Edward and Piers had shared a very close relationship. Though some accounts said they were merely dear friends, most claimed they were lovers.
“As we know, Piers’ murder angered him enough that Edward enlisted the aid of Sir Andrew Harclay,” she said, “and defeated Lancaster and Hereford at the battle of Boroughbridge in March.”
“Aye.” Bryce scowled. “Encouraged by his success in downing two of his most dangerous enemies, the bloody bastard decided to invade Scotland. Accompanied by his wife Queen Isabella, he marched to Edinburgh with an army estimated to be no more than sixty thousand strong.”
Jessie nodded as she reflected on what had been happening in this country since Graham and Christina’s adventure in thirteen fourteen. The series of events that led to Edward’s recent invasion.
King Robert the Bruce had sought a peace treaty so that the war ravaged realm of Scotland could recover. Of course, this treaty would also recognize Scotland as an independent kingdom with himself as its rightful king.
Unfortunately, Edward agreed to no such thing.
So, each year Robert instigated forays into Northern England to extract tribute and gather booty to help rebuild the bankrupt Scottish economy. Accordingly, he sent Sir James Douglas and Sir Thomas Randolph in a series of wide ranging raids into Northumberland, Cumberland, Lancashire, Durham and Yorkshire to accomplish his goals. The hope was that by doing so, it would put enough pressure on the English barons to persuade Edward to agree to the treaty after all.
Each year Scotland’s coffers were slowly replenished, and the process of rebuilding started. Despite the serious ebbing of a high percentage of the English economy to Scotland, Edward still refused to negotiate. That meant a good number of his lords were in revolt and his position was becoming untenable.
As it turned out, it was two of those lords, both dangerous enemies, that Edward defeated at Boroughbridge, so it was no wonder he felt emboldened enough to strike Scotland once again.
“You know a great deal about my country’s history,” Bryce remarked, clearly impressed as he followed her thoughts.
“More than you can imagine,” she said, remembering all too well the endless research. “I had to so I could anticipate anything.”
“’Tis hard to imagine,” he said softly, taking her hand as the crowd thickened, “that you could have kept track of everything.”
“It came easier than it would for most,” she explained, “because I was part of the curse and so closely affiliated with the warlocks.” She shook her head. “Destroying Scotland was the sole purpose of their existence which meant they were very thorough about its history...as was I through them.”
Bryce nodded, as they chatted about and continued reflecting on the years that led up to now.
Naturally, angered by Edward’s invasion, Robert the Bruce reacted with savage energy and resolve. Giving citizens fair warning in advance to evacuate, he instituted a ‘Scorched earth’ policy in the Merse and Lothians. All the livestock were driven to safe places. Granaries were emptied and what could not be transported away was set on fire. The roofs of houses were torn off and burnt, and any growing crops were trampled to deny them to the English.
Bridges were destroyed, wells befouled with manure and carcasses and streams were dammed causing morasses and floods. He sent James Douglas and four thousand moss-troopers—marauders who operated in the mosses or bogs—with two thousand highland clansmen to harry the English army in Durham as they marched north. There they burned all before them including food, forage, and shelter that might be of use to the English.
“King Robert himself led an expedition of eight thousand light cavalry and highland clansmen,” Bryce remarked as he gestured at the ships ahead, “supported by the galleys of Angus in a long range sweeping raid into the northwest of England, sacking Preston and pillaging scores of other towns.”
By doing this, King Robert hoped that Edward would turn back to defend his northern shires, but instead, Edward fell out with Sir Andrew Harclay on policy and ordered him to confine Bruce to Northern England while Edward ravaged Scotland.
“Sir Andrew Harclay protested at Edward’s unmilitary division of the English forces.” Jessie shook her head but could only be grateful for the English king’s poor judgment. “Andrew warned him it would leave the English army unbalanced and short of archers.”
“Aye,” Bryce said, pleased. “Edward, backed by the Earl of Richmond, dismissed the only competent military leader he had.”
“Which worked out great for King Robert I’d say.” She met Bryce’s grin. “Seeing how Andrew Harclay retired in a huff to Carlisle with his army and came to an accommodation with Robert.”
“’Twas a good one too,” Bryce said. “Leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone.”
With Andrew out of the way, Robert moved fast and reached the Scottish border in late July where he immediately mobilized his forces.
By this point, King Edward occupied Edinburgh and Leith setting up home in Holyrood with Queen Isabella. Having been forewarned, over three-quarters of the populace had fled the city. The remaining quarter who remained, unfortunately, thought they would receive preferential treatment. Sadly, they did not.
Edward’s army soon discovered foraging would be impossible. Foraging parties were ambushed by the moss-troopers under James Douglas. Food became so scarce that the English were beginning to eat their own horses. So Edward finally did what he should have done earlier. He organized supply ships to sail from the Humber, Tees, and Tyne to replenish his army.
Upon confirmation of this news, Robert the Bruce contacted Angus Óg MacDomhnaill.
It was time to cut off the English’s supply ships.
So here they all were.
“Have you ever been on a ship?” Bryce asked as they drew closer to shore. “More than that, how do you intend to get a fleet of ships through bad weather?”
“With help from all of you.” Her eyes met his. “Thankfully, we have the right people along on this journey.” Her eyes went to Christina and Graham who stood on one of the docks. “A witch with superhuman strength and instincts as well as her wizard whose element is water.”
He frowned. “Will that be enough though?”
“No.” She shook her head as her eyes returned to his. “It’s going to take all of us to get through this...including, quite possibly, yours and Sven’s dragons.”
He nodded slowly as he took her meaning. “You think we’ll need to shift.”
“It could very well come down to that.”
Bryce eyed her for another moment before he nodded again. “Aye, then, lass, whatever you need.”
They both knew it would be no small thing if he and Sven shifted. If nothing else, it would be hard to explain away to a fleet of Scottish ships afterward.
“You didnae answer my question,” he prompted as they started down the dock. “Have you ever been on a boat let alone ships the likes of these?”
“No.” She slowed, eyed the water and swallowed hard as it all became very real. “In fact, I have an unnatural fear of anything that takes me off the ground.”
Chapter Eight
UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT, he thought they might just have a chance of seeing Angus safely around the north of Scotland. Now he wasn’t so sure. Not based on how pale Jessie’s skin had become as she eyed the ocean.
“Is it a fear of water then...or anything that takes you off the ground?” He frowned, surprised because she didn’t seem frightened of the waterfall.
“It’s all part of the curse,” she said softly. “As I told you, I’m better protected by Earth and fire. Air and water are more difficult for me to navigate and make me more vulnerable to the warlocks.” Her eyes stayed with his as if seeking comfort. “So it’s rather ironic that sailing ships through a storm is part of my journey with you.”
So it was more a fear of the warlocks than anything.
Or could it be something else?
Because for a moment there it almost fel
t related to dragons.
“Are you frightened of dragons, lass?” he couldn’t help but ask though it made no sense considering her time spent with Ainsley. Rather than point that out, he referred instead to her disposition when they first met. “Back at the beginning, you didn’t seem all that fond of us.”
“I love dragons,” she exclaimed. “I only acted that way because I’ve had to for so long. Anything MacLomain related must be shunned.” Confusion lit her eyes. “Though you’re right to ask because for a moment there I did feel something toward dragons...an unexplainable negativity.” She shook her head. “Whatever it was it’s gone now.”
She said as much, but he sensed her emotions were overwhelming her. Fear of the unknown and at the forefront, discomfort that she had no control over the warlocks or even her own emotions.
Determined to help her in any way he could, he stopped, cupped her shoulders and made sure her eyes stayed with his. “’Tis normal to fear things in life that we cannae control. Yet remember this. You wouldnae be here if it wasnae meant to be and you couldnae handle it.” He shook his head and reminded. “And you wouldnae be here with Sven, Christina, Graham and me if we werenae the people best suited to help you.”
“And Aðísla,” she whispered, her dark eyes never straying from his as she gathered strength.
“Aye.” He grinned, hoping to make her smile. “If nothing else, she will keep Sven fiercer than he already is.”
A small smile hovered on her lips. “True.”
“You’re far braver and stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.” Caught in how good it felt to see her eyes lighten a little, he cupped her soft cheek. “And now you’re not alone. You’ve got your friends and me along with you.”
“Yes,” she whispered as she bit her lower lip when it began trembling. She seemed to be gathering herself before she continued. “I’m sorry. Now that the warlocks are no longer part of me, I seem to have a great deal of trouble fighting emotions.”
“Aye, ‘tis just fine, lass.” He couldn’t help but pull her into his arms and offer her comfort. “’Tis understandable.”
He enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. How she stiffened at first then softened against him as she realized she was safe. That though he wasn’t as powerful as her in magic, he would always do his best to protect her.
Where some might tell her to rally her strength in front of Angus and his men to prove she could help navigate this mission, he would not. He would never tell her to stop feeling now that she finally could again. Instead, he would help her through all her emotions. He would support her any way he could but never in such a fashion that she reverted back to the emotionless creature she had to become with the warlocks.
After she had drifted off to sleep last night, he poured himself another ale, sat back against the wall next to his cot and simply watched her. He might have been overwhelmed by all she had shared, but it hadn’t stopped him from staring at her for hours, his desire only growing. Though he knew it was likely the ring at work, a part of him rebelled at it being that simple.
While yes, he was initially frustrated with her for keeping more secrets, the fact remained that she was truly the most admirable person he had ever met. To have lived her life like she did even after she watched her mother fade away like that. To have pre-planned so much and kept these warlocks tricked for so long went far beyond what most would be capable of. Not just magically but mentally.
She had given up life as most knew it to protect Scotland. And she had done it alongside a warlock that offered her a glimpse of normalcy...of love. Though he still couldn’t entirely wrap his mind around what that meant, he knew one thing for sure. The beast had exploited what should have only been between Bryce and Jessie.
And Bryce would exact his revenge.
He refused to be grateful to the creature.
Rather, he kept firmly in mind that though the warlock had given her some light within darkness, it was all a trick. It had used Bryce to give her a false sense of appreciation and love.
He fully intended to show her what real love was. How someone of her caliber should be loved. He wasn’t precisely sure when he had come to that decision. All he knew was that he had. That he would. More so, he was surprised to realize as they sat together and chatted this morning, he wanted to. He wanted to show her the world in a whole new way. To help her see that there was so much more to life than the tragedy she had lived up until now.
“It’s good to see you two getting along so well,” Christina said, interrupting his thoughts.
Bryce released Jessie when she pulled away and offered her friend a wobbly smile in greeting. Only then did he note the dampness in her eyes or felt the slight moisture on his chest where her cheek had rested.
She had followed his every thought.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Christina said softly, her eyes alarmed as she noted Jessie’s distress.
“I am.” Jessie nodded, blinked away the moisture and gave Bryce a thankful look. “More so by the moment, actually.”
Christina looked from him back to Jessie, clearly seeing what that meant, before she offered Jessie a warm smile. “Are you all right to come look at the ships?”
“Well, I better be because we’re setting sail soon.” Jessie nodded, indeed surer by the moment as she glanced at him one more time before she took Christina’s offered hand and continued down the dock with her.
Bryce could tell by her confident stride as he followed behind them that she would be able to handle this. She was starting to see that there was life beyond the repressed place she had been for so long. That with the support of not only him but her friends, she could face anything.
Angus greeted them from the biggest galley of them all, waving for them to come aboard. “Ye’ll travel on my ship until we’ve made it around the north of Scotland then ye can travel with John if ye like.”
He wasn’t surprised to find Sven and Aðísla already aboard eying the boat. As far as he could tell, they were impressed, and that was no small thing. Graham was there as well, not letting Christina too far out of his sight with so many men around. Or it could very well be that he meant to be readily available if she was in need.
He couldn’t help but chuckle, aware of the overly amorous effects Christina suffered after she used her magic. Side effects only Graham could assuage. Following his thoughts, Graham met his grin. He imagined his cousin urged her to use her magic at every opportunity in light of such a thing.
“If it’s all the same to you, Laird Angus,” Jessie said. “I think it would be wiser if my friends and I split up and travel on three separate ships.”
“Aye then?” He cocked his head. “Are ye sure?”
She nodded. “I am.” Her eyes swept over his fleet. “Bryce and I will travel with you. Graham and Christina with John.” Her eyes went to the Vikings. “Aðísla and Sven on whatever vessel seems the least threatening.”
Angus frowned but didn’t wear the condescending expression most chieftains let alone a captain might wear when a lass gave him orders. “Why?”
“Because when push comes to shove, they will be your best kept secret,” she replied. “A back-up plan so to speak.”
“I do like a good back-up plan.” Angus looked from the Vikings to Jessie, pondering with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Care to share more, lassie?”
She stood up a little straighter, notched her chin and never looked away. “Not right now.”
He eyed her for a moment, stroking his beard before a sly grin turned into a wide smile. “Aye, then my wee lassie, ‘twill be as ye wish.”
Bryce didn’t miss her slight slump of relief before she straightened again. He stepped close and rested his hand on the middle of her back in support. Some might say he should stay away and let her appear strong, but he was done letting her stand on her own all the time. If Angus or any of his crew saw that as a weakness, so be it.
They could bloody well deal with his dragon.
A soft smile came t
o her lips as her eyes met his. Again, she was following his every thought, and he was glad.
“Let’s get the cargo loaded then all hands on deck!” Angus roared. “We depart within the hour!”
Soon enough, his words were repeated from ship to ship, and men sprang into action. The extra cargo’s sole purpose was to weigh the ships down in preparation for stormy seas. A fully-loaded ship was safer than an empty one so long as the cargo was stowed correctly. That way the weight in the hull counteracted the force of the winds on the sails and rigging during heavy winds. This reduced the risk of the ship rolling on its side. If that happened, they were all done for.
Before he lumbered off, Angus looked at the sky, chuckled and winked at Jessie. “Ready yer sea legs, my wee lassie.” Relish lit his eyes. “’Tis going to be the devil’s own ride by the morrow’s eve for sure.”
She offered a surprisingly roguish grin. “Aye, aye, captain.”
Christina’s brows shot up with amusement as she looked at Jessie. “Just listen to you, darlin’. Already quite the seafarer.”
Jessie grinned as Christina urged her to join her.
“C’mon sweetie,” she said. “I met a nice seamstress that’s going to provide us with clothing for the journey.”
Jessie nodded, glanced at Bryce one more time with a warm smile, then followed. He was thrown off balance by how much that smile affected him. How much more of it he wanted to see. Particularly if it was aimed his way.
“Jessie’s doing better by the moment, aye?” Graham said.
“Aye,” Bryce responded as Angus insisted they make themselves at home and tour the ships. “As I told ye this morn, she’s lived a verra lonely existence. So ‘twill only do her good to finally have so much support and caring around her.”
The MacLomain Series: A New Beginning Boxed Set (Books 1-4) Page 90