by Sasha Lord
“The king sent for you,” Curtis reminded Cadedryn. “You should be joyous, but instead you appear solemn.”
Cadedryn smiled grimly. He was tired. For years, he had battled in the front lines, always seeking the most dangerous and daring missions in an effort to make his name known to the king. Curtis had followed him faithfully even though he had nothing to prove. Unlike Cadedryn, Curtis had a well-respected father. He had a home and a title. He needed nothing from the king.
But Cadedryn did. And now, after years of living with a bloodied sword in his hand, his name had been noticed. The king had sent a letter commending him for his bravery and service to the crown, then bidding him to come to the royal court.
“The letter may mean nothing,” Cadedryn said. “He may not even listen to my petition.”
“It is a beginning,” Curtis encouraged. “You know that my fondest desire is to see the Aberdour and Fergus lands united, for then you will be the largest property owner in Scotland. As your best friend, I will share your success. Since my lands abut yours and Fergus’s, it will assure me of two safe borders. It is the culmination of all our dreams.”
“Have you written to Lord Fergus? Will he and his daughter, Corine, be at court?”
Curtis nodded. “Lord Fergus has agreed to hear your marriage proposal to Corine, but the lady herself has cautioned that she will not agree to wed you until after your meeting with the king. She hopes to learn that you have been successful in your desire to have your title reinstated.”
“As do I,” Cadedryn answered wryly.
“I will speak to her personally,” Curtis offered. “I knew her as a child. Perhaps she will be more receptive to your proposal if I explain the importance of joining your lands with hers.”
A flicker of unease raced down Cadedryn’s spine. He glanced left and right, his sense of danger well honed from years of war, but he saw nothing to cause his trepidation. “Come,” he said abruptly. “Let’s race to the castle!”
Curtis whooped aloud, then kicked his stallion, sending him careening down the slope.
Cadedryn grinned and allowed his foster brother a several-length lead. Then he leaned forward and clucked to his own stud, which exploded in a burst of tautly controlled speed. Cadedryn bent low as the thundering hooves shook the ground and the wind stung his face. Soon both horses became lathered with sweat and Cadedryn’s stallion swept past Curtis’s with unflagging power while Curtis’s horse struggled to keep from falling farther behind.
“Cadedryn!” Curtis shouted as he kicked and pushed his stallion for more speed. “You lily-livered son of a whore!”
Cadedryn ducked his head under his arm to assess Curtis’s position and laughed. “I thought you had more stamina!” he shouted. “Wait until I tell the housemaids how soon you lose your strength!”
Curtis bent low and whipped his steed as he flung a string of curses at his friend.
Again Cadedryn twisted in the saddle, and this time he saw the flash of a caravan plodding through the trees below. “Slow down,” he called out, but Curtis ignored him as he swept past, intent on winning.
“Curtis!” Cadedryn shouted.
Curtis raced his stallion down the slope, his speed unchecked as he burst through the thin row of trees at full speed and crashed into the caravan. Instant chaos erupted as the horses whinnied in fear, a woman screamed and the guards shouted in anger, trying to control their panicked mounts. The horses pulling a wagon reared and bucked and the wagon listed to the side as a strut snapped. The driver and a maid were flung to the ground and rolled for several feet before coming to an ungainly stop.
Cadedryn sent his own horse racing forward to assist the hapless travelers, even as Curtis managed to extricate his horse from the melee.
A finely bred chestnut mare carrying a young woman squealed and reared, her ears laced back in fury. Spying Cadedryn’s stallion, she lunged and bit his neck. The stallion skidded to a stop, nearly falling to his knees, and the mare spun and landed a punishing kick on his haunch. As both horses flailed to keep their balance, their riders frantically struggled to maintain theirs.
“You idiot!” the woman screamed as she gripped the mare’s mane and desperately pitched her weight forward to stay in the awkward sidesaddle.
Cadedryn yanked his stallion back and managed to break free of the churning hooves when one of the panicked wagon horses crashed into his backside, pushing him directly into the mare once again. This time the woman’s dress caught on the rivet of his saddle and she was dragged partially off her steed. She tottered precariously for a moment before Cadedryn hauled her up onto his own horse for safety.
“Bloody bastard!” she shouted as she was crushed against his chest.
“Stop wiggling,” he yelled back as he struggled to control his plunging steed and keep her from tumbling to the ground. “Stay still!”
“You blasted idiot!”
“You already cursed at me,” he grumbled as he finally managed to extricate them from the disaster. “My apologies, ma’am.”
“Your recklessness has put many in danger! Have you no care for living creatures? Look at the horses. . . . My mare is injured. And the servants riding the wagon are—”
He narrowed his eyes in anger and deliberately loosened his grip.
Starting to fall, she gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I recommend ceasing this tirade at once,” he commanded. “I did not cause this accident.”
She craned her neck and glared back at him. “Did not cause it?” she cried incredulously. “Your horse crashed into mine!”
His breath caught. The incident momentarily forgotten, he stared into her blazing eyes. They were bluer than anything he had ever seen, bluer than the most beautiful Highland loch or the most brilliant royal sapphire.
“Did you hear me?” she insisted as she managed to pull one leg free and swing it over his horse’s withers. Unfortunately, it resulted in her facing him squarely. She flushed and tried to lean back, but the motion sent the unfamiliar mantle fluttering, thereby upsetting the stallion. He trotted forward and tossed his head.
“Augh!” she grunted as she fell against the man.
He pulled her close in an effort to stabilize her, but the press of her breasts made him flinch.
The horse whinnied in reaction and half reared, forcing her body to lie flush against his.
A strange sensation trickled through her belly and she shoved backward, trying to see the man’s face as the stallion’s front hooves struck the ground and the man managed to rein him in.
Kassandra’s head spun and her senses came alive. She smelled the lathered horseflesh intermixed with the man’s intense, masculine scent. She felt his strong muscles bunching under her hands and beneath her thighs. “Let go of me,” she whispered, fear of her own reaction making her suddenly nervous.
He pulled back, as if surprised by his own response to her. The action toppled both of them sideways and sent him teetering while Kassandra had to grip the saddle cantle to keep from falling. Then the horse scuttled sideways, making things worse.
Kassandra struggled to turn around, trying to right herself. She unwound her legs and accidentally struck him in the jaw with a closed fist. “Oh!” She reached for him, attempting to help him but managed to unseat him instead.
He fell heavily to the ground with a grunt of anger.
The horse’s head swung around and he pranced nervously in place.
She clung to the saddle, facing the horse’s tail. “Easy boy,” she whispered, abruptly realizing her predicament. “No need to run again. Easy now.”
Cadedryn rose to unsteady feet. “No woman unseats me,” he growled.
She glanced down at him in surprise. “It appears you are incorrect. You are on the ground whereas I am on your horse.” Her mantle blew across her face and she tried to shove it aside.
He lifted a brow in amusement. “Perhaps you should remove the mantle. You seem to be having difficulty with it.”
Her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. “And you should attend your plow horse with more care!”
“My plow horse?” he thundered. “You little brat! I’ll have you know he is a master stallion!”
The horse leapt forward, startled by the man’s anger, then spun in a circle and swished his tail, making Kassandra shriek. “Stop frightening the horse,” she cried as she squeezed her legs to keep atop the nervous creature. “Shush,” she murmured. Her brow knit and she looked at the broken wagon and a weeping servant with consternation. Why hadn’t she dreamed this? Why hadn’t she been forewarned?
He stepped back and placed his hands on his hips. “It seems that you are the one frightening my horse. Why don’t you just slip off and be done with these ridiculous antics?” When she tossed him an angry glare, he picked up a stick and waved it in the air.
“Would you like some assistance? I could slap his flanks. Isn’t that what plow horses respond to?”
“That kind of assistance would be no favor!” she snapped as she struggled to swing her leg around. Her skirts tangled around her waist, exposing her boots and calves, and he smiled.
“ ’Tis a shame such a lovely miss has such an acid tongue,” he called out, but his grin turned to a frown when she managed to swing completely around and face the proper direction on his stallion. Her look turned triumphant as she gathered the reins and calmed the great beast.
“And ’tis a poor day that one meets a horse ridden by an unskilled flunkey.” She walked the horse over to the crying maid and swung down next to her, completely ignoring the man’s furious glare.
“Miss?” Kassandra said softly. “Where does it hurt?”
The servant burst into fresh tears and pointed to her skinned knee and bleeding leg just as Kalial and the stranger’s companion reached them.
“There now,” Kassandra soothed. “It is only a scratch. All will be well once we wash the dirt from the wound. I will even give you a poultice that will ensure you receive no scars.”
“I’m cold.” The maid shivered, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
Kassandra glanced up and scowled at the man who had assaulted her. “I am sure one of these arrogant, reckless men will offer their jackets for your use.”
“Ma’am,” the companion gasped. “She is but a servant!”
Kassandra rose and put her hands on her hips, swinging her gaze to encompass them both. “She is a creature that feels pain and knows discomfort, no matter what her standing in your society.”
Kalial stepped in and handed the servant her shawl, then gripped Kassandra’s arm and yanked her away. “This is not acceptable,” she hissed. “No lady would talk to a man the way you have, nor demand that he relinquish his clothes for a servant’s chill.”
Kassandra lifted her chin toward the man who had run into her. Their gazes collided, blue into green, like two ocean waves crashing against each other. She sucked in her breath, unable to read the impenetrable expression on his face.
Cadedryn saw her eyes widen and heard her breath catch. For one moment, he saw nothing else—the broken wagon, the heaving horses, even his grumbling companion faded away. He had never seen a lady tend a serf, yet she had done so as if it were natural and right. She had spoken to the woman kindly and had touched her without shuddering in disgust.
Kassandra dragged her gaze away and pressed a hand over her mouth. This was not an auspicious beginning. She had promised to follow society’s dictates and customs, but her blasted temper was already causing problems. She swallowed and forced a tremulous smile.
She clasped her sister’s hand. “I apologize for my temper,” she murmured. “Are you hurt anywhere? Are all the animals safe? Where is Triu-cair?”
Kalial shook her head and touched Kassandra’s face, tucking away a tiny red curl that had escaped her pins. “Yes, we are fine. I worried that you would be trampled. Thank the gods that gentleman was here to help you.”
Kassandra frowned. “He did nothing of the sort. I offer him no thanks, and place the blame for the mishap squarely on his shoulders, but”—she held up her hand to stop Kalial’s caution—“I will be polite and not berate him any more for it.”
Casting one last glance over her shoulder at the two men, she stalked away, her mantle fluttering as she began gathering the scattered items.
Kalial frowned after her, then turned to the man. “My apologies. She is a distant relative who has never traveled far from home and the last few days have placed a strain upon her. She is acting as my companion. Please forgive her harsh words and unusual actions.”
The larger man raised an eyebrow. “Mayhap she should return home,” he replied caustically.
Kalial shook her head but did not explain. “Are you unhurt?”
“Aye,” he grumbled. “Please accept our apologies,” he said with a short bow. “We did not expect to encounter anyone traveling upon this road so late in the day. We have recently returned from abroad and are on our way to the king’s court.”
“Our start was delayed,” Kalial informed him. “I am Kalial McTaver and that is Lady Kassandra.”
He bowed briefly once again. “McTaver. I am familiar with your husband, the laird, and I know your son by marriage, the Earl of Kirkcaldy. May I present Curtis McCafferty, son of the McCafferty laird, and I am Cadedryn Caenmore.”
“Caenmore? Are you the son of the late Earl of Aberdour?”
Cadedryn flushed. “My family has not had the privilege of reclaiming that title,” he said through clenched teeth. “It is my fondest desire that soon it will be mine again.”
Kalial smiled and placed her hand in his to curtsy. “Yes, I remember the tale of your father and his bride. I spoke unthinkingly. Please accept my apologies.”
“Of course,” he answered smoothly. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” He swept his hand in a courtly flourish even though his gaze strayed to Kassandra as she strode through the area, checking on the horses and gathering far-flung items. “My pleasure knows no bounds.”
After Cadedryn and Curtis left, the men-at-arms repaired the wagon and the women’s entourage entered the streets of the village surrounding the king’s summer castle. Of the many royal castles, this one was less a fortress and more a place for gentle relaxation and summertime enjoyment. A large tourney field was lined with colorful tents, and an enormous, well-tended garden was filled with flowers and blossoming trees. A bustling stable was clustered among several other outbuildings, but even as Kassandra craned her neck, she was unable to see them all.
As they rode their horses at a sedate pace through the narrow streets, a shiver of unease tickled the back of her neck at all the activity around her. She looked at Kalial with trepidation. “I don’t feel comfortable among all these people,” she murmured. “It is not like your home.”
Kalial reached over and patted her hand. “You are a fine young lady with a caring heart, but after the way you acted on the road, I am not sure you should attend formal court functions. You can’t defy convention so completely. You should remain discreet and keep to the sidelines. Don’t do anything that will bring undue attention to you.”
Kassandra grimaced. “You should be scolding Cadedryn Caenmore, not me,” she answered. “He is the one who crashed into our caravan, destroyed the wagon and hurt your servant.” She stroked her weasel’s head and clucked to him. “And he looked at me so strangely. It made me feel uneasy.”
“ ’Tis just what Ronin was concerned about. You do not understand the ways of outsider men. Caenmore was actually behaving quite politely. ’Twas not his actions that caused the accident.”
Kassandra glanced up. “He was in a horse race that plowed into our entourage; thus he is as much to blame as anyone. I don’t like him. He acts like he is an important personage and I dislike such arrogance.”
“He is someone important,” Kalial said wryly. “He is the son of an earl and closely related to King Malcolm.”
Kassandra shrugged and turned away. “If he is
not my dream mate, then he is not important to me.” She shivered once again, this time in memory of his intent gaze. She did not like talking about him, for he was already distracting her. She needed to stay focused on locating her dream man. As her gaze swept the busy streets, she was beset by doubt. How was she ever to find him?
They rode up to the castle in silence, each mulling over her own thoughts. Kassandra stayed close beside Kalial as the groomsmen took their horses and led them away, then followed quietly as they were escorted through the halls until they reached their rooms.
Kalial smiled pleasantly. “We are honored to be given such spacious quarters. My husband must have sent a messenger ahead.”
Kassandra scratched her head underneath the itchy wig and rubbed her cheeks. “I am thankful to have my own room,” she agreed. “Otherwise I would have had to maintain my disguise day and night.” She turned toward her half sister. “Are we ready to venture out? I want to start my search right away.”
“Do you know what he looks like?” Kalial asked.
Kassandra adjusted her mantle and shook her head. “No. I have never seen his visage, but I am certain I will feel him when I meet him. He is the man I am destined to find, the man who will touch my deepest soul and make me complete. I am certain I will know him immediately.”
Kalial sighed and gave her sister a half smile. “Very well.”
“Besides, I know he has a scar on his left hand and I have the dirk that links us.” She checked her hairline. “Is my hair fully concealed?”
Kalial picked up a brush and fixed a few stray curls. “Such lovely hair,” she murmured. “I wish you could display it proudly.”
“I am pleased to keep it covered,” Kassandra replied. “If I had soft blond hair like yours, I would be much happier, but instead I have this bright, unsightly color. It pleases me to hide it underneath the wig and mantle. I do not want to frighten away my dream man before I even meet him.”