Chapter 6
Tavin placed his arms behind his head and looked up at the beams overhead. The sounds of the villagers still celebrating filtering in through the barn’s walls. In the stall next to him, he could hear his horse enjoying the free hay that he was pilfering from the laird...no, lady of the keep.
A right fine bonnie lass at that.
Tavin grinned as he thought about his run-in with her tonight.
The lass had fire in her veins and a tart mouth to match, completely different than he would have anticipated.
Tavin had imagined that she would be a meek lass, but with just exchanging a few words with her, he could tell his assessment had been off.
No wonder the elders wanted her married off and under the watchful eye of a husband.
Shifting in the sweet-smelling hay, Tavin tried to plan a new strategy. He thought that she would be easily swayed by words, but now he would have to try harder to gain her attention and access to her secrets.
What would he do in order for that to happen?
It was the weight on his shoulders that he had not thought would be there.
The other clans he had infiltrated were simple.
Tavin would put himself near the laird or those that were close to him and learn their secrets.
He was the shadow in the background, much like he had done this evening.
He only wanted to show himself to her and this evening had been an opportune time.
It had not been difficult to find her either, though he hadn’t expected her to be so bonnie.
Before he had approached her, Tavin had watched her move through the crowd of her own clan, her genuine smile for everyone. She had touched arms, kissed weathered cheeks, bestowed laughter where it was needed.
She had danced and drank ale, and when they had toasted her for her attributes, she had taken their words to heart. Tavin could see it written on her face.
Which meant this clan was different than the others he had done this to. This was what a clan was meant to be like, with affection and mutual respect amongst its members. His own da’s clan was a ruthless bunch and the women tired and sullen.
Nothing like what he saw tonight.
What would it take to get the Stuart clan to this?
Would they want to be? Tavin had never witnessed anything but what he had grown up in. He didn’t know that if his da could bring the clan back to its former glory, that anything would change in their clan.
Time would be the only thing that would tell.
One thing was for certain, he nor his brothers knew the tenderness that she had portrayed to her clan tonight. They had been raised by their da, without a woman’s touch or soft smile.
Aye, what a smile it was.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Tavin set his jaw. He had to remember why he was doing this and not be turned by a pretty smile and a good heart. This was about restoring his family name and bringing their clan to the forefront.
This was about Clan Stuart taking their rightful place amongst the clans of Scotland.
And it all started with Tavin finding out the secrets that would allow him to pass them along to his brothers and his da so that they could take the riches and put them toward the restoration.
Tavin closed his eyes, his hand on the dagger that was hidden in the hay.
Tomorrow he would start his inspection of the keep and its grounds, including the guards and the weapons they had.
With the gathering high on the horizon, he knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to steal into the keep and take what they could find.
In a keep such as this, there had to be a cache of weapons, whiskey, ale, and other stores that would bring a hefty coin to other clans that would clamor to purchase.
And the coin provided is what Tavin’s family needed.
The next morning, Tavin carefully hid his bundle in his horse’s stall and walked out into the brilliant cold morning, nodding to those that he passed.
His stomach rumbled as he passed a few of the huts, knowing that he should have eaten some of the dried meat he had brought with him before leaving.
When the gathering started, Tavin knew the food would be plentiful as well as the ale and whiskey.
Until then, he would feast on the meager stores that he had brought with him.
Tavin made his way to the keep, passing various people as he did so. The stone keep was in various states of repair, but the windows were too high to reach without being noticed, thereby hindering entrance in that manner.
He walked around the perimeter, noting the doors that likely led to the kitchen and cellar. There were numerous outbuildings, with no windows to allow for him to look through.
But as Tavin looked to the north, he could see the fields beyond the keep were plentiful with wheat and other crops, a sign that the clan was flourishing as the rumors had stated.
Aye, my da has picked a right good clan this time.
“Who are ye?”
Tavin turned to see a man standing a few feet away, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Aye, gud mornin. I am just a weary traveler here for the gathering.”
He arched a brow. “A mite early are ye?”
Tavin gave a casual shrug. “Aye.”
The man crossed his arms over his chest. “What clan do ye hail from?”
“Ivanish,” Tavin said immediately, sticking to his original plan. “I rode ahead at the request of my laird.” As he said the words, Tavin hoped that the Ivanish clan did not make an appearance at the gathering.
If so, his departure would be very abrupt, and his family would not be able to complete their plans.
“Ivanish, eh?” the man answered. “I dinnae know they were planning on making the journey.”
A good thing he had chosen that name then. Tavin turned his attention to the keep. “Seems that the new laird has found himself some coin.”
“Dinnae know?” the man asked. “We have our first lass as ruler.”
Tavin feigned surprise. “A lass? Truly?”
“Aye,” he answered. “And she will be seeking a husband worthy of her during the gathering.”
Tavin thought of the woman he had met the night prior. A man worthy of her would be a strong man indeed. “And what if the lass doesnae pick a husband?”
“She must,” the man muttered, though a troubled look crossed his face as he said the words. “’Tis for the good of the clan.”
Tavin hid any sort of emotion. So, there were those that did not see the lass as a true ruler. “The good of a clan is a strong leader.”
There was a glimmer of grudged respect in the other man’s eyes. “Aye, and our lass is a strong one.”
Tavin gave the man a short nod. “Then yer clan will be fine.” He was treading on dangerous grounds, clearly talking to someone of importance to the lass and running the risk of exposing his true identity in the same breath. “I hope that she has a Scot such as ye looking out for her.”
“Will,” the man supplied, stretching out his arm. “Her second-in-command.”
Tavin clasped forearms with him. “Tavin.” There was no harm in telling his real name, as long as he didn’t relay his true surname.
“Ye look like a warrior,” Will stated, releasing his arm.
“Aye,” Tavin replied, curious as to know where the conversation was going.
Will straightened his tunic, brushing the imaginary lint off his sleeve. “Then ye know how important it is not tae have strangers walking about a keep with no pretense tae being here.”
Ah. “I understand,” Tavin said. “I mean no harm. I was a mite curious, ’tis all.”
Will gave him a curt nod. “See that is all it is. Guid day Tavin of Ivanish.”
“Guid day,” Tavin stated as Will started walking away. The man was already curious about him and was the lady’s second-in-command. That was going to prove to be difficult to get close to her then.
Sighing, Tavin ran his fingers through his hair before starting back the way he came. The second-in-command will be an obstacle, but not one that he couldn’t overcome.