Highland Courage(22)

“Since Oren took over, he meets with our cook, Ide, in the evenings. However, I can’t imagine meeting with her in the morning would be a problem. We can go see her now if ye would like.”

“I do want to meet her, but I don’t want to insult Oren. Perhaps it would be best if I spoke with him first, maybe after a nice meal.” Mairead smiled shyly.

Elspeth grinned. “Ye’re a smart lass, Lady Matheson. It is much easier to handle a well-sated man. Here you’ve only been married a few days, how did ye learn so much?”

“Elspeth, surely it didn’t pass your notice that I have six brothers and three married sisters, not to mention a very wise mother.”

“Aye, so ye do.” She laughed. “Maybe ye would like me to show ye around the keep then? After ye’ve seen a bit more, ye can meet with Oren.”

“That would be perfect. Cnocreidh keep appears to be huge, and I have seen very little of it.”

“Well, ye have certainly seen the great hall here in the center of the keep.” She motioned around her. “The towers ascend from each of the four corners of the hall. We’ll go up the stairs in the east tower first.” On the second floor, there were some rooms within each tower, but open galleries overlooking the great hall connected the towers. On the third level, in addition to the tower rooms, there were rooms built over the galleries and great hall. Corridors connected the west, north, and east towers, but not the south tower.

Mairead found this perplexing. “That is odd, there doesn’t appear to be any entrance to the south tower.”

“Nay, there isn’t. Above the second floor, ye can only access the south tower rooms from the south tower stairs or where the tower opens onto the battlements. Because this is where the laird’s chambers are, it provides more security for the laird and his family. If necessary, a guard can be posted at the entrance to the south tower on the second floor and another on the battlements, thus securing the entire tower. All of the towers are connected again by the battlements on the fifth floor. There are always sentries posted there. Above the battlements, the towers are not connected.”

When they reached the battlements, Mairead was surprised to see each tower had three more levels. She was awestruck by the sheer size of the keep. “Cnocreidh is truly massive. How many people live here?”

“The unmarried guardsmen have rooms. Some of the unmarried men-at-arms sleep in the great hall, but there are also rooms in the barbican towers where some of them live. Most of the others who serve in the keep live with their families in the village.”

“Do ye live in the village?”

“Nay, my husband, Loman, and I used to live in the village. He is a fletcher and a bow-maker. When Lady Matheson died, the old laird wanted me to be more easily accessible. He asked us to take rooms within the keep. We live on the fifth level of the south tower. He also asked Ide to live within the keep. She is a widow so it suited her well. Her chamber is also in the south tower.”

“And Oren? Does he live in the keep?”

“Nay, I’m not sure whether the old laird asked him to or not. He and his wife have always lived in the village. They have a lovely daughter, but while his wife is respected as a very talented weaver, she has a sharp tongue. She can rub people the wrong way. It is probably for the best they don’t live within the keep.”

“I suppose I understand that. But are ye telling me the rest of the south tower is empty?”

“Hamish, Laird Matheson’s commander, has rooms on the fourth level of the south tower as does his squire. Normally the laird’s squire would sleep in the antechamber to his chambers, but the laird moved Flan into a room directly across the hall just before the wedding.”

Mairead blushed, feeling a bit silly. Of course, the antechamber was for his squire.

“I can see ye think it was a good idea. I wouldn’t have wanted my little brother just outside my bedroom when I was newly married, either,” teased Elspet.

Mairead nodded her agreement. “Aye, ‘twas a very good idea.” Once again she realized how careful Tadhg was of her feelings. He didn’t overlook the smallest detail. As Elspet showed her around, she introduced her to the various servants they met along the way. Mairead tried to be friendly to the staff she met, but she sensed coolness from them. Being rather reserved herself, she did not take offense.

When they returned to the great hall after the tour of the keep, Mairead asked, “Elspet, do ye know where all the things I brought from Carraigile were put? I am sure everyone is very busy returning the keep to normal after the wedding, and this can wait until someone is available, but my harp was packed in a crate in order to transport it. I’m not sure where it was stored when we arrived, but I would like for it to be brought to the great hall and removed from its crate.”