Branded by a Warrior

by Andrea Thorne

  “Does anyone else know?” asking, she wondered if she was the last one to know. She felt like a fool, how had Broderick’s brother noticed and she, the one who carried the babe hadn’t even figured it out. The dizziness and nausea all made sense to her now, everything did. It all fit.

  Ignoring the pain of the sharp needle working in and out of her skin she bit her lip as she thought over what she would do.

  “I would imagine Old Rhona has suspected as well, that tea of hers you like so much is a known favorite for breeding women, she was obviously more patient that I and didn’t spoil it for you.” The worry in his voice was evident.

  Hissing as Kendrix’s needle hurt more than she anticipated, she took a deep breath and rubbed her face with her left hand, “I was beginning to wonder if I was the last to know,” she groaned.

  “Almost done lass, hang on.” He muttered as he focused on the last half of the wound, “and nae, I believe you would have figured it out with time on your own, but I feared too much for your safety during drills. One wrong blow in your midsection could cause you to lose your child, I could not live with myself if I dinnae speak up. Tis best you realized before Broderick returns.”

  “He’ll make me stay behind, you knew that.” Her emotions getting the better of her once again, tears spilled out of her eyes, not due to the pain in her arm, but in her heart. Her worst fears were becoming realized before her eyes, she was with child, the heir to MacMillan lands, and her vow to avenge her family would fall to Broderick and Kendrix.

  “Aye, Duncan and your father would have too, ye know that. Ye are my sister now Elisabeth. As your brother, I would vehemently forbid it as well, your husband will most assuredly forbid you to see warfare with his child in your womb, he would die first, we all would before seeing you fight while with child.”

  Looking over at Broderick’s brother, she had felt such a rush of emotions consuming her, she was with child, she was loved and protected my family once again, and the heartbreaking realization she would not be able to kill Kincaid with her own hands had her sobbing once again, “I do not want anyone to die for me ever again,” she managed to say in between sobbing.

  Cutting the thread as he finished, he began to wrap fresh linen over her wound as he let her cry, he knew women enough to know sometimes they just needed to purge their emotions; his wife and mother use to be just like that. He had no words to help her at this moment. She needed to accept the situation as it was and come to terms with it. He knew it would be bittersweet for her, and a tad heartbreaking. Warriors were bound to their vows, they were sacred to them, and it could not be easy on her.

  Chapter 17

  Grinning at the welcoming sight of his castle, he was home. His trek north had taken longer than expected; the weather had increasing gotten worse as he and his men left Inverness. Plagued by a few issues that slow them down, he and his men had made the brutal journey without losing any men to the cold, or an attack.

  The sun had yet to set; his heart grew warm as he thought of his lovely wife that was on the other side of the tall stone walls. God he missed her, he was counting the moments until he held her in his arms once again. He had promised himself he’d never be separated from her like this again, he just couldn’t do it. From now on, his wife went with him no matter where he went.

  The tower guards saw his arrival, calling for the drawbridge to be lowered, Broderick hailed to his guards as he trotted over the wooden drawn bridge and straight for the stable.

  He knew most likely she would be in the castle getting ready to sup with his family, dismounting off his tired stallion he pulled off his leather gloves and ran a hand through his hair as he turned the corner and came face to face with Siobhan’s mother.

  “Oh thank the Lord ye are home my Laird, such chaos here, such pain and betrayal has occurred in your absence!” The elderly woman cried as she grabbed onto his arm.

  Worry lanced through him, “Explain Annemarie, now!” his voice commanded attention as he stared down at the woman.

  “Ye wife and Brother, they exiled my daughter! They exiled Siobhan your betrothed in the middle of this winter they did!” She hissed, brushing off tears from her wrinkled face. She looked from side to side to see if anyone was approaching them, wiping her tears as she huffed.

  Furrowing his brows he looked around for any of his trusted men, however, the elder woman had cornered him quite alone, “She stopped being my betrothed when she married another man Annemarie, you would do well to remember that, and that I have a wife now.”

  Pulling on his sleeve she continued, “They’ve been lording over this castle as if it was theirs my Laird, your wife is forcing wee babes and women to learn the bow! Worse, they are betraying you, they lock themselves in your private study every waking moment they have, my Siobhan saw what was happening and accused them and they exiled her so she couldn’t tell you!”

  He refused to believe it, Kendrix and Elisabeth would never betray him, and it was against their character. “I would watch ye tongue Annemarie. You are talking of my Wife and Brother woman.” His voice clipped and dangerous as he searched the old woman’s tired eyes.

  “They publicly humiliated Siobhan days ago when they exiled her into that barren frozen forest, my girl could be long dead, and they sit in your tower in each other’s company, why do you think they are not here to greet you? Think I lie? Check yourself!” She pointed to the north tower to prove her point, smoke steadily climbing out of the chimneystack from his study.

  “It is clear to all who watch them that they are lovers!” She spat.

  Pushing her aside he stalked towards the castle, ignoring all, his heart told him not to believe it, his head wanted proof, his inner demons fought as he ran up the stairs and flew through the front door and took a right towards the corridor that led to his study.

  The gate to the tower was unlocked, opening it silently so he could make his way up the tower in silence; he slowly walked up the stone stairs listening for their voices, hearing his brother’s first.

  “There is a reason for everything Elisabeth, ye have to believe that lass.” Kendrix’s voice was soothing and velvet, it immediately prickled Broderick. Why was his brother consoling her?

  “What do I tell him?” She asked, from the tone of her voice he knew she had been crying, slowly walking closer he peeked into the study to see his brother holding Elisabeth in his arms before the fire, his back was to him and her head was buried in his chest as she sobbed.

  “The truth.” Kendrix replied.

  Stepping into the room, Broderick stood tall and asked with an icy chill, “The truth, interesting. I wonder if either of you know the meaning of loyalty or truth.”

  Before him he saw Kendrix turn around, removing his hands from Elisabeth the moment he spoke.

  “Brother, this is not what it looks like, on my honor!” Kendrix rebuffed as Elisabeth stood before the fire merely starring at him. She was thin, her eyes red and swollen.

  Locking eyes with his wife, Broderick watched as she started to run towards him with her arms outstretched.

  Putting his hand up to stop her, “Do not touch me woman, give me back the key to this room and leave!” He demanded, extending his hand for the key. Broderick saw her stop dead still, her jaw dropped as he starred at her.

  “Broderick?” She asked, fresh tears fell down her face; her voice sounded like her heart was shattering.

  From behind her, Kendrix took a step towards him and warned, “Broderick, watch how you talk to her, she has done nothing wrong!”

  “You dare tell me how to talk to my wife when I find her in your arms?”

  Stepping around Elisabeth in seconds, Kendrix toed right up to him, so close their noses almost touched, “What are you accusing me of Brother?” Kendrix’s voice rumbled with anger.

  Elisabeth watched as the two brothers chested up to each other as they both yelled at the same time. Her body could take no more of this; her heart and soul were being crushed with every word Broder
ick yelled.

  Screaming at the top of her lungs she pushed her way between them and looked at Kendrix, “Let him believe what he wants Kendrix!” Turning to her husband whom she had missed so much, she scanned his angry face hoping for a sign the man she loved was still in there. Wiping a tear off her cheek she reached down and ripped the leather cord that held the key to the room off her neck in one sickening snap, tossing it at his feet.

  She had never known it was possible to love and hate someone until this moment. She didn’t have one thing to say to him, how dare he, how dare he accuse her and Kendrix of such horrible deeds. Feeling her stomach roll she moved like lightning between the angry warrior brothers and regally kept her composure as she ran down the stairs out of the north tower.

  Holding herself together she crossed the keep and headed straight to her solar, she needed peace, she needed silence and she needed to pray. Lord help her, what had just happened? Reaching the stairs to her tower, she ran as quickly as she could for her solar, opening and shutting the door behind her she threw the lock and sagged against the wooden door.

  Covering her mouth with her hand to silence her horrid sobs, she slid down the door until she crumpled on the floor, crying alone in her room as her heart broke.

  In the north tower, the MacMillan brother’s were just getting started.

  As soon as Elisabeth left, Kendrix threw a punch to Broderick’s right eye, “You fucking bastard, how dare you accuse me of bedding your wife! You know what Broderick, you don’t deserve her!”

  Stumbling back at the significant blow, Broderick gritted his teeth, refusing to fight back. His heart felt like it was going to explode out of his chest as he watched Kendrix pick up his bloody sword off the stone floor and storm out of the study, leaving Broderick completely alone.

  “Fuck!” He screamed as he kicked the leather chair across the room. Running his hands through his wind stricken hair he looked down and noticed the pool of blood where the chair had once stood. Next to it he saw the washbasin filled with bright red water, remembering seeing blood on Kendrix blade he looked over to the center of the room and saw an even bigger pool of bright red blood.

  “What the hell happened?” He growled, walking around the room he saw maps laid out everywhere, details of the battle plans on every surface of his room. The mighty bed he installed before his departure sat, it looked like it hadn’t been used in ages.

  Damn he needed answers, what the fuck happened while he was gone?

  Storming out of the room he ran down the stairs in search of his brother, never in his life had Kendrix raised his fist to him in anger. Kendrix was his most loyal confidant, for Kendrix to strike him, in his heart he had the sinking suspicion he had just ruined his marriage by believing Siobhan’s mother. He very likely also just destroyed his bond with his brother as well.

  At the bottom of the staircase Broderick ran into Old Rhona carrying a tray of tea. The look his loyal servant gave him a look that stopped him in his tracks.

  “What on earth have you done Broderick Ian MacMillan? I have never seen Kendrix so upset in all my years! What happened to your eye?” She scolded him just like his mother would.

  “Where is he Rhona?” He questioned, softening as he saw how upset she was.

  “He marched out to the stables moments ago, just a rattling on about ye! Whatever ye did young man, ye better fix it now! I will not have ye two boys fighting!”

  Crossing his arms he decided to get a few answers out of the way, with a woman he trusted completely, “How has Elisabeth been?”

  Rhona’s face immediately softened, “Oh the lass has been a Godsend I tell you, she’s taken up running the castle like yer mother use to. She’s even started teaching the younglings the bow, and soon enough some of the mothers asked be taught as well, ah, she’s a gracious thing. Sun up to sun down she’s been working without break, she’s lost weight and hasn’t been sleeping well, I can tell ye that. Kendrix and I warned her you would not be happy to see her withering away.”

  “and Kendrix?” he asked, knowing that if anyone suspected Kendrix and Elisabeth of adultery, Rhona would confess.

  “He has filled your shoes, exiled that awful bitch Siobhan after Elisabeth caught her blackening your niece’s eye in the kitchen a few mornings ago, he has watched over your clan and kept Elisabeth busy upstairs planning that damn war.”

  Swallowing slowly he closed his eyes and his heart sank, “I have to go find Kendrix, I’ll make this right Rhona, I promise.” Turning on his right foot, he made his way out the castle door in time to see Kendrix galloping over the lowered drawbridge.

  Crossing the stable he whistled for his horse one more time, still saddled, he swung up on the horse as it trotted out of the stables. Kicking his horse’s flank, he stormed after his irate brother. What had he just done? He had no idea how to fix the mess he had just created by blindly believing Siobhan’s mother so easily. Seeing Kendrix’s hold Elisabeth made him see red, brother or not, seeing another man touching his wife made him want to murder someone. Following his brother’s tracks, he galloped his tired stallion in search of his angry brother.

  Behind him, little Isobel had seen her father and uncle storm off on horseback. Climbing up on her pony, she quickly snuck out the open gate as the guards talked about what was going on. No one had seen, or stopped her.

  The sun still peeked out from the mountaintops as Broderick gave chase, he needed to catch Kendrix, and he needed to settle this. Lord knew this wasn’t the homecoming he had envisioned for weeks.

  Kendrix’s warhorse was fast, and Kendrix was a skilled rider, there were few with his skill. Catching him would be difficult, following the tracks in the snow he raced on until he saw the sliver of his brother on horseback in the far distance.

  The cold breeze bit his face once again as he yelled for his brother, the familiar cadence of his horse’s galloping echoed through the empty frozen forest.

  “Kendrix, STOP!” He ordered loudly at the top of his lungs, in the distance he saw Kendrix look behind him and pull his horse back.

  Broderick rode towards his brother as he watched him dismount his horse and wait with crossed arms and a seething scowl. Kendrix was livid.

  Riding up, Broderick slid off his horse, “I came home to find Siobhan’s mother crying over her exiled daughter, accusing you and Elisabeth of grave betrayals, finding my wife in your arms made me think her words had indeed been true. Please tell me she was wrong, and that I am an ass.”

  Kendrix’s jaw muscled clenched as he thought over his reply, “Brother, in your heart do you honestly believe that I would bed your wife? That Elisabeth, The fucking Warrior Queen of Scotland would cuckold her husband? So much has changed since you left Broderick, she has done only what you asked, and made this castle a happier place!” Shaking his head in disbelief, “I love her, aye, but as my sister! You,” pointing right into Broderick’s chest, “You charged me with her safety and well being, I gave you my vow Brother, my vow! You let the words of some rattle brained mother of a whore make you doubt me, and your loving wife?” Kendrix questioned with contempt.

  “What happened in my study, why is there blood everywhere?” Broderick questioned easily, not wanting to flame his younger brother’s temper more.

  Kendrix bowed his head, “I was training with her and she lost focus, I delivered a blow to her sword arm in which I had just finished closing up before you so gloriously came upstairs and ripped her heart out.”

  “What were you to discussing as I walked in, what does she need to tell me?” He asked carefully, unsure he wanted to hear the answer.

  Shaking his head, Kendrix replied, “That I cannae share, that is for your wife to explain, if she ever talks to you again.”

  Stepping closer to his brother, Broderick pulled Kendrix in for a hug, and earnestly said, “I am ashamed Brother, I am sorry. I love you, I do not understand why I cannae control my emotions when it comes to her.”

  Feeling Kendrix thump his back as he hugged
him back, “Ye are a bloody fool sometimes Broderick, that woman has mourned your absence every moment of every day since you’ve been away. Ye need to make it right with her, and then I’ll accept your apology.”

  A screamed ripped through the woods, a scream they were both familiar with.

  “Isobel!” Broderick growled, both brothers scanning the woods for sign of the small lass.

  From the dark shadows of the evening woods, they heard an ominous voice, a voice they both knew and hated. The hair on the back of Broderick’s neck stood up as Kincaid slowly appeared out of the shadows holding Isobel.

  “Look at who I found trying to find you Laird MacMillan, your lovely little niece, Isobel, isn’t it?” Kincaid sneered as he held Isobel as she squirmed in his arms upon his horse.

  “Da!” her innocent plea pierced the darkening night as she began to cry trying to reach out to Kendrix.

  “Let her go Kincaid, or I will kill you now!” Kendrix stepped forward, drawing his blade from its sheath. From behind Kincaid, ten more Douglas warriors appeared on horseback, battle ready kilted vile men.

  “I’ve been waiting for one of you to make a mistake, you can imagine my delight when little sweet Isobel came trotting through the woods, alone in search of her beloved Uncle and Da, oh a finer present I have never received in me life!” The flame haired Laird smirked as he looked down at Broderick and Kendrix.

  Both men had their hands on their blades; Broderick was quickly running through the scenarios in his mind as his brother stared down the vile murderous laird who held Isobel. They were greatly outnumbered, with Kincaid holding Isobel’s life in his sadistic hands; he was unwilling to engage the warriors. Broderick knew that Kincaid would easily kill Isobel to prove a point. He was not willing to gamble with his niece’s life with such a merciless bastard.

  Stepping next to his brother, shoulder to shoulder, “What are ye terms?” he spit out. Internally willing Kendrix not to do anything rash, they needed to keep their wits about them.