Chapter Two

Elisant Ramsay came into the Ramsay great hall from their family tower with the intent of going out to the archery field to practice, but she stopped as soon as she noticed the crowd gathered there. So many of her cousins sat about chatting that it reminded her of the Yule festivities.

She ventured over to the side table and grabbed a hunk of bread then took a seat near the hearth, waiting to hear what all the chatter was about. To her surprise, it appeared they were discussing their next patrol, which she'd been hoping would start soon.

"Eli, so glad ye joined us. Ye'll wish to hear this." Reyna waved at her. "The next patrol is leaving soon, and there arenae many going. Will ye join the patrol?"

"Of course. Tell me more." She took a bite of the crusty dark bread she loved, dipping it into a small bowl of honey on a table nearby.

Reyna flipped her long dark plait off her shoulder, then continued. "Grandda received word that the English are restless in Berwick Castle. It seems they are nearly starving and Edward hasnae sent any rations for them. James Douglas has heard they will be leaving the safety of the castle to look for food."

Eli shrugged, not really understanding all that was going on with Edward, the king of England, and the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce. It seemed the two were always at odds with each other, and she never paid much attention to the specific incidents.

"That happened before. They headed to market at Edinburgh to steal. We caught many of them then. Is that no' right?"

"Aye, Dyna and Thea were there, but this is different," Isla offered, lifting her eyes from the garment she worked on. "Douglas has heard a large number have been sent out together in search of cattle. Ye ran into a few in Edinburgh."

Ysenda said, "They are intent on stealing cattle this time." She rubbed her leg, but Eli was glad to see her sister freely moving about after breaking it last winter in an avalanche. Though she hadn't expected her dear sister to fall for Lewis Haggert so quickly.

Sometimes it felt as though she'd lost her sister.

"So who is going on patrol?" She glanced from face to face, no one answering right away. After a long pause, she asked. "No one?"

Reyna said, "Isla and I are returning to Black Isle with our husbands. Perrin will go with us. We dinnae wish to travel when we are too far along, and we wish to be near our mamas when we have our bairns."

Ysenda snorted. "Ye know how I feel. I'll never go on patrol again after what happened to me in the avalanche. Lewis might go, but I think I've convinced him to wait until the next one. My leg isnae that strong yet. I'm still limping."

Eli couldn't argue that point. Besides, she knew how particular her mother was. If Ysenda went, Eli would have to stay home. Their mother wouldn't allow both daughters on the same patrol.

Tryana said, "I'm carrying too, so Cadyn will be staying back."

"That shrinks our numbers quite a bit," Eli said, rubbing her cheek absent-mindedly. She stopped the moment she realized what she was doing. She hated the habit—it gave away too much of her thinking.

"What's wrong?" Ysenda asked. "I know that look." Her sister knew what the cheek rub meant. Something was indeed bothering her.

Eli let out a whoosh of a sigh. "So that means on the patrol will be Dyna and Maitland. Me." She paused to go back to the original list of the patrol. Isla, Grif, Reyna, Wulf, Cadyn, Ysenda, Lewis, Thea… "Thea? Are she and Willum coming?"

"Nay," her grandfather Logan said, entering the hall from the outside, banging it with a wee bit more vigor than usual. "Donnan isnae completely healed yet, so she is staying with her mother. Willum has agreed to stay with her unless ye are desperate for him. He's promised to do Donnan's work on the raised crop beds they have, just in case we have another deluge of rain this season."

Most of Europe and England had gone through drenching rains last summer, causing famine due to the ruined crops. Donnan had worked out a way to keep his family's crops out of the soggy ground, so they'd been better off than most.

Her grandsire moved closer to Eli. "I know what ye are wondering, so I'll help where I can. Ceit is on Cameron land, I presume, and staying with Brin. I would expect nothing else. Patrolling isnae in her future now. Her failing eyesight unsettles her. And now that he is chieftain of Clan Cameron, Brin has too many responsibilities." Grandda paused for a moment before continuing, "So 'twill be Dyna, Maitland, ye, Wenna, Tevis, and Alaric."

She sighed again and rolled her eyes.

Isla grinned. "Who is it ye dinnae like, lass?"

"Alaric," her grandda announced.

"Grandda!" she shouted, perhaps a wee bit too loud.

The man arched his brow at her. "Ye should spend more time with him. 'Twould be a great alliance between the clans. Ceit did her duty with Clan Cameron. Someone needs to solidify the Grant alliance. And I wish ye'd do it before I die."

She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it. She couldn't think of anyone else for Alaric. "Mayhap Alaric doesnae wish to marry."

Ysenda giggled. "I think ye should ask him. Ye two would make a cute couple."

"But I dinnae wish to marry Alaric." She nearly stomped her foot but stopped at the last moment.

"Then dinnae. Find someone else. Look who Reyna found on patrol. Ye could do the same."

That gave her the perfect opportunity to roll her eyes with as much emphasis as she could produce. This conversation was getting old.

"When are we leaving?" she asked her grandfather.

"In two days. Maitland will be here to gather the group. Yer mother accepts that ye will go with the group."

"I planned on going, Grandsire. I liked the last patrol, I just wish there were more going."

"Good because 'tis yer time. Yer country needs ye. All yer cousins stepped up when they were needed. 'Tis yer turn now."

She sighed again, not wishing to argue with the man because she knew what that would bring her. More lecturing, more practicing in the fields, and then the same from her parents, because her grandfather would tell her father about any transgression she committed.

Reyna said, "Go on patrol, Eli. Ye need to get out there and see the world beyond Clan Ramsay. Each patrol travels to a different area or city. Ye'll meet many Scots along the way. I'm glad I did."

Ysenda asked, "Or do ye have yer eye on someone else?"

"I'll be out in the stable with Torrian." Her grandfather looked at her and said, "Pack yer things." Then he left.

Isla waited for the Ramsay elder to leave, then whispered, "Who is it? Ye must have yer eye on someone. Is it Alaric?"

"Nay!" she shouted, bolting out of her seat. "No one. I'm going to the archery field."

She left, a burst of giggles following her.

Why were lasses so ridiculous sometimes? Men. Who said she needed a man? What could they do for her that she couldn't do herself?

The giggling infuriated her so much that she stuck her head back in the door. "I dinnae need a man. I am no' interested in any man in either clan or on patrol." There. That should put an end to it.

"Ye may no' need one, but once ye find out what they can do for ye, ye might wish ye had one." Reyna's voice carried to her, and as much as Eli wished to slam the door like her grandfather, her cousin had her curiosity going.

"Why?" She narrowed her gaze at Reyna, whose temperament had changed now that she was married to Wulfstan. She was always happy. Sometimes too happy. What the devil was she referring to?

All the conversation stopped as they all gazed at her. Then Reyna said, "Ye truly dinnae know?"

"I know enough. I've heard all yer giggles before, but why do ye love it so?" She thought it a fair question. Even the serving lasses talked about a man's member.

Reyna ran her tongue across her lips and said, "Because it's so hot."

"Why does that matter?"

"We need to have a talk with ye, Eli. I forget ye are inexperienced in some ways. We'll meet in yer chamber after the fire is out this eve."

"Never mind." She spun on her heel and closed the door behind her. Whenever her cousins talked like this, it was as if she were naught but a wee bairn and she hated it.