Scotch Rising Read Online Free

girl, Esmond. It rang out in the words you used to describe her, the everyday tasks she accomplished. Your marriage could never have worked. She was a savage. You could not have brought her home with you and you could not marry under the laws of the Church, only some pagan ritual.” The last words delivered with a squeak.
    My temper, ever at the surface since the death of my wife, boiled over onto the old man. “Native she may have been, seen as a savage by you perhaps, in every bone of her body she was steadfast. She was loyal and she was carrying my child.” The last came out in a whisper. Wick’s expression of horror either reflected my anger or my admission. I did not care. “She and the child were meant to be the start of my family and now she is dead. I suggest you make peace with this before you find my direction again.”
    I stood and picked up the parcel, stowing it beneath my arm. Anger and pain radiated from my body. I watched it sting every person with whom it came into contact. Wick stood up and reached a hand out, I rebuffed him and walked back out into the darkened street. The shadows would hide my grief until morning.
     

Chapter 2
     
    My eyes adjusted to the candlelight spilling from the compact windows of two rows of tightly packed stone houses facing the road with relief. The town of Markinch rose before me. My final destination and I turned my shaggy horse into the main street. Following the main road whose path eventually led the traveller ever northward, into further wilds, towards Aberdeen. My bones ached after ten days in the saddle. It was not the hardest ride I had ever undertaken, but unfortunately after a month’s incarceration followed by a fortnight’s journey across the Atlantic with no exercise. My body needed to become accustomed to the gruelling pace. Coming to a halt under a sign for the Thistle and Rose. I made out the shape of a small figure, hidden in the shadows created by the light from the windows. The boy obviously believed he remained well hidden, because he did not shy away from his curious inspection of my person when I looked directly at him.
    “Boy,” the single word shot through the air, and made the lad jump, as I intended. Suppressing a smile I continued. “I am looking for directions to the Deoch-an-Dorus Distillery, or the Clunes estate?”
    Large eyes shone through the darkness. I could not distinguish the colour, however they spoke of intelligence. The lad weighed his options as he finished examining me. He finally spoke with a heavy brogue. I strained my ears to understand his words filtering through the night air.
    “Deoch is locked up for the night. Folk will head back again in the morn. The Clunes castle is back the away ye came, past the turn down tae Auld Reikie, and past the distillery up to the big castle.” The lad finished his long speech on a breath of air, and looked up at me for a moment before continuing. “Most of the men are here fur cup of ale or a cap of Scotch mind, before heading home tae their family.”
    Believing it might be better to give the lad encouragement rather than bothering with a repetition, I smiled. “Thank you, there must be someone inside with information.” He nodded in agreement and I swung a leg over the saddle and dismounted slowly, letting my legs stretch as they hit the ground. I rustled through my saddlebags and moved to secure my mount to the hitching post. The boy cautiously eyed the creature. I could see his hair was overgrown and sticking up in places. His kilt in need of a good wash, maybe even a delousing. My horse returned his look of interest with one of unconcern.
    “He’s an unusual beastie,” the boy put a hand out to pet his nose. “What’s his name?”
    The horse shied. He pulled his hand back quickly. I held the horse firmly by the reins and waited until he settled. “Put your hand under his nose, so he can give you a sniff,” I watched the lad cautiously extend his hand once again. “Good,