by Sky Winters
“Good boy, but we can’t stay here,” she said, smoothing his nuzzle as she looked around and listened. Not too far off, she heard the crunch of branches. It could be anything, including her brother’s knights. There was no doubt they would pursue her until there was no hope of her being found. Their fate in returning to her brother without her in their clutches would be decidedly final in nature.
She climbed back on the horse and followed the forest along the edge of the deep ravine until she arrived at a clearing in the trees. There was no sign of the knights as she cleared the woods and began galloping quickly across the meadow ahead of her. She topped a slight ridge and her face fell. Facing her were a good portion of the knights, apparently having figured out what she had done and fallen back to track her back into the woods. She turned, too quick, and the horse came out from under her. It stumbled away as she struggled to get out from under its faltering feet.
“Well, look who decided to turn back up,” Sir Hooson said, climbing off his horse to retrieve her. Murdina scrambled toward the edge of the chasm.
“Stop! Come any closer to me and I’ll throw myself over the edge!” she screamed at him.
“Go ahead. You’ll save me the trouble of hauling you back to your brother kicking and screaming,” he laughed as he continued toward her.
Murdina took a deep breath and said a silent prayer as she stood on the edge, preparing to jump. Suddenly, strong arms were around her, pulling her upon the back of a black stallion headed deep into the woods. She barely had time to register what was happening as she was rushed into the dark part of the forest where no one dared go by a strange man she had never seen before. They were miles away before he stopped and climbed down, helping her off the horse before pulling the hood of the long dark cloak her wore away from his head. She stood looking up at his dark, handsome face and broad shoulders as he looked down upon her softly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to see if you were okay, but it appeared you were between a rock and hard place back there. Well, a mob and a hole might be more apt,” he told her with a smile.
“I’m . . . fine,” she hesitated. “Are we safe from them? I can’t go back with them.”
“You are safe,” he replied, putting his hands on her shoulders to calm her. She felt a shudder go through her entire being as he touched her. Whoever he was, he had saved her.
“Thank you so much. I was in dire straits,” she told him.
“It certainly seemed that way. Why are those men after you?” he asked.
Murdina considered the question, but was hesitant to answer. She had no idea who this man was. Just because he saved her didn’t mean he was a good guy. He could very well turn around and ransom her back to her brother if he knew who she was.
“They wanted to trade me for favors from a man with which they do business,” she replied.
“Sounds like nasty business, that. Where were you planning to go to get away from them? I can help you get there,” he replied.
“I didn’t know. I stole a horse and just took off on it. I was just trying to get far away and then sort out where I would go after that,” she replied.
“Well, our camp is not far. We are mostly men, but there are some women. You are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need. You will be safe. We only ask that you do your part,” he told her.
“That would be overwhelmingly kind of you. I would appreciate it very much,” she replied, feeling relieved.
“Very good. I’m Rory of the Clan McKordia,” he told her, looking at her softly.
“Anna,” she lied.
“Just Anna?” he asked.
“Yes, just Anna,” she told him.
“Well, Anna, let’s get you back to camp before those men decide to venture into the darkness to find you,” he replied.
Murdina knew that the men would not venture into the darkest part of the woods to look for her. At least, not at this late hour. She could go to Rory’s camp with him at least for the night to figure out what she must do from there. Tomorrow, the men would surely return with reinforcements to retrieve her. Climbing onto the back of Rory’s horse, she held onto him as they rode quietly through the thick part of the forest. She felt safe and secure with him, despite his being a stranger to her. Hopefully, he wouldn’t betray that simple trust and she would make it to some far away land where she could feel completely at ease.
“Here we are,” he told her as they rode into what appeared to be a makeshift encampment.
Looking around, Anna could see huts that were erected with whatever materials were handy. They were built all along the banks of the river that ran through the forest and ended in a waterfall of the cliff on the other side. The cliff jutted out so that three sides of the camp were protected by the steep climb it would take to reach it from below. The only way in was through the deepest part of the forest where very few dared to venture. There were tales of many who had done so and never returned. Even the cliff itself was obscured by a heavy bank of trees that enclosed the somewhat open area along the water’s edge
“This is quite the place you have set up here,” she remarked.
“Yes, it is. We aren’t really welcome in most of the established areas of Scotland. It is in our best interest to keep to ourselves the best that we can. You are lucky that I was out bartering with a nearby trader when I came across your situation,” he said.
“I was lucky. I don’t know that I can ever thank you enough,” she replied.
“It was nothing,” he replied, stopping and climbing down off the horse. As before, he reached up to help her down.
Anna looked awkwardly around, not sure what to do next. She had no place here. All her life she had lived behind castle walls. It would be obvious to them that she was not a commoner the moment she attempted to do any menial task. Her short lived relief gave way to panic.
“Where will I stay?” she asked nervously.
“I don’t know. I have room, but that would be inappropriate. Let me get my horse unpacked and we will find a place where you will be comfortable. Have you eaten today?” he asked.
“No,” Anna replied, shaking her head and looking at the ground. She felt like a beggar.
“Then, let’s get you something to eat while I work on everything else,” he told her.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, feeling ashamed.
“Don’t say anything, Anna. Pretty much everyone here was in your shoes at some point. Some of us are kinsmen that came here together, but a good many of the people are just like yourself. They were on the run from something or someone when they wound up here. Some hadn’t eaten for days and had nothing to call their own. They came here and made a new life. You can find a place here, if you choose. If not, then you are welcome to our good graces while you figure it out. As I said before, we only ask that you do your part while among us,” he told her gently.
A tear rolled down Anna’s face. She couldn’t imagine living in these conditions for very long. Then again, she had nowhere else to go. At least it would give her time to come up with a plan. She nodded silently toward Rory, not able to say anything at the moment for fear she would burst into all out tears.
“Very good. See that woman right over there with the giant black pot over a fire?” he asked. Anna nodded again and he continued, “Go over there and tell her you want a bowl of whatever she is making. Tell her I sent you.”
“Okay,” Anna replied, starting toward the woman. She stopped suddenly and turned back, only to find that Rory was still watching her walk away. “Um, thank you again, Rory.”
“My pleasure,” he replied, turning away to begin unpacking the horse.
Anna hurried over to the woman, a large pie faced peasant that she ordinarily would not have so much as glanced at. She relayed what Rory had told her to say and the woman beamed at her, fishing a large wooden bowl off a nearby table. Filling it with a healthy portion of the porridge she had prepared in the large iron kettle, she retrieved a hard crust of
bread and a small block of cheese to place on top, handing them to Anna and directing her to a nearby rock where she could sit and eat.
“There you go, love. Welcome to our home,” the woman told her with a large grin as she handed her a large stein filled with fresh milk. “Just wash your things when you are done and return them to the table.”
“Thank you so much!” Anna told her, taking her food over to the large flat rock and sitting down to eat. She had never tasted food like this before. It was quite delicious, full of unusual spices and consistencies. She had forgotten how hungry she had gotten and was done with the food in no time. She swilled down the last of her milk and sat looking around at the people working on various things around her. Feeling quite gluttonous, she took her empty vessels over to the edge of the water and began rinsing them in the flowing stream. Rory met her as she returned.
“Feel better now?” he asked.
“Yes. I feel almost like a person again,” she told him, smiling.
“Good. I found you someplace to stay. We will need to do some work to it today, but it will be yours for as long as you need it,” he told her.
“That’s great!” Anna told him, following him in the direction he motioned. She found herself standing in a run down little shack built with various branches and sticks. The floor was dirt and the wind whistled through it, but it seemed fairly sturdy.
“My friend, Haggis, built this for himself. He wasn’t quite done when we lost him. Quite the charmer, he was. It is only fitting that a damsel in distress take it over for him,” Rory said, the half-smile on his face very telling as to his affection for his lost friend.
“What happened to him?” she asked thoughtfully.
“An unfortunate hunting accident,” he replied with a grimace. “Anyway, let’s get this place set up for you. I’ll mix up some clay to fill in the holes for you so that you aren’t chilled to the bone. I have some blankets and extra things you can use inside. Of course, you are always welcome to borrow anything of mine that you need. I only request that you ask first and return promptly.”
“This is all so nice of you. I don’t know how I will ever repay you,” she replied.
“Just find some peace. That will be good enough for me,” he told her.
“I will do my best,” she replied.
“Okay, there is a broom and some old potato sacks over by where you got the porridge from May. I suggest you sweep out the debris from the floor and line it with the sacks to make it a little more habitable in there. Though you might want to hold up on the sacks until after we have filled the holes. Some clay is bound to escape inside as we work,” he told her.
“I’ll just sweep and then help you with the holes before I worry about the sacks,” she told him.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” he replied.
They both left the small hut. Murdina retrieved the broom while he mixed clay over near the river. By the time he returned, with two large buckets in hand, she had finished cleaning up a bit inside and was waiting, ready to apply the mud to her new home.
“Have you ever done this before?” he asked.
“No, never,” she admitted.
“You just scoop up the clay with your hand and smooth it into the cracks in the branches. The more we can cover, the warmer it will be in there for you. Watch me,” he told her, dipping one of his large hands into the bucket and slapping a healthy bit of the mud onto the branches. He smeared it all around, letting it pack into the cracks between the branches. Murdina followed suite, though her hands were much smaller. The branches scraped at her delicate skin as she worked, but she ignored the pain and tried to do her part as best she could.
After several more trips to the river for more clay and hours of working side by side, the hut was finally done. The two of them stood back, looking at it as it stood drying in the sun. Murdina felt quite proud of herself as she took in her handiwork. While it dried, she ducked inside and swept out the clay that had dripped onto the floor below before it could harden there. Afterward, she lined the inside with the potato sacks and retrieved some rocks to hold some of the edges down so that they didn’t shift about.
“Looks better already,” Rory told her as he stepped inside. “Where do you want your cot?”
“Cot?” she asked.
“Yes. I can’t very well leave a lady to sleep on the ground on sacks. I have some spare wood by my place. I can build you a simple cot to sleep on. You’ll find it much more comfortable,” he told her.
“I feel like you have done so much for me already,” she told him.
“I don’t mind. Come on and help me carry some of this over,” he told her.
Anna followed him over to where the rocks rose further up to a taller cliff on one side of the ones they were on. She watched as he stepped inside a cave entrance and then followed him inside and down a narrow passageway between two stone cave walls. Much to her surprise, it opened back up into a massive cathedral where he had set up his living quarters.
“This is incredible!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, it is,” he replied, gathering up some animal skins and wool blankets to hand to her.
“Do you live here alone?’ she asked, hoping it didn’t seem too personal.
“I do. I always have. I found this place a long time ago, when I first happened upon this clearing in the woods and the cliffs. In fact, I almost went right over the cliffs on my way through the woods that surrounded them. Injured my horse trying to pull back at the last moment and had to stay for a while to let him heal. There was nothing here and it was cold out. I found the entrance to the cave and initially holed up in the passageway. It wasn’t until the next morning that I discovered the rest. There is a lot more to it. I will show you one day when we have more time,” he told her, handing her a drinking vessel, some gourds and a length of twine.
“Gourds?” she said quizzically.
“You’ll see. Take that stuff back to your hut and I’ll be there soon with the wood and tools to build your cot,” he told her. Anna nodded and left with the armload of things he had given her. The camp was beginning to get a bit fuller with people she assumed were returning from elsewhere. Several of them looked at her curiously as she passed and a few greeted her politely or introduced themselves. She had to admit she felt a bit awkward here among strangers as she ducked into her hut to hide out until Rory arrived. He was only minutes behind her.
“Let’s get this done. It is getting late and I want to start a boar on the spit for our dinner,” he replied.
“Our dinner?” she replied.
“Yes, unless you are planning on going out and slaying game of your own, I expected we would eat together,” he told her.
“I am afraid I lack any hunting skills,” she told him.
“I am not surprised. They don’t usually teach such things to royalty,” he replied.
“Royalty?” she said, her heart suddenly beating rapidly in her chest.
“Yes. You didn’t really think I didn’t know who you are, did you, Murdina?” he said with a smile.
“Are you going to send me back to my brother?” she asked fearfully.
“No. Your brother is a monster. I know that he was trying to wed you to Lord Cannon. Both of their reputations are known far and wide and you will find that no one here supports them. However, it would be best that you keep your identity between the two of us. No one here would try to ransom or reward you back to him, but we do have some people who talk too much. I don’t think any of them will recognize you on their own,” he said.
“How did you?” she asked him.
“Let’s just say I’ve spent a great deal of time in the kingdom bartering without being noticed. You are not the only one your brother would like to see come to a miserable end,” he said.
“Thank you, Rory. It means a lot to me that you would help me even knowing that I lied to you and that I have such a terrible sibling on my trail,” she said.
“He and his knights do not frighten us and w
e won’t let them frighten you either as long as you are here,” he replied. Murdina stood there with tears falling down her face. It felt good to be safe and not scared of him finding out about her and sending her away. Relief truly washed over her as he pulled her to him and held her close, smoothing her hair with his broad hands. She jerked away as they were interrupted by one of the men in the camp clearing his throat in the doorway.
“You need help, Rory?” he asked.
“That would be great,” Rory replied, not bothering to explain why she had been in his arms. “Duncan, this is Anna. She will be staying with us for a while. There are some men following her and if they are stupid enough to follow her here, I will need help in making sure she is kept safe. I need that kept between us.”
“Understood,” Duncan replied before turning toward her. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Anna. Don’t worry about a thing.”
“Pleasure is all mine. Thank you, Duncan,” she replied. Wiping the last of her tears away, she moved to one side while the two men began working on a bed for her. It didn’t take long for them to finish it, leaving her a sturdy wooden frame with a heavy animal fur suspended firmly in its center. It would be warm and comfortable.
“That all you need? Duncan asked Rory.
“Can you slap me together a small table for the other side for her?” Rory asked.
“Better than that. I have one already built that I was going to barter. I’ll give her that one and make another in the morning,” he said.
“I don’t have anything to pay you with,” Anna interjected.
“You’ve no need to pay me. We work together here. At some point, I’ll need a favor and when I do, I trust I can ask you,” he said with a smile before saying a farewell.
“Let’s get these gourds up,” Rory said, using a sharp pointed piece of metal to poke holes near the top and string the chord through them. She watched as he suspended them from the entrance to the hut, getting them into place just before Duncan returned with the table. He cursed as they clacked all around his head when he entered. Rory laughed and looked at her. “And that is what you need gourds for. We will have to find you a makeshift door of some sort. In the meantime, you’ll know if anyone tries to come in before they get to you. More importantly, the people around you will know, as well.”
