Summer turned to fall and the bridge was finally nearing completion. They had to be set free, they just had to be and Stefan was exceedingly hopeful.
*
Laird Limond was a stout man with a wide girth and sandy hair. His eyes were blue, his mustache was neatly trimmed and he prided himself on always wearing clean clothing. He was also a wealthy man who ruled over a clan of nearly three hundred. He owned the land south of the river that divided him from Macoran and of the Macoran, he was not fond.
Limond's wealth came from the English unquenchable desire for lobster and salmon. The lobster was easy enough for his fishing boats to gather just off the coast of Scotland, but the salmon was another matter. He suspected the Macoran gathered far more than their share when the salmon swam up river to spawn and if he could, he would make a mark down the middle of the river to keep them off his side.
Alas, it was impossible to prove and Macoran always swore they were not guilty, but Limond didn't believe a word of it. Macorans sold their salmon down the coast of England at the very same fish market his men patronized and they always had plenty to sell. It irked him six ways from Sunday.
He once tried to make an alliance with Macoran and the man was willing, but then Macorans were caught red handed with salmon he was certain was from his side of the river and all negotiations were off. A marriage between them was out of the question too once Macoran married the Brodie woman. Besides, Limond had no daughters to give.
Even without the catch the Macorans stole, he was extremely wealthy; his clan had all they needed and most of what they wanted. Therefore, Limond decided to build himself a castle - not just any castle, but one that was high enough to see the river and watch the Macorans. However, the wealth of his clan tended to make his men slothful if not downright lazy and to build a castle, he needed strong men.
When word reached him of a crew of twenty or so felonious men used to build a bridge in the west, he was thrilled. These convicts, he believed, were not truly wicked for what laird would let the wicked live? These were simply thieves and beggars paying for their crimes. So he sent the price and secured the men together with a number of guards. It was a king's ransom he paid for the guard services, but he could afford it. Nevertheless, the bridge builder had other commitments and Limond had to put out the word in search of another.