LORD OF DUNKEATHE Read Free Page B

soldiers, who were still standing at the gates, smirking and laughing, and got an idea.
    She raised the reins and briskly slapped the horse's back, not hard enough to hurt, but sharp enough to startle. With an indignant whinny, the mare broke into a run. Just as startled, Uncle Fergus gave a yelp and grabbed on to the seat.
    "Out of the way!" she shouted to the soldiers.
    One shoved the other into the moat, then fell after him, their mail jingling as they rolled down to the bottom.
    Serves you right, she thought as their horse slowed to an anxious trot once they were through the gatehouse and into the open space of the inner ward. She glanced back, fearing the men at the gates or on the walk would give chase. She heard someone shout to let them go and leave them for Sir Nicholas to deal with.
    Not the most comforting of thoughts, but at least she hadn't let the soldiers send them away like unwelcome beggars.
    "Oh, my beauty, they'll be remembering you!" Uncle Fergus exclaimed as he started to laugh.
    She wasn't sure that was a good thing. "I shouldn't have lost my temper. Charging them like a warrior queen wasn't very ladylike."
    Uncle Fergus patted her on the knee. "They were rude and insolent, and it's not as if you hurt them. When you're Sir Nicholas's wife, you can have them sent away."
    If this was the sort of fellow the lord of Dunkeathe commanded, she certainly didn't want to be the lady of Dunkeathe. Indeed, it was all she could do not to ask to go home right now. This fortress was too enormous, too intimidating, too Norman by far.
    They reached the second imposing gate. Through it she could see the courtyard—and a mass of wagons, servants, horses and soldiers. The noise they made was like waves on the shore, rising and falling, punctuated by the occasional neigh or a brusque order.
    Riona steeled herself for another confrontation with insolent Sassenach, but this time there was just a single man standing beside the entrance. He was of middle years, Riona guessed, and definitely not a Scot, for he wore the dress of a Norman and had his light brown hair cut in that peculiar style they favoured , as if
    someone had set a bowl on their head. He was holding a wax tablet and a stylus, so she assumed he must be some kind of clerk.
    "The kitchen's to the left of the hall," the man said when Uncle Fergus pulled the horse to a halt.
    Maybe he wasn't a Norman, after all, for he spoke Gaelic very well.
    "That's good to know if I get hungry," Uncle Fergus replied, clearly trying to control his temper. "I'm Fergus Mac Gordon Mac Darbudh, thane of Glencleith, and this is Lady Riona, my niece. We've heard about Sir Nicholas's quest for a bride."
    The man's eyes betrayed his surprise, but he quickly recovered. "I see. Have you some proof of your title?"
    This was something Riona hadn't foreseen. She was envisioning an ignominious retreat past those Saxon guards when Uncle Fergus said, "If it's proof you need, I have the king's charter. I'm guessing a royal document with the king's seal will be good enough for you?"
    Riona stared at him with surprise. He hadn't said anything to her about bringing the charter; nevertheless, she was relieved to be spared any more embarrassment.
    "Aye, it will be," the man said as Uncle Fergus climbed down from the cart.
    He rummaged through the worn leather pouch that held his clothes. "Ah, here it is," he said as he pulled out a parchment scroll and unrolled it. "Sealed and signed by Alexander himself."
    The man examined it a moment, and Riona realized she was holding her breath.
    "Everything seems to be in order," the man said. He handed back the parchment to Uncle Fergus, who rolled it up again, and wrote their names on his tablet. "Welcome to Castle Dunkeathe, my lord, my lady. I am Robert Martleby, Sir Nicholas's steward."
    "Delighted to meet you, Martleby," Uncle Fergus replied in his usual jovial manner.
    "I'm pleased to meet you, too, my lord. Now, if you'll be so good as to carry on into the