Page 27 of A Fierce Archer

“And yet, they continue to cause trouble,” Ewan replied with a sneer. “And he lives still.”

“How do ye know this?”

Obviously Keithen had not informed her for whatever reason. He, on the other hand, had no reason to keep the information to himself. “He is the one who left me for dead.”

Ava’s eyes widened.

Ewan met her gaze. “Or perhaps, ye would rather thank him than kill him?”

When she remained silent, Ewan went back to the marker and pulled an arrow out of his quiver. Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw that Ava continued to stand in the same spot. She didn’t watch him now but, instead, looked past the back wall of the compound towards Mackenzie lands.

***

During first meal on the day of travel, Laird Fraser insisted the Ross guardsmen who were to depart eat in the great hall. Every table was filled as the Fraser guards who were to travel also ate inside.

With the great hall filled to capacity, Ewan imagined Catriona would not eat there. It would be too much for her. He kept an eye across the room to where her bedchamber was on the off chance she’d emerge. The table in the corner where the women sat was currently filled with guards.

“I wish to thank the men of Clan Ross for coming to our assistance,” the laird exclaimed, holding up a tankard. “Ye have ensured that the people of Clan Fraser feel safe and, for that, I am forever indebted to Laird Ross.”

The men banged their tankards on the table in reply, everyone looking around the room to each other.

“Ewan Ross,” Laird Fraser called out his name and Ewan stood and walked to the front of the room.

The laird placed a hand on his shoulder. “I thank ye for commanding yer men and honoring yer laird.” The man met his gaze directly. “Ye are a great leader and warrior who fights well, and we are grateful for yer being here.”

It was the first time Ewan had ever felt so proud. He swallowed at the thick knot in his throat. “It was my honor to serve ye, Laird.”

The laird motioned to a guard who brought a leather bundle. “This is for ye,” Laird Fraser said, unwrapping the folds to divulge a beautiful broadsword. The handle was intricately etched with a vine and thistle. “Thank ye.”

When Ewan reached for the gift, his hand shook just enough to be embarrassing. “I will carry it with pride,” he replied. Then he spoke softer. “If ye ever need me, I will come to do whatever ye may require.”

“I know ye will,” Laird Fraser replied and patted his shoulder. “Godspeed. Take care of my wife and the lass, Catriona.”

At the laird saying “Catriona”, the room seemed to close in. Had he heard the man right? The laird motioned to the table where he’d been sitting.

“A special feast will be served for all,” the laird announced and the people in attendance cheered.

Broden, who sat at the same table as him, stood up when Ewan lowered to his seat and went to another table. At the moment, he could care less. Catriona was traveling to Ross Keep and he decided it was because of him.

The next morning, there was a frenzy of activity after first meal. The laird’s carriage was prepared along with a packed cart that would carry whatever Lady Ross needed for the trip. A wagon was already loaded with items needed for the two nights they’d be spending on the road, as well as foodstuffs for preparation.

Ewan maintained a distance as he had his own items to prepare. He now had more tunics and other things that he’d not had on his way there, which presented a problem. Already, the bags that he’d thrown over the horse were full.

After consideration, he yanked older tunics that he’d hoped to keep for sword practice out of the bags and replaced them with neatly rolled newer ones.

He went to another guard who seemed to be finished packing. “Do ye have room for these?”

The guard shook his head. “No, I had to leave items behind.”

Just then, he noticed Catriona standing by the wagon where items were still being loaded. He went to her, feeling silly with his old tunics.

“Do ye have room anywhere for these?” He looked into her wide eyes. Clearly, she was nervous but doing her best to stay busy.

“Put those there,” she told a lad who emerged from the kitchen with a basket filled with flat bread covered in a white cloth. “In the corner.”

She then grabbed the tunics from Ewan, not looking at him. “If there is anything else ye need a place for, I may have a bit of room under the bench in carriage.” She hurried to the door of the carriage and set his tunics on the bench. She wrapped them with a shawl and then smiled at him. “A pillow for my head.”

Ewan wished he’d brought the newer tunics. “I do not have anything else. Thank ye.”