by Pandora Pine
“Who I take to my bed is none of your business.” His tone was defensive. He had never before been questioned about his bedmates and he wasn’t about to start answering to Cadence, even if she was the only woman he wanted to warm his bed at the moment.
“Just as who I take to my bed is none of yours.” Cadence fisted her hands on her hips and glared at him.
An icy fist wrapped around Donnall’s heart. Knowing the next words out of his mouth were either going to make things much worse or would start the healing process, he took a deep breath and decided the best course of action was to keep his mouth closed.
“The problem with living in the past is the double standard, you irritating barbarian. You’re free to fuck whoever you want and that makes you a stud, but I’m a whore simply because I’ve kissed another man.”
He couldn’t help wondering if all Cadence had done was simply kiss another man. His jaw aching from grinding his teeth together, he raised an eyebrow at the fiery lass. Her hands were bunched into fists and green fire lit her eyes. All he wanted to do was throw her over his shoulder and prove to her what a barbarian he could be, but he wouldn’t. More than anything else, he was a gentleman. “The problem with the future is that it seems ladies are raised with no manners,” Donnall gritted out between his painfully clenched teeth.
Cadence huffed out an annoyed breath and started on down the corridor without him.
“Where are you going? Fionn wants to see us in the council chamber.”
“He didn’t say I had to go with you.” She turned and started off again.
“But you don’t know where you’re going.”
“No problem, I’ll just kiss a random warrior and ask him to show me the way.”
“Like hell you will.” Donnall’s gut churned with anger and something uglier. He was never before a jealous man, but this lass was pushing him past his limits. He strode to catch up with her. Between his longer legs and she being hampered by walking in a woolen gown he was soon half a step ahead of her. No other man was going to touch his little mouse, not if he had anything to say about it.
7
The Council of War chamber reminded Cadence of a dungeon. There were no windows in the room and the only light came from torches lit in wall sconces. In no time the room would become cloudy as it filled with smoke. A raised dais with a table sat at the front of the room while the rest of the chamber was filled with rows of rough hewn benches, presumably for Moone Castle’s warriors.
Fionn and Carter were talking in hushed tones to Donnall while the other members of the guard began to file into the room.
“Good morn, Cadence.”
Jumping at the sound of Islynn’s voice, Cadence turned to see her friend dressed in purple and carrying Janus, the odd two-faced cat Carter had told her about. One half of his face was black with a green eye, while the right side was tawny with a blue eye. “Good morning.”
“Janus insisted on coming with me to meet you. You have not had the best of mornings.” It was a statement.
Cadence grinned. Being Islynn’s friend would take some getting used to on her part. She wasn’t used to having anyone close to her who was as perceptive as the raven-haired woman sitting beside her. The only person who ever came close was her foster-sister, Bree. Not even Liam ever took the time to get to know why she was feeling down or what he could do to help her, which, if she thought about it said a lot about their relationship.
“I’ve had better days, but look at you, handsome boy.” She reached out to stroke the strange cat who began purring as Cadence’s fingers glided over his silky fur. Janus climbed out of Islynn’s arms and rubbed against Cadence’s side. She was about to lift the animal into her arms when she was stopped by a commotion behind her.
“What is this, Fionn? As if one wasn’t bad enough, now we have two women in our council meeting. For fuck’s sake, what is next? Will the women fight while we serve supper?”
Carter stepped forward to address the warrior, but Donnall beat him to it. “You will keep a civil tongue in your head Eamon. Cadence has travelled to our time with valuable knowledge that is to your benefit. You may indeed serve supper if you are too much a coward to face what is to come.”
Half of the room erupted in laughter, while the other half shouted to know what Donnall meant about what was to come.
Holding up a hand, Fionn cleared his throat. “Calm down everyone and come to order. I’m sure you have all heard that Carter has come home to Moone Castle to stay.”
“We all heard Carter shouting your name, repeatedly, if that’s what you mean.” Thomas snickered to the men sitting around him.
“It echoed throughout the whole of the castle,” James, one of Fionn’s best warriors, laughed from down the length of the raised table.
“That very well may be.” Fionn grinned at Carter before he turned somber. He took a deep breath and faced his men. “To be blunt, the English Army is coming to sack and occupy Moone Castle.”
The room quieted at Fionn’s words. No one was laughing now.
“Before Carter returned with me, he and his sister, Cadence, did much research on how the battle unfolded.”
James looked across the room to his hazel-eyed lover, Kelley. “How bad was it?”
“It was a massacre,” Carter said quietly.
“How many dead?” James asked, his blue eyes wide in alarm.
Carter made eye contact with Cadence, neither McCann wanting to be the bearer of bad news. Carter bit his lip and looked to Fionn.
“Everyone in this room will die,” Cadence said, standing and turning to look at the warriors of Moone. “The only people spared were Fianna, who was forced to marry the leader of the English Army, and some of the other women.”
“My sister is forced to marry against her will?” Fionn’s blue eyes were as cold as ice, his hands balled into fists.
“Yes.” Cadence bit her tongue to avoid telling Fionn how his sister met her end, dying in childbirth.
“What of the children. You did not say what happened to them.” Fionn looked back and forth between both McCanns.
Not able to answer without crying, she shook her head no.
“NO!” Fionn roared, turning to Carter who could only nod in affirmation.
“What we need to know is when this happens? How many soldiers the English brought and which of our allies came to our defense.” Donnall couldn’t keep his eyes off Cadence who was struggling to keep her composure as she delivered the news. No other woman he’d ever known would have had the courage to stand tall and address Moone Castle’s Council of War.
“The attack takes place on November 16 and the English bring three-hundred Redcoats.”
“What of our allies?” Donnall met Cadence’s eyes for the first time since their argument.
“None of Moone’s allies comes to her aid.”
Cries echoed around the chamber. “None?”
“Bullshite!”
More angry shouts directed at Cadence rang out around the room.
Donnall watched in fascination as Cadence stiffened her spine and drew herself up taller. She turned again to face the angry warriors. “What was bullshite was the fact that your fellow countrymen were afraid of the English. They feared retribution against their own castles and lands if the English won the day.”
“So instead of helping Moone, they cowered behind their castle walls and left us to the slaughter?” Donnall understood the fear they all lived in of the English, but if the people of Ireland didn’t band together, the English would take all they had and more besides.
“Yes.” Cadence nodded.
“We have heard the worst.” Fionn stood, a look of steely determination in his eyes. “We have seventy-two fighting men to stack against three-hundred soldiers.”
“Make that seventy-three,” Cadence said, green fire burning in her eyes.
“Seventy-four,” Islynn added, standing up beside her friend.
Fionn grinned and nodded his head at the women. “No
w we will devise a plan to ensure none of those entitled English bastards leaves Ireland with their heads attached to their bodies.”
8
Once the men got down to the serious business of planning their strategy, Cadence and Islynn slipped out of the room. Walking arm and arm with Janus trailing behind them, Islynn led Cadence out of the castle and into the bright autumn sunshine.
“Do you have any kind of weapons training?” Cadence was hoping Islynn had some knowledge she could share, otherwise that meant training with the men and one man in particular. A man she’d hurt earlier with her ugly words. Carter always told her she had a sharp tongue and this morning she’d wielded it, granted in self-defense, against a man who had been nothing but kind to her.
Islynn laughed. “I was going to ask you the same question, figuring it would be easier working together than it would be with the soldiers.”
“You read my mind exactly. The only weapon I know how to use is my quick wit and I doubt the English are going to get back on their ship and go home because some woman insulted their honor and their mothers.”
“I’m guessing your mouth got you into trouble with Donnall this morning?”
“In more ways than one. He’s upset that I kissed another man before I knew him.”
“While he rarely sleeps alone.” Islynn grinned at the surprise expression on Cadence’s face. “It is a small castle. Word gets around.”
“What is the word on Donnall?” Cadence made air quotes, quickly realizing Islynn wouldn’t know what that meant.
Islynn’s smile was mysterious and at the same time knowing. “He’s a good man, loyal and trustworthy.”
“That would be a perfect combination in a wolfhound.”
Both women laughed as they strolled through the castle bailey. A light breeze swept their hair across their faces.
“He is popular with the ladies, but no one has caught his attention until now.”
“Mallory is a beautiful girl.” Cadence plastered a fake smile on her face and daydreamed about punching the kitchen girl in her perfect, little upturned nose.
Islynn burst out laughing.
“Stop reading my mind,” Cadence grumped with a smile.
“I do not need to read your mind. I could see revenge in your eyes and your hands turned to fists, while your jaw set in a determined fashion. Do not fear, dear Cadence, it is not Mallory who has captured your irritating barbarian’s notice. It is you.”
Cadence snorted. “He’s not my anything.”
“I beg to differ. It is obvious you both enjoyed your many kisses.”
Cadence stopped walking, jerking Islynn to a stop. She opened her mouth to speak when the sad look in Islynn’s ice-blue eyes stopped her in her tracks.
“It’s obvious you two kissed each other. You said Donnall was mad that you kissed another man. He would only know of your prior experience if he had tasted your lips more than once.”
The anger passed quickly out of Cadence. “I’m sorry, Islynn. You must have people upset with you all the time when they think you’re using your sight against them. I don’t mean to add to that burden. It’s just that I’m not used to someone caring enough about me to read my body language and soothe my troubles.”
Islynn smiled. “I disagree. There is another aside from myself who cares a great deal about you.”
“Carter, of course, but he’s going to be so busy with Fionn and their kids.”
“I was not speaking of your brother.”Islynn patted her hand and started back toward the castle, Janus at her heels.
When Cadence turned around to see where her friend was going she saw Donnall standing a respectful distance away, obviously not wanting to eavesdrop or interrupt. She could see worry plain as day on Donnall’s handsome face. She offered him a small smile and raised her hand in greeting. If Donnall was willing to seek her out, she’d do her part and keep the peace.
“Hello, Cadence.”
“What, I’m not your beauty or little mouse anymore?” she gently teased.
Donnall laughed and twisted his hands together. He wanted so badly to reach out and touch her, to pull her into his arms and apologize with his lips and tongue, but he needed to be a man and say what needed saying. “You will always be those things to me, but I did not think it appropriate when I have much to apologize for.”
“We both have things to apologize for, irritating barbarian.”
Donnall could see understanding and regret in Cadence’s mossy eyes. Unable to help himself, he reached out to cup the side of Cadence’s face. Her cheek was chilled from her walk with Islynn. “Perhaps, but since I was the horse’s arse who started our disagreement, I should be the one to tell you I am sorry for truly being the barbarian you tease me about being.”
Cadence leaned her face closer against Donnall’s hand. “I’m sorry too. It’s none of my business who you kiss or take to your bed.”
Donnall nodded, wishing he had the courage to return her sentiment. He didn’t want any other man touching her or tasting her full lips. If he ever met the other man Cadence kissed it would be a struggle not to run him through with his sword. Anxious to change the subject, Donnall offered her his arm, hoping she would take it. When she did, he led her in the direction of the stables. “Do you ride, my beauty?”
“No, but I love horses.”
“Carter could not ride when he first came to Moone and now he rides as if he were born to the saddle. Would you like to visit the horses?”
“Yes, very much. How did the rest of the meeting go after Islynn and I left?”
Donnall snorted. Fionn had a hard time bringing the men back to order after Cadence and Islynn offered to join the battle against the English. “The debate about you and Islynn joining the fight was very spirited.”
“I bet it was. Are we going to be allowed to fight?”
“Fionn told the men we needed every available pair of hands to help in the coming battle. Carter mentioned some defense tactics that did not require hand-to-hand combat and the women of the castle would be suited to some of those.”
“Donnall, I am not going to stand high on the castle wall and dump cauldrons of boiling water on the invaders.” She raised an eyebrow in challenge.
“I suggested to Fionn that would be your feeling. How would you like to help?”
“I may not be strong enough to wield a sword, but I could learn to master a bow and arrow.”
“I shall think it over.” The last thing he would do was think it over, but he wasn’t about to tell Cadence.
“There’s nothing to think over. If you will not teach me how to shoot, I’ll ask the best bowman Moone has to instruct me.”
There was certainly no quit in his fiery lass. The last thing he needed was Cadence spending time in the company of Thomas. He had been staring at Cadence like he was a hungry wolf and she a wounded hare. It wasn’t fitting for a woman to fight in battle. How would she react if she were to hit a man with an arrow or even kill one? The height of a war was no time for a woman to lose her head to a fit of hysterics. The best Donnall could do was grunt noncommittally.
Cadence had every intention of seeking out an archery instructor if Donnall kept acting like a bear with a sore head. She knew playing on his jealous streak was a low blow, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. Moone was going to fall and she was going to do everything in her power to stop that from happening. Her brother, brother-in-law-to-be, niece and nephew’s lives counted on her.
Knowing when to hold her tongue, Cadence hurried to turn her attention to the stables looming up ahead. “How old were you when you learned to ride?”
“I never learned until I was seven summers old and came to foster here at Moone. My brothers learned from the time they could walk.”
“You were so young. Why were you chosen to come here?” It had always seemed barbaric to her that boys were sent away from home at such a tender age to be turned into men.
“My mother died a few days after my birth. I looked like my
mum while my other brothers looked like my father. He told me I was being sent away because I was the bad seed, but I knew better. Fionn’s father took me in like I was one of his own and gave me all of the advantages his heir enjoyed.”
Donnall’s tale broke her heart. She knew what it was like to lose both parents and although her parents had not left her and Carter by choice, it was still a terrible blow to be left alone in the world. At least she had Carter. Donnall had no one.
Desperate to change the subject, Cadence pointed up to the large horse barn they were approaching. “Are we going to see your horse?”
“Would you like to meet him?” Donnall smiled from ear to ear.
Cadence could tell by the smile lighting his face, she’d made the right move. “Yes.” She peeked inside each of the stalls Donnall led her past until he finally stopped in front of one. Inside was a massive white horse. “He is an enormous beast, not unlike his master.” Cadence laughed.
“He is called Atlas.” Pride was etched in Donnall’s voice.
“Because he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders?”
Donnall nodded and turned to Atlas who reared up on his back legs and stamped the ground making the stall shake. “You have caught his eye. See how he shows off for you?”
“Again, not unlike his master.” Cadence turned to the horse. “Hello, gorgeous boy.”
“Would you like to give him an apple?” Donnall grabbed two apples out of a nearby barrel and held one out to Cadence.
“I don’t know. He looks like he could eat me in two bites.” She rolled the greenish fruit around between her hands, being this close to the large stallion was scary and exhilarating all at the same time.
“Atlas is a gentle giant. Hold out your hand, palm up.”
Cadence did as Donnall asked rationalizing the need to be brave in this new world. Horses were the only means of transportation available and she’d have to get used to being around them or risk walking everywhere. Another shiver of attraction shot through her body when Donnall wrapped himself around her from behind and reached out to steady her arm.