“The animals are running about all scared. They could get hurt.”
Annys had noticed that. Needing to flee quickly meant not being able to gather up one’s pets or livestock and it appeared the solution had been to just open wide the doors, gates, and hutches. The bigger animals had swiftly moved to the edge of the village away from the smoke, milling around nervously as each kept a close watch on the fire. The smaller animals scurried around squawking, quacking, barking, and just making a general, dangerous nuisance of themselves.
“I dinnae think there is much we can do about that, Benet. We cannae get in the way of the ones fighting the fire.”
She yelped and leapt out of the way when a large cat raced between her legs followed by a barking dog. Spinning around she watched the cat leap into the tree while one of the boys grabbed the dog by the ruff and pulled it away. Several people laughed and Annys’s concern for everyone eased a little more.
“We can go down and gather up some of them, m’lady,” said a young girl with a face splattered with freckles. “We willnae get in the men’s way. We ken how to get most of them to come to us.” She pointed at the two girls with her.
“Be verra certain ye stay away from the burning areas and the men, Annie. Ye as weel, Una and Beth. None of those poor animals are worth any of you getting hurt.”
“We will be careful, m’lady.”
With so many women watching the children, Annys felt safe keeping her attention on the girls slipping around the edges of the area that was on fire. They had collected two boys to help them. Soon the small livestock along with dogs and cats, most of which made a quick retreat up a tree as soon as they reached one, joined the women and children by the rowan tree. She made certain to congratulate the girls and boys on a job well done and meant every word of it. Without all of the smaller animals cluttering up the road in their mindless panic the men working to put out the fires moved a little faster.
Soon no flames could be seen although a few things still smoked. The ones who could see that their homes remained untouched began to cautiously return to them and the crowd gathered by the rowan tree began to thin out. Holding firmly to Benet’s hand, Annys carefully made her way to where she could see Harcourt and his men studying the damage, occasionally ordering a few men to throw some more water on something that appeared to be still smoldering. She had just reached his side when Gybbon and Tamhas returned with three men from the keep who had raced to help them hunt the ones who had committed this crime. Annys needed only one look at their faces to know those men had gotten away from them.
“They were already mounted as they shot their last arrows and rode off the moment we started up the hills,” said Gybbon. “I think those three men were hired because they were so skilled. It was only a wee lead they had on us but it was enough.”
Tamhas nodded his agreement. “And they rode off leaving their fires still burning which meant someone would have to stop to put them out. Aye, these men were far better than any of the others we have faced.”
“No trail?”
“A wee one. We decided to nay go too far ere we discussed it with you.”
“I think we should make some attempt to hunt them down,” said Harcourt, his anger evident on his face as he looked around at the damage done to the village. “Aye, we cannae go far from here but we might get lucky and catch one, or gain some useful information just by seeing which way they were going.”
“Then we must try,” Annys said. “We can keep working here. Ye go hunting.” She, too, looked around, counting six destroyed structures and nearly that many needing extensive repairs. “There is certainly more than enough to keep us busy. Between the ones who still have a home and the keep, we also need to make certain everyone has some shelter.”
“Oh, look, Maman! ” cried out Benet. “Master Kenneth saved my lamb.”
Annys sighed as she watched the butcher stop, his broad shoulders tensing. The little lamb tucked under his arm looked round at Benet and bleated, its legs moving as if it wanted to get down and run to the boy. Benet pulled free of her grip and ran over to pat the lamb. Whatever the child was telling the butcher, it made the man look even more morose.
“I best go and fetch Benet so that Master Kenneth can put his belongings back,” she said and started to walk toward the sad-faced butcher.
“Ye do that,” said Harcourt. “I will go fetch a horse to join in the hunt and tell Dunnie to expect a lamb soon.”
Ignoring the snickering of the men, Annys kept walking, reaching the butcher’s side just as he set the lamb down on its feet. It ran straight to Benet who laughed with delight. Benet began to talk to the lamb, testing out names, and Annys softly cursed.
“I ken it, m’lady. Could see the threat of it when ye were in my shop,” the butcher said.
“Is it a boy or a girl, Master Kenneth?” asked Benet.