Now that they had spoken to Alasdair, Katherine felt better about going home soon. Things were in motion. Luag would be fine eventually, once history was confirmed and Donald gave up trying to take over all of Scotland. That man needed to be happy with all the isles he already had under his control.

Luag was even hinting at it being time for her to go.

The idea of leaving bothered her now, though. Why? Must be her suspicion of Luag. She’d better make sure he was on the up and up before leaving Jessica and Lauren at his mercy. Yeah, that was it.

They were walking to their inn the long way, through the town that had grown up around the outside of Aberdeen’s wall. Their auld woman disguises were working perfectly, and they could speak to each other in hushed tones without anyone taking notice of them.

"Sae ye are Donald's nephew."

"Aye, that I am. I canna change my parentage, ye ken."

"Trying I am, tae ken. If ye are direct kin tae Donald, why did ye leave?"

“Did na Lauren tell ye what a scoundrel my uncle is?”

“Aye, howsoever, he couldna been sae bad tae his kin. Ye must hae had it good.”

Luag scoffed and was silent for a time. And then all he said was, “Ye canna imagine.”

“Tell me, then,” she said, not really expecting him to comply.

But he huffed out a breath and spoke. "Donald raised me tae be his protégé. All through childhood, I was his favorite. And ye hae the right o’ it in a way. I never wanted for anything, growing up. I had it much better than many people." He was silent then.

She let the silence go on for a while, but patience was not her strong suit. Sooner than she knew was wise, she was asking him questions again, unable to curb her curiosity.

"Sae far, ye hae na made a verra good case for why ye left."

He laughed. It was a forced laugh, though. "This is something I dinna fancy speaking o’."

"Och, it must be verra bad. I never took ye for someone who had trouble with words."

"Wull, ye hae kenned me a year, howsoever all that time has been away from my uncle's home. He is a cruel man, Katherine. He wages war against his wife’s kin. I could na stand for it. As soon as I was a warrior in my own right, I left. I roamed awhile, but then Leif's parents hired me tae train Inverurie’s militia. 'Tis na secret that my people are better warriors that his, coming from Viking stock as we dae."

Despite herself, Katherine grinned a little at this last bit, raising her plaid cowl to meet his eyes even as he raised his to meet hers. "Even in my time, we revere the Vikings, so I wull give ye that."

He gave her the barest of grins back, searching her eyes.

She looked away, unwilling to hear his confession of the feelings he had for her.

They arrived at their inn just as the sun was setting over the stone buildings of Aberdeen. It had been a long walk, and Katherine sorely wished for a hot bath. Why couldn't she have one anyway? All the movies she'd seen of this time involved people hauling buckets of hot water upstairs to your room and filling a big tub so you could have a bath. One look at the people inside told her this was not accurate. They were all greasy, even the proprietor, who she thought for sure would take baths if they were available. Yeah, she was going to leave this time as soon as humanly possible.

Her friends were all eating dinner, so Katherine and Luag joined them. They couldn't say much down here in front of the locals of course. No need to embroil themselves in rumors.

As usual, the food in this time was wonderful: fresh bread, vegetables, and meat. Katherine had seconds, unsure how many more of these meals she would get to enjoy. Finding a local farmers market moved up a notch on her mental to-do list for when she got home.

So far, the Aberdeeners weren't showing any sign of realizing they were under imminent attack. The talk in the tavern below their inn was all about the upcoming grand market fair.

"Aye, and Cordy McVeigh is making her famous mutton stew again this year."

"I heard the Morris dancers were coming back, all the way from Wales."

“Aye, I heard that as wull. This year's fair should be every bit as good as last year's."

"Better, from the sound o’ it."

Once they were done eating, Leif looked up toward his room.

One by one so as not to make a scene, Katherine and her friends all went to it.

Leif closed the door and the window, despite the July heat. Even then, he used their Charades sign language as much as possible, only saying words they didn't have signs for, in tones as low as could be heard by the rest of them.

"What news, Luag?"

Luag made the sign for them all being in danger before he explained what had gone on that day. "The Regent threw us oot. He says for now we can stay in Aberdeen, but that's only for now, mind. I dinna think either o’ us should show oor faces in toon. Good news is before he threw us oot, I telt him aboot the impending attack. Also, Alasdair is here. We telt him as well, and unlike the Regent, Alasdair believes us. He will dae all he can, but the situation remains perilous."

Taran signed, "I can take Lauren and Jessica home and tell the militia not to come."

Jessica and Lauren both shook their heads furiously, signing "We're staying here with you."

“Send Luag also," Taran signed frantically. "He's the one who canna bide here, and I ken ye need tae bide in case ye can smooth things ower with the Regent." He quit signing, and out loud he said, "Laird Leif."

This brought a few half-hearted chuckles.

Katherine chuckled, and she noticed Lauren did too.

Not Jessica. Jessica's eyes were proud of her husband and full of determination to protect her people.

Leif still had not answered, and so Taran frantically signed some more. "Our duty is tae Inverurie. Let Aberdeen take care o’ itself. Was na sae long ago that each clan was on its own.”

Leif looked like he was considering it.

Jessica moved closer to her husband, and Katherine thought she was holding his hand a little too tightly for it to be simple affection.

With a sad but determined look on his face, Leif signed, "Inverurie will na be safe if Aberdeen is taken. When the militia come, oor best course o’ action is tae face the threat with as many men as we can muster. And pray this time will be the last."

Everyone but Luag nodded in agreement at this.

Luag kept to himself, plainly mulling something over. Deep thought was not in his nature, so Katherine knew something was up.

The two of them stayed and visited with their friends for a few more minutes, but the married couples were obviously anxious to be alone, so she and Luag left.

"Want tae go doon tae the tavern and hae a drink?" He asked her with a bit of an awkward grin.

She smiled up at him conspiratorially, the unspoken agreement not to be alone in their room longer than necessary lingering in the air between them. "That sounds lovely."

When they got downstairs, the day crowd had left. The tavern’s evening crowd was more boisterous.

Luag’s protective hand drew her arm through his so that they locked elbows, making Katherine smile despite herself. “‘Tis best ye pose as my wife for propriety's sake, ye ken."

She nodded in agreement, letting him lead her over to a table near the door, where the biggest crowd had gathered around a musician playing on a mandolin. By turns, different singers took up verses of a long ballad.

Luag took a turn, showing off a beautiful tenor voice Katherine never imagined him having.

Laird Hamleton dremd in his dream,

In Caruall where he laye,

His halle were all of fyre,

His ladie slayne or daye.

Busk and bowne, my merry men all,

Even and go ye with me;

For I dremd that my haal was on fyre,

My lady slayne or daye.

Amid everyone enjoying themselves, Katherine felt bad for these people whose Regent didn't take their defense seriously. They even drank to his health. She cast a worried glance over at Luag and signed, "Will Alasdair get through tae him? Will he defend these lovely people?"

"I hope sae," he signed back before picking up his mead and sipping daintily as befitted the nephew of a laird.

Why hadn't she noticed before, his noble manners? Without thinking about it she knew they'd always been there.

They sat and passed the time that way pleasantly for a few hours until at last they tired.