Ahead loomed a huge stone castle rising behind mountains. Its walls were impenetrable, Logan knew. But if he wanted he could have sneaked into the castle and no one would be wiser for he knew each nook and corner of this castle. This huge foreboding structure which could put any enemy into a sweat with the mere thought of going up against it was home to him.
Castle Remington. Home at last!
Logan breathed in the air surrounding his home.
Three years since he had last seen his home. Three years since he had last put foot on this land. He loved this land and everything on it with every fibre of his being. When he was a young lad, he thought that he would never put forth a foot outside this land. But that was then. This was now. He had made some other promises in this time and he intended to keep every single one of them.
And yet, as he looked at the castle looming ahead, he could not help but go back in time when things were much simpler.
He could still picture himself and Ian running up to the castle to see who would reach their mamma first. Years passed and so did their mamma. But as they grew older, they started racing on horses to reach the keep first. Logan would invariably win over Ian, but that didn’t stop the two brothers from competing in any race. Of course all that knew Logan knew that Thunder would never let him lose any war – on the battlefield or off it. And now Ian was no more to race with Logan. This thought saddened Logan a bit.
Thunder was patiently awaiting his master’s orders to start the final climb towards Castle Remington.
“Up for a race, Goran?” said Logan to the young lad beside him as he kicked Thunder on the sides to start the final ascent.
Goran laughed and raced on Ray behind his laird.
Of course Logan reached the castle first, closely followed by Goran. The gates of the castle lowered to provide entry to its master. People were on the streets, kids peeking out from the windows of the keep to welcome their laird. Still not sure if he was back with them to help them in this hour of their need.
Logan was slightly hurt with their wary expressions. They deserved a laird who would stay with them forever and lead them through any perils they faced. This lot deserved better.
He rode on till he reached the keep and then got off Thunder in one swing, closely followed by Goran.
“It was nice riding you again, my friend,” said Logan as he patted Thunder’s head. Thunder gave a light neigh to his master as if returning the sentiment. Logan gave a light laugh, “Thank you too, Thunder!”
Goran looked towards the master and horse with a smile, both of whom seemed to be in such harmony with each other, it was uncanny. But that is what made them a great team on the battle-field and off the field. They were both an extension of each other and it was evident that both had sorely missed each other past these years.
“Ray, my lord and your mate seem to have forgotten us as soon as they have found each other,” joked Goran lightly patting Ray’s mane. Ray gave a snort and turned her head towards the two.
Thunder gave an answering neigh as if trying to placate its mate.
Logan smiled and brought Thunder near Ray and as both the horses rubbed their necks with each other, Logan ran his fingers through Ray’s mane.
“Thank you for being with my friend for the years that I was not there” said Logan to Ray sincerely. Ray gave a slight nod of her head and a low neigh to acknowledge his words. She was as intelligent as Thunder and a just mate for him. Logan was very pleased to see his old friend find such a worthy mate.
Logan then turned to Goran and said, “Better put the horses in the stable with some hay. It was a long ride. Must be really hungry. As am I.” He smiled at Goran and continued, “One thing I missed in the abbey was Gertie’s cooking. Plain, simple food from her hands is what I would love to have right now.”
Goran cleared his throat and said, “My Laird, Old Gertie is no more. She died past winter.”
Logan was so shocked that he could not say a thing. He found it hard to imagine the keep without Gertie. Goran looked at his laird’s sad face and felt bad for him. Three years out of touch with everyone from the clan had been hard for him.
“She used to think of you often,” said Goran with a wistful smile. Logan looked at him. “used to say, ‘my Logan was the only one to appreciate my meals from the heart’.”
Logan smiled at that. “She was a dearie. I will miss her,” said Logan with a weary sigh.
“So do all of us,” said Goran quietly. Then he continued brightly, “But now you have Jean. Ian got him from across the channel. He can cook real fancy meals.”
Logan groaned. I don’t like fancy meals. I like simple fares. Oh, why did you have to go, Gertie.
Goran guessed his predicament. “Umm. Well he has Pierre to assist him,” said he furtively.
“Pierre?” asked Logan. “He can cook simple meals?” he asked hopefully.
“Umm. Sort of,” replied Goran.
“Sort of?” asked Logan suspiciously.
“Umm. Yeah. Well…” said Goran. He tried to look here and there. But Logan was staring at him. “Pierre. Umm… Pierre is an understudy,” said Goran on a rush. Logan relaxed a bit, “an understudy. Okay so he cannot cook fancy food,” said Logan.
Goran too relaxed although his deception ate at his heart. But he continued, “yeah. You know he is still learning. So he cannot make fancy stuff.”
He cannot cook any stuff. Forgive me my laird, but I cannot tell you that on your first day here.
Logan again eyed him suspiciously, but food was the least of his concerns for now. He thought of leaving the matter for now.
After another pat to Thunder’s head, Logan handed over Thunder’s reins to Goran who took both the horses to the stable to arrange for their meal after this tiring journey.
Taking a deep breath, Logan set forth his first step in the keep.
“So you are finally here,” said a deep voice contemptuously.
“Greetings, Gerald” replied Logan to the elder of his clan.
“Did your brother’s death finally put some sense into you?” said Gerald on another sneer without deigning to reply Logan’s greeting. But Logan expected the old man to respond in such a way. After all Gerald was not known for his loving ways. But he had a good heart, a heart that cared for the McPherson Clan as much as Logan did.
“I refuse to answer to any of your questions outside my keep,” replied Logan keeping a rein on his temper.
“Not changed much in spite of the ‘simple’ abbey life, I see,” said Gerald remembering the past skirmishes he used to have with Logan.
“Not changed much in spite of the increasing old age, I see,” replied Logan giving him tit-for-tat.
“Hmmph,” said Gerald on a huff trying to bite back a smile. He always did like Logan, much better than Ian for sure. He was very saddened when Logan left the leadership of the clan to his spineless brother, Ian. Gerald had never liked that good-for-nothing boy, and had borne him as laird while Logan was not there. But now he would do his best to keep Logan as laird forever, even if it meant manipulating him.
Logan is not even going to know what is about to hit him.
Logan did not like the smile on Gerald’s face. It always boded bad for him whenever Gerald was cooking up some scheme. It was this very smile which had led him to become Laird after his father’s death even though Logan wanted to give up the position in favour of his younger brother, Ian. That incident had also led to an insurmountable chasm open up between the two brothers, but as an Elder of the McPherson clan, Gerald had deemed it improper for the elder son to forgo the lairdship in favour of the younger brother.
Little did Logan know that Gerald had opposed the leadership of Ian for purely different reasons than Logan being the elder of the two sons of old man McPherson. Ian was a spineless person, as far as Gerald was concerned. He always used to coil into a shell when Gerald confronted him on any issue. And would accept any suggestion of Gerald without giving a single thought to it. Unlike, Logan who took a decision of his own after taking suggestions from all quarters, not just Gerald.
Gerald knew that Logan would be a better leader and had put forth then the reason which sounded most reasonable to others to get Logan to be leader. And now too he would do the same. Keep the best man out there as the Laird of McPherson clan, no matter what.
Gerald followed the Laird of McPherson keep as the doors shut behind them both.
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