Warrior of Fire

by Michelle Willingham

  ‘Then does he want you to wed Rory? To bring himself back into favour with his father?’

  She shook her head. ‘It’s the last thing he wants. In fact, he wanted to help me escape, but I had the chance to play matchmaker instead.’

  The confused expression on Raine’s face made her hide a smile. ‘I have no regrets. Lady Taryn of Ossoria needed an escort to Tara. Killian needs to make peace with his father. And the fact that Taryn and Killian cannot keep their eyes off one another made it even better. I made him stay behind with her when she was in trouble.’ She folded her arms over his chest and saw the look of exasperation on his face. ‘Don’t tell me. If you were my older brother, you would never let me go on my own.’

  He sent her a sidelong look. ‘I am not your brother, chérie. Nor would I want to be.’ The sudden edge in his tone made her remember sleeping beside him, their limbs tangled together. She sobered instantly at the thought.

  ‘If it makes you feel any better, Killian will join me at Laochre before I go west,’ Carice said. ‘Our separation is only temporary.’

  ‘Why did you leave before Trahern could arrive?’

  She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. ‘I grew nervous when he didn’t come. I saw a chance to escape the High King’s men, and I took it.’

  Raine took her by the hand and guided her towards the stables. ‘What you did was dangerous.’

  ‘I didn’t think so at the time. But yes, it was.’ She squeezed his hand, feeling embarrassed at her weakness. ‘I am glad I met you. And I am grateful for your help.’

  He met her gaze for a moment before saying, ‘We should go now.’

  Although she didn’t understand why he was in such a hurry, she supposed his nightmare had set him on edge. He was right that there was indeed a risk that she would be caught or found.

  The snow dotted Raine’s dark blond hair, and he led her inside the stables. Although she was still weary, it would be dawn within hours. With luck and good speed, she would reach Laochre tonight and possibly find Killian and Lady Taryn waiting for her there.

  Raine prepared his horse, and Carice waited until he led the animal by the reins. He lifted her onto the horse and swung up behind her. Though it was still dark, there was a dim haze of morning on the horizon. Against her spine, she felt Raine’s strong presence. She had grown accustomed to the hard lines of his body, but there was no peace within him.

  It shouldn’t matter. By nightfall, she would reach Laochre, and their paths would diverge. She steeled herself, knowing it was meant to be this way. Even so, she felt traces of regret. Raine was the first man she had ever kissed, and he had given her a glimpse of a different life. With him, she almost felt like an ordinary woman—one who had a life ahead of her instead of numbered days.

  You’re going to die, the voice of reality intruded. No man will ever fall in love with you.

  She had no right to hope for more time with him—not when she was dying. It was better to let him go and relinquish the idle dreams. What man would want to be with a woman who could never give him companionship or children? Moreover, he had to return to his Norman commander.

  When they reached the gates, Raine paused a moment and turned to look back. The ruins of the abbey were scarred by fire, but the stones remained. On the far side, she saw the graves he’d dug, and though he said nothing, she understood that he felt responsible for the destruction. Perhaps those were the dreams that burdened him.

  Snow lay upon the ground, crisp and white. As they rode, it continued to fall. She loved watching the swirl of flakes upon the wind, and when they reached the open meadow, she leaned back to watch. Raine stiffened, and she glimpsed a frown upon his face. ‘Do you not like snow?’

  ‘I don’t enjoy sleeping in it.’

  Her smile faded, for as a soldier, he had likely slept out of doors during many battles. ‘I suppose you’re right. I’ve always enjoyed watching it fall from the sky, though. It’s beautiful. Except when my brother shoved it in my face.’

  ‘And did you seek revenge upon Killian?’

  She glanced behind. ‘I didn’t hit him with a snowball, no. But I did cry until he brought me a kitten.’ Nothing had bothered her brother more than tears, and she’d been ruthless in using them to get her way. But even though her cat, Harold, had comforted her over the years, the animal still doted upon Killian.

  ‘You manipulated him, then.’ Raine tightened his arms around her as he quickened their pace. ‘It doesn’t surprise me.’

  ‘I used the weapons I had. It could be called strategy, really.’ She could feel Raine’s chain mail armour against her back, and they were a tangible reminder that he was here to guard her. The metal links were a boundary between them, allowing no warmth at all.

  But she remembered well, what it was to sleep beside him. His scent, of warm male and a hint of leather, was comforting.

  After they rode together for many miles, she said, ‘Thank you for escorting me to Laochre. I hope your duties bring you prosperity and that you see your family once again.’

  He gave no answer, but slowed the pace of their horse. ‘I doubt I will ever see my family again. And especially not if I disobey orders.’ This time, he drew the horse to a stop, his hand resting upon his sword hilt.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked. They were not nearly close enough to Laochre. He cut off her words with his hand, guiding the horse west, towards a small circle of trees. Her heartbeat quickened, though she could not see the invisible threat.

  Against her ear, he whispered, ‘Someone is following us.’

  She didn’t see how that was possible, given that it was not yet dawn, and she had heard nothing at all. But there was no reason to doubt him.

  ‘I’m going to dismount, and I want you to ride to those trees. Stay there until I come for you.’

  Carice wasn’t certain it was a good idea to be alone, but she gave no argument. He got off the horse, and before he could leave, she caught his hand. ‘What if there is a threat within the trees? Do you have a weapon I could borrow to defend myself?’

  Raine unsheathed a small dagger at his waist. ‘Take this. But do not use it unless you have to.’

  She took the blade and secured it within her girdle. He was about to move away, but she reached out to his cheek. ‘Be careful, Raine.’

  He covered her palm with his own and squeezed it, before he retraced their tracks. Carice watched him for a short time before retreating towards the trees on horseback. When she reached the grove, she moved through the woods to the opposite side.

  The horse’s hooves crunched through the snow, and she turned one last time to look back at Raine, hoping he was safe.

  Then men closed in on her so fast, she had no time to react. Strong arms dragged her off the horse, and a scream tore from her throat.

  * * *

  Raine cursed when he heard Carice cry out. Damn it all, but he should have checked the woods before sending her there. A few paces back, he’d spied a single man following on his own horse. The man was a giant, taller than any man he’d ever seen. It had to be Trahern MacEgan, the man who had been meant to guide Carice back to Laochre. Raine had seen the man in battle, years ago, and never had he met any man taller.

  He sheathed his sword and charged towards the woods, even knowing it was futile to fight against several men. But he hoped the rider would assist him. ‘MacEgan!’

  The rider turned his head and rode up alongside him. ‘Was that Lady Carice?’

  Raine nodded. In the Irish language, he added, ‘She needs help!’ Without waiting for a reply, he continued running towards the woods. Another scream escaped Carice, and the sound of her panic intensified the need to reach her. He’d sworn to keep her safe, and he would keep that vow.

  With his sword drawn, he entered the woods and seized a fallen branch to use as a makeshift shi
eld. Carice was being held by two men, and she gripped his dagger in one hand. It didn’t seem that they intended to harm her, but he recognised one as the soldier he’d released. Half a dozen more men were armed and standing nearby.

  ‘Don’t let them take me,’ she pleaded with Raine, struggling against the guards. But she lacked the physical strength to fight them, and within moments, one twisted her wrist so the dagger dropped to the snow.

  At her gasp of pain, Raine threw himself at the soldiers. His sudden attack caught them off balance, and he jerked Carice free. ‘Go! Trahern is close by.’

  She didn’t argue, but scrambled backwards. Raine had no time to see her there safely, but he struck out at the first soldier with his fists, knocking the man down. He seized the dagger from the snow and buried it in the throat of the next man.

  The haze of killing came upon him then, and he moved with swiftness, his sword cutting through bone and flesh. Dimly, he was aware of Carice urging Trahern to help him. He was relieved to know that he’d been right about the man’s identity.

  The MacEgan fighter unsheathed his own sword, and his brute strength offered a welcome assistance.

  ‘Take her to Laochre,’ Raine commanded.

  ‘There are too many of them,’ Trahern argued. ‘You can’t hold them off alone.’

  ‘Get her out. Now, before more of them come.’ He seized a fallen branch to block a soldier’s sword, lunging hard with his own blade. MacEgan hesitated, but Raine insisted, ‘You have no choice. Take her to safety. Leave me behind.’

  Trahern sent another man sprawling from a punch, and Raine blocked a third soldier who had come up behind the Irishman.

  ‘Take my horse, then,’ the Irishman ordered. ‘I’ll take her mount.’ Trahern sent him a wary look and added, ‘Meet us at Laochre if you can.’ He shoved another soldier, and there were four men remaining.

  Raine stole one last look at Carice. Her long brown hair fell across her shoulders, dampened with snow. Her pale skin was flushed, and fear filled her eyes.

  He drank in the sight of her, not knowing if he would live or die. And if Carice’s was the last face he saw before dying, he would hold no regrets.

  * * *

  Carice leaned heavily upon Trahern MacEgan when they reached the donjon. They had spent all afternoon and evening riding towards Laochre, and she could barely keep her eyes open.

  Trahern was so tall she had to lean back to look at him. He was also a bard, and he’d entertained her with stories during the journey. It had been a welcome distraction, but she could not stop worrying about Raine.

  Was he alive? Had he managed to defeat the soldiers? They were mostly the High King’s men, mingled with a few of her father’s, but she had not seen any sign of Brian Faoilin.

  ‘Will you be all right?’ Trahern asked her, slowing down their mount as they entered the gates. ‘Can you walk the rest of the way?’ His eyes grew concerned, and she knew he was well aware of her weakness.

  She paused a moment. ‘I can, yes. But I keep thinking about the soldiers. We shouldn’t have left Raine behind. It wasn’t right.’ After all that he had done to protect her and care for her, it felt as if they had turned their backs on him.

  ‘He’s alive, Carice.’

  ‘There were four of them,’ she insisted. ‘Four men against one.’ Her throat tightened at the thought of him being surrounded. Surely no man could survive such a battle. And though he had sacrificed himself for her sake, the guilt weighed down on her.

  ‘He’s a trained Norman soldier,’ Trahern argued. ‘Believe me when I say that he lives. He did not want you to see him slaughter those men.’

  She knew she ought to feel pity for the soldiers. They had died obeying orders, attempting to bring her back. But it had always been against her will. They had been part of the chains binding her to a marriage she had never wanted. A numbness settled over her, the regrets so hard to bear.

  ‘I need to know what happened to him,’ she murmured. Had Raine escaped, as Trahern had predicted? Or had he died, his body bleeding out in the snow? She pushed away the thoughts, afraid of the answer.

  God help her, she could not forget the memory of his kiss. He hadn’t wanted to be with her at first, but the moment his lips had captured hers, she was unable to breathe or think clearly.

  ‘I will find out, if you wish,’ Trahern said. He guided her inside, his palm against her back. ‘But for now, you are safe.’

  The lighted torches were bright within the room, and heads turned at the sight of them. She took a deep breath, and relief flooded through her at the sight of her brother, Killian. The worry on his face dissipated the moment he saw her, and from his roughened looks, it appeared that he’d been fighting. There were signs of swelling upon his face, and a hint of blood on his lip.

  ‘Both of us are in need of food,’ Trahern called out as he escorted her inside.

  Carice pasted a smile upon her face, but she wasn’t feeling at all overjoyed. The worry over Raine distracted her from all else. She knew not if she would ever see him again. It felt as if they’d abandoned him, and she couldn’t bear to think of it.

  Killian rushed to her side, and she gripped her brother hard as he embraced her. ‘Thank God.’ Despite all her worries, being in his arms made her feel safe once more. Of all the men here, Killian understood the Ard-Righ’s cruelty and he would ensure that she had an escort to continue her journey west.

  ‘Were you pursued by your father’s men?’ he asked.

  She nodded. ‘And the High King’s men. I had to take shelter at the abbey.’ For a moment, she considered telling him about Raine, but then thought the better of it. Killian had the protective instincts of an older brother, and he would only be more worried about her if she spoke of being alone with a Norman soldier.

  Trahern might tell him, but when she glanced back at the Irish giant, he held her gaze. It seemed he would not intervene, allowing her to say what she would. She suspected the bard was quite good at keeping secrets. Trahern approached his older brother, King Patrick, who sat upon a dais at the far end of the Great Chamber. While the king appeared amiable, there was also a veiled strength within him. Carice suspected that few men dared to cross him.

  Her brother was staring at her with a sense of uneasiness, as if he expected her to fall over at any moment. To break the tension, she ruffled Killian’s hair and smiled. Then she leaned against him, and they walked together towards the dais to pay their respects. She wasn’t certain if she was expected to dine with the King of Laochre, but she would follow the necessary courtesies. As they drew closer, she saw Lady Taryn. The woman met her gaze with a warm welcome in her eyes, but there was a sudden tension in Killian.

  Interesting. Because if she was not mistaken, he had fought on behalf of Lady Taryn. When Carice studied his bruises and swollen knuckles closer, she became more certain of it.

  She leaned upon her brother and beckoned for the young woman to join them. Taryn wore an overdress of cream, trimmed in silver threads. Golden balls hung within her hair, against her cheeks, but Carice knew the real reason for the elaborate styling. It was to hide the scars on Taryn’s cheeks. Though she didn’t know how the young woman had become disfigured, she understood how it felt to have everyone staring.

  Though some would think it an unlikely match, Carice believed that Killian deserved a woman who recognised the good man he was. And Killian didn’t seem to mind Taryn’s scars at all.

  She leaned in to her brother and murmured, ‘You like her, don’t you?’

  ‘Stay out of this, Carice.’ Her brother gave her a very clear Stop meddling look.

  ‘But you do. You fought for her, didn’t you? That’s why you’re bruised and have swollen knuckles.’

  He squeezed her palm in a silent threat: Leave it alone.

  She sent him an answering smile. Make me.
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  Their silent argument was interrupted when Killian led her to the table directly below the dais where they were invited to dine. He helped her to sit down, and Lady Taryn joined Carice on the opposite side. The woman smiled at her and said, ‘I am glad you arrived safely.’

  ‘So am I. It was not easy to escape my father.’ Carice turned back to Killian, and the expression on his face had darkened. He knew, as she did, that Brian would never give up. He wanted his only daughter to be queen of all Éireann—no matter what the cost might be.

  Never, she swore to herself. She would rather be dead than allow the High King to claim her. Not only because Rory Ó Connor was a brutal man, but because she did not want to spend her last months wedded to a monster.

  Although she ought to feel safer at Laochre, she could not relinquish the fear that her freedom would soon be at an end. Even surrounded by so many MacEgans, her father and the king’s men might find her and force her to return with them. She needed to leave quickly—and she desperately wished that Raine were here to escort her.

  It was a foolish thought. He had no interest in protecting her—only in serving his king. Even if he did come to Laochre, she doubted if he could travel west with her.

  Taryn passed over a trencher of roasted meats and cheeses, and Carice chose some food for herself. She was exhausted from the journey, hardly able to eat at all, but she needed to keep up what little strength she had left.

  Her mind blurred as she conversed with her brother and Lady Taryn about the High King. Though Killian had promised not to do anything dangerous, she had her doubts. He was watching over Taryn as if he intended to fight for her—and the young woman seemed uneasy about it.

  Seeing them together reminded her of Raine. He had looked at her that way on the night he had slept beside her. Although they were hardly more than strangers, she had felt the tangible attraction to him. She was warm and safe in his bed, and despite all the reasons it was wrong, she had enjoyed sleeping with his hard body against hers.

  The wistful thought caught at her heart. I want to see him again.