A Warrior's Heart

by Laurel O'Donnell

  “As it should be,” answered Zara.

  “Coira!” Lance flagged her down from across the courtyard, dodging several servants and knights as he hurried over to her. Sweetcakes barked and jumped up to greet him. He quickly touched the dog on the head and then put his arm around Coira. “I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to take a walk with you and show you around the castle.”

  Suddenly, Coira’s mood changed. She couldn’t help remembering the time she had spent here six years ago as a prisoner. She no longer wanted to go anywhere and found herself with the urge to flee the courtyard.

  “I dinna care to see the castle,” Coira announced.

  “Why not?” asked Lance.

  Coira’s eyes interlocked with Zara’s. Zara nodded, coaxing her to tell Lance her past experiences at Liddel Castle, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Not here. She had been so happy this morning and refused to go back to that dark place in her mind where she felt she could never escape. “I suppose a short walk would be all right. Where did ye have in mind to go?”

  Zara threw her a scolding look and excused herself, leaving Coira and Lance alone.

  “I have another present for you, Coira.” He took her hands in his, smiling at her and making her forget her surroundings. All that mattered when she was with Lance was that they were together. He was her husband, and she decided she liked the idea.

  “Another present?” she asked. “But ye already gave me the dog.”

  Sweetcakes barked and led the way as Lance guided her toward the side of the castle.

  “I was going to end here, but I am too excited to show you. So, I will start here instead.” He opened a small, wooden gate and led her into a garden just off the kitchen. It was overgrown and had lots of weeds but, to her surprise, there were also beautiful flowers blooming.

  “It’s a garden,” she said, reaching out to touch the soft petals of one red rose.

  “It’s not just a garden, but it is your garden, Coira. From now on, you can do whatever you want with it. If you want the servants to plant herbs or, mayhap, more flowers, it is your decision.”

  “Oh, I love it,” she said, feeling very special. “But I dinna want servants to work in the garden. I want to do it myself.”

  “Coira, you are a lady now, and should be spending your time sewing in the ladies solar, or perhaps learning about the ledgers.”

  “I will do all that in time,” she said, going from one flower to the next, sniffing them all. “But for now, I want to work in my garden.”

  “It’s very overgrown and will require a lot of work,” he told her. “You will need help. You can’t do it by yourself.”

  “Then I’ll have Zara help me,” she said, the smile returning to her face. This was one place she’d never seen in the time she’d spent at Liddel Castle. Then again, the only part she knew well was the courtyard where she spent most of her time locked in a hanging cage. This place was different. Instead of being surrounded by dark memories and death, there was new life here. Yes, this is where she wanted to spend most of her time.

  The dog sniffed around the garden, then saw a squirrel and took off chasing it.

  “Sweetcakes,” she called out, running after the hound. “Come here, ye curious, little hound.” She exited the garden and ran to the back of the castle, chasing the dog. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she turned a corner and bumped into something she didn’t expect to see. She screamed, looking at the cage on the ground that had once been her prison. Next to it was a second cage – the one that had been occupied by her sister, Effie.

  “Coira, what’s the matter?”

  She turned around and barreled into Lance, hiding her head against his chest. Perhaps by blocking the cage from her sight, she could forget the awful memories as well.

  “You are trembling,” he said, running a soothing hand down her back. “Did something scare you?”

  Lance didn’t understand how Coira could go from being happy to being frightened out of her mind so quickly. He heard someone approach and looked over his shoulder and moaned when Philip joined them.

  “So, is this your bride, Nephew?” asked Philip. “She’s a skittish little thing, isn’t she?”

  Coira looked up, and when she saw Philip, she gasped. She gripped Lance’s arm, squeezing so tightly he swore her knuckles turned white.

  “Coira, I’d like you to meet my uncle, Sir Philip de Selby of Sussex.”

  “What’s the matter?” asked Philip. “You seem startled.”

  “Ye remind me of someone,” she said, her body still shaking.

  Philip chuckled. “Oh, perhaps it’s because I once had a twin brother. His name was –”

  “Lord Ralston the Bold,” Coira recited through gritted teeth. Her eyes narrowed as she perused Philip.

  “Coira, did you know my late uncle?” asked Lance. “I had no idea.”

  “Well, Lady Coira, perhaps we can get better acquainted over a goblet of wine,” suggested Philip.

  “Nay. I’m sorry, but I’m feelin’ ill. Please excuse me.” Coira broke away from Lance and ran toward the keep with the hound following her.

  “I wonder what’s the matter with her?” asked Lance. “She acted like she’d seen a ghost.”

  Philip chuckled deeply. “Perhaps, in a way, she has.”

  * * *

  The door banged open and hit the wall as Coira bolted into Zara’s chamber.

  “What is it, Child?” Zara stared at her as if she thought Coira had gone crazy. “You look like a scared rabbit being chased by a hound.” The dog ran in after her, almost as if to prove Zara’s words right.

  “It was awful,” she cried. Tears formed in her eyes. “I saw the cages, Zara. They are still here.”

  Zara headed across the room, putting her arm around Coira. “Sit down,” she said, leading her to the bed. Once Coira sat, Zara continued. “Now take a deep breath and release it.”

  “Zara, I canna do that. My body is still shakin’. And to make matters worse, I saw the twin brathair of Lord Ralston.”

  “Lord Ralston? Who is he?” Zara sat next to her and rubbed Coira’s back to calm her.

  “He’s the man who – who – kept Effie and me as prisoners in the cages because he wanted the Stone of Scone.” She buried her face in her hands and cried.

  “Shhhh,” said Zara. “You need to calm down.”

  “Aye. I agree.” Lance stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips. In a few long strides, he was across the room. “Wife, I think you have some explaining to do.”

  “Lord Lance, she is very upset. Please be gentle with her,” scolded Zara.

  “Coira.” Lance reached out and lifted her chin. “Look at me,” he commanded. She looked up, biting her lip and trying not to cry. “Zara, will you leave us, please?” he asked.

  Zara left the room grumbling and closed the door.

  Lance sat down next to Coira and lifted her chin again. “Shhh,” he said, using his thumb to wipe away a tear. “I don’t like to see you so upset. Why don’t you tell me what’s troubling you?”

  “It’s the cages. And Sir Philip.”

  “What? My uncle? What has he done to make you cry?”

  “Nothin’. No’ him. It was his twin brathair, Lord Ralston the Bold.”

  “You knew him?” Lance put his arm around her and pulled her to his chest.

  “H-he kept me prisoner, hangin’ in the cage along with my sister.”

  “What did you say?” Lance held Coira at arm’s length and studied her face. Had she just said what he thought she said? “Coira, tell me this isn’t true.”

  “It is,” she said, wiping away a tear. “It was horrible.”

  “Why would my uncle have done such an awful thing?”

  “He wanted to find the Stone of Scone, or Stone of Destiny as it’s called. Effie stole it from the Scots to give to the English for my release.”

  Lance’s ears perked up at this. The last thing he wanted to do was to use Coira’s hardships to his advantag
e. But his uncle told him if he wanted to keep the castle, he had to find out where they hid the stone. It was only a stone, so why should the Scots care about it so much?

  “Coira, you’re shaking. You need to calm down. I am sorry that happened. I didn’t know about it. I suppose that is why you seemed apprehensive to come to Liddel Castle.”

  “It holds a lot of bad memories for me, Lance.”

  “Shhh,” he said, brushing back her hair and kissing the top of her head. “Those memories are in the past. It’s all over now. I am going to make sure those thoughts never bother you again. I will get rid of the cages anon.”

  “And what about Sir Philip?” asked Coira. “Can ye please have him leave as well? I canna live here if I am goin’ to be seein’ him. His presence reminds me too much of what happened in the past.”

  Lance realized it wasn’t going to be easy to get rid of Philip. The only way to make him go was to find out where the Scots hid the stone. He didn’t like this at all but had to do it. “Coira, where did the Scots hide the stone?”

  Coira wiped her tears. “Well, Aidan had it back at the MacKeefe camp and used it as his pillow.”

  That was easier than he thought. Lance would have his information and be able to send Philip on his way after all. “So that’s where it is, then?”

  “Nay, no’ anymore.”

  “What do you mean? Did they move it?”

  “After it was stolen, Aidan stole it back and buried it where the River Annan and the Evan Waters meet. But I’m no’ supposed to tell anyone because it is a secret.”

  “In the river,” he repeated, knowing that he had his answer. Now, he just had to tell Philip, and then Liddel Castle would be his to keep.

  Chapter 8

  Coira stood with Zara the next morning looking out the window, watching as Sir Philip loaded the cages onto a cart.

  “Why would he be takin’ the cages?” asked Coira. “Lance told me he was goin’ to get rid of them. I thought he would break them up and throw them away.”

  “What does it matter?” asked Zara, running a brush through Coira’s hair. “Your husband is taking care of the problem. Besides, it looks like Sir Philip is preparing to leave. See? You have nothing to worry about anymore. Now you can leave the past alone.”

  “Perhaps,” said Coira, watching as Lance conversed with Philip. “But I dinna think Sir Philip is leavin’.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that my husband was askin’ about the Stone of Destiny and where the Scots hid it.”

  “What did you tell him?” Zara pulled the brush away.

  “I told him it was buried where the River Annan and the Evan Waters meet.”

  “Coira, you told the English where to find the stone? How could you? I may be English, but I know that is the coronation stone of the Scots and dates back to Biblical times.”

  “Dinna worry, Zara. I told him where it was hidden at one time, but no one but the MadMen MacKeefe ken where it is now.”

  “Then you knew he was searching for information?”

  “I did,” admitted Coira. “Zara, we spent a wonderful night together. I started thinkin’ Lance was different than the Englishmen I’ve encountered, but now I am no’ so sure.”

  “He’s your husband, Coira. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the alliance.”

  Coira thought about it for a moment. Zara made sense. Mayhap, Lance was only asking the questions out of curiosity, and she was being too suspicious. “I’m sure ye’re right. He is my husband, and I should trust him.”

  “Do you?” Zara looked up in question.

  “I’m no’ sure,” said Coira, finding it hard to trust any Englishman after what she’d been through in the past.

  * * *

  “Are you sure that’s where I’ll find the Stone of Destiny?” asked Philip, preparing his men to leave.

  “That’s what she said.” Lance felt a heaviness in his heart. Why did he feel like he was betraying not only his wife but also the Scots? Perhaps, he shouldn’t have told Philip anything. Then again, if he hadn’t, he would be giving up the castle and he couldn’t do that. His head swarmed with confusion. He wanted the castle because what man wouldn’t? And he wanted to impress his new wife, giving her everything she deserved. He’d had no idea what his Uncle Ralston had done to Coira and her sister. If the man wasn’t already dead, he would have hunted him down and killed him for his actions.

  “The stone better be there! If not, I am returning to claim what is mine.”

  “Go already,” said Lance, looking over his shoulder. He eyed up the cages loaded onto the back of the wagon, his jaw clenching in the process. Just thinking of Coira locked inside and hanging on display in the courtyard made him angry – and sick. He would do anything to protect her and make sure nothing like that ever happened again. She was his wife, and he would protect her with his life.

  “My, you seem in such a hurry to see me leave,” stated Philip. “Is that any way to treat a guest?”

  “Guests are invited, and I don’t remember inviting you here. Besides, you scare Coira, looking just like Ralston. Why didn’t you tell me what he did to Coira? I’m sure you knew.”

  “I did know,” said Philip with a chuckle. “I thought it would be more exciting to let you find out on your own.”

  “You bastard! I don’t think any of this is funny. I gave you the information you wanted, now get out! And never return.”

  Philip leaned toward him, speaking close to Lance’s face. “If I find out this is a lie, you can bet I’ll be back. And if I return, you will be the one leaving instead of me.”

  Lance turned on his heel and headed back to the keep, wanting to walk away before he ended up punching his uncle in the face. He hoped to hell the information Coira had told him was right. If not, there was going to be trouble. Lance had no intention of handing over Liddel Castle to his uncle and would do whatever he had to in order to keep it. He was not giving up the castle and would not go down without a fight.

  Chapter 9

  “Bring that wheelbarrow over here, Zara.” Coira stood up and removed her gloves, looking at the huge pile of weeds she’d pulled from her new garden. Sweetcakes lay in the shade chewing on a stick, content just to be near her.

  “I still don’t understand why you didn’t take Lord Lance’s suggestion and have the servants do this backbreaking work in the scorching hot sun,” complained Zara, wheeling the cart over to her.

  “I dinna want servants doin’ the work, because I enjoy doin’ it myself.” Coira brushed her hands together, smiling at the progress she’d made in her new garden. It gave her a sense of accomplishment.

  “Well, I don’t enjoy it,” grumbled Zara. “You might be young and full of energy, but don’t forget I am an old woman, used to sitting on my arse and reading cards and tea leaves all day. I don’t do physical work. I’m dog tired.” Zara collapsed atop a stone bench. The dog came running over, wagging its tail, full of life and energy.

  Coira laughed. “Zara, I wanted to show ye the beautiful rose bush I found under the weeds.” She pointed it out. It trailed up a freestanding trellis in the center of the garden. “The plant has a lot of buds. I canna wait until it blooms.”

  “You sure do look happy,” Zara pointed out. “That wasn’t the case yesterday. What happened?”

  “Ever since I saw Sir Philip leavin’ and the cages bein’ hauled away, it was a relief. Just like ye said, I need to let go of what happened in the past.”

  “But can you do that? After all, this castle has held some horrible memories for you.”

  “I didna think I could let it go at first. But since Lance has been so understandin’ about all this, I now feel confident that I can move on.”

  “Really.” Zara raised one brow. “What about the fact he was trying to get information from you about the Stone of Destiny?”

  “Ye were the one who said it was probably nothin’,” she replied, pruning the rose bush. “My, there are so man
y rosebuds, but even more thorns.” She continued to work, only being interrupted when someone’s hands slipped around her waist from behind. She gasped, but instantly relaxed when she heard her husband’s voice and felt him kissing her cheek.

  “You are a breath of fresh air, Coira.”

  “Do ye mean that?” She smiled, still fussing with the roses.

  “I do.”

  She moved her hand too quickly, and one of the thorns pricked her. She cried out and brought her hand to her mouth.

  “Let me,” said Lance, turning her and bringing her finger to his mouth in a kiss. “You are but a beautiful flower among the thorns, my Scottish Rose,” he told her. “Coira, I am happy that we married. You are such a kind soul. I don’t know how anyone could have ever thought to hurt you.”

  “Shhh,” she said, putting her finger to his mouth to silence him. “I dinna ever want to talk about my past again.” Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up and pressed her lips against his.

  “Mmmmm. I like that.” He pulled her closer, letting his hands wander to her rump. He squeezed her and she jumped.

  “Lance,” she said, feeling embarrassed. “Dinna forget we are in the middle of the garden.”

  “And with me sitting right here, watching,” added Zara, getting to her feet. “Come on, Sweetcakes, let’s go for a stroll and leave these lovers alone.” The dog followed Zara out of the garden, yipping and jumping, trying to get the basket she carried.

  “Coira, I know now that you’ve been through a lot of hard times in the past. I thought we could spend some time away from the castle and, mayhap, that would help.”

  “Aye. I would like that. Where will we go?”

  “I thought we could go for a ride and, mayhap, bring some food along. I have a special place I’d like to show you.”

  “All right,” she said, putting down her work gloves. “Oh, Lance. Did ye see the rose bush? It has a lot of buds that will bloom soon.”

  “That’s nice,” he said, not seeming to care about flowers.

  They made their way to the stables where Lance had his stable boy saddle two horses.