Esmeraude sighed in contentment as she slipped into a hot bath in Airdfinnan’s solar, sore after a day and a half of hard riding. Combined with her journey to the King of the Isles, she had been more than four days without a leisurely bath. She had lied to the knights and said that her sister was in service at Airdfinnan, so as to not reveal her identity.
That Bayard had guarded her jealously when they made camp the previous night encouraged her mightily.
There had been a tense moment at the gates of Airdfinnan, when her stern brother-in-law met the party of knights. Esmeraude knew that Angus recognized her immediately, though he said naught until the knights had shared their tale.
A thousand details of hospitality had ensued, for the horses had to be brushed and sheltered. More ale had
