Chapter 2 #2
The following day, the weary warriors rode inside the caste gates, arriving home in a procession.
People on the ramparts and lining the village streets cheered their triumphant return.
Shouts of joy and jubilation with the return of their loved ones echoed across the courtyard.
Anxious women looked to identify their fathers, husbands, brothers, and neighbors, even from a distance.
Then the wagons followed with wounded men, taken swiftly to the healer. As family members recognized their injured and maimed loved ones, sobbing and cries of incredulity rang in the air. For others, the reality that their dear ones were dead and would never return caused raw pain and anguish.
The laird and his sons quickly assessed the situation.
Clan members volunteered to assist families who had lost their fathers and husbands who earned the family’s living.
The laird, lady, his family, and his steward would meet with the families in the morning, when the steward would give them their husbands’ and fathers’ stipends as warriors.
Relatives offered housing. Or they would help to bring relatives to aid them.
In advance of the next morning’s tasks, the steward had drafted a list of the affected families.
For widows living on the laird’s lands, they would forgo any rent for years, allowing the families to grow, prosper, and earn money for their future welfare.
For those who lived on lands belonging to others, the laird and his sons would seek for them to forgo the rent or lower it.
In select cases, the laird and his family paid the difference in the rent.
The clan’s laird and family were compassionate.
After they broke their fast the following morning, they met with the affected families. The widows had tear-streaked pale faces. Their eyes were dazed while they tried to manage young children who did not understand what their father’s death would mean for them.
Lady MacPherson offered jobs to the neediest. Those skilled in cooking or sewing would augment the services of the castle staff. One young widow without any family was offered a housekeeping job in the castle. Otherwise, she had nowhere to go.
It was heart-wrenching, but the laird and lady refused to leave their clansmen to struggle alone.
The lady and her daughters had formed a sewing circle. The widows gathered for refreshments and to talk with other women, young and old, in the lady’s solar. They offered support and encouragement to each other. It made the tedious mending more enjoyable too.
Later in the week, the laird met with his sons. The warriors shared their insights and lessons learned from the battles waged. Hopefully, decreased loss of life and injuries would result.
The laird revealed his plan to his family in his study.
“Marion and Katherine, ye each will wed next year, forming alliances for our clan. Let me ken if ye have a specific laird in mind whose alliance ye would like me to seek for yer hand in marriage. Discuss yer wishes with yer mother and brothers, who may know the characters of the eligible men.
“Raulf, ye will seek a bride in the new year. We will discuss the best and most promising candidates for ye in another meeting. William, ye will train with me to take Raulf’s place when he leaves to be married. Colban, Ye will visit members of our clan, throughout our lands and discuss their needs.
“Cailean, ye will become my ambassador for our clan as soon as the roads become passable in the spring. Ye will be my emissary in seeking alliances and business allegiances among other lairds. Unfortunately, it means ye will be away from home from spring through early fall, except for an occasional visit home to bring me signed contracts and critical information.” All eyes turned to Cailean, approving.
His family recognized that he was the best suited for the job with his skills and charm.
“Thinking strategically,” the laird continued, “we will continue to train the men and seek younger boys for initial training.
Next year, with more powerful alliances, I wish to host a sporting event.
Warriors will compete in events such as the caber toss, archery, and sword fighting. We will feast and dance.
“Talk among yourselves and yer friends and bring other ideas for the competition and the events. Planning will take time, and it will rest on the powerful alliances we forge. Now, any discussion, questions, or recommendations?”
With the laird’s announcement, conversation surged. While the men conferred, the women held their own discussion.
Lady MacPherson made recommendations for suitable candidates for marriage for her daughters.
Luckily, many young, noble, and honorable men were eligible.
The women discussed hosting a ball and inviting the most eligible men to attend.
With the ball taking place in the castle, they would not have the burden of traveling.
Raulf’s brothers, William, Colban, and Cailean, threw out many suggestions for him to consider regarding prominent families of nearby clans. The men strongly supported the games and healthy competition of skills.
Once the groups had enjoyed a hearty discussion, the laird dismissed them. “We will meet next week and consider concrete steps to undertake these endeavors: the names of the top four clans we should align ourselves with in business and yer business propositions to explore.”
The laird’s children left their parents to pursue their own activities. Behind closed doors, the laird and lady further discussed the situations they had proposed to their family.
Cailean wished to see and talk to Elayne, but he didn’t know where to look.
He didn’t feel he could ask anyone, for they could misconstrue his interest. The next time he talked to her, he would discover her surname, where she lived, and who her father was.
He hoped he would not have to wait until next year, for his additional duties would remove him early in the spring.
Now he recognized how earnest his father was in preventing future wars for the sake of his family and clan.
Cailean walked outside and through the keep, greeting the people he knew.
There were no markets where he could encounter her.
He walked in the frigid winter weather under gray skies, which promised more snow to the village.
Mayhap Elayne’s father had a farm well past the village.
But the times he had seen her ride home led him back to the castle.
If she worked there, he should have encountered her before now.
Later, if he didn’t come across Elayne, he would speak to his mother about a holiday feast in the great hall for the entire clan.
It would help draw their clan closer after returning from war, and they could all celebrate together.
If his mother endorsed the idea, he hoped Elayne would attend. Cailean missed her.