Chapter Twelve
Taskill
“Just go with them,” Lennox said, standing by the gates of Dounarwyse Castle. “You need to relax a bit.”
It was two days after the festival and the big argument that everyone was still talking about. Jasper said, “Come with me, T. I hear they have a slab of venison all smoked and lots of ale.”
Taskill thought for a moment. The day was beautiful, nice and crisp, yet too early for snow. In the summer, they swam at the guard festivities, but this time it was all about food.
“There’s brew for the biggest fish.”
Lennox chuckled. “Now you’ve tempted him. He thinks he has the best lure of any fisherman.”
“I do,” Taskill said with a sneer. “Don’t believe me? Then you’ll see.” Still hesitant, he knew what was not far from there.
As if reading his mind, Lennox said, “Sheona will not be around, and Dermot won’t bother you.”
“You don’t know that.”
Jasper glanced over at Lennox, who gave him a subtle nod.
“What?”
Jasper swung his weapon over his shoulder before he resheathed it. “They’re not there.”
Shocked by this, he didn’t even try to hide his surprise. “What is going on?”
Lennox sighed. “Ingelram told us that Dermot got up and took Sheona to the Iona nunnery early this morn.”
“Nunnery? Sheona? She doesn’t belong in a nunnery.” Nothing could have shocked him more. Sheona was too vibrant, too full of life, too much fun to be a nun. All those times they raced in the water, skiffed about in boats, laughed under the waterfalls. She was as much a nun as he was a priest.
“You don’t know that,” Lennox said. “Mayhap she’s changed her mind.”
“Nay, sitting in prayer all day long? Sheona? Absolutely not.”
Jasper said, “That’s not what they do all day. The ones on Iona work with bairns.”
“But only with other women,” Taskill said, his hands fisting at his sides. “What the hell is wrong with Dermot? I’m going after her.”
“Nay, you are not,” Lennox said, grabbing his arm.
“Let it go for now. If it’s not for her, she’ll tell her father that and she’ll return.
If you wish to see her, you’ll have to wait.
This could be good for Sheona. Miles said Dermot wished to show her what her life would be like as a nun.
He’s hoping it will force her into marriage. ”
“Shite!” Taskill blurted without thinking. Both men stared at him.
Lennox crossed his arms and tapped his foot. “You’re cursing over Sheona. What does that mean?”
“That he’s probably trying to force her into marrying me. That’s not what I want either.”
Lennox blew out a breath through pursed lips. “Do you even know what the hell you want? You confuse me, Taskill. Make up your mind. Do you want Sheona or not?”
Taskill ran his hand down his face and paced a large circle. He honestly wasn’t sure how to answer his brother. He didn’t wish to marry Sheona or anyone, but he also didn’t want to see Sheona married to anyone else.
That confused him. The thought of Sheona with another man caused his fists to clench. What the hell was wrong with him?
Lennox said, “You’re going to fish. Neither one is on Rankin land, and the place they fish is far enough away that you’ll not know when they return.
Go and get in your cups for a change. Forget about Dermot and have a good time.
Catch some fish. Bring me a few good ones for a fine fish stew. Catch a few cod.”
“I’ll bring pollack and mayhap a few mackerel.”
“Then go to the loch and catch a few trout. They make the best stew.”
Taskill finally nodded. “I’ll go. I need some brew. You’re right. How many others will be there, Jasper?”
“Homer is going with me. Clyde and Miles will be there. Brian MacQuarie is coming, and he’ll probably bring a few along. Does it matter?”
“Nay. I’ll be right back.” Taskill headed into the hall, hoping to slip past his mother so he could change into his favorite pair of trews for fishing.
The bugs were bad by the water, so he preferred to keep his skin covered.
He stepped inside and scanned the area, not seeing her, but she heard him.
“Taskill, where are you going?”
“Fishing, Mama. I don’t have time to chat.”
“Fine. Go ahead. If you see that fool Dermot along the way, stick a hook in his backside, would you, please? And tell him it’s from me.”
“Sure, Mama.” He wasn’t about to tell her where Dermot was because that would set her off too. He raced up the stairs, grabbed his best lures that he kept hidden in his chamber, changed his clothes, then headed back out, stopping for his fishing nets in the stable.
“I’m ready, Jasper. Where’s Homer?
“Right here. I’m ready.”
They mounted up and headed toward Rankin land, taking the last fork to the left, since the right led to the castle.
The left led to the coastline where most loved to drop their nets—it’s where many launched their boats.
Taskill enjoyed fishing on the coast but hadn’t been in a while.
Dusk was nearly upon them, the best time for biting fish.
Jasper led the way and dismounted, shouting out to the others, “Three more for your contest. Don’t start without us.”
“No need to worry,” Miles said. “No one has caught anything yet.”
Miles handed Taskill a skin of brew. “You are my best friend, Miles, and I thank you. Dermot makes the best. I hope you’ve learned his ways.”
“I have. I know his secrets, though he doesn’t know it.” Miles laughed and headed back to the shoreline.
Taskill found his spot and settled down, his empty bucket by his side, ready to fill. Eight men were fishing—Brian, Miles, Jasper, Clyde, Homer, and Brian’s two guards, Ewing and Bearnard—all quiet at the moment, hoping to catch the biggest prize for the bragging rights.
It gave Taskill time to think. He knew Sheona as well as anyone, and there was no manner of thinking that made him believe the lass should become a nun.
When they were younger, Sheona could keep up with the three of them: Lennox, Sloan, and Taskill.
Once in a while, Dermot would force her to stay home and Ingelram would go in place of her, but he preferred Sheona.
She could ride a horse better than anyone.
The only thing she wasn’t skilled at was using a sword.
But she’d never tried.
She could control her mare better than any of them, always whispering sweet words to the beast, and it would respond by doing the highest leaps of any horse he’d ever seen.
She could fish with the best, run obstacle courses, swim across the sound, roast hazelnuts, and carve her own daggers out of wood.
Then something happened. Something that had changed everything.
Sheona’s chest blossomed.
Her hips began to curve, she grew breasts, and she grew taller so fast that she became uncoordinated, which led her mother to insist she stay at home.
Once, he’d seen her tears when her father had announced there would be no more playing with the lads. That she was to act like a lady and learn how to do needlework.
Taskill’s heart had ached terribly that day.
He hadn’t recognized it back then for what it was.
What ended up in his heart probably hadn’t developed yet.
Instead, the feeling had only sprouted, every sighting of the lass watering it a wee bit more.
He replayed every conversation over and over again until several moons ago when the truth had finally come to him.
Taskill missed Sheona. He’d always wished to protect her, and as she grew older, his feelings for her had only expanded, but was it strong enough to be considered love? Nay. And he also knew he could never offer for her because he’d make a lousy husband. He and Sheona would not make a good couple.
Sheona deserved better than someone like him.
After Taskill had caught half a bucket of fish, Clyde, a newer Rankin guard who no one seemed to like, meandered closer to him.
Clyde started the conversation exactly where Taskill didn’t wish to start. “So, you heard that Sheona is off to Iona to the nunnery?”
“I did. A visit I was told.”
Clyde snorted. “That’s what Dermot told her, but I don’t think that’s his intent. He plans to leave her there. I think he hopes it will scare her into becoming betrothed. Mayhap to you. What say you?”
“I say it’s none of your concern.”
Clyde arched a brow. “Fair enough. I was just hoping to get your blessing.”
“Blessing for what?”
“I’d like to court Sheona, but if you plan to offer for her, I won’t.”
Taskill nearly choked on the ale he’d just swallowed. “You’re a guard. Think you Dermot will accept you? Don’t get your hopes up. You aren’t good enough for her.”
“But you are?”
“I’m noble blood. Second to a chieftain. Dermot will accept me.” He cast a sideways glare at the fool, hoping to convince him to stay away from Sheona.
“But I heard you were not interested. Are you or are you not?”
“Not your concern.”
“But it is.” Clyde wasn’t a bad-looking man, but he was arrogant and boisterous, always thinking he was the best at everything. He was not.
“He’ll not accept you.”
“But Sheona likes me. If she wants me, Dermot will accept my suit, I think.”
Taskill snorted. “Get the hell away from me, arsehole. You’re a fool. She is not interested in you. If you ever hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Clyde chuckled and picked up his bucket to take his leave. “The way I understand it, she’s not interested in you either. So I think I have a chance. You don’t know what’s in her mind. Mayhap we’ll make a perfect couple.”
But Taskill was certain that Sheona was not interested in that fool.
Or was she?