Chapter 41

The next morning Eleanor had stubbornly insisted on riding Beck, but after they stopped at a waterway mid day she had admitted her legs were aching and asked Fann to take her on his horse. So that’s where she was as the ground grew more rocky. The river they had crossed was the Liddel Water Fann told her. Now they were following the River Esk. The keep they were heading for was on this side of the river. MacDonald lands were on the other. They would be camping in a cavern tonight. One of the mercenaries had been this way not too long ago and knew of a good spot on a rocky hillside along the road. Low enough that the horses could climb it easily, but high enough that nobody could sneak up on them. It seemed to Eleanor that they were being far too cautious, but Fann said there was no such thing. They were strong warriors, but not a full army. Skill was commendable, but caution was often wiser. She had no response to that as he was the one with experience.

As the afternoon wore on she fo