The morning sun broke over the ramparts of the hill fortress, casting out the gloom of the night before.  Young Donald stood at attention, scanning the surrounding countryside for any signs of danger, or approaching parties.  His muscular frame was wrapped in a long, woolen kilt against the cold morning air.<br/><br/>Below him, in the fort, people were already about their morning tasks, feeding the pigs, baking bread and taking care of their business.  He could smell the freshly baked loaves from where he stood.  His stomach rumbled and he told himself that there were only a few more minutes before he was to be relieved of duty.<br/><br/>Donald was a tall lad of twenty years, with broad shoulders and thick, brown hair.  He was clean shaven, save for his sideburns and his nose showed signs of having been broken once upon a time.  His cleft chin sat below thick lips.  His dark brown eyes scanned the horizon.<br/><br/>Today the duke's party was to arrive, bringing with it the young maiden who was to marry the chief's son.  She was said to be quite beautiful, and full of spirit.  Talk was that she was hard to handle, though such talk wasn't discussed around the chief or his son.  Donald had hoped to be the first to spot their party, upon it's arrival.<br/><br/>Donald's replacement was climbing up the stairs, when Donald spotted a party on horses, far to the East, exiting the Great Northern Forest. They were riding steadily, but not hard.  He raised his trumpet to his lips and gave an excited blast.  The Duke's party had surely arrived!<br/><br/>His replacement took over, and Donald ran to tell the captain of the guard.  He entered the gatehouse and proudly announced his discovery.  The gnarled old captain nodded in boredom, as if the Duke visited every day, and ordered that the gate start being lowered.  As a reward for his vigilance, he told Donald to go down to the courtyard and join the group greeting the Duke's party.<br/><br/>Donald felt great excitement as the wide gates slowly opened, to reveal twenty figures on horseback, only a quarter mile away.  Soon he would see new faces, something which was not common in this little outpost.