Highland Master Read Free

weakly defended.”
    “Verra true,” agreed Brett. “We need to look around, gather what information we can. I dinnae like Arianna staying in a place where the defenses are so weak. Harcourt has already decided to look round and discover what he can, but I think it would be best if we all do. We will gather what truths we need so we will ken a lot faster that way.”
    “Agreed,” said Callum, and the rest nodded.
    “Then let us go down to the great hall and see what food has been set out for us. We can start our watching and listening right there. Do we need to collect Arianna?”
    “Nay,” replied Uven. “I went to ask, and she said she would have that maid take her down to the hall.”
    Brett nodded and led the men out of his bedchamber. Banuilt appeared to be a fine fortified manor home, its people friendly enough, but he remained uneasy. His instincts told him there were some secrets to be uncovered, and he was determined to unveil every one.
     
     
    “Such fine men, m’lady,” said Nessa, one of the few older women who had survived the time of the fever. “All the lassies are sighing o’er them.”
    “I am nay surprised,” Triona muttered as she carefully checked that the meal for her guests was all it should be, and reminded herself that she needed to have that stern talk with the women about not needing any more fatherless children at Banuilt. “It has been too long since we have had any true warriors here. Knights, too. Big, strong, weel-armed, and, I believe, skilled knights.”
    “Are ye thinking they could help us fight that bastard Grant?”
    “They could, but should we ask them to? I did wonder if I could get them to train our men but hesitate to ask that, either. It doesnae seem, weel, courteous to have someone come to visit and then usurp their guard for your own purposes.”
    “Weel, mayhap nay, but something needs to be done about that mon. He is killing us all slowly, is what he is doing. That is all one can think when he tries to end our ability to feed everyone. ’Tis only because his own men dinnae have their hearts in the business that we have survived for so long.”
    “Sadly true, and we cannae be sure that reluctance will last much longer. If naught else, Sir John Grant has to be becoming suspicious of how little damage all his plans have done to us. Once he sees that his own men are nay helping him much, that they are at fault for his lack of success, he will make certain that they do things right the next time. ’Tis said he has a fierce temper.”
    “Aye, and then the burying will begin again, only it will be our own allies who set us in the ground.” Nessa sighed and shook her head, a sadness clouding her brown eyes, for she had lost her husband and a daughter to the fever.
    “Nay, I shall nay let that happen. If it begins to cost us lives, I will bow to what he wants. I just dinnae do it now because I dinnae think he has any right to force me to it, but also because I dinnae believe any of ye would find life beneath his boot all that comfortable.”
    “Nay, we wouldnae, but we wouldnae ask that sacrifice of ye, either.”
    “No need to ask. I willnae hold firm if the blood starts to flow, as nothing is worth the lives of the people of Banuilt. We have lost too many already to an enemy we couldnae fight. Now, let us finish this, as I am certain our guests will come down soon. So, no more talk about Sir John Grant. I wish to just enjoy a time with some guests for now, and listen to whatever news my cousin may have brought with her, news that will undoubtedly entertain me, if I recall Arianna as well as I think I do. She was always verra skilled in the telling of a tale.”
    “Aye, ye deserve that. Ye work verra hard for all of us.”
    “’Tis for me and Ella, too, Nessa. But tonight I wish to nay think about what work needs to be done, and I certainly dinnae want to think about Sir John.”
    “Ye do that, lass. Just wish it was as easy to be completely rid of that