Day 3
I don't know why I am writing again, it makes no sense but I need to tell someone and you seem like the best person. I say that like I'm not writing in a book that was given to me by a dead person.
A lord from my home kingdom has paid Ivar the compliment of a visit. At least that's how he phrased it. The ship came into view two days ago, flying a flag of greeting.
When the ship came into dock, Ivar welcomed them in the warmest way he knew how. He even got his children to line up to greet him, which for some reason included Eilidh and I.
This lord was different to what he expected though. Quite young, not much older than me, and smaller and weaker than any other lord I've seen. He actually leans on his staff instead of just using it as a symbol of power.
He had to be helped out of the boat and when he walked down the pier, he was closely followed by an attendant who's main purpose seemed to be to stop him from falling over.
He was accompanied down the line of children by Ivar, who introduced us one by one.
I was the last person he was introduced to. The lord is called Artúr Mac Alasdair, Ivar told me this and then instructed me to show him to the guest room of the house.
I didn't really want to, but it's always best not to openly disagree with Ivar.
We had to walk slowly up the hill because even with his assistant he can't move quickly.
"You aren't his daughter, are you?" he asked when we were far enough away from the others that they wouldn't here us.
"I was his step-daughter, and now I'm his ward," I replied, "what gave it away?"
"Your name," he said, "you have the same name as my king's granddaughter, and that's not a name used among these people."
"That is a bit of a giveaway." I chuckled, "a pretty big giveaway." When I heard him say that I was afraid he'd make the connection but he hasn't so far.
"So how did you end up here," he asked, "if you don't mind me asking." I sort of did mind but a larger part of me inexplicably wanted to tell him.
"My mother was from here," I told him, "after my father died she came back here to marry Ivar and brought Eilidh and I with her." And left my siblings behind, I thought, but I didn't tell him that.
"Where is your mother now? I didn't think I saw her." Because she isn't here, because she hasn't been here in a long time.
"Dead," I said which made him stop asking questions.
I showed him the house and to the guest room of the house, we don't use it often so I spent all of yesterday preparing it for his arrival. The guest room is the nicest room in the house, next door to Ivar's room and closest to the hearth which makes it the warmest space.
"It is a lovely room," he said, "I should be comfortable here."
"It is nice," I agreed with him, then gave a conspiratorial smile. "The only issue with this room," I told him, "is that my little brother's bed is right above it."
"Is he loud?" he asked in response.
"He's a child, so he doesn't have a quiet mode."
That idea seemed to take him by surprise, "I wouldn't know, I'm an only child."
"Well be warned," I said which made him laugh.
Then I left him to get settled while I started on the rest of the day's task.
