Scars of the highlander

Chapter 4

Iona woke to a yell, she sat straight up and tried to focus on what was around her. She shut her eyes again as the Sun pierced through to her skull. A hand on her shoulder forced her to relax against her husband's chest, she knew it was him from the smell. When he told her that he liked her in his arms she stopped complained about riding with him. She liked being his arms, but she didn't admit it out loud. Iona also became a little braver with her husband, asking for his kisses instead of waiting for them, kissing his neck when they were talking or even letting him touch her breast when they were riding. She buried her face into her chest and snuggled into his arms as her husband voice said

"It is alright wife, go back to sleep" she buried her head against him. They were on their fifth day of travelling. She had not realised that Buchanan was so far away from Munro. She knew it wouldn't be easy to visit her family as much as she would like. They only stopped one more time, so that everyone could rest. He didn't take his eye off his wife for the time that they had stopped. He had even watched her bathe. She was still increaible shy and argued that she didn't need a watcher. But he had ken that she had lied that first stop. That there was someone there. He noticed that she her dress wasn't fully down and the halter that held her knife had blood on it. He didn't push her, he wanted to see if she would tell him. But he wasn't taking any chances.

Ruth was mostly riding with Conran now as she was having issues riding alone anymore. After five days of continuous travel it wasn't a surprise she was having issues. Dixon spent most of the journey without a rider and he seemed to enjoy it. Iona would glare at her horse as he pulled at the long weeds on the trail, he seemed to be the only one who enjoyed it. Iona wiggled in the saddle against her husband and looked up at him kissing his neck. Iona saw the smile on his face as she did so. He turned down to look at her and kissed her mouth, when he pulled back she asked, "Where are we?" this came out sleepier than she meant it to sound.

Aulay smiled as his wife nuzzled into his chest, he held her tighter. He had enjoyed riding with his wife for the last three days. After they had stopped the night Iona had become more comfortable with him. She would let him touch her where he wanted, and she would kiss his neck which made him want to bed her. He was finding it hard not to reach up her skirt or even tell his men to stop so he could bed her in the grass. When she slept against him, he would watch her as she looked adorable. Aulay lent her head back with his hand and kissed her again, she tasted so nice he enjoyed kissing with wife.

"We are arriving at Buchanan" these words made Iona sit up ignoring the blinding of the sun. She nearly leapt out of the saddle as she looked up to see the castle they were riding too.

"Wife" Aulay had to grab her by the waist to stop her from falling. Iona's eye adjusted to the light as a very large keep came into view. It was incredible, four times of the size of Munro. The walls were higher and there seem to be two walls, an inner and outer wall. The lands stretch on for miles. To the right were farm lands, Iona could see cows, horses and other yard animals, there were dog barking and child running around the field. She watched them as they moved closer to the keep. She was arriving during the day, on a beautiful day, the air was warm, and the sun rose high. Turning back to the keep she could see merchants come out of the gates, men on the wall and around the bailey. The outer wall had higher towers and there was a moat around the first wall, it was full of water, Iona could see this water came from the loch behind the castle.

"Is there a second moat?" she asked looking at her husband

"Aye, in the first court yard, around the inner wall" He said

"Also, water from the loch?" Aulay nodded again

"Aye, not just for protection but for the men and some of the villagers that like to stay the night" Iona turned to him confused "the villager is over on the other side of the forest, you can walk there some of the villagers like fishermen like to drink with the men and stay the night." Iona was surprised to hear the village was so close, at Munro the village was at least a quarter days journey. She turned back to castle and notice the keep for the first time. It was very large and intimidating. With two towers that rose so high you could probably see England from them. The size overwhelmed her, and she realised that the amount of people that lived here would be nearly triple that at Munro.