The Lion (Clan Ross of the Hebrides Book 1) - Hildie McQueen (best novels to read in english .TXT) 📗

of men and horses filled the field just outside the gates, the air ripe with a sense of what could come. Some men would remain behind to guard the keep, others would ride with the Ross brothers to face their enemy.

If a battle ensued, not all would return.

Her gut in knots, Isobel hurried toward the kitchens where food was being prepared and packed for the large contingency of men that were about to travel. The activity was dizzying, but soon Isobel joined the throng of women cooking, cutting, and wrapping food items and packing them into wooden crates that would be loaded onto a large wagon.

Lads rushed past the doorway with bundles of blankets and others with sacks filled with bandages and ointments.

Isobel finished packing a crate just as Ella appeared at the door and motioned for her.

“What happens?” Isobel asked catching up to Ella who rushed down the corridor. They went up the stairs to the sitting room where Lady Mariel and Beatrice sat. They were drinking tea while cutting sheets into strips for bandages.

“Sit,” Lady Mariel said, motioning to a chair. “I do not want ye exhausting yerself. When Darach returns, he will need ye to be strong and help him with whatever is needed.”

Isobel fought the urge to tell her mother-in-law, sitting about would drive her crazy. Instead, she grabbed several strips and began rolling them while standing near the door.

“All will be well. I am sure the Uisdein does not wish to go to war. Our army is much larger than his.”

Isobel’s heart lifted. “Is that true?”

“It is,” Ella replied. “The reason we’ve not had war in a long time is because our enemy’s armies are both smaller. If they formed an alliance, even then, we would be just a wee bit larger.”

“There will not be a war,” Lady Mariel said, her face drawn with worry.

Just then shouts sounded and as a group, they rushed out of the room and up the stairs to the top of the building. From there, they could see the huge contingency of men. The warriors formed four straight long lines.

From the regalia of the horses, it was easy to make out the Ross brothers, each mounted in front of a line of men.

Duncan lifted his arm, and everyone called out, what Isobel knew as the clan creed. After, that he rode out with his group of men.

One by one, Stuart, Ewan, and Gideon each followed with a line of men behind.

If she counted right, each brother had fifty warriors for a total of two hundred men. The ones who remained behind stood in four lines of the same number, before them on his horse was Caelan, who rode between the flanks speaking to them.

“My sons, Darach and Caelan included, are all strong and noble men. I am very proud of them all.” Lady Mariel gave a sad sigh.

“Where is Caelan’s mother?” Beatrice asked peering down at the large man.

Her name is Celia, and she lives in one of the villages with her husband.

“Ye had her thrown out then?” Beatrice asked and Isobel didn’t bother correcting her. She was too busy watching the men ride into the distance.

Lady Mariel shook her head. “No. I do not believe Celia wished to lay with my husband or bear his child. She is now married to a man she loves dearly.”

“Oh,” Beatrice replied. “He was not a kind man at all then?”

“Not in the least,” Lady Mariel replied.

Lady Mariel came to Isobel and hugged her waist. “We must have faith that all will be well and Darach will return to us safely. Ye cannot leave any room for worry or doubt.”

“How can ye be so strong? The Macdonalds have never been at war in North Uist, not for decades. I do not know what it is to see so many men formed together and ride off to battle.”

Lady Mariel looked to Ella. “I am strong for my children. Even though they are all full-grown adults, they remain mine to pray for and look after. Motherhood never ends.”

When the last of the men rode out of sight, they made their way back downstairs. Lady Mariel hurried across the great hall with Isobel following.

She entered the kitchen and looked to the head cook. “Greer, will the guardsmen take care of meals for the men outside?”

The cook nodded. “Aye. The baker from the village will be sending bread. Boars will be roasted, and pottage is being boiled over a fire in the courtyard.”

“Very good,” her mother-in-law went to a side table. “A simple meal of bread and cheese will suffice for last meal for us. There are only five of us inside the keep.”

“I willna hear of it,” the cook replied. “We are roasting a chicken with vegetables for ye.” The woman made shooing motions. “Go on and do what ye need. Last meal will be ready at the normal time.”

After offering thanks and a warm smile to the cook, Lady Mariel got a bone with bits of meat on it and walked from the room.

“Where is Albie?” She went to the great hall to find Darach’s dog sleeping near the hearth. The dog wagged its tail but did not show interest in the tasty offering.

Isobel kneeled next to the animal. “What is it boy? Ye love bones.”

“He does not care for Darach to be gone so long,” Lady Mariel said. “I have tried to urge him to eat since yesterday.”

“I will help,” Isobel said. “I think he will enjoy a walk.”

“Do not go far,” Lady Mariel said already rushing to whatever the next task was.

“Come Albie,” Isobel called motioning to the dog, who rushed to her side. They walked out into the courtyard and on through the side gates to where she and Darach had walked together with Albie before.

The excited dog ran to find a stick, while Isobel stood, looking off toward the sea. It was so utterly unnecessary for there to be constant conflict. Why couldn’t people remain satisfied with what they had? It