Yes Sir, No Sir

CHAPTER 1

Underneath the castle walls, where the waters of the loch lapped lazily onto the black sandy beach of the natural harbor, shrieks of laughter, shouts of pleasure and squeals of shock rang out as children frolic in the summer tide, a pageant that had played itself out ever since the first settlement on the shores of Loch Dunvegan. Generations of children had learnt to swim, to row, to fish, and to socialize in this way, and this day was no different.

Two of the older children were already showing clear signs of the start of their passage into adulthood, the childish games no longer seemed enough for them, and there was a degree of embarrassment felt when playing naked in the tide.

Marry and James had grown up in each other’s company and could not remember a time when they were not together, Marry had arrived into the castle a babe in the arms of a wet nurse who had brought her from her parents on the Outer Isles. She was a Macleod, the eldest daughter of James Macleod, Chieftain of the Lewis Clan Macleod. She was to be brought up by her distant cousin, The Macleod of Dunvegan. A common practice at the time in the cultures of both the West of Scotland and of Ireland. Fostering in this way united distant members of the same family, and also ensured a more diverse gene pool. As she grew and developed, she became everybody’s favorite, her long raven black hair glistened and shimmered in the sunlight, and her green piercing Celtic eyes stood testament to the Irish blood hidden in her veins, she was bright, intelligent and sensitive, and was equally proficient in her Latin, poetry, and music as she was with her bow and sword.

It was time now, at the age of twelve years, for her future to be settled, for several years now, negotiations had taken place between The Macleod and his elders, and Clan Grant and their Chief, an arrangement had been thrust out in theory, now a small party from the Grants visited Dunvegan, and the betrothal of Marry to the eldest son of the Grant’s clan chief was finalized. This arrangement would forge a strong link between the Grants and the Macleods bringing together the East Coast and the Western Isles in a strong political alliance. But the most important part of this partnership as far as The Macleod was concerned was his ability to gain access to the legendary Grant boat builders of the Moray Firth.

Marry’s constant companion from the time they could both crawl around together on the reed strewn floor of the castle kitchen, was James, the son of Beth, a widow and the sister of The Macleod. The two children were brought up together within the castle under the guardianship of the chief. They learnt everything together, their academic subjects being taught mostly by Italian priest, who had arrived more than ten years before the children were born, and had learnt his Gailic in Ireland on rout from Rome; poetry and piping were taught by the MacCrimmons; and the all-important skills of a warrior were taught by the clan’s best in each discipline. The handling of a birlinn (a wooden clinker build ocean going craft), both under sail and with oars, was learnt, but Marry had no stomach for these boats, so when they made short voyages under instruction, Marry hid in the bows at the first sign of a rough sea, while James beseeched the master to let him take the tiller.

By the time James was twelve, he had grown uncommonly large for his age, standing as tall as many of the clan warriors, and his strength was being noticed by all. It was at this time that The Macleod took a keen interest in the lad, seeing in him the makings of a great leader.

The chief brought his elders together initially to plan the betrothal of his charge to the Grants, but while they were assembled in private, he took the opportunity to speak to them about his nephew.

While we’re here altogether, and in a forward thinking mode, I’d like to take the opportunity to give you my feelings on the subjects of my succession, I know it is not entirely up to me, but I would like you all to put aside any personal ambitions you may harbor for yourselves or on behalf of sons, nephews etc.

A small murmur of denial and indignation went around the gathering until the chief held his hand up for silence, Here me out, and I think you’ll see the undeniable sense in what I have to say. My sister’s son, James, is showing exceptional abilities in all disciplines and shows the promise of being a giant among men, I would like you to all aid me in keeping a steady eye on his progress, and I would like each of you to aid and steady him along, in the hope that we have found our next chief.

There was a clamor of approval from all present, most voiced their opinions and many confessed that they had been observing the boy’s progress for some time.

Well, that’s settled then, we’ll do our best to guide him along the right path, but nothing’s settled, and I only know too well that many a promising horn of mead never reaches the mouth.

James being a bright lad became more and more aware of his destiny without anyone having to tell him, the more difficult his instructions became the more aware he was that he was being pushed towards the role of future clan chief, but the one thing that surprised him was no matter how hard he was driven nor how much he felt like kicking out and protesting, Marry was always by his side, taking almost as much as he and learning every bit as much and sometimes more.

When the delegations from Clan Grants had come and gone, Marry and James often spoke of her life married to the future chief and how James would visit and how their friendship would last forever.

Two years later, and the promise that James had shown had developed beyond the expectations of even his uncle, at fourteen, he was as tall as any men in the clan, saved possibly for one or two from the outlying areas, families who seemed to produce giants generation after generation. His skills with the claymore were extraordinary for a lad of his age, and he was already drawing a bow that many of the warriors were unable to handle, his Latin was fluent and he made a good hand at Gailic poetry, he could hold a haunting tune on the chanter, and was in short something of a wonder boy, but if his promise was well on the way to being fulfilled, then Marry’s was already done and dusted, at fourteen, she was breathtakingly beautiful in the face and in her grace, and her body was filling out, covering her strong angular frame, the childish frolicking of the preceding summers were now but a memory, and the two spent much of their time helping with the running of the castle and the estates, hunting, fishing and helping with the animals. In the heat of the summer, one of their favorite haunts was in the forest area, running up and away from the castle, and when the ravenous midges drove them back down to the castle, they would take refuge in the vaulted cold room, just off the main kitchen, here, they could sit on the straw above the ice well and talked for hours about any and everything, stealing a loaf of sweet bread or a pile of oat cakes with sour cream and honey. Both accepted their future, and if they thought too deeply about it, it seemed far off in the distance, two years to a fourteen years old has a stamp of eternity, but time pays no heed to the young and two years is but a heartbeat to the old, so when the bitter hard winter, two and half years on, sent everyone up to the locheens to cut great slabs of fresh water ice to be dragged on sledges, and lowered into the great ice well, to be insulated with layer upon layer of fresh clean straw. It was hard work, but everyone looked forward to it and participated to the full, men used heavy saws and grapples to lift out the ice, women slid and loaded it onto wooden slays, and the children led the oxen down to the castle, here the ice was laboriously carried up the narrow spiral stairs on the backs of the strongest of the men, and laid down on the floor of the cold room. Here, the ice was lowered on ropes into the ice well, and then slid and shifted to form a solid floor, this job was done by the best stone masons in order to make as tight a fit as possible, straw was placed on top of the ice, and another layer was laid on top of the straws, this process continued until the ice well was full, then a great pile of straw over the top formed an insulation that would last through until the following autumn.

It was during this period of intense activity that Marry and James had chosen the easiest job that of collecting the fresh clean straw from the covered ricks. By early afternoon, they had taken two sledge loads of straw into the cold room, and had gone back for the third.

Guess what Marry, I think two loads of straw is quite enough, I think we should just stay out of the way here, and let them get on with the work.

James, you lazy, red headed, ne’re-do-well, they’re working like little bees, and you want to lie around in these straws, come on, on your feet, we will load another sledge.

They’re not working, they’re all having fun, they’ve been looking forward to this for ages, come on up here, and keep me warm.

A bit of work will keep you warm.

Alright, come up here, and I’ll teach you how to kiss properly, we don’t want to be sending you off to the Grants as ignorant as a nun, do we?

JAMES MACLEOD, what on earth are you suggesting? I think you need a damn good seeing to, you randy old goat!

Marry, how could you, I don’t know what makes you think I had anything more in mind than an innocent lesson in social etiquette, you made me come over all embarrass.

I don’t have to think what you have in mind, I just have to use my eyes, look at that great useless bulge under your plaid, well, it’s not going to do any good here, we are not children anymore you know.

Marry was laughing with the mock shock expression on her face, and James pulled his plaid up over his belly, revealing an erect staff standing proud above a forest of red hair.

I bet young Grant hasn’t got anything like that, you better come and sit on it while you still can, you might never get another chance at a real man.

The two of them were laughing hysterically now, and Marry flopped down in the straw beside him, Oh James, I’d love to go back to when we were young, and it didn’t matter, do you remember when we used to play down by the beach, all naked and unashamed, I used to think it was great to make you big and then run away squealing with delight, I never did quite understand why you used to get so angry and moody, are you going to get angry and moody if I squealed with delight and run away now?

Oh Marry, this just isn’t right, I know I shouldn’t say this, I know I shouldn’t even think it, but I do love you so much, can’t we just run away from everyone and live on our own?

James, where did that come from? You never said anything like that before, but even if I did love you, there’s nothing we can do about it, it’s my duty to marry into the Grant’s family, and it’s your duty to become The Macleod, so let’s not say anything more on the subject, it will only make everything a lot worse. She went silent, lying by his side, and he felt the surge of anger, disappointment and rejection, he opened up to his best friend, he told her his innermost secrets and desires, it would have been easier to take if she just said ‘I feel the same way, but we can’t do anything about it’, but to say ‘even if I did feel that way’, was like a terrible slap on the face to him.

Sorry I spoke I’m sure, now get up and help me load some more straw.

Oh James, don’t be angry, I know I love you, but I’m afraid to say it out loud, for fear of letting the genie out of the bottle, I have to go away and you have to stay here, and it makes me so miserable, but I’ve said it now, I do love you, I do, I do, I do. She reached up and pulled him back down onto the straws beside her, then with all the furry of their pent up emotion, they fell into each other’s embrace, the frenzy of passion ended with the two bodies totally entwined.

I’m sorry Marry, we shouldn’t have gone that far, it’s my fault, I’m really sorry, please don’t be angry with me. He was pulling away and sitting upright.

Oh James, don’t be daft, of course I’m not angry, not with you anyway, I’m glad it happened, I sometimes lie awake at night thinking about you, at least now I know, what’s done is done. Then a spark of humor crossed her face and her green eyes sparkled like the summer sea across the bay, I bet you can’t do that again.

I bet I can.

Alright, let see what you can do, but not so fast this time James, just give me time to catch up, I’m sure you don’t want to send me home to finish myself off, do you?

James was quite shocked at what she was saying, but too involved by now to think of anything but following her instructions, she came with great squeals and shouts of delights, and James followed her almost instantly, they both collapsed and lay still, exhausted in the straw.

What the hell are you two doing? No, sorry, it’s obvious what you two are doing, there will be all hell to pay when the chief finds out. It was the Italian priest who had come up on them completely unnoticed, the two scurried round, straightening themselves out, Marry’s clothes were pulled round to make her decent in front of the man of God, and James had his plaid quickly thrown over his shoulder and around his waist.

Sorry Father, please don’t tell the Chief, it wouldn’t happen again, it was just one of those things.

Listen my child, if it wasn’t for this damn Grant thing, I would have been delighted to see the two of you together, I’ve never in all my life seen a couple more suited to being together than you two are, I’m just worried that if you carry on like this, you’ll bring disgrace on the whole clan, I know your barbaric ways even if I don’t approve of them, I’m going to have to tell the chief, it’s my duty.

Marry slid off the top of the rick with a wicked smile on her face, then she knelt in front of the priest, reached out and pulled his hand towards her mouth, kissing his ring.

Father, I wish to make a solemn confession, forgive me for I have sin, it’s been two weeks since I last confessed, and in that time, I have taken the Lord’s name in vein, and I have lied to Martha in the kitchen when I stole oat cakes and honey, I have also had unholy thoughts at nights when I have touched myself in inappropriate ways. I have also fornicated in the straw with James Macleod, and I asked for forgiveness.

Bless you child, for your pennants, you must pray every morning and every night, for at least five minutes, now go forth, and sin no more.

Father, I claim the sanction of the confessional, it would be wrong for you to tell the chief now, wouldn’t it?

Marry, you’re as cunning as a fox, and as sharp as an otter, very well then, I’ll say nothing, but for your own sakes, try to stay away from each other. With that, he turned and marched off in the direction of the castle, then stopped and turned back, Oh, by the way, I came to tell you they’ve got enough straw now. Then turned and walked out of sight.

The couple said nothing for at least ten minutes, then Marry broke the silence, turning to James with a laugh and saying, That’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in Dunvegan in all the years I’ve been here, did you see his face? James, we’ve been caught red handed, did you see the way he was looking at my tits, he couldn’t keep his beady Italian eyes off them, oh James, why are you looking so worried?

If you must know, I’m feeling really bad, it should have been the happiest day of my life, but it all seems to have gone wrong, I wouldn’t be able to be alone with you anymore, and in the early Spring, you’ll be gone, and I don’t know how I’m going to stay here on my own without you. Oh Marry, I feel so bad.

Oh please James, don’t be like that, it really was the best thing that ever happened to me, it felt so good and so natural, especially the second time, it can’t possibly be wrong, please don’t make it seem bad, that’s not fair.

James got to his feet and walked away in the direction of the castle, he neither spoke nor looked back, just disappeared along the same path that the priest had taken.

For two months, James did his best to stay out of the way of Marry, and when they were together, they were never alone, the strange atmosphere between the two, was in so much contrast, to the way they had been before, that everyone noticed, and rumors were rife, Marry was more and more unhappy, and could be found on her own crying, but when approached, she invariably made light of it, claiming dust or bright sunlight or whatever excuse came to hand, James on the other hand, buried himself in his warrior training, handling a claymore with more and more proficiency, wrestling some of the strongest warrior with some considerable success, and graduating to a bow as strong as any man could possibly pull.

Word came that an envoy from the Grants would arrive in the middle of June, and that Marry should be made ready to leave with her dowry by that time. This news made her mood even deeper, and she took to wondering alone through the forest or along the cliffs, often staying out from dawn till dusk, it was on one of these trips that she walked as far as the white shell sands at the seaward end of Dunvegan Loch, there she sat and watched the seals haled out on a small island just off the beach, she drifted far away and deep in thoughts, she felt that James, her lifelong friend, and the one person she really loved had forsaken her and turned his back on her, just at the time when she needed him most, how could he do that, how could he be so insensitive, no matter what he said, he could not possibly have loved her, as soon as she had given herself to him, he had rejected her and now would not even speak to her.

Marry was startled out of her melancholic day dream by a voice just behind her, she leapt up and spun around, and looked straight up into James’ face, he had come down across the soft turf behind the beach and was now standing not six feet from here, his bow across his shoulder and a quiver of arrow at his side.

What are you doing here? I want to be on my own, she stammered as tears began to erupt from her eyes.

Oh Marry, I’m so sorry, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, not on purpose anyway, but you were sat here looking so forlorn, and my heart bled for you, I love you so much, you must know that, but it’s no good, you belong to someone else, and I don’t even have the right to be here with you now.

Just leave, go away, I don’t want to see you, I don’t want you to be around anymore, please just go away.

In two strides, he held her tightly in his arm, and she cried pitifully, but he did not let her go, her crying lessened until she was just quietly sobbing, punctuated with great heavy sighs, Oh James, I’ve missed you so much, I’ve missed your voice, I’ve missed your humor, and I miss your laughter, but funny though that it may seemed, I’ve missed the smell of you more than anything else.

James turned her around and laid her gently on the spongy grass, then laying his bow and arrow aside, he stretched out besides her, his gentle kissing and caressing sent compulsive shudders through her body and soon the head crossed that barrier that makes retreat impossible if will power alone was the instrument for turning back.

The spring sun bathed the couple in a comfortable warm glow, and just for a moment, their worries and fears were put away, and they both drifted into a quiet, peaceful sleep, the luxury of which neither had enjoyed over the previous couple of months.

They woke a little chilled as the sun was dropping down over the hills above Glenbrittle.

Come on, we’d better hurried back, it’s going to be dark long before we get to the castle, do you think you can run?

I can beat you any way, you great oaf, with that, she pushed him with such force on his chest that he was sent backward to sit on the grass, by the time he retrieved his bow and arrows, and turned to follow her, she had sped up the hill, out of the bay, and was running fleet foot in the direction of the castle.

Two hours later, they entered the kitchen, intending to find something to eat as by now most people would have been fed, but instead of being greeted by Martha’s mock scalds and scolding, they ran straight into the chief and James’ mother.

You, to my quarters now, and Marry, you go with Beth, I’m terribly disappointed with the pair of you.

In The Macleod’s private rooms, James was given a strong dressing down, but nowhere near as severe as it might have been, and the whole thing was finished with the rather sympathetic speech from the chief.

Well you see James, there’s nobody I would rather see with Marry than yourself, but you know as well as I do that she is promised to a future clan chief, and it would be wrong to distract her from that destiny, it’s not really your fault my boy, if I had the wit I was born with, I would have separated the two of you long ago, but in all honesty, I’ve taken a great deal of pleasure in seeing the two of you growing up together, now you can’t put a strong young bull in a field with the pretty young heifer, and expect nothing to happen, so I must shoulder much of the blame. What to do now? I’ve thought long and hard about this since Tige came in with his news this afternoon.

James was just about to curse Tige and brand him as a sneak when the chief raised his hand for silence, "No, it’s not Tige’s fault, and he’d not reported back to me, I would have been very upset with him, and to be fair to him, he came straight to me and said not a word to anyone else, but that is beside the point, we need to keep Marry and yourself apart, and keep you apart until after the Grants have come and gone. I spoke with some of the elders earlier, and we feel it is best that you should go to the Isle of Soay to look after the cattle that will be summer graze out there, you can help to swim