The afternoon had flown by faster than Larena realized. She spotted Ramsey and Hayden in the great hall bent over a piece of parchment, their voices low. She knew they were working on the Scroll, and a part of her itched to aid them. But it was better if she didn’t.
Instead, she went to the kitchen to assist Cara and Sonya with the evening meal. The men hunted and brought in whatever they could, from fish to fowl to boar to venison.
“It’s never enough,” Cara had said with a laugh as she kneaded more dough. “Galen eats as if he has two stomachs.”
“Three stomachs,” Sonya said with a nod. “His belly is never full. We had to begin hiding some of the food because he kept coming in here during the day to eat.”
Larena joined in their mirth. She learned a great deal about each of the Warriors from the women. Logan had a habit of playing tricks on everyone, which helped to keep their spirits from sinking too low. Ramsey was often seen standing alone or walking the perimeter of the castle by himself.
Hayden kept his distance from Cara because of his deep hatred for
Lucan had easily stepped into Fallon’s shoes while Fallon had been gone, and he was a calm, steady influence, just as Fallon had said. Galen was the one who seemed to have an answer for everything.
It had been so long since Larena had been around women with whom she could be herself that at first she wasn’t sure how to act with Cara and Sonya. But the two quickly put her at ease with their casual banter, so that Larena allowed herself to be pulled into their small circle.
Then came the evening meal. Larena hadn’t seen Fallon except from a distance the entire afternoon. He worked longer and harder than the rest, and he was the last to come in to supper.
Larena tried to look away from his damp hair, but she wanted to run her fingers through the dark brown locks that had begun to show strands of burnished gold from being in the sun.
Everyone had their own places at the table. Larena didn’t know where to sit, so she hesitated. She was about to join Logan and Hayden at the other table when Galen touched her elbow.
“There is plenty of room for you to sit between me and Cara.”
She looked into his blue eyes, wondering if he had somehow read her mind. One blond brow lifted as he waited for her answer.
Larena glanced at the table to find Fallon watching her. “All right,” she answered.
Galen fell in step beside her as she walked to the table and slid into the seat on Cara’s right. Cara’s smile was bright as she turned to her, and the small squeeze she gave Larena’s hand was filled with genuine warmth.
“I meant to tell you earlier to sit next to me,” Cara said.
Larena waved away her words. “Think nothing of it.”
As they ate each Warrior gave an overview of what he had accomplished that day. Larena was surprised to hear that Fallon, Lucan, and Galen had completed the reconstruction of the third tower and moved on to the fourth.
“It should be finished in a day or two,” Lucan said. “I have a few more tables and chairs to make for the chambers as well.”
Fallon nodded. “Ramsey? How did you and Hayden fare today?”
“As well as can be expected,” Ramsey said after he swallowed a mouthful of food. “The knotwork takes time to create.”
“It looks good,” Hayden said. “Ramsey wasn’t jesting when he said he had drawing skills.”
“Excellent.” Fallon scratched his chin as his brow furrowed. “How long do you suspect it will take to complete?”
Ramsey shrugged. “I didn’t get as much done today as I would have liked, but now that I have the initial knotwork down, it should go faster.” He looked at Hayden. “What do you think?”
“A week,” Hayden said. “Maybe two.”
Fallon sighed. “I was hoping for sooner, but I understand this isn’t an endeavor you put together quickly.”
“Then it has to be weathered,” Lucan said.
Hayden nodded his head, blond hair falling over his shoulder. “I can take care of that. The process will take a day or two. The longer we let it go, the better it will look.”
“Then I leave it in your and Ramsey’s capable hands,” Fallon said. He paused and pushed away his trencher to put his elbows on the table. His gaze passed over Larena and lingered for a moment. “I know I went to Edinburgh to ask the king for the castle and only the castle. However, I doona know how many people will come, or if any more will.”
“More will come,” Logan said. “I know they will.”
“I suspect you may be right, Logan, but there are only a limited number of chambers in the castle. Now, we could begin to share chambers if need be, but I had another thought.”
Lucan chuckled and nodded. “The village.”
“Aye,” Fallon said. “The village. The MacClures haven’t returned, and I doubt they will. Not for years anyway. By then, we may not need the village. Many of the homes were burned or ripped apart in Deirdre’s attack. There are only six left standing, and they aren’t in good shape.”
“I’ll go tomorrow to have a look at them and make a list of what is needed,” Lucan said.
Galen set down his goblet. “Good plan, Fallon. I like your thinking.”
“Aye,” Hayden said. “It’s close enough to the castle to work.”
Ramsey turned to Fallon with his intense gray eyes. “I told you earlier I agree with your decision.”
“As do I,” Logan said.
Fallon then looked to Larena. He hesitated a moment, then shifted his gaze to Cara and Sonya. “What do you two think?”
“I like the idea,” Cara said. “Or we could also build some new cottages closer to the castle.”
Lucan lifted his wife’s hand and kissed it.
Larena felt a spurt of envy for the love they shared. They had been through so much and deserved the happiness they had found. She wondered, though, whether she would ever find such happiness, and if she did, whether her problems with trusting people would allow her to love?
“Sonya?” Fallon’s voice cut into her thoughts.
The red-haired Druid licked her lips and shrugged. “I worry about who will live in the cottages. What if there’s another attack?”
“There will be another attack,” Fallon said. “Never doubt that. It’s just a matter of when.”
“Then who will live in the cottages? Warriors? What if more Druids come? Who stays in the castle and in the cottages?”
Hayden cleared his throat. “I’ll give up my chamber to a Druid. After all, we’re going to need them and they cannot protect themselves as Warriors can.”
“I agree,” Fallon said. “Does any Warrior have a problem with that?”
“Nay,” they answered in unison.
Larena could have watched them all day. Fallon was wonderful to observe. He wanted opinions on his proposals, and he didn’t hesitate to change his mind if it were necessary.
Before she knew it, people were rising from the tables. She helped Sonya and Cara carry the trenchers into the kitchen.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Cara asked once they were alone.
Sonya chuckled. “The change in Fallon is remarkable, I’ll grant you that. He was raised to be a laird though.”
“Still,” Cara said with a shrug, “I like how he includes everyone. He didn’t have to ask us what we thought, though I wish he had asked Larena.”
Larena shook her head. “Why would he? I’ve only just arrived. I got a tour of the castle today, but I haven’t seen the village or been here during an attack.”
Cara put her hands on her hips, her dark braid falling over her shoulder. “You’re a Warrior. He should have
