William walked beside his horse as they went down the path and Katie stayed on her horse.
"Seems we're just in time for the party." William looked up at Katie and winked.
She smiled just as they came around the bend. There was one of the familiar small huts that they all lived in. But the front yard was full of people, dancing and laughing and eating.
William and Katie stopped. They studied the people for a long moment, then William turned and held out his arms to Katie and she slid into them and he set her on the ground.
"William." Katie caught his arm.
He looked down at her.
"It's a wedding."
William turned back. She was right. He could see the bride from here and with her, there was a young man, grinning as he danced with her. "We'll see what comes of it," he said quietly. Then he strode into the crowd.
Katie sighed as she followed him. "You're looking for Marion MacClannough?"
"Maybe," her brother said shortly, indeed scanning the crowd for the bright auburn hair he had never forgotten.
Suddenly, a huge rock thumped at his feet. He looked down at it. And then up.
Hamish had grown till he was almost twice William's size. His red hair was tied back and his green eyes where flaming.
William looked at the rock again. "You dropped your rock," he pointed out helpfully.
"It's a test of manhood," growled Hamish.
William looked at him for a beat. "You win."
Hamish grunted. "Call it a test of soldiery, then. The English won't let us train with weapons, so we train with stones."
William shook his head and tapped his own head. "The test of a solider is not in his arm. It's here."
Hamish shook his head stubbornly. "No, it's here." He slammed his fist into William's jaw and William fell like a rock.
Katie didn't even flinch or blink. She continued watching with interest.
William scrapped himself up off the ground. "A contest, then." He picked up the stone that Hamish had dropped and took a step back, then ran forward three steps and heaved the stone. It landed far beyond all the other marks, drawing admiring murmurs from the crowd that had gathered. William shook his head. "I still say this is no test. A catapult can throw a stone farther than a man can."
Hamish went over and picked up the stone and lugged it back to the starting mark. "That depends on the man." He threw the stone and it passed William's mark by a couple of feet.
The crowd laughed and whistled.
William nodded, impressed. "Can you do it when it matters? As it matters in battle? Could you crush a man with that throw?"
Katie hid her smile.
Hamish snorted. "I could crush you like a roach."
William walked over to the dent made by Hamish's throw. "Then do it."
Hamish scrowled at William but went over and picked up the stone and carried it back once more to the line. He studied William for a moment. "You'll move."
William calmly shook his head. "I will not." He bent down and picked up a small stone and tossed it back and forth from hand to hand.
Hamish threw the stone and it whistled by William's head, missing it by about a foot.
William didn't even flinch.
The crowd cheered.
Hamish frowned. "An ox is stupid enough to just stand in one place."
William grinned. "But that's not the point." He turned and walked double the distance Hamish threw then turned and hurled the small rock he was holding. It flew through the air, hitting Hamish square in the forehead and dropping him like a shot. "That is."
Everybody cheered.
Katie sighed. She reached over and took a tankard of ale from a cheering farmer. "That was hardly friendly of you, William." She tossed the cold liquid on Hamish's face.
William came over beside her and peered down at Hamish as his friend's eyes opened and uncrossed. He grinned and held out his hand. "Good to see you again."
Hamish took his hand and got to his feet. "I should have remembered." He hugged William fiercely. "It's good to see you again, William." He turned to Katie. "And Katie Wallace, as beautiful as ever!" He grabbed her up and whirled her around.
Katie laughed and planted a kiss on Hamish's rough cheek. "Aye, I'm glad to see you too!"
Hamish put her down. "What are you doing back…"
Their words where cut off by the sound of horse hooves.
Katie turned. "William."
He was already moving through the crowd, Katie coming behind him.
A group of heavily armed horsemen appeared with an English nobleman dressed in gray. He stopped in front of the bride and groom.
Katie griped William's arm. "Oh, William," she whispered.
William covered her hand with his own.
The crowd had fallen deadly silent.
"I have come to claim the right of prima noches. As the lord of these lands, I will bless this marriage by taking the bride into my bed on the first night of her union," said the nobleman.
"The hell you will!" shouted the groom, Morrison. He grabbed his new wife by the arm and pulled her behind him.
The horsemen lowered their spears until they all pointed at the man.
The young girl let out a quiet sob but stepped in front of her husband. She whispered something in his ear than kissed him passionately. Then she slowly turned and moved forward.
The nobleman wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her.
"Stay a moment!"
All heads in the crowd turn and they stared as Katie moved forward slowly.
The nobleman studied her. "Do I know you?"
"Perhaps." Katie stroked the side of the horse's neck and her bright blue eyes studied his face. "What is your name, Sir?"
"Lord Bottoms."
"Ah, Lord Bottoms." Katie studied his face. "I will remember you," she said quietly. She glanced at the girl for a moment, then stepped back. "And you would do well to mark my face as well."