Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"Higher! Keep yer elbow up or ye'll leave yerself open!"
Ada followed the sound of Magnus's voice across the courtyard, weaving between servants carrying laundry and guards on their way to patrol shifts.
Two days had passed since the fire, two days of Magnus working himself to exhaustion checking every corner of the keep while Ada had been left with little to do beyond helping Mairi organize her supplies.
She was going mad with restlessness.
She found Magnus in the training yard, a wide space of packed earth behind the stables where wooden practice weapons leaned against the walls. A dozen boys, none older than twelve, stood in uneven lines while Magnus demonstrated a blocking technique with his sword.
Ada stopped at the edge of the yard, not wanting to interrupt.
"When someone comes at ye from this angle," Magnus was saying, his voice carrying easily across the space, "ye dinnae try tae meet force with force.
Ye'll lose. Instead, ye redirect." He moved through the motion slowly, deflecting an imaginary strike, using his opponent's momentum against them.
"See? Nay strength required. Just timin’ and position. "
The boys nodded, wide-eyed and serious. Magnus handed his practice sword to the nearest one. "Now ye try. Ye, come here."
A small boy, maybe eight years old, stepped forward nervously. Magnus positioned him carefully, adjusted his grip on the wooden blade. "Good. Now when I swing at ye, slowly, I want ye tae redirect just like I showed ye. Dinnae be afraid. I willnae hurt ye."
"Aye, me laird."
Magnus swung his blade in a gentle arc. The little boy tried to redirect it, fumbled, nearly dropped his own weapon. His face went red.
"That's all right," Magnus said, and Ada heard the patience in his voice. "Try again. And this time, dinnae think so much. Just move."
They practiced the motion three more times. On the fourth attempt, the boy executed it perfectly. His face lit up with pride.
"There," Magnus said. "That's exactly right. Now go practice with yer friends over there while I work with the others."
He moved down the line, correcting stances, adjusting grips, demonstrating techniques with the kind of focused attention Ada hadn't expected.
He was strict, his voice sharp when a boy wasn't paying attention, his corrections precise and demanding.
But underneath that severity, she saw something else.
He cared about those boys. Genuinely cared.
Was taking time from his endless list of responsibilities to make sure they knew how to defend themselves.
Magnus looked up suddenly, his gaze finding hers across the yard. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then he called out, "Take a rest. All of ye. Five minutes, then we'll work on footwork."
The boys scattered immediately, some heading for water buckets, others collapsing in the shade. Magnus crossed to where Ada stood.
"Is somethin' wrong?"
"Nay, I just—" Ada took a breath. "I've been thinkin'. About what happened with the poisoned well. About how many people got sick because they didnae ken the water was contaminated."
Magnus's expression sharpened. "Go on."
"What if we taught them? Nae just about wells, but about keepin' themselves healthy in general.
How to scald water before drinkin' it. How to spot signs of sickness early.
" The words tumbled out faster now. "I ken I'm nae as experienced as Mairi, but I could teach them basic things.
And if more people understood how to prevent sickness, maybe next time… "
"There willnae be a next time." Magnus's jaw tightened. "I willnae let anyone poison another well on Barra."
"I ken that. But what about natural sickness? Winter fevers? Injuries that get infected because someone didnae clean them properly?" Ada moved closer. "Let me help, Magnus. Let me dae somethin' useful instead of just sittin' in our chamber all day."
Magnus was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. "Ye really want tae dae this?"
"Aye. I dae."
"Even though it means standin' in front of a crowd? Teachin' them things they might nae want tae learn?"
"Aye. Especially because of that." Ada lifted her chin. "I'm Lady of Barra now, whether I wanted it or nae. And ladies take care of their people."
Something flickered across Magnus's face—surprise, maybe, or approval. "All right. We'll organize a gatherin'. Tomorrow afternoon, in the courtyard, fer people of the keep and nearby dwellings. I'll make sure the word spreads. And then we can travel tae other villages further on."
"Tomorrow?" Ada's eyes widened. "That's very soon."
"Ye wanted tae be useful. Now's yer chance." Magnus's mouth twitched. "Unless ye've changed yer mind?"
"Nay. I havenae changed me mind." Ada squared her shoulders. "Tomorrow afternoon. I'll be ready."
"Good." Magnus looked back at the training yard where the boys were starting to drift back to their positions. "I need tae finish with them. But Ada?"
"Aye?"
"Thank ye. Fer wantin' tae dae this. Fer carin' about them."
He walked away before she could respond, already calling out corrections to the boys. But Ada stood there for a moment longer, warmth spreading through her chest.
He spoke as though it were unusual. As though most people in her position wouldn't care.
But then, maybe they wouldn't. Maybe most brides forced into marriages would spend their time sulking in their chambers, doing the bare minimum required of them.
Ada had never been good at doing the bare minimum.
The next afternoon, the courtyard was full.
Ada stood on a raised platform, just a few wooden crates stacked together, but high enough that everyone could see her. Mairi stood beside her for support, and Magnus leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, watching.
Ada's stomach twisted with nerves. She'd taught small groups before—shown other women how to make simple remedies, explained basic healing techniques. But never anything like this.
"Thank ye all fer comin'," she said, and was proud when her voice didn't shake. "I ken ye're all busy, so I'll try tae be quick."
A few people in the crowd nodded. Most just stared.
"As ye ken, over the past few days, many people got sick from drinkin' contaminated water," Ada continued. "And while we've closed the poisoned well, there are other ways sickness can spread. Other dangers ye might nae even realize are there."
She saw skeptical faces. A few people shifting.
Ada tried to ignore the nerves in her stomach and pressed on.
"If there's any doubt about whether water's clean, boilin' it first can save yer life. Especially children and the elderly."
"Also, dirt carries sickness," Ada explained, "and so do unwashed hands. If ye're preparin' food fer yer family, or helpin' someone who's ill, ye need to wash before and after. Every single time. It seems simple, but it makes a real difference."
"Me ma always said water alone wouldnae dae naethin'," a young woman called out.
"Yer maither was right. Water alone is nae always enough," Ada agreed. "But if ye scrub with lye soap, really work it into yer hands, ye're removin' that dirt that carries sickness. Remember, dirt ye cannae see can still make ye sick.”
“Another good tip is tae hang sheets outside after washin', in the direct sun for as long as ye can.
The sun kills things we cannae see—mites, spores, things that make us sick.
Even in winter, on a clear day, it helps.
And open the windows when ye can. Fresh air is important.
Stale air trapped in a room with a sick person, that's what spreads illness to everyone else. Fresh air, even cold air, is better."
An older woman nodded vigorously. "Me grandmaither always said the same. Open the shutters, let the wind blow through."
"Aye," Ada said warmly.
A young mother stepped forward, a bairn on her hip. "Me lady, what about the wee ones?"
"Bairns are more fragile than adults. Their bodies cannae fight off sickness as well. So being extra careful could save their lives."
"Also, never throw waste where it can get intae yer water supply. If ye have a privy, make sure it's far from yer well. And always, always, wash yer hands after."
"Even if I'm just goin' back tae workin' in the fields?"
"Aye. Ye touch yer face, yer mouth, yer food—sickness spreads that way."
The woman nodded slowly. "Makes sense when ye put it like that."
“Another important thing is to clean cuts immediately, even the smallest ones.
Use boiled water if ye have it, or at least water ye ken is clean.
Wrap them in clean cloth, nae dirty rags.
And if ye see redness spreadin', or if it starts to smell foul, come see Mairi right away.
That means infection, and it can kill ye if it's nae treated.
Small things become big things if we ignore them. "
The crowd murmured in agreement, and Ada saw several people nodding to each other, clearly planning to follow her advice.
The crowd began to pay attention. People leaned in, asked questions. And through it all, Ada felt Magnus watching.
When she finally finished—her throat dry, her hands shaking slightly from nerves—the crowd didn't immediately disperse. Several people came forward to ask more questions. To thank her. To tell her they'd start following her advice right away.
"Lady Ada," one woman said, bobbing a curtsy. "That was right helpful, that was."
"I'm glad it helped," Ada said.
"Ye're a good lady," another woman added. "Better than—" She stopped, glanced toward where Magnus stood.
Better than his first wife. Better than the woman everyone thinks he murdered.
The crowd slowly dispersed, people returning to their duties. Mairi squeezed Ada's shoulder. "Ye did well. Very well."
"Thank ye fer standin' with me."
"Any time." Mairi smiled. "Now I need tae get back tae me chamber. I've got tinctures brewin' that need tendin'. But come find me later if ye have questions about anythin'."
Ada nodded, watching Mairi disappear into the keep. When she turned back, Magnus was there.
"That was good," he said simply.
"Just good?"
"Very good." His mouth twitched. "Ye're a natural teacher. Even got old Beathag tae pay attention, and she usually daesnae listen tae anyone."
"I was terrified the whole time."
"Ye didnae look terrified. Ye looked confident. Capable." Magnus moved closer. "Me people trust ye now. Really trust ye. That's nay small thing."
Ada felt heat rise in her cheeks. "I was just tryin' tae help."
"I ken. That's why it matters." Magnus reached out, tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. The gesture was casual, almost absent, but it made Ada's breath catch. "Thank ye. Fer carin' about them the way ye dae."
"They're me people too now," Ada said quietly. "Or they're startin' tae feel like it, anyway."
Something shifted in Magnus's expression. Softened. He opened his mouth to say something—
"Oi, Magnus!" Torvald's voice carried across the courtyard. "Stop moonin' over yer wife and come help me with these supply inventories!"
Magnus's jaw tightened. "I'm nae moonin'."
"Could've fooled me!" Torvald grinned.
"Torvald, I swear tae God…"
"Go. I should help Mairi anyway," Ada said quickly, biting back a smile.
Magnus shot Torvald a look that promised retribution later, then turned back to Ada. "We'll talk more at supper."
"Aye. At supper."
He walked away, his shoulders tense. Ada watched him go, then headed toward the keep herself.