a man at Grant Castle, but she must marry that old man Osbert something.”
Then he raced away, a smug expression on his face.
“We must fix something,” Fia said furiously. “Somehow.”
“I know. My mind is made up. I’m running away before we can marry. I refuse to be married to that old fool,” she whispered in the quietest tone she could manage. Her father hadn’t entered the hall yet, and the lads were by the hearth playing with something.
“You are?”
“I don’t know how or when yet, but I promise I will.”
Her father entered the hall so they ended their conversation, sorting out the items from the sacks. They emptied all but her father’s bags, which he would want to attend to himself.
Her father approached the table, but he didn’t spare a glance for her. “Find a lovely dress for Branwen to wear,” he said to Fia. “I’ll not buy a new one, but you can clean the best she has. If she hasn’t told you yet, she is betrothed and will marry in less than a fortnight.” He finally looked at Branwen, giving her a sly smile. “I want her to look lovely for her husband.”
Not while she drew breath. She’d prefer to see her father was the target at the end of her archery lesson.
***
Alick pulled Dyna aside near the stables as the group prepared to leave for MacLintock land. “Look, I know we must get there quickly, but I’d like to head to Thane land on the way,