Chapter 25
The market lay just beyond the castle gates. Canvas stalls lined the streets, and the air was thick with the scent of peat, apples, and damp wool.
Days after Thalia’s arrival, Ava decided on a change of air. So she was now walking with Nathan’s small hand tucked into hers, his short legs working hard to keep pace. Thalia flanked her other side, her cloak already streaked with dirt where she had knelt more than once to gather herbs.
“Look!” she gasped, stopping at a stall laden with herbs tied with twine.
Indeed, Thalia had begun studying under the village healer at a very young age. She had been fascinated with plants and their properties, and ever since, every time she found something useful, she would pluck and add it to her collection.
“Yarrow, comfrey, thyme, and lavender! They have fresh and dried plants as well!”
The vendor, a woman with grey hair and dark brown eyes, smiled knowingly. “Ye have a healer’s eye, lass.”
Thalia blushed and nodded. She delicately lifted a bundle of lavender to her nose and breathed it in.
“These grow wild in the fields back home.” She smiled sadly. “We use it to relieve anxiety.” She then plucked a bundle of yarrow. “And we use this for wounds that refuse to heal.”
Nathan leaned closer, his nose wrinkling. “Smells funny!”
Thalia and Ava laughed softly.
“Most good medicine does.” Thalia picked up the lavender and held it out for Nathan to smell. “But nae all of it.”
Nathan took a deep whiff and released a sigh. “Pretty, like ma.” He glanced up at Ava with a smile on his face.
Ava put a hand to her heart, flattered.
Thalia continued to show Nathan the different plants and explain their uses. Ava watched them, warmth spreading through her chest.
Her sister had been quiet in the castle, homesick and missing their mother. But here, among herbs and spices, she seemed herself again.
Thalia thanked the vendor after paying for her purchases, and then they delved deeper into the market. Nathan stopped every few paces to gape at dogs, carts, and shouting merchants.
They passed Mary and Teresa near a stall that sold soaps and oils, ho enjoying their morning off.
“Well, good monring.” Mary smiled broadly and held up her bundle of fabric. “I’m going to make a new dress for ye, me Lady!”
“That’s too kind, Mary. Ye daenae need to do that!” Ava waved a dismissive hand.
“Well, me Lady.” Mary leaned in so the others could not hear. “I’ve noticed yer clothes are a bit loose on ye of late, and I figured ye deserved a dress that fit right and proper.”
She stepped back and started talking with Teresa, who was holding a basket full of pastries.
Ava tried not to take Mary’s comment personally. She felt rather self-conscious that she had been losing weight.
Nathan licked his lips at the sight of the pastries. “Oh, please, Miss Teresa! Can I have one?” His eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at a muffin nearly the size of his head.
“If it’s all right with Her Ladyship.” Teresa smiled down at him.
Nathan spun around to face Ava. “Please, Ma. Please!”
“All right, but just one.” She nodded.
Nathan clapped his hands together, before grabbing the muffin. It was so large, and it slipped out of his hand and landed in a spot of suspicious-looking mushrooms. Ava did not notice him pick it up and dust it off before he took a large bite.
The ladies chatted about the lovely weather and how many stalls were at the market. There was a sense of levity in the air, now that the peace treaty had been signed. The threat of constant battle was over, and the people were in a celebratory and jolly mood.
Saying goodbye to the two women, Ava, Nathan, and Thalia moved on through the market. Near a stall stacked with woolen blankets, a scruffy grey cat emerged, its tail high.
Nathan gasped. “Ma. Kitty!”
Bold as anything, the cat brushed against Ava’s skirts.
Ava knelt down and showed Nathan how to hold out his hand. “She’s greeting ye and asking ye to pet her.” She smiled widely.
She missed the kittens in the barn at MacFinn Castle.
Nathan copied her movements, his cautious hands hovering over the cat’s head.
Ava talked him through it. “Gently, darling. Let her sniff ye first, all right?”
The cat leaned forward to sniff the little boy’s hand. With a soft meow of approval, she rubbed her head against his hand. His laughter rang out, pure and wild. The cat did not flinch.
Ava’s heart soared. “She likes ye,” she chuckled.
“He takes after ye.” Thalia winkedknowing that Ava would rather be among animals than anywhere else, with Nathan now the exception.
“Animals always ken the good ones,” Ava replied quietly. “They sense gentleness, kindness, and love.”
Nathan scratched the cat behind her ears and down her back. She leaned into his touch, turned, and started all over again. It was clear she was loving the attention. The boy’s face was shining with pride and joy.
“Can we keep her, Ma?” Nathan asked, his eyes wide and pleading.
Ava could not say no to his perfect little face.
“We daenae ken if she belongs to someone already, darling. We wouldnae want her to be taken from her family now, would we?” Her mouth quirked down.
“Nay.” He hung his head. “But I love her!” he cried, squeezing the cat against his chest.
To Ava’s surprise, the cat did not protest. Instead, she licked his hand.
“I’m sorry to eavesdrop,” a deep voice said from beside them.
It was a merchant selling books, and he was the biggest man Ava had ever seen. He had a round, happy face and seemed larger than a mountain.
“I couldnae help but hear ye talk about this cat. She doesnae belong to anyone, me Lady. Her owner was me friend, a sweet old man named Freddie, who passed away a few weeks ago. She’s been wanderin’ the village ever since. I reckon that’s why she looks so scruffy.”
Nathan’s head snapped up to Ava.
“Well, did ye hear that?” She smiled. “I’m sorry, Sir. I daenae ken yer name.”
“I’m William, but everyone calls me Hank, me Lady.” The merchant took off his hat and sketched a small bow.
“It’s a pleasure to meet ye, Hank.” Ava gave her warmest smile.
It was a small, bright spot in her life, getting to meet the villagers whose care she and her husband were responsible for.
“Do ye think that we could take Miss Kitty here back to the castle with us? Would yer friend be all right with that?”
“Aye, me Lady,” Hank nodded earnestly. “I reckon his spirit would be mighty pleased to ken that a good lad was takin’ care of his beloved cat.”
Nathan hugged the poor creature tighter. “Comin’ home with me!” he cried out.
“Does she have a name, Hank?” Thalia asked.
“Nay, me Lady.” The merchant shook his head. “Me friend always called her Cat.”
They laughed and thanked Hank for his time.
Thalia bought a book on herbal remedies, and then they made their way back to the castle. Ava carried Nathan, Nathan carried Cat, and Thalia carried her books and plants.
When the castle gates came into view, the sun was already dipping low, the market’s noise fading behind them. Nathan proudly showed off his new friend to Finlay, who greeted them in the courtyard.
“Has yer husband seen this yet?” Finlay asked Ava.
“Nay, we just picked her up in the market. Why?” she asked apprehensively.
“Well…” Finlay rubbed the back of his neck. “Caden hates cats.”
“Well, he’s just going to have to live with it,” Ava scoffed, sticking her nose in the air.
It isnae like he spends time with us anyway.
The three of them spent time bathing the cat and brushing her fur, which turned into a beautiful silver-blue once clean. Ava had never met a more docile and friendly creature. It did not even bat an eye at being put in the bath.
“Are ye sure this is a cat?” Thalia laughed. “She acts more like a dog!”
As the afternoon dragged into eveing, Nathan was growing quieter as the afternoon dragged into evening. Ava assumed it was because he had had a long day.
When they gathered for supper, Caden did not join them.
Nathan said nothing during the meal, his cheeks flushed and his appetite gone. He just stared down at his plate and pushed his food around. It was very unlike him.
Ava wondered if the excitement of the day made him retreat into himself again.
Once the plates were cleared, she picked him up and carried him to his bedchambers. “Darling, are ye all right?”
Nathan moaned and buried his face in her neck. His skin was hot and clammy.
She laid him down on his bed and sat down next to him. She saw that his clothes were drenched with sweat. A hand to his forehead told her everything she needed to know: he was burning with fever.
His small body began to shiver. His breathing grew shallow and fast. Ava’s heart rate quickened as she pressed her ear to his chest. His heartbeat was slow, too slow.
“Nay,” she whispered. “Nay, nay, nay…”