Warehouse operations had been disrupted by the too-early departure of the Lark. It had taken days of negotiation and trading for Rhys and Hudson to restore things to their normal order. Hudson had been accused more than once of possessing a silver tongue, and it was much in evidence as he smoothed ruffled feathers of those they dealt with. Now things were back on an even keel, and Hudson could take the time to pay a visit to Yearling Brook.

Word of Sylvia's return to RhyDin with the children had been passed almost as soon as it occured. The daily wagons between the manor and warehouse brought updated word of Sylvia's condition. When Hudson heard of Storm's visit to the manor, he felt relief beyond words. For Sylvia to receive visitors, she must truly be on the way to a full recovery.

Snow fell lightly and dusted the road and countryside as Hudson hiked north from the city. He had a small pack slung over one shoulder which bulged oddly with the objects inside. For the most part the chill had little effect on his manner of dress - but as a concession to aching hands he wore the gloves Sylvia gifted him for Yule. It was a pleasure to be out in the open air again, with the quiet of the road instead of the chaos of the warehouse. The weight of his concern greatly lifted by the news from the manor, he was able to enjoy the walk.

By now his face was known at the gates, and he paused to trade a few friendly words with the guards before he moved on up towards the main house. Only a moment of hesitation before he climbed the front steps - he was visiting as a friend and not in any way as an employee, and that set his mind at ease about approaching the front. Front door reached, he halted to shift the pack to his other shoulder, and then raised his hand to knock.

Hudson entered at Miriam?s welcome, with a smile of thanks as she anticipated his question. Cian and Aidan?s request to remain brought a sparkle of unvoiced humor to black eyes, and Hudson followed Cian?s lead into the parlor with a smile twitching at the corner of his lips. As he walked he pulled off his gloves and tucked them into his belt.

At Cian?s offer of a seat, Hudson lowered himself to the indicated chair. He scarcely had time to take a breath before the dispute between the boys broke out, and was interrupted by Miriam?s timely reappearance. Hudson stood again to follow Miriam, but not before he paused to address the boys. ?I?m tae see yer m?thair now, but after I ha?e visited with her a bit, ?tis wishing tae speak with th? pair of ye I be. Sae dinnae run off tae far, aye?? The good-natured smile and hint of a wink he gave them was reassurance that it was a conversation to anticipate rather than fear.

Beata?s giggles as Miriam bounced the infant up the stairs were enough to bring a quiet chuckle to Hudson, and he delayed entering the bedroom long enough to let Beata grab and hold his fingers for a moment. Miriam received an infectious smile and a courteous half-bow before Hudson actually entered the room where Sylvia sat in the bed.

Black eyes were sharp enough to catch the grey shadows beneath violet eyes, and the pale skin underneath the pink produced by pinching cheeks. That was a trick his Moira had often tried, and it fooled him as little then as it did now. What warmed his expression was that she had the energy to wish to attempt the subterfuge, and the warm welcome in her voice.

?Aye, and of course ?tis with ye I?ll sit tae talk a while. ?Tis quite th? scare ye gave us all, leannan, and I be glad tae see ye looking sae well.? Hudson pulled a chair closer to the bedside and took a seat, letting the pack with its oddly shaped bulges rest on his lap. Just a twitch of his mouth upwards and the deepening creases at the corners of his eyes betrayed the pleasure of the surprise he was concealing.

?Before I forget, th? lads at th? warehouse and Rhys most especially wanted me tae convey tae ye their prayers and good wishes. All of them ha?e been anxious for ye.? Depths of sincerity in that ? Hudson did not tell Sylvia of the knot of tension that had filled the warehouse when matters were a mystery. Nor did he mention the spontaneous cheer that broke out with the first smiling wagon driver from the manor.

A shift of the pack on his lap allowed him to work at its closure. ?I ha?e missed th? audience for my tales, caraid. Ye?ll ha?e tae recover soon sae I can resume th? telling of them ? or I?ll ha?e tae keep visiting tae tell ye in installments. For th? moment, I thought ye might like a different sort of thing.? That was said as the tie finally gave way, and he flipped the pack open. Still he was careful to keep it turned away so she couldn?t see inside, and he looked at her with a mischievous smile.

The way her face drained of what little color it possessed when Sylvia shifted, and the deep breath she took to recover herself, was a dead giveaway to the pain she was still in. Despite the smile she offered and the laughter in her violet eyes, Hudson was concerned and it showed in the shadow over his expression before he banished it to answer. ?I?ll nae ha?e ye wrestle me, caraid ? ye?d win. But since ye ha?e th? curiosity of a cat, I suppose I?ll nae keep ye in suspense longer.?

The first item he pulled out of the pack was a fairly plain looking mug, with a bundle of tea wedged into it, and he leaned over to offer it into her hands. ?Since I ken ye?ll nae be able tae take th? long walk down tae th? city for a wee while, a bit of th? city I brought tae ye. Th? mug be from th? Dragon, and I only had tae sell my eternal soul tae my sister?s betrothed for th? getting of it. Th? tea be from th? shop and th? lass there recommended it especially.?

A pause as he investigated the pack and came out with a slim book bound in leather, with no title or imprint. ?This be a fine little volume with th? translations of basic words and phrases from Gaelic tae Common ? all th? ones I could think of, at th? least, and quite a bit of room tae add more as ye learn if ye wish. I did nae come close tae filling it.? He set the book on the blankets within her easy reach before he delved back into the pack.

?Ye ken, by th? way, that I cannae e?en begin tae count how many tales I ken, sae I expect ye?ll be hearing th? most of them long after ye be fully recovered. Ah! There it be.? The next item was a bit strange ? it appeared to be a collection of thin metal rods twisted around each other and interlocking. ?This actually be from Jonathan. ?Tis a puzzle of a sort, tae keep yer hands and mind busy. Th? man swears tae me those bars come apart with nae unusual craft and then can be put back taegether ? I dinnae ken th? trick of it, though.?

A quick smile brightened his expression for a moment as he reached into the pack for the next items. ?Sianna sent along these,? as he placed a pair of books in her reach, along with a necklace of silver and amethyst and a small glass bottle capped with silver and filled with a faintly pink liquid, ?and she said tae tell ye th? bottle be rose water, with th? roses from their garden, and th? amethyst be good for health.?

The pack was looking sorely depleted, but he reached into it one last time. ?Th? rest that be in here I brought for yer lads and a wee thing for yer lassie, except for this.? What he pulled out then was a small carved boat ? not an elegant ship, but a fishing dory with a single sail. It was painted in white with dark blue trim, and L?ir Mothan was painted delicately on the prow. A scale model, it was perfectly suited to skimming down the brook when the weather warmed.

?Nae much tae offer, leannan, but ?tis a breath of freedom for me, and I thought ye might ha?e th? need of that while ye be here.?

Net-scarred hand closed over Sylvia?s to give a gentle squeeze when she reached for Hudson?s grasp. ?Th? first thing ye ha?e tae get out of yer mind be that th? wee things I brought be too generous. Well I ken that ye?d dae th? same for me were our positions reversed. ?Tis sure I?ll be tae pass along yer thanks tae Sianna and her man, though.? A smile tugged at his mouth as he looked from Miriam to the boys and then back at Sylvia.

?As for th? rest, ?tis nae a presumption tae ask for a tale, ?tis a pleasure for me ? I did nae wish tae tire ye, sae I did nae offer, but th? rest of th? day be yers if ye want it. After th? lass sees tae yer bandages, and I ha?e th? word with th? lads I promised. Ye think on what ye?d like a tale of while we be gone, aye?? With that Hudson released her hand and stood, passing Miriam with a smile.

About to exit, he ducked back to grab the pack on the floor and then finally made it out of the room with the boys leading the way. ?Well, yer m?thair told me th? pair of ye were setting out tae be Highlanders, and I see she be right as usual.? Hudson followed as Cian led himself and Aidan back to the parlor they had begun in. The boys seemed excited in their sheet-kilts, proud to show off their wrapping, and Hudson grinned as he took a knee on the floor in the parlor to examine the ?plaids?.

A laugh was suppressed as he examined the boys carefully. ?A right proper pair of lairds ye be, now, but if ye?d like, I?ll show ye a faster way tae wrap th? plaid on, and then I ha?e sommat with me tae complete yer outfits.? Eager nods met that, and Hudson smiled. Cian was so enthusiastic, and Aidan obviously wanted to be a part of anything his older brother was doing. That was a feeling Hudson remembered well.

?Let ha?e yer kilt tae start, Aidan. Cian, ye follow along as we gae, aye?? Aidan surrendered his sheet, and Hudson started by folding the fabric in half length-wise. ?Ye be lucky, lads. These be th? perfect size for ye now ? as ye get larger, ye?ll ha?e tae seek out longer plaids. Mine be almost seven yards long.? Once the sheet was folded, Hudson?s large hands wrapped around Aidan?s hands gently, moving them into position to hold the sheet with one end draped over the small shoulder.

With Cian watching intently and following along, Hudson began to guide Aidan in making the pleats in the fabric. The light weight of the sheet made it easier for the boy?s smaller hands. Once all was folded, Hudson had Aidan drape the plaid over his back to hang down to his knees, and tuck his chin against the pleated fabric. He paused there to help Cian adjust his sheet to the proper length. ?There, ye be more than half done. Now, ye take yer belts and fasten them loosely, and then ye pull around th? loose ends, tae make it overlap tae either side before ye fasten th? belt tight.?

Hudson helped the boys suit actions to words, leaving them kilted below the waist, with a long tail of fabric hanging down to their ankles, almost like a skirt open in front. Cian gave Hudson a skeptical look that Aidan promptly mimicked. ?That doesn?t look right, Master Fraiser.? The serious, almost scornful tone prompted a laugh from Hudson.

?Nae, it does nae ? but that be because we ha?e nae finished. There be a few things ye can dae here, depending on th? weather.? Hudson stood to demonstrate on his own plaid, freeing the stag?s-head pin that held it to his shoulder. A shrug shook the wool down so it looked similar to the boys? outfits. ?Ye see from here ye can pull up th? ends tae cover yer head and shoulders against th? wind and rain.? That was easy enough, and as he demonstrated the boys followed along, giving a trio of Scotsmen into the parlor.

?Th? way ye see me wear it th? most often be over th? shoulder ? th? extra fabric does nae get in th? way sae much, then. Tae dae that ye let it fall again, then take th? corners and twist them up, then tuck them in th? belt.? Hudson did so, and then helped Aidan as Cian determinedly achieved the task on his own. ?Now ye see th? pouch that makes tae th? back? Ye just catch that up and pull it over yer shoulder. I ha?e th? pin tae help hold it up, but ye?ll need sommat?.?

Silver stag?s-head pin fastened, Hudson gave the boys a wink as he reached into the pack, coming up a few moments later with a pair of small pins worked with the Yransea coat of arms. ?Ye?ll ha?e tae be most careful with these, now. Ye dinnae wish tae stick yerself with them ? I ha?e done it with mine a time or three, and it be nae fun at all.? At the sober nods of Cian and Aidan, Hudson helped them with the final fastening and arranging of the ?plaids?.

Triumphant grins were traded among the three before Hudson spoke again. ?Now ye may ha?e noticed one serious lack tae th? plaid ? there be nae pockets. And with nae pockets, how are ye supposed tae keep th? frogs ye catch? Sae we carry th? sporran, tae be a pocket, and tae help hold down th? plaid against th? wind.? Hudson indicated his plain leather sporran. ?This be a working one, though there be fine ones for th? formal dress. I did nae bring along ones fer ye yet, though.?

Cian?s expression drew into one of puzzlement, and Aidan looked between his older brother and Hudson. ?What do you mean, you didn?t bring ones yet? Are you going to?? The question was asked innocently, without the overtones of greed that could have colored it, and Hudson smiled at the lads. Cian especially seemed so mature for his age, undoubtedly because of the responsibilities already pressed onto his shoulders.

?Aye, after ye?ve learned a bit more about being Highlanders. Ye see how th? colors in my plaid all look faded, and a wee bit gray? That be sae that we can wrap up and hide in th? heather with nae one tae see ye. Th? fabric blends in well. But ye ha?e sommat ye can practice here in th? house, and that be moving silently. ?Tis a hard thing tae master, but I think th? pair of ye can manage it.? Hudson grinned and walked across the floor normally, and then turned and walked back to the boys with a low, almost gliding pace that made no noise.

?Ye practice that, learn it well enow that ye can walk up tae yer wee sister and touch her hair while she be asleep without waking her, and I?ll ha?e a sporran made up for th? each of ye. A bargain??

Hudson watched the boys leave with a smile before he set the model boat on the floor carefully and resumed his seat. ?Ye ha?e a pair of fine lads, caraid,? and then his own mischievous smile came out at the impish look of hers, ?And I can only hope ye?ll nae take me too much tae task for th? frogs. A story ye want of catching them, though??

One net-scarred hand rubbed along his jaw as he considered, then raked back through his hair. The mischief in his smile grew when black eyes sharpened with a memory and then he focused back on Sylvia. ?Aye, I ha?e a grand tale tae tell, though I dinnae think ?tis one ye?ll want yer lads tae hear.?

A shift in the chair to settle a bit more comfortably and then Hudson began. ?Now, ?tis nae th? only time we caught frogs ? often enow in th? summers ?twas a game tae keep us for hours at a time. But this bit of fun was th? idea of Alasdair, and th? rest of us went on with it with a fair bit o? glee. Eight years I had, sae Alasdair and Alleyne had ten, Kester nine, and th? rest on down tae Beathan at just turned five. Sianna had six months.?

Passing shadow dimmed his smile a moment before he shook it free and continued the story, his accent growing more pronounced as he spoke of memory. ?Our daidein had hired in a new teacher from England for th? educating of us, just that year. Nae a bad man, but dull enow tae put ye tae sleep. And when he taught history, he mocked th? auld ways, calling th? Celts a bunch of barbarians, with nae real history tae our name. Enow tae set us all on edge, as ye might imagine.?

A disgusted shake of his head revealed the lingering disdain Hudson still possessed for that teacher. ?Sae we thought Alasdair?s idea a fine one. He proposed that since th? teacher was sae enamored of history, we should gi?e him a living example of one o? th? auldest bits o? history we could find. Th? plague o? frogs, from th? Bible.?

Hudson gave Sylvia a questioning look at that, curious whether she was familiar with the book or the story, and continued. ?Afternoons after th? lessons were over, for almost three weeks, we hunted frogs. Along the streams running into th? loch, and th? banks of th? loch itself were th? best places tae look. ?Tis nae that hard tae catch a frog, once ye ha?e th? trick o? it. Especially with th? seven o? us tae work at it. They be fixed tae watch motion, sae ye ha?e one person come up slow from behind in th? mud, another in front tae wiggle his hand as a distraction. Then th? one behind just scoops up th? wee beast.?

?Ye dae sommat th? same tae catch them by yerself, more patience be all ye need.? He leaned forward a bit on the chair and gestured out a shape, a rough cube of perhaps two feet. ?Three weeks o? gathering frogs was enow tae fill a crate sae large. We had tae dae sommat with them then, because th? larger frogs started tae eat th? smaller. Sae in th? middle of th? night we crept out with th? crate ? kept it in th? woods until then ? and half th? frogs went intae th? teacher?s cottage, and th? other half intae th? schoolroom.?

Quiet laughter as he leaned back in the chair. ?I dinnae ken how we thought nae tae get caught. Creeping back intae th? manor in th? wee hours of th? morning, and Kester ran full intae our m?thair, who?d gone tae feed Sianna. Sae we caught th? trouble for being out sae late, and then again when th? frogs were discovered. Almost a fortnight before th? last of them were found and evicted from th? cottage and schoolroom. Th? teacher only lasted another three months, though.?

The sparkle of mischief was back in his eyes, along with a barely suppressed smile. ?Sae there ye ha?e it. Dae ye feel reassured at all tae ken th? tale, leannan??

The press of Sylvia?s hand against her side to still pain, the breathy note of fatigue in her voice ? Hudson saw the signs and hid concern with a smile at her whispered words. When her hand sought his on the quilt, laying there palm up, he placed his hand over hers and pressed it gently. His voice was quiet and filled with soft humor. ?Aye, a day or two and ye?ll be ready tae conquer th? world. Ye be a marvelous hostess and a joy tae spend time with, caraid.?

Hudson stilled and watched as her eyes, grey-shadowed as they were, slipped closed again. The smile faded from the corners of his mouth as he watched her fall over into sleep. It was several moments after that when he released her hand and stood. The bed swallowed her up, and her skin was nearly the same color as the sheets. His voice was just a whisper in the still room, ?Sleep well, leannan. Bruadar milis. ?

Pack retrieved and almost empty of its burdens, Hudson left the room with the silent pace that had so impressed Cian. A brief pause when he encountered Miriam, long enough to pass over the final gift from his bag for Beata. It was a small tam-o?-shanter, dark blue with a jaunty white tuft and the Yransea coat of arms embroidered on the band. Hudson left the manor to hike back to the city with dusk closing fast to dark.