Mist Warrior by Kathryn Loch Read Free Book Online Page B

Brackenburgh’s famed marketplace. Other people bustled about tending to their duties and to various animals that were the standard business of Brackenburgh as a strong keep. The squawking and baying of numerous creatures , along with the voices of people trying to be heard , created a cacophony of barely organized chaos.
    The outer walls of the keep stood tall, their battlements and towers providing a clear defensive view of the land around them.
    “ We received a license to crenellate a few years ago , so the merlons and embrasures are brand new, ” Courcy said. “ Despite Brackenburgh’s reputation as a trading center, we are also quite defendable. ”
    On the east side of the bailey, the river helped form part of the defense, it was wide and surged angrily, a mass of white foam and dangerous rapids, moving too forcefully to freeze in winter.
    Branan also noticed the small door in the wall. He frowned. “ Why do ye have a passage in the wall? The river looks too treacherous to ford. ”
    “ Correct, MacTavish, ” Courcy replied. “ The passage is simply to afford workers access to repair the walls on the riverside. Spring flooding can sometimes undermine the stone and it would not do to have my walls topple around my ears. ”
    “ Aye, ” Branan replied, chuckling.
    “ Come, there is more to be seen. ”
    They stopped first at the blacksmith’s shed. To Branan’s surprise, Courcy had four smiths working over the forges. Their main production–weapons.
    “ I equip my mercenaries with only the finest steel, ” Courcy said, hefting a well-crafted broadsword. “ What I have that is extra , I sell for a nice profit. ”
    Branan gazed at the stockpile of weapons. “ This is more than simply equipping a raiding party, ” he said softly. “ Ye seem able to outfit a small army. ”
    Courcy said nothing, his smile cryptic.
    They passed wood workers and tanners, armorers and bow makers, all p rod ucing a large amount of equipment . They moved toward the stables and Branan quickly spotted many horses which would make fine battle mounts. He took an unconscious step forward.
    Courcy chuckled. “ Understanding your experience with horses, I wondered how you would react to these. ”
    Branan’s gaze beheld only the fine steeds.
    Catriona leaned closer. “ Careful, my lord, afore you begin salivating. If Richard sees it , he will only increase their price. ”
    Branan swallowed reflexively, blinked, then glared down at her as he realized he had once again fallen neatly into her jest.
    Catriona rewarded him with an impish smile.
    “ Good, solid stock, ” he said to Courcy, pushing down his annoyance at the mischievous sprite on his arm.
    “ Aye, ” Courcy said. “ We will have need of them , but there is still more to show you. Come, let us fetch our mounts. ”
    Branan nodded , still wondering exactly what Courcy plotted.
    The small group traveled northwest on the king’s road for a few hours. The forest grew thick around them. Catriona remained relatively quiet, riding in the middle of the group , but still next to Branan.
    He noted that both of them became the object of Courcy’s attention and began to worry over the man’s darkening expression. They turned on a smaller road, traveling straight north along the Roe Brooke, then stopped for a quick meal of the bread and cheese Catriona had brought.
    Catriona dismounted, stretching her back with a small sigh. She glanced around and scowled.
    “ I could be wrong but are we not near Thistlewood? ”
    Gavin looked up sharply, also gazing at the surrounding woods. “ Aye, sister, you have it aright. ”
    She flashed him a bright grin and Duguald chuckled. “ Och, lassie, ye are a Godsend. ”
    Branan scowled. “ I have ne’er heard of Thistlewood. ”
    Gavin, Catriona, and Duguald looked at each other as if sharing some secret jest. Branan found it rankled him to no end.
    Courcy stepped forward, looking at Catriona in surprise. “ I have selected Thistlewood