‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.
‘I’m thinking that you’ll never ask Maev to marry you. It makes me sad.’
‘It shouldn’t. There is nothing in the world so great as love, Kaelin. I feel privileged just to have felt it. My wife was a good woman and – though I didn’t love her as I love Maev – we were content. Two bairns and a little farm. When she died, and the beetlebacks drowned my boys, I was filled with hate. The rebellion was in full flow and I cut and killed my way from Eldacre to Three Bridges and beyond. I butchered beetlebacks wherever I found them. After the rebellion was lost I crossed the sea, and fought in several wars. But the hate never left me, Kaelin. It burned like fire on the soul. When I came back Maev healed me. Not just my eye, but my heart. Love does that, boy. So you should understand that my life was made infinitely richer just by knowing Maev. I get more pleasure from seeing her smile than I have ever had from rutting with Parsha Willets or anyone else. She is the love of my life, and the life of my soul. I don’t need to be wed to her. I don’t even need that love returned. It is enough that I am close to her, and can protect her.’
Kaelin saw the sorrow in the big man’s face, and knew Jaim was not telling the whole truth. He did need that love returned. Who wouldn’t, thought Kaelin? The silence now was uncomfortable and the youngster knew he needed to find something to say to restore their normal friendly banter. He stepped forward and lifted his borrowed cloak from the rock where Jaim had laid it to dry. ‘So,’ he said, ‘how is Parsha Willets?’
Jaim laughed. ‘Fat and willing, and wonderful company. I’ve never regretted a single daen I’ve paid her.’
‘Judging by the amount you’ve given her she must be one of the richest women in the highlands by now,’ said Kaelin.
‘Och, it’s not that much.’ Jaim thought about it. He grinned broadly. ‘Maybe it is. Maybe I should marry Parsha Willets and live a life of luxury.’
The mood restored, they set off towards the east. Kaelin glanced back once, hoping to see Chara coming to find him. But the land was empty.
CHAPTER TWELVE
JAIM STAYED AT THE FARM FOR LESS THAN A MONTH. KAELIN KNEW HE was anxious to return to Maev and made no attempt to delay him, though he dearly wanted to. The big man’s presence at the farm changed the atmosphere. He laughed and joked with Finbarr and his brothers, which, in turn, drew Kaelin closer to the group. By the time he left Kaelin felt more at ease with these northerners, and they were more friendly towards him.
At least part of this change was down to the duel with Bael. Word of it had spread and Kaelin’s standing among the folk of Black Mountain had risen as a result. But it was mainly the easygoing presence of Jaim Grymauch that made the difference. He worked as hard as any man, repairing fences, digging ditches, clearing blocked water inlets. At night he would produce a jug or two and regale the labourers with his own bawdy poems. They also witnessed at first hand Jaim’s remarkable bull-charming talents. An old bull, with a huge sweep of horn, had become trapped on a mud bank by the river. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank. When Kaelin, Finbarr and Senlic tried to reach him, laying long planks across the bank, the bull dipped his head and lunged at them. Jaim sat close by, drinking from a flagon of uisge and laughing at their efforts. Then he placed the empty flagon on the ground, looped a coil of rope over his shoulder, and walked out to stand some ten feet from the panicked animal. When he spoke his voice was low and easy.
‘Once I was lighter than sunshine on water,
I danced through the heather,
As ever I sought her.
I knew not the seasons, nor even the reasons,
Nor what I would do,