158

"What have you to report?"

"Well," Meghan said. "I told you last meeting I asked if I could train like Lady's Aileen and Isobel, hoping I could stay close to Isobel and hear what kinds of things they discussed at training, but now they're encouraging all the women to learn. A couple more are to start tomorrow and they're giving them time off from all their other work. I don't understand it. They'll be hardly enough maids to do the regular work. The head housekeeper's already complaining about it. I suppose it has to do with how well the lady's did on the training grounds today. First, they beat fifteen of Frang's fighters, then twenty of Thorburn's. Bang, just like that. Don't think it took more than fifteen minutes to do the final twenty, though they were inexperienced as to the new training, so maybe it's why it ended so fast."

"What new training?" He asked.

"They put a lot of things on the training grounds. I don't understand it, but it's supposed to be more like real fighting would be, instead of the flat empty field it was before; put out fences, rocks, stumps, dug holes and the like. I understand Ailene is going to show Thorburn how they did it; how she and Lady Isobel could beat twenty of his best fighters. I don't understand. It's not like they weren't trained before. I heard some of the men say he could whip any two of Blackthorne's boys any day of the week, but it could be bragging and untrue. Why they'd want the women to learn to fight, I don't know, unless they think they can be trained to do the same thing Ailene and Isobel did today. Seems like it would take a long time, though. They've been training for months. Is it okay if I leave now. My arms and legs are killing me from the new training. I had to train this afternoon in addition to this morning."

"You've nothing else?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. Lady Luck Farm's not going to market day next week, but I heard Thorburn's lads complaining they had to go for extra supplies next week. Surprised me as it looked like they had a couple weeks of supplies already. Also complained about the route they had to go, the secondary road and then west into Dervaig. Said it added a couple hours to the trip and how much they hated going that way. That's it, but I figured I could tell you next meeting as market day isn't for another six days and we'd be meeting before then."

"Okay, you can go."

Meghan limped away. She didn't have to fake it. Her arms and legs were screaming at her. She could hardly wait to put more liniment on them.

So it began.

"Bonnie, I would like your help with a bath this evening," Teárlag said. "All this travel has left me dirty and tired."

"Yes, Mistress."

"I will arrange with Thorburn to have his servants bring up the water. But I could use your help."

"Of course.

The bathtub and hot water was brought into Thorburn's room for Teárlag.

"Lock the door so no one barges in like the last time," Teárlag said.

After it was done, the maid helped her with her dress and Teárlag sank gratefully into the water. She motioned the maid closer.

"Do you have a way to get news out of the Keep so Blackthorne gets it immediately?" Teárlag whispered. "I've got important information that shouldn't wait until our next report."

"I do, Mistress."

"Good, we need to get this information out right away."

"I believe the Camerons are planning an attack of some kind on the Manor, perhaps in the next couple months. I think they're planning to do it before harvest, so food stores are low in the event they must starve him out. Thorburn is beginning to stockpile supplies. He's going back to Dervaig next market day to buy a lot more supplies, more wagons than usual, heavily guarded."

"I heard the same thing. They're going on the secondary road and approaching from the east along the shore of Loch A Chumhainn."

"No, it's merely the story they're passing out. They've either caught or suspect more spies, and they're providing false information so they can't be ambushed. They'll take the main road to Dervaig, the quickest route. We've had a couple different meetings. They haven't gone into lots of details yet, but I know Thorburn's very pleased with the progress of Isobel and Ailene and he's thinking of training more young, fit women rather than try to hire more men. If he's got a couple months to train them, he feels they could be valuable warriors. Did you see what happened this morning?"

"No, mistress, though I heard the women did well."

"Well! It was astonishing. First Bjarkë sends fifteen of his best lads against Isobel and Ailene and they're all killed. Well, not killed, not really, but pretend. They aren't allowed to fight again. Thorburn can't believe it and sends twenty of his own against them, and not only are they killed like the first, they're killed faster. Apparently the women are killing machines and Frang thinks it's due to the new training they started. They're going to start the same thing here. They started setting it up in the courtyard this afternoon as soon as they got back."

"I saw them making changes," Bonnie said.

"I don't know how the new training works, but it certainly seems effective. Thirty five men disposed of by two women. Perhaps you should volunteer for the training. They sound like they're willing to train anyone. Then you could explain to Blackthorne how it's done."

"Why not you, Lady Mackintosh. Surely Thorburn would want his wife able to protect herself."

"Nay," Teárlag said. "Me? Get all hot and sweaty? Nay. They train in pants. You'd never catch me in a pair of pants instead of a dress. It would be unseemly for the Lady of the House."

"Lady Ailene seems fine with it."

"She's young and foolish. Probably doesn't realize what a spectacle she's making of herself. Aye, I think you should do it. No one cares about a maid. You're not a lady like me."

Bonnie thought for a moment. "Don't you think one of the men should take the training instead of me."

"Except for my driver and footman, I don't know who the other spies are, do you? I mean they can't go. They have to deliver our reports to Blackthorne. If they're training, they couldn't leave and deliver our reports. Nay, unless you know of another, I think you should do it."

"I'll ask the others if they know of any man who can take the training."

"Sure, if you like. I think Blackthorne would like to know about it, don't you? So if you can't find someone else by the day after tomorrow, you should sign up for it?"

"Yes, Mistress. I'll find someone else."

"Wonderful. My hair got quite dusty today. Could you wash it for me?"