by K. E. Saxon
It had pleased him so greatly that she had become easier with him, that he’d done something he’d never done before: given a lady his promise that he’d not go bow hunting without her ever again! She was so avid to try her new skills after her first success—she’d brought back two grouse that first day—that she’d pleaded with him to take her out to the moors again the next day. And so had begun over these past sennights, a daily ritual in which they both roamed the moors in the small hours of the morn, hunting for grouse, geese, ducks and other wild game for their dinner.
Of course, since that first day, he’d had made for her a lovely bow, just her size. ‘Twas the one she now used to expertly hit the target he’d set up for her.
“Alyson, I do believe you’ve outdone me in this sport,” he said when he saw that she’d split the arrow down the center that still reverberated in the target with the next one she let loose.
She turned and grinned at him, the dimple in her left cheek now in full view and her grey eyes glowing. “Did you see that!”
“Yes, ‘twas—”
“Oh, but I must try to do it again!” Positioning herself in the correct stance once more, she said, a bit over her shoulder, “Reys, will you please take the arrows out of the target? I want to start afresh.”
Reys grinned and shook his head as he began walking that direction. “Do not dare let loose that arrow while I’m in between you and your sights, my fair young mistress!” he called over his shoulder.
Alyson giggled. “I shall not, I give you my oath!”
After several more attempts to replicate her previous feat with no success, Alyson at last relaxed her stance and began to put away her gear. “How ever did I do it? How?”
“I know not, for I confess, I was looking elsewhere when you loosed your arrow.”
With a sigh of resignation, Alyson nodded her head. “Well, if I did it once, I will not rest until I do it again.” Lifting her head from her task and turning her gaze to him, she asked, “When will we reach our destination?”
Reys shrugged and looked off in the direction they would be traveling come morn. “I believe we should arrive at the Maclean holding in another day—mayhap two.”
“Will the lady of the keep be vexed that you’ve brought me with you, that she must place us in different chambers?”
“Nay, Lady Maryn is a kind woman, very generous. She shall open her home to us gladly, you shall see.”
“But, will she not find it odd that you and I do not...share a bed?”
Reys, at that moment, would have given his right arm to be allowed to fold the poor girl in his arms and comfort her, but she would not allow the contact. She was still as skittish as a new colt when faced with the prospect of any physical contact with him. So, he said instead, “I truly doubt she shall give such a thought more than a second’s notice, my sweet.”
* * *
Late afternoon, two days later, Reys and Alyson begged entrance to the Maclean fortress.
But ‘twas not Maryn and Daniel who met them in the courtyard, ‘twas the lady Jesslyn.
“M’lady,” Reys said warmly, bending low over her hand and lightly pressing his lips to the back of it. “I was expecting Laird Daniel and Lady Maryn to greet us; are they away from home at present?”
Jesslyn smiled. “Nay, sir, I do believe, at least Maryn is at her home—the MacLaurin holding—at this time. My husband, Bao, is the new chieftain here, you see.”
“Ah, and where is Bao? Is he on the training field?”
“Nay, he’s at the MacGregor holding at present.” Jesslyn turned and extended her arm in the direction of the entrance. “Will you not come inside? You are in time to partake of the meal that is about to be served.”
“My thanks, my lady.” He turned slightly toward Alyson. “Lady Jesslyn, this is my bride, Lady Alyson.”
Alyson dipped her head and did a small courtesy. “Good day, my lady. I thank you for your kind hospitality.”
“Good day, Lady Alyson,” Jesslyn said warmly. “And you are quite welcome.” Turning back toward the keep, she said, “Now, let us go inside where we may more comfortably settle and have our repast.”
Alyson walked as closely beside her husband as she was able without touching him. The lady Jesslyn was surely the most lovely creature she’d ever seen! Her flaxen brows arched prettily above eyes the color of the summer sky. She was rather tall, with a very womanly form—a thing Alyson had hoped to have one day...until...her brother. She felt her skin crawl and forced her mind back to her host. Gazing at the graceful way the lady Jesslyn moved, she tried to emulate it, but couldn’t quite get the rhythm. And she was kind, as well, Alyson thought. Just as Reys had promised the other lady would be. A rather disconcerting thought struck her and she turned her eye to Reys to study his countenance. Nay, he did not look to be smitten by cupid’s arrow where the lady was concerned, at least, she didn’t think he did. Still. ‘Twould not hurt to learn from and emulate the lady, she determined.
* * *
CHAPTER 9
Callum entered the great hall behind Bao and Daniel. The three warriors had just come from the tilting lists and were now ready for a bit of ale to quench their thirst. Hot and sweaty, their damply crimped hair clung close to their heads—the result of wearing their metal helmets—they nontheless were in high spirits after the exercise.
They wore only their mail, the plate armor being reserved for the practices closer to the time of the joust.
Callum, as was his usual way, since he preferred doing this particular task himself without the aid of a servant, went directly to the buttery and brought out a jug of ale and three cups.
He was halfway across the chamber when Daniel looked up from his discussion with Bao and said, “Have you any uisge beatha? I long for a wee draught of the stuff.”
Callum grinned and whirled around. “Aye, we’ve plenty,” he said, striding back to the buttery and disappearing once more behind the screen.
“Think you he has any suspicion of what we mean to talk to him about?” Bao said in a low voice to Daniel.
Daniel chuckled. “Nay, I believe the poor man is completely blind to the trial by fire we’re about to give him. He only thought his toughest contest this day was meeting our challenge at the lists.”
Grinning behind his fist, Bao nodded. “Aye, but he has grown quite expert with the lance these past sennights. Tho’ he was skilled enough when we began, he is now one of the toughest challengers I’ve ever met on the field.”
“Aye, ‘tis the same for me.” Daniel clapped his brother on the shoulder. “We’ve taught him well.”
Bao gave Daniel a baleful look. “Aye—and kept him from trailing in our sister’s footsteps wherever she might go in the process.”
“Aye, it hasn’t been easy, for Callum is ever determined to partake of the husbandly rights he has no right to as yet, but that he’s been forced to abstain from enjoying these past days.”
“Truly, were it not for Branwenn having asked us to aid her in her effort to bring a bit of ‘enchantment’ as she called it, to their wedding night, I would have allowed the man to do as he would,” Bao said, a look of surprise on his countenance. “I cannot believe, even as I hear myself say the words, that I, of all people, would allow such, but ‘tis so plain that he adores the lass—and she, him—what could be the harm, for they’ll be doing it soon enough in a few sennights time anyway?”
“Aye, but the lass is a lass,” Daniel said. “And that means she wants their first night together as husband and wife to be memorable. If they were still meeting as they had been and doing—” He pressed the base of his palms over his eyes. “Nay, I cannot think about what they were doing! It gives me hives.”
This made Bao bellow with laughter.
Daniel lifted his head and gave his brother a sheepish grin. “Well, anyway, ‘twould not have the ‘enchantment’ of satisfying a long-felt desire.”
Callum came from behind the screen of the buttery. It had taken him longe
r than he’d expected to find the butler’s new hiding place for the amber liquor. The man was much too stingy with the stuff, a thing Callum was not used to, as it flowed rather freely at the Maclean keep. Besides, the butler should truly know better by now, as Callum had a nose for the stuff and he could sniff it out no matter how well hidden it was. “What, pray is so humorous?”
“Oh, naught of import,” Bao said. “Daniel was just giving me advice about women.”
Under the table, Daniel kicked Bao in the shin. “Ha! Me? Give you advice about women? ‘Tis a good jest!” His eyes, narrowed slits while he looked at his brother, opened wide as he faced his cousin with an innocent mein. “Nay, ‘twas Bao who was advising me on the correct stitch when sewing linen—did you know that he does all his wife’s mending?” Daniel turned his sparkling grin on his brother once more. There, get out of that one.
Bao smiled. “Aye, and I thought it so riotously funny that Daniel asked me to show him how to sew the hole he blew in his braies from the high wind he breaks so often, as Maryn is weary of doing the task for him.”
Callum guffawed. Clearly, Bao had gotten the better of Daniel with the last volley, and ‘twas also clear the two were not going to give him the true subject that had caused so much mirth. “Well,” he said bringing the flask and glasses to the table, “let us drink to Daniel’s success with a needle and thread, for it sounds as if he needs it.”
Daniel’s only answer was a good-natured grumble.
The three were silent for the next few moments as they drank down some of the ardent spirits.
“Callum,” Daniel said at last, “Bao and I have something we wish to speak with you about. Something to do with Branwenn.”
Callum sat up straight. “Aye? She hasn’t changed her mind about wedding me, has she?”
“Nay,” Daniel said, shaking his head, “‘tis naught like that.” He looked at Bao. “We—Bao and I—well, we think it time we give you a bit of advice.”
Callum’s brows drew together in confusion. “Advice?”
“Aye,” Bao said, “on being a husband.”
Callum laughed. “Have you forgot? This will not be the first time I’ve been wed.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his look smug when he continued, “I think I know quite a bit about the matter.” He looked at Bao. “Hell, I was wed even before you were.” Settling back, he looked from one to the other. “Tell me, what makes the two of you such experts, pray?”
“‘Tis not that we are experts, but that we have more experience than you with, well, with this type of union.”
Callum shook his head, one side of his face drawn up in disbelief. “What type of union? Male and female?” Now, he was insulted. “I assure you, I know plenty. Mayhap not more than Bao, him with his ‘love for coin’ credentials, but I’d wager my right testicle I know more than you, cousin.”
Daniel’s visage was filled with challenge. “I doubt tha—hey! Stop nodding your head, Judas,” he said to Bao.
Bao, though still grinning at his brother, directed his words to Callum. “Nay, ‘twas not the type of union we were referring to.” He turned and looked at his cousin. “We are speaking more of the type of union you will have with Branwenn compared to the type you had with Lara.” He paused, his eyes looking directly into Callum’s. “Understand you my meaning now?”
Callum’s skin actually crawled. He cleared his throat. “Tell me you do not intend for me to discuss my feelings for your sister with you. Truly. Tell me.”
‘Twas Daniel’s turn to grin. “Aye, we do.”
Callum sprung from his stool like a jack-in-the box. “Nay,” he said as he took a step toward the entrance.
Bao grabbed him around his upper arm and halted his forward motion. “Aye. And you will also listen to what we, your betrothed’s brothers—and co-signers on your wedding contract—have to say.”
Callum, his heart pounding with dread at the thought of opening himself wide for these two men to see, tried to pull away, saying beligerantly, “I’m going to my chamber and ordering a bath. I’ll see you at supper.”
“Sit down, soldier,” Bao said. ‘Twas his commander’s voice and there was steel running through it, and steel in his eye as he continued to look at Callum.
Callum ground his teeth and growled low in his throat. “Fine.” He sat back down, not too gently, on the stool he’d recently vacated.
“Good work,” Daniel said, clapping his brother on the shoulder. He turned to Callum then and said, “You love our sister, Bao and I both know that.”
Callum squirmed.
“But it is not enough to love the lady, you must—as Bao and I have both found out—tell your lady”—he turned to Bao—“what think you? Once a day? Or more?”
Bao opened his mouth to speak but Callum interrupted. “‘Tis truth, you have no worries on that score. I have no problem telling Branwenn...umm...ahem...that.” His traitor cheeks burned hot and he felt a new sheen of sweat break out under his arms. “Are we done now?”
“Nay, we are not done,” Daniel said, shaking his head in vexation. “Why do you find this so hard to speak of, for Christ’s sake? You act as if we are forcing you to reveal your most humiliating secret.” He sat forward. “You are not embarrassed that you love my sister, are you? Because, I have to say, that does not bode well for your chances to wed her, as far as I’m concerned.” He turned to Bao. “Do you not agree?” He was getting evil delight in making Callum squirm, he didn’t know why. Well, mayhap he did. Maryn.
This scared the hell out Callum. “All right! I love her. I love her so desperately, she’s the only thing I can think of whenever the two of you give me a quiet moment during the day between training sessions. She is the reason I breathe, the reason my heart beats, the reason I want to continue living on this earth.” He put his elbows on the table and pressed the base of his palms into his eyes, unknowingly mirroring Daniel’s earlier movements. “There. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Well, not really. But m’thanks for sharing,” Daniel said, a grin as wide as the Maclean loch on his face as he gave a thumbs up to his brother.
Callum looked up, his eyes narrowed on Daniel as he mentally skewered the man with his lance. “Hatred does not begin to describe the feeling I have for you at this moment.”
Daniel leaned forward and clapped his hand on Callum’s shoulder. “You’ve passed your trial—does that make you feel better?”
“Trial? What trial?”
“Why the trial by ordeal we just put you through.” Daniel sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Now, I trow, you should not have as much trouble speaking of such ever again.” He looked at Bao, giving him a conspiratorial grin, “And that can only be good for our sister, as it took you much too long to give her the words in the first place.”
“Aye,” Bao said, “we were sure we’d have to curtail your secret meetings with the lass, so long was it taking you to speak frankly with her.”
“You knew of our secret meetings?” Callum croaked, his green eyes as round as a trout’s.
“Oh, aye—”
“But, let us not speak of that, shall we?” Daniel interjected. “Let us instead speak of the next item on our list.”
Callum’s heart leapt into his throat. “The next item...?” he asked weakly.
“Aye, Bao and I just want to make sure that you are prepared for all eventualities should the Norman decide to search for her; should the Norman find her.”
Callum relaxed. Finally, talk of war. A right subject for fighting men such as them.
For the next hour, the two warrior brothers grilled Callum, forcing him to use every bit of cunning he had to give them his solution for any situation that they believed might arise if Gaiallard learned of Branwenn’s whereabouts.
* * *
Miles away and later that day, at the Maclean holding, Reys and Alyson sat beside the hearth in the great hall with Jesslyn after supper.
“So you went first to the abbey? You did not learn of t
he pirates or the near shipwreck prior to that?”
Reys shrugged. “No, I can only suppose that ‘twas mostly due to the fact that ship made it to its port instead of being lost at sea.”
“But, what made you decide to search for Branwenn here? Were the monks believing the lass had survived?”
With a short nod, Reys said, “Aye, they were. For, you see, one of them saw her holding onto a plank of wood after she’d been swept overboard, tho’ they could not get to her, as every man at that time was occupied with saving his own life. And the place where the pirates attacked is where the sea becomes narrower, the land not so far away that it would have been impossible to make it to shore, assuming the tides were right.”
Jesslyn bit her lip, her brows furrowed in thought. “I believe I ken you now. The monks would surely have found her, had she landed on their shore, but since they didn’t, it behooved you to search for her here.”
“Yes.”
“And what of the Norman she was betrothed to? Has he accepted the break in the contract?”
“Yes, so it seems, for neither I nor my wife have seen or heard from him since the day of our wedding.”
Alyson’s heart beat a rapid tattoo in her chest. No, her husband had not heard from her brother, but she had. Gaiallard had sent several cryptic missives to her now. Threats. ‘Twas not only the reason she’d pleaded with Reys to bring her with him on this quest, but ‘twas also the reason that she’d been so avid to learn a means of defending herself, should he make his presence known. For, this time, she would kill him before submitting to his perversions. And, if he dared try to harm her husband—the only man, the only person, who’d ever been her champion—she would send the entire store from her quiver into him.
“And...you do not think you will, then?”