Craigh said, “I agree.”
Amos folded his arms over his rounded stomach. “I am just wondering,howdid Lowly Lochinvar manage tae get a bonny lass?”
Another man said, “I heard he was sleepin’ in the passage last night.”
I scowled.
One of the other men said, “His brother, Young Magnus, bought her for him.”
They all laughed, heartily.
I stood up again. “I am callin’ all of ye outside, I will fight every one of ye at once!”
Liam said, “Lochinvar, I am just tryin’ tae get through a meeting with the guards, we arna goin’ tae hae a brawl.”
I said, “Tis not on me, I am only wantin’ tae hear about what they found last night. I daena want one more word about m’wife or I will call them out and fight all of them in the courtyard atonce.”
Amos raised a hand. “Fine, daena be such a sparkin’ idiot, Lowly Lochie. So ye won a lass with a bonny face, nae one cares. Give her ten years and she will look just as grievous asallour wives.”
I scowled. “My wife was taken, stolen by a man named Asgall. We are worried Asgall might hae sent men tae spy on us, wantin’ tae cause us harm. I daena hae time tae argue with ye about howugly yer wives are, I will just agree — Amos has a verra ugly wife, as does Craigh and as do all of ye.”
Amos shrugged, “For many men these would be fightin’ words, but it daena bother me tae tell me what I already ken — she is a woman, a good mother, and she was cursed by the fae tae hae the face of a rodent, tis why I roll her over in the night.”
Liam groaned, “Och nae, Amos, I am about tae call ye tae the courtyard m’self.”
Amos laughed and waved his hand. “Pay nae mind, m’wife feels the same way about my looks and m’scent and m’wit and m’manner and...”
I clenched my jaw. “How many men were there?”
Craigh said, “The six only. They hae been forced from the Earl’s lands.”
Liam asked, “Did ye inquire about them in Aberfeldy?”
“Aye, we asked the man in the tavern, he said they werna sure where the men came from, twas as if they were just there all of a sudden.”
Liam asked, “Hae there been storms?”
All the men said, “Aye.”
I asked, “Hae ye heard the name Asgall?”
Amos said, “Aye, one of the men mentioned an Asgall, but tis a common name.”
“Is it? I haena heard it much.” I leaned back in my chair, I ought tae hae gone out with the guards last night and asked at the tavern. Amos was not givin’ enough information and twas irritating that he haena asked the right questions. He wasna takin’ any of this seriously enough.
Amos shrugged. “It daena matter, the men left, we told them nae tae come back. But now ye mentioned it, one man did ask if ye were here.”
I said, “Nowye mention it?”
Craigh said, “Ye hae a high estimation of yerself for such a wee bitin’ midge of a lad.”
Amos said, “He’s the carbuncle on Magnus’s arse.”
All the men laughed uproariously.
I chewed my lip. “Did he ask if my’wife, Ash, was here?”
“Tis her name? Och, I thought he was speaking on something else. Aye, he asked about her, but I told him nae, I said ‘I daena ken what ye are talking about and I am nae goin’ tae give ye any information. Ye tell Asgall not tae come around Balloch, because the Campbells daena take kindly on strangers coming around causing trouble.’ Tis what I said, I swear tae it.”
