Richard sighed heavily.
“We shall remedy that this day,” Aeschene said.
“Remedy what?” Raibeart asked.
“I cannae teach ye the ways of the sword. But I can teach the two of ye to read and write.”
More giggles from Colyne, but a disheartened groan from Raibeart. “I dunnae need to read and write. What I need is to learn to fight.”
“Think ye a fine warrior and chief only kens how to use his fists?” Aeschene asked with a shake of her head. “Nay, lad. A fine warrior uses his mind as much as his sword arm or fists. We shall start this afternoon. I am sure yer brother and laird agrees.”
Marisse finally offered her own opinion on the matter. “I myself find a man who can read and write as well as wield a sword rather handsome.”
All eyes turned to look at Marisse.
“Then I dunnae wish to learn,” Colyne said. “I dunnae want any lass to find me handsome. I’d rather live my life in utter ignorance.”
Every man burst out laughing at his declaration.
“Be that as it may,” Aeschene said, speaking over the din of laughter. “I would be remiss in my duties as mistress of the keep and yer sister-by-law if I let ye continue to live yer life in utter ignorance.”
The boys openly scoffed at the idea.
Aeschene ignored them. “Instead of arguing with me, mayhap ye should try to strike a bargain with yer brother and laird.”
The boys went silent. “What do ye mean?” Raibeart asked.
“Show yer brother ye are smart enough to train.”
Understanding settled in and Raibeart readily agreed. “Verra well,” he said as he turned to look at Richard. “If I begin my studies now and prove to ye I am not an eejit, will ye allow me to begin my training?”
“I wasn’t aware we were in any sort of negotiations,” Richard drawled. “But aye, I will agree. If, ye prove ye are serious.”
Satisfied and hopeful, Raibeart gave a curt nod of his head. “I will show ye. I will show ye.”
After breaking their fast, Aeschene, Marisse, Raibeart and Colyne left the confines of the keep. Colyne didn’t seem to mind spending his time with the women. Raibeart, however, groused and grumbled all the way to the gate. His hostility towards her had softened but only marginally. Believing it was a step in the right direction, Aeschene left him be.
With her arm looped into Marisse’s they carefully made their way down the path to see who they could help this day.
Aeschene listened to the sounds of the breeze rustling against the leaves and the happy twitter of the birds. Although the rain had stopped at least an hour ago, everything around them was still wet. Tiny droplets of water dripped from the leaves, everything, including the earth under their feet, smelled fresh and new. Oh, how she loved springtime and how the world smelled and sounded after a long rain. If only she could see it. It could only be made better if the people of the clan would take the chance to get to know her.
Down the winding path, Marisse saw a few women standing near a small garden next to one of the better cottages. The women took one look at the group and scurried inside the nearest cottage and bolted the door. Marisse could take their retreat one of two ways: ’twas done as an affront to their new lady, or ’twas done out of ignorance. Either way, it didn’t bode well for either of them. She knew it pained Aeschene considerably to be ignored like this. But what were they to do about it?
Farther down the path was a small group of children. They varied in age from mayhap three to as old as ten, Marisse supposed. They were chasing one another, laughing and cackling with the sort of delight only children can possess.
“Och!” Aeschene smiled in the direction of the playing children. “How many are there?”
After a quick head count, Marisse answered, “Five. The oldest looks about ten, the youngest mayhap three. I see three girls and two lads.”
It did Aeschene’s heart much good to hear children laughing. Children who laughed and played were children who felt safe and much loved.
As they neared one of the dilapidated huts, the door opened and out stepped a man. He was seventy if he was a day. Thin white hair barely covered his head. He was as thin as a rail, with a slight hunch to his back. When he saw the group approaching, his brow furrowed with confusion. When he saw Raibeart and Colyne, his countenance changed. He looked as though he wanted to run and hide his valuables.
“That be Gylmyne,” Raibeart told the women. “He be verra hard of hearin’ and as mean as a wounded bear!”
Aeschene thought it might be a bit of an exaggeration. “Let us meet him,” she told Marisse.
“Ye’ll regret it,” Colyne told her. “Raibeart be right. He be a verra mean auld man.”
Undeterred by the warnings, she called out to the man. “Good day to ye.” She offered up her warmest smile and hoped the boys were merely exaggerating.
“What be good about it?” came his gruff reply.
“Well, the rain has stopped and the sun be shinin’,” she replied happily. “And I be on walkin’ side of the soggy earth and not layin’ beneath it.”
The auld man stared at her for a long moment, as if studying some strange new creature, before bursting into laughter. ’Twas a deep, hearty laugh that made Aeschene and Marisse giggle. Colyne and Raibeart were stunned.
“I have never heard Gylmyne laugh before,” Raibeart whispered as he eyed the man disbelievingly.
Colyne nodded in agreement.
Wiping a tear from his face and still smiling, Gylmyne stepped forward and gave Aeschene a slight bow. “Ye be the laird’s new wife.”
From his tone, he didn’t sound the least bit angry or malicious, and for that she was grateful. She dipped a curtsey and said, “Aye, I am Aeschene. And this is my friend, Marisse.”
Gylmyne dipped his head to each of the young women whilst keeping a watchful eye on the two young lads standing behind them. “What are ye two heathens about this day?” he asked, directing that particular question to the boys.
Aeschene answered the question on their behalf. “Raibeart and Colyne have graciously agreed to show Marisse and I around the keep and lands.” She ignored Colyne’s grunt and Raibeart’s snort of derision.
“What have ye done to displease yer husband, to have forced those two beasties on ye?” Gylmyne asked, his tone most serious.
Aeschene laughed and shook her head. “In truth, I find the lads good company.”
Gylmyne chuckled with the belief that Aeschene was jesting. “I reckon ye find bramble bushes and angry bears good company as well, aye?”
Realizing that perhaps what she’d heard about the two lads penchant for getting into trouble was not far from the truth, she decided to take a more plateful approach. “They are good lads when ye take the time to know them,” she said with a genuine smile.
She couldn’t see the look of bewilderment in the older man’s eyes, but the rest of her group did. Gylmyne leaned nearer to whisper to the two women. “Ye best keep a watchful eye on those two,” he warned. “I swear I have ne’er met two more bothersome and troubled lads before.”
Troubled? To Aeschene’s way of thinking, the word ‘troubled’ meant the two boys were not of sound mind or spirit. They had lost their mother under dark and painful circumstances. “Mayhap they simply need a woman’s influence,” she whispered her reply.