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nodded and then glanced to a maid who was hovering several feet away. “Lia, fetch somemead for Lady Merewen and…” She paused and glanced to Eachann Stewart. “For you gentlemen?”
    “Mead fer them, too,” Merry said firmly.
    “Merry,” Eachann protested, “we’ve been traveling for days without a drop o’ whiskey, surely we—”
    “—shall manage without it so long as ye’re here,” she said grimly and then leaned forward to hiss in a voice she hoped Edda could not hear, “I’ll no ha’e the three o’ ye embarrassing me while ye’re here. There’ll be no whiskey fer ye.”
    He scowled but didn’t protest further, and Merry turned to Edda and offered a relieved smile. “They are fine with mead, too.”
    “Mead then for the men as well, Lia, and something for them to eat.” The moment the girl rushed away, Edda turned back and offered a smile. “I hope your journey here was a pleasant one.”
    Merry grimaced. “Riding from dusk until well past dawn fer days on end is rarely pleasant, but we were fortunate and didna run into bandits or trouble o’ that sort.”
    “From dusk until dawn?” Edda asked with surprise.
    “Aye, well, meself and me sons are all here, are we no’?” her father said defensively. “We left one o’ the men in charge o’ Stewart while we’re away, but ’tis no’ the same as me being there.”
    Merry snorted at this, earning a glare from her father before he continued, “We wanted to get the gel here, see her wed, and then get back to Stewart.”
    “Oh, aye, of course,” Edda murmured sympathetically. “I suppose you must get back as quickly asyou can. ’Tis a reflection of your caring for Merry that you would all come to see her wed and leave someone else in charge.”
    Merry managed not to snort as her father and brothers all puffed up under the compliment. ’Twas not caring but eagerness to be rid of her, she was sure, but didn’t say so.
    “Aye, just so,” her father said staunchly, and then added, “That being the case, mayhap ye can send fer yer priest and—”
    “Father,” Merry snapped.
    “What?” he asked defensively. “Yer betrothed wishes to get to Donnachaidh and we need to return to Stewart. There is no reason to delay.”
    “Except fer the wee matter of the groom bein’ unconscious,” she pointed out dryly.
    “Aye, that does put a bit of a wrinkle in things,” Edda said with a twinkle in her eye. “But I am sure he shall be recovered by the sup, or by tomorrow morn at the latest. There is no reason the wedding cannot take place first thing on the morrow, and then everyone may set out on their journeys.”
    Her father and brothers agreed quickly, but Merry remained silent. She was no longer eager to be married, but there was really no reason to delay. The contract was binding and she would have to marry him eventually. Realizing that Edda was peering at her in question, apparently looking for her agreement, Merry sighed and nodded.
    “Good!” Edda said brightly. “Then after you have eaten, I shall hunt down Father Gibbon while you talk to Cook.”
    “Me?” Merry asked with surprise.
    “Aye, well, you will be the lady here by the morrow and in charge of everyone. You may as well begin now. Besides, ’tis your wedding, dear, and while it may be a bit rushed, you should really be the one to chose the menu for the wedding feast and so on.”
    Merry smiled uncertainly, but again nodded. Put that way, there really seemed little reason for her not to be the one to talk to Cook. She just hoped Cook agreed and would take orders from her despite the fact that she hadn’t yet married his lord and officially become his lady.

chapter Two
    P ain was a great monster inside Alexander’s skull, slamming a mace around with sharp blows. It made him shut his eyes more tightly and groan as he instinctively fought returning to consciousness and fully experiencing the pain attacking him.
    “You can squeeze your eyes closed all you like, but