Grisell was taking breakfast with her father. He was in a jovial mood. Udny was consuming his breakfast with gusto. His nurse hardly had to use any effort to get him to eat. Udny looked through the window of his bed, gazed at the sunny sky and smiled.

'Father, would you like to go outside and enjoy some of the sun?'

He looked to his daughter, then looked again at the glorious sun and returned to cutting up his boiled egg, and transferred a small piece to his mouth. He hadn't said no, so that was a good sign. He hated being fussed over and didn't like depending on others for his mobility.

'Father, I have the most wonderful idea to share with you, but I want to do it outside please. I will be right back.'

She rushed outside, instructed one of the ladies to lay a picnic blanket on the grass, and lay out fruit, sweets and tea, just outside her quarters. She brought her father's wheeled chair for his use and eagerly awaited his agreement.

'I haven't seen you this excited since you first witnessed a mare, foal,' he smiled, lifting his blankets. At her infinitesimal nod, one of her guards, approached the bed, holding the chair in position for Udny.

He was taken to Grisell's picnic spot and assisted onto her hastily arranged blanket. She rushed to her bedroom and returned with two books. She squatted next to her father.

'Thank you,' she politely dismissed the nurse and her two security.

'Now I am seriously intrigued,' he raised an eyebrow at her secrecy.

Grisell opened one of the books and pointed to a diagram. She opened to a chapter in the second book, that she had marked.

'Father this is an amazing illustration, showing one, how to reclaim land from the sea,' she spoke very quietly, only for his ears. 'And this book she continued, 'gives guidance on the complete process on how to go about it.'

Grisell waited for her parent to absorb her comments. She watched as he looked from one book to the other, studying the drawing and then the procedure.

'It is very simple Father. All it requires it large amounts of rocks, soil, clay and cement to whatever height we want it to be. Off course, it is going to require a very, very large amount of funding.'

She observed her father's eyes widen. His thoughtfulness as he applied his mind and his eventual smile.

'I am impressed child. I have never thought of such a thing.'

Grisell laughed happily. 'We can use the reclaimed land for training and recreational purposes. We can convert the current training area for residential use. All the families are crying out for more space.'

'I can now die in peace child. You are a true leader.'

Grisell stared at her parent. He had never paid her such a sincere compliment in her entire life. He'd always been critical and always reminding her, he would have preferred a son.

'You were never a disappointment,' he spoke quietly, reading her mind. He placed his hand over hers. 'I only made those comments just to rile you up,' he laughed mischievously.

'Oh Father, you were cruel,' she reached out and wrapped her arms around him. 'As your Chief, I ought to send you to the dungeon!'

He laughed good naturedly. 'I'd like to see you start this,' he pointed to the books. 'I want to see a bit of it, before I leave you permanently.' His face became sombre.

She fought back the tears, blinking furiously as her eyes glistened. 'I promise Father, I shall make the list, count the cost and start as soon as possible.'

'It's beautiful here,' he looked up to the azure sky. 'I think I'll enjoy more of the sun, with my eyes closed.'

'Only for a short while Father. I don't want you to burn. I will ask Nurse to take you in again, in an hour.'

He nodded, as he closed his eyes and drooped off to rest. She threw a cotton cover over him.

Grisell sent one of her security to inform Iona, she wanted a meeting that same afternoon. She was all excited about her land reclamation project. She could not wait to get started, especially since she had her father's blessing.

Grisell was sitting on a bench at one of the picnic tables under the sun. She had her books with her. She was writing down a plan on how she was going to allocate the new land, once it was ready for use. She smiled when Iona joined her with a big file of papers.

'Chief, you wanted to see me?'

Grisell nodded with a smile. 'Have a seat,' she invited.

Reluctantly, Iona took the seat. She was anxious. She didn't know why the Chief wanted to see her.

'I will be embarking on a new project shortly,' Grisell started.

'Oh. What project?' Iona questioned.

'I'm still working on the details. I do not have any information yet, but I'd like to know how much uncommitted funds we will have at our disposal. In about two weeks, I will be able to write up a cost breakdown for you.'

'Chief, funds are very low now. We spent a lot of unbudgeted money for the arms. The ships will have to do two or three more trips before there can be any surplus funds for you.'

'How is it that we're that low,' Grisell questioned, mentally running through the numbers she stored in her head. As far as her mental calculations were concerned, Iona should have at least fifty percent of funds for her to start her land reclamation project.

'We've spent a lot,' Iona spoke dismissively. 'Here's the file of expenses.

Grisell opened the file. She was sure there was nothing in the file, that was not compartmentalised in her brain. There could be no expenses in Iona's file that she was unaware of, and there could be no projects that Iona would have paid out, without Grisell's knowledge.

'What is this ship maintenance?' Grisell questioned. 'This can't be right! This is one of our newest ships. It won't need maintenance for the next five years. I want this halted. You are not to requisition any money for maintenance without my authorisation!'

'But General Gadd requested it. He has taken this ship out on a voyage a few months ago! Clearly he identified something that needs repairing.'

'Iona, new ships do not need repairs. If there are problems, the ship builders must fix it at no cost. I will address this with Uncle Gadd.' She flipped though the file and found more accounts for repairs to the wall. 'What is this! These are not the figures I received from Finn. He showed me the costs on a page. Why are these numbers higher?'

Iona shrugged. 'Finn had mentioned something about his preferred supplier not having the quantity he needed, so he went elsewhere to procure it.'

'I do not recall any of that! I spoke to Finn the very morning he ___ died. He told me everything was according to schedule.'

Iona shrugged. 'I guess Finn can't answer now,' she issued in a cold unemotional tone.

Grisell's head was spinning, looking at the papers. She shut the file. Iona reached for it. 'Leave it with me. I am going to peruse it tonight. Come and collect it tomorrow morning,' Grisell ordered.

Grisell went to her quarters. She pondered on the accounts. Instinctively, she sensed something was not right. She could not tell what. Also, she was not happy with the tone Iona's was taking with her. Too much money was being spent. No money should be provisioned, without her authorisation, yet it seemed between Gadd and Iona, decisions were being taken. She wrote a note to Iona and the Board, instructing them that no projects, no money was to be considered without her express approval. Whoever disobeyed her, would be thrown in the dungeon for six months. Period! Whether it was a Board Member, any of the generals or Iona. Nobody, but nobody should dare question or undermine her authority. Certain death awaited anybody who was insolent enough or insubordinate. She aimed to demonstrate her authority as Chief. Needing a carnal distraction, she walked to Eskine's.

Grisell walked about and did not see Eskine. She paced about for about fifteen minutes, still no sign of him. She wished she'd brought her horse, then she could have just ridden down to the beach, and gave her mare a stretch on the sand. She loved that, putting her head down and sprinting, like she was being chased by a hunter. Grisell sighed, she was about to leave, when she heard the rustle of leaves. Instinctively, her palm curved around the handle of the knife at her waist.

'It's only me.'

She heard his now familiar voice, with a broad grin and his handsome face, relaxed and looking happy.

'Eskine!' She threw her arms around his neck. She smiled into his eyes, lifting her lips to his. 'I was just about to leave. I thought you won't be nearby.' She pressed her lips to his, her mouth opening to indulge in a slow, sensual kiss. He grabbed her by the hips, moulding her to him, and took over, hungrily plundering her mouth.

She lifted her head, looked into his eyes and smiled. He was so good-looking, so adorable, so much strength, so majestic-looking when he rode his horse, so attractive. She wished he could be hers.

'Eskine ___.'

'Yes?'

'I think I love you.'

His eyebrows widened in surprise. He just started at her. She cupped his face, the pad of her thumb, tracing over his lower lip.

'Should you be telling me that?' He smiled awkwardly.

'Should I be telling somebody else that I love the Chief of DeMartino?'

His eyes bore into hers, his hands cupped her face. He pressed his lips gently to hers.

'Do you not love me?' She questioned.

He closed his eyes, inhaled heavily. He pressed his forehead to hers. 'I cannot offer you anything, my darling Grisell. Not myself; nor a future with me!'

'So you and I are doomed to live a life of pain, discontent and torture?'

'I have no answers for you Grisell,' he answered huskily

'You know,' she slipped her fingers through his shirt, caressing his strong muscular chest. 'I want you to make love to me, but I am afraid.'

He sighed heavily. 'Don't say such inviting words to me Grisell.'

'What if I am stoned for literally sleeping with the enemy?' She chuckled.

'I am not your enemy. You know that!'

'As I am not your enemy, but our tribes ___.'

'I burn for you,' he whispered. 'I dream about you at night, undressing you, making love to you; making you mine!'

'I do want you Eskine, ___ but the humiliation, if I am caught.'

'I have thought so many times, to broach the subject to my clan, to ___ make a peaceable agreement with yours, but almost every night, I hear comments of how they wish to put the Dalmahoy on pikes and burn them alive and curses, that all your men will sink in their ships.'

'Good heavens, they are worse than mine. I've not heard such profanities, but maybe they speak their thoughts when I am not in their presence.'

'Come sit down. I have more unpleasant information to share with you,' he spoke in an annoyed tone. 'There is some fraud going on in the Dalmahoy camp,' he extracted the account from his pocket and handed it to her.

Grisell look at the document seeing the familiar transaction for the ammunition. 'This is your guy, we purchased the weapons from?'

'Yes. Take note of the payment he received.'

'This is wrong! We paid more than three times this amount.'

'No. Your books say you paid a very high amount, but the supplier was paid this amount,' he pointed to the figure on the document. 'This is the amount he received. That is why he issued this receipt for the full payment of the arms he supplied.'

She shook her. 'I can't believe it! I am stunned! I am furious! I want to kill ___.'

'Calm down Grisell,' he pressed his lips to her cheek. 'You need to be rational. Remain calm and provide leadership.'

'"Provide leadership!''' She laughed. 'That is nice talk for don't get emotional. Think with your head! You sound like Udny Blane!'

Eskine laughed. 'How is the ___ inimitable elder?'

Grisell laughed with him. 'My father is good. He is very good. He is very pleased with me too, but I can't tell you about my secret.'

'What!' He chuckled.

'Well you're the enemy. I can't reveal secrets to you!'

She felt him go still; felt the temperature's sudden drop; felt the invisible wall Eskine quickly erected between them.'

'Please ___ I was just joking,' she whispered.

'That was insensitive,' he uttered in a quiet tone. 'You are not allowed to make those jokes to me!'

'Yes Chief,' she grinned naughtily.

He tapped her nose playfully, pointing to the document in her hand. 'What are you going to do? And I need to return this receipt to the owner. He requires it returned as quickly as possible.'

She nodded. 'I will instruct the Board to follow due process. I will also recommend the harshest punishment.'

'You mean death!'

'Yes. Like you said, I need to demonstrate my leadership.'

'I would do same,' he concurred.

'I'm glad you agree,' she stood up. 'Let me get back to taking charge of certain wayward elements in my tribe. Good bye Eskine.' She kissed his lips, gave him a quick hug and disappeared.

-                                                              end chapter eleven-