“M’Laird, if you would open your lips and swallow this tea, you will feel better in a wee bit,” Maidie spoke gently.
The mouth opened to take the cup between its lips and sip the tea. He coughed and winced. The eyes closed once more. His body tensed, becoming rigid, but soon relaxed and grew limp.
Maidie spoke to Gavin, “He needs to be washed and taken to a comfortable bed.”
“I’ll see to his washing,” Davina spoke while gently placing Andrew’s head on the pallet. She stood and told the gille or young servant, “Bring clean water and more towels to the laird’s chamber,” then turned to Maidie who stood. “We are forever in your debt, Madam. Will you come daily to check on my brother and see to his welfare?”
“Yes, Lady Davina. I’ll come,” Maidie promised. She handed Davina the cup of tea. “See that he drinks several sips more when he awakens. It will keep the pain at bay.”
Gavin turned to Maidie. “I’ll escort you home, Madam. I must take Randal to his family and tell Anne of his passing.”
“Ach! Sven. I forgot he waited outside in the yard for me. He will be frightened.” She turned, grabbing her bags and rushed to find her son.
Chapter Two
Maidie frantically searched for Sven, but could not find him in the inner bailey. She called his name with no response. Her eyes searched the walkway on the upper curtain wall, thinking he may have climbed to a higher place to look out over the countryside. She saw only guards.
She called to a nearby fellow, “Have you seen my son?”
He returned, “Nae, Madam. No’ a lad have I seen this day.”
Panic seized Maidie, causing a pain in the pit of her stomach. “Lord, where is Sven? Help me find him.”
A servant led an ox-drawn cart into the bailey. Another led two saddled horses. The tanist must be getting ready to transport the body of Randal home to Anne. Maidie ran to the man leading the horses.
“Have you seen my son—a wee lad of six years?”
“Nae wee lad have I seen,” the servant turned to take the horses closer to the door of the keep. The ox cart followed.
Maidie ran ahead of the men and tugged at the heavy wooden door, just as Gavin opened it from the inside. She crashed into him. He caught her arms in a firm grasp. “Where are you going in such a rush, Madam? I am ready to take you home.”
She looked up into the dirt-streaked face of the chief’s brother. “I canna find my son. He was to stay in the bailey until I came for him.”
Gavin took Maidie by the arm. “Come with me, I’ll help you look while they put Randal in the cart. I want you to help me talk to Anne. Women have a better way with words than men. You look around the hall in that direction.” He pointed to the southern section of the great hall where men carried Andrew up the stone steps, followed by Davina and two maidservants. “I’ll look this way and into the kitchen. He may have gone for food.” Gavin pointed in the opposite direction to the three arched doorways leading to the castle kitchen, pantry, and the last to the service close outside the keep that housed the brewhouse, bakehouse, dairy, laundry, blacksmith, and workshops.
Maidie rushed around the great hall of the keep, searching frantically for Sven. He was nowhere to be seen. The sour taste of hysteria began to rise in her throat. She almost ran into a small group tending the wounds of a warrior lying on a mat of rushes. Angus worked at stitching a large gash on the man’s arm.
The physician looked up when Maidie rushed by. “Stop her,” he told the fellow standing next to him.
The young servant grabbed Maidie’s arm. She tried to pull free, but he held tightly. “I’m looking for my son. Let me go,” she cried.
“Master Angus wishes to speak to you.” The young man pulled her toward Angus.
She resisted, but he was too strong. He brought her to stand beside the physician, while he finished stitching the wound and cut the silk thread. A servant raised the head of the wounded man while another gave him a sip from a wooden cup. Maidie thought the liquid must be the potion Angus gave his patients.
“Why are you running around the keep in such a fashion? Others need to be tended, or is your job over now that you cared for the laird?” He stood in front of her, his narrowed eyes glinting with a black light. “Go to that one over there.” He pointed to a wounded man who moaned loudly. “Use your secret potions and appliances on him. He needs attention.”
“I’m looking for my son.”
“The wounded need you. Take her to Alan,” Angus told the young man. He bent down to look her in the eye. “I see you still carry your sack. Dig deep into it and bring out a cure for him. He’s one of the laird’s best warriors. You must mend him to fight another day.”
Maidie drew back from the physician’s foul breath. The lad dragged her to Alan’s side. He moaned, thrashing from side to side. Why didn’t the servant give Alan some of the poppy tea to drink? It would have eased his pain. Maidie knelt by the wounded warrior and placed the leather bag beside him. He, like the others, was covered with blood and filth. No one had washed the open wound on his leg or the cuts on his body. She could not leave him thus. He would surely die. Mayhap Gavin would find Sven. Surely, her son was close at hand and in no danger. She silently asked the Lord to keep him safe.
Maidie looked up at the lad. “Fetch some hot water, towels, rags and soap. Have the cook make hot tea. I have no more mint to sweeten it, but mayhap you’ll find some in the kitchen. I’ll need a stool to sit on.”
The lad nodded and hastily left in the direction of the kitchen. Maidie touched Alan’s forehead. Fever had not set in, but it surely would if his wounds were not cleaned quickly. She looked around the hall searching for the flask of whisky. She needed it. All of the herbal paste was used on the laird and she had no herbs to make more. Had Gavin found Sven?
Alan moaned again, and her attention turned back to him. She reached into the leather bag and drew out the needle, silk thread, and dirk for the second time. She could not leave a man in such need. Angus was right. The wounded needed tending. She would stay and help where she could, but Gavin must find Sven.
The young servant returned with the articles Maidie requested. He placed a large bowl of steaming water beside her, along with a stack of towels and rags, with a piece of lye soap on top of the stack. Maidie put the needle, thread and dirk into the water for sterilization, and then placed them on a clean towel.
She dipped a rag into the hot water, soaped it, and then began washing Alan’s belly. Repeating the process on his arms and legs, she washed around the open gash on his thigh, then toweled him dry. He moaned from time to time but did not open his eyes. Maidie noticed a cut on his neck that may need suturing and began the tedious job of carefully washing his face and neck, but not getting soap or water into his eyes or wound. When the warrior was as clean as she could get him at the moment, she picked up the needle to thread it.
“Mam! Mam!” Sven’s voice rang out across the great hall. Maidie turned to see him running toward her from the outside door. Gavin followed. Her son ran into her arms. She held Sven fast with one hand and the needle out of his reach with the other.
“Where have you been? I’ve worried myself sick about you.” Sven raised his head from her shoulder to look into her eyes. “I told you to stay within the bailey,” she scolded.
“I was with Effie and Dan. We went to see the horses.” The lad rested his head on her shoulder again.
“I found him in the stable trying to talk the stableman into letting him ride a horse,” Gavin said, striding up to the group. “I thought you would be ready to go with me to Anne’s.”
“I must stay and help Angus with the wounded. He can’t get to them all, and they need help.” Maidie gently pushed Sven aside, picked up the thread, and began threading the long needle. She looked at Gavin. “Thank you for finding Sven. He shouldn’t have left the bailey.” She gave Sven another hard look, then turned back to Gavin. “Will you please take him to Flora’s? She will keep him until I’m finished h
ere. Do you ken where Flora lives?”
“Aye, I ken where Flora lives.” A strange look glinted in Gavin’s eyes. “I’ll take him, but I wanted you to go with me to Anne’s when I take Randal home.”
“Mayhap Flora will go. She’s lost a husband also, and will ken how to comfort Anne. Sven can stay with her son until she returns. The two boys are close friends.”
“I’ll ask her, but Flora doesn’t have your easy temperament. She may do more harm than good.”
Ah, so Gavin is acquainted with Flora well enough to know about her high and erratic temper. Maidie couldn’t think about Flora and Gavin at the moment, she had to direct her attention to the task of stitching Alan’s wound.
Maidie kissed her small son’s flushed cheek. “I love you, Sven. Go with Sir Gavin to Flora’s now, and play with Phillip. I’ll be home when I’m finished helping the wounded.”
Sven gave her neck another hug. “Hurry home, Mam.”
Maidie smiled at the sweet face with a wrinkled brow. Gavin took Sven’s hand and led him away. Her wee son looked back at her. She waved. Her heart felt relief. Now she could concentrate on the waiting task. The wounded warrior moaned when Maidie took a stitch in the open wound.
Her neck cramped from bending over, and her back ached. She rubbed a sore place on her arm. The gloaming turned dark, but Maidie continued to work without stopping to eat or rest. Too many were losing too much blood, and every life was worth her sacrifice. Someone touched her shoulder and she turned around. Davina stood at her side.
“Maidie, you need to rest. You’ve been here all day and now into the night.” Davina’s soft brown eyes shone with compassion.
“There are still some who need tending.” Maidie turned back to the task of washing the grime off a dirty leg.
Davina motioned for a nearby servant. “Finish washing this mon. I’m taking the lady with me.” She turned back to Maidie, pulling her up. Her legs were numb and she could hardly stand. Davina held tightly to Maidie’s arm. “Angus and his assistants will finish the task. I have a bedchamber and bath made ready, and food ordered. You should eat now, and rest. However, I would ask that you look in on Andrew before retiring.”
Maidie rubbed the small of her aching back. “I must return home. Sven is waiting at Flora’s.”
“I will have someone fetch Sven.” Davina pulled Maidie along by the arm.
Maidie looked back at the wounded man she had been tending. The servant busily washed the dirty body. She hated to leave, but knew Davina was right. Maidie, picking up her leather sack, barely had strength to follow Davina up the spiral stone staircase to the second floor of the keep. The two women walked through a passage, with only the light from a few pitch torches in wall sconces lighting the way. Smoke from the torches curled around the ceiling. Davina stopped at a heavy door and knocked gently. The gille opened the door and held it open for them to enter.
They stepped into a large bedchamber, sparsely but richly furnished. A fire burned brightly in the enormous fireplace that covered one wall of the room. Two portraits hung above an oak mantle. One was of a hunter in full attire with a bow and quiver of arrows. The hunter was dressed in a great plaide woven in the muted hues of hunting colors held in place by a wide leather belt with a beaver skin sporran at his waist. A large silver brooch with a tear-shaped crystal in the center attached the plaide at his shoulder. A bonnet of the same colors with a silver Munro badge pinned to the front fit snugly atop dark, shoulder-length hair. The broad face with high cheekbones sported a spade-shaped black beard. Grey eyes peered from under heavy dark brows. Two large spotted hounds stood close to his stockinged legs. Maidie thought she must be looking at a portrait of Laird Andrew, but the man seemed older.
The second portrait was that of a delicately featured, chestnut-haired young woman with hazel eyes and alabaster skin dressed in a low-cut, red silk gown. She wore a jacket of matching red leather, the outside facings and cuffs trimmed in sable fur. Her thick hair, parted in the middle, was combed back with a red caplet covering the bun. Earbobs of soft white pearls adorned her ears, and rings graced the forefinger and third finger of each delicate hand.
The lady’s left hand rested on the shoulder of a small boy dressed in a belted plaide of muted reds, greens, and blues, secured at the shoulder with a large silver brooch. He wore a fitted black leather jacket with the crisp collar and cuffs of a white linen léine showing at the neck and sleeves. White wool stockings held securely by a red garter covered his legs with black brogans on his feet. The boy’s black hair was tied in a queue, and his grey eyes bore a serious look.
“’Tis a portrait of our father and our mither with Andrew,” Davina said. “She died before Gavin and I could have our portraits painted with her.” Maidie heard the sadness in the young voice.
She turned to the lass, searching her youthful face. “You favor your mither, Lady Davina.”
“Aye, so everyone says. Even in her ways, I’m told.” The lady stood transfixed, gazing at the portraits.
Maidie continued looking around the chamber. A large intricately carved, highly polished wooden trunk gleamed on either side of the fireplace. The carvings on the lids of the trunks were of birds, flowers, trees and animals overlaying one atop the other. The trunks probably held the chief’s clothing. Two leather-backed chairs sat before the fire with an oak table between them. A cut-glass decanter and two goblets graced an ebony tray atop the table.
Davina turned away from the portraits and caught Maidie by the arm again, pulling her to the side of a large four-poster bed with heavy curtains hanging from the top rail. “You must see about Andrew now.”
The gille pushed a curtain aside, exposing the chief’s limp body covered with a single quilt. His large arms lay folded across one another on the outside of the covering. Dark chest hair curled along the top edge. Maidie put her hand to his forehead. It felt hot.
She turned to the servant. “Get a bowl of cool water, and begin washing his face, chest, and arms until the fever breaks. Change the water often so it stays cool.” Davina bent over her brother and felt his forehead. “All we can do now, Lady Davina, is wait and see if he survives and the wound heals properly.” Maidie asked the servant, “Do you still have some of the poppy tea I made earlier?”
“A verra small amount, Madam,” the man replied.
“You are to administer the tea only if he seems to be in a great deal of pain.” The gille nodded.
Maidie searched Andrew’s face and placed a hand on his forehead. Dark circles lined the cheeks under his eyes. His pale face felt hot and moist with perspiration, but it no longer had the appearance of death. The faintest pink tinge appeared on his high cheekbones. His dark eyelashes twitched at her touch and his hand moved. She thought he might open his eyes, but he did not.
“Come, Maidie. The servants and I will take care of Andrew. You must rest now.” Davina placed her hand on Maidie’s elbow.
With one last look at the injured laird, Maidie turned to follow Andrew’s sister from the chamber and down the passage to another door just two down from the chief’s. They entered to find an elaborately furnished chamber with a long gilded mirror, trunk for storing clothing, and another large four-poster bed with embroidered damask curtains hanging from the upper railings. A wooden tub with steaming water sat beside the ornate fireplace. Several towels lay in a pile near the tub with a piece of soap on top. Surely, this was the chamber for important guests. She felt honored to be allowed to stay in such a place.
Davina opened the door when a knock sounded. A maidservant entered with a kettle of steaming water. Davina turned to leave. “I’ll leave you to your bathing. You will find a gown and robe on the bed, with slippers beneath. Sven will arrive soon, so dinna be too long.”
Maidie went to the lady. “Thank you. I feel honored to be your guest and stay in such a fine chamber.”
“You’ve done a great deed for my brother this day. The entire clan is in your debt.” She took Maidie’s hand. “Thank you.”<
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Maidie looked into the depths of Davina’s eyes and didn’t know how to answer. She had no pleasure in attending the wounded or burying the dead after a battle. She did what she could; sometimes a life was saved, and sometimes a life lost.
“I’ll be praying for your brother and all of the wounded,” she told Davina.
“So will I. Thank you for your prayers.” Davina took her hand from Maidie’s and left the chamber.
Maidie turned her thoughts to the pleasant task of relaxing in a hot tub of scented water and bathing her tired body. The maidservant assisted with removing the soiled, bloodstained woolen skirt, vest, and linen blouse. She gently pulled Maidie’s chemise down over her waist so she could step out of it and helped Maidie into the tub of steaming water. Strong hands assisted the tired woman in washing her hair and body, and pouring warm water over her head for rinsing. The maid helped Maidie get out of the tub, then dry off and dress. She had not experienced such gentle touching and tender care from another since leaving her father’s house and felt like a privileged lady of Fàrdach Castle.
“Madam, if you will sit in the chair beside the fire, I’ll comb your hair before it tangles.” The maid fetched a comb made of bone from a nearby table, while Maidie settled in the wooden chair beside the fire. The woman began combing Maidie’s wet hair.
“What is your name?” she asked the maid.
“My name’s Nellie, Madam. Alan is my husband. He’s the warrior whose leg you stitched.” Nellie gave Maidie’s hair one last stroke with the comb, and then returned it to the table. She turned back the pale yellow comforter and quilts of the bed and fluffed the down pillows.
“You’re done now, Madam. Would you wish to get into bed?”
“No, Nellie. I’ll sit by the fire and wait for Sven to arrive. He may need a bath. I dinna want him to sleep in such a nice bed with a dirty body.” Nellie hesitated. “I’ll bathe Sven,” Maidie said, “and there’s another kettle of warm water. That will be all I need for now. Just place the kettle close to the fire so the water will stay warm.”
A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) Page 2
