Rhys FitzHenry was glad to be within shouting distance of Kinfairlie keep. He could not blame his lady wife for wanting to visit her family and to lend aid to her brother’s wife. He had argued in favor of a spring visit, for Madeline was only just recovering from the delivery of their daughter. Rhys would have been content to have remained at home with his family in winter.
On the other hand, there was naught he could deny his lady wife when she was determined. Madeline was convinced that Eleanor had need of her, and Rhys saw only one way to allay her fears.
So they rode to Kinfairlie.
Their party was small, just a maid, a squire and another man-at-arms. Their initial plan had been to stop nightly to let the horses rest, keeping their own steeds instead of changing mounts. It had meant
