Chapter 5
Logan was brooding in the feasting hall.
Guards and warriors mingled after a long day, soothing their aching feet with copious amounts of ale and thick slices of roasted meat.
Brody raised his glass to a number of people who passed, while Logan barely met anyone’s gaze. He could not be friendly with them even if it would have benefited him, for they were all his enemy and if they knew his true purpose they would have turned on him in an instant.
He kept a hand clasped around the handle of his mug, although he did not drink as much as others. He wished to keep a clear head. It would be an advantage in case violence erupted.
“Ye should cheer up. People are gaeing tae think ye dinnae like them,” Brody teased.
“I am only living up tae the name ye gave me,” Logan replied.
“Then perhaps next time I shall call ye sunshine or rainbow.”
Logan glared at him and set his jaw. Brody leaned back and raised his palms in surrender.
“I’m nae sure there will be a next time,” Logan said in a bitter tone. “I’m prepared tae burn in the fire of my choices.”
“Dinnae speak like that. I’ll find a way tae get ye out,” Brody said with what Logan thought was misplaced confidence.
“The clan will nae take the death of their leader calmly, and I dinnae intend tae hide my involvement,” Logan spoke quietly.
His words were unheard by the other warriors. They were too busy feasting and laughing, leaving Logan and Brody alone.
“Why nae? It would be sensible, aye? We could steal away, perhaps even find a boat and leave the Highlands behind forever.”
Logan nodded slowly. “That sounds like a good plan for ye. I will nae make this a quiet matter, Brody. People need tae ken why he died. It’s the only way Abigail will hae justice.”
“And would she really want ye tae give up yer life?”
A shadow passed across Logan’s face. A moment of doubt that was quickly quashed by his resolve.
“It dinnae matter what she wants. She is nae here tae tell me. I must avenge her, and after that I hae naething left. I ken this tae be the case when I set out. This is all I am living for. It is my mission.”
A solemn look came over Brody’s face. He reached over and placed his hand on Logan’s arm. Most of what Brody said was a joke, but there was a serious look in his eyes. Logan failed to meet his gaze.
“I hope ye change yer mind. It will be a sad thing tae ride alone, and while I think of ye as a brother, I dinnae want tae meet this fate with ye.”
“Neither dae I. When the time comes, I will see it through myself. Ye should leave. Steal some goods, gae somewhere and settle down with a good woman.”
“Suddenly I think I need more ale,” Brody said, and rose, walking across to the barrels into which warriors plunged their mugs.
Logan had accepted the fact that he was going to die a long time ago, but he rarely dwelled on it. All he thought of was killing Knox to ensure that Abigail could rest in peace.
However, while he was left alone, thoughts of Beitris flashed into his mind.
They intruded upon him, just like her, he supposed.
He thought of the way she argued with her brothers, wanting to fight him despite their interference.
She could be the downfall of her family and she wouldn’t even know it.
Brody returned with a concerned look on his face.
“I was just speaking with some men. There’s been word of yer father. Apparently he is searching for ye.”
Logan’s blood turned to ice.
“Did they say why?”
Brody shook his head. Logan couldn’t imagine it was for anything good. He clenched his jaw.
“Then we hae best get on with the plan before he hae a chance tae find me. The Highlands will soon deal with him.”
Logan felt a flutter of emotion in the pit of his stomach as he thought about his father. Spiteful words, hard strikes, cold stares, footsteps echoing as he stepped away from the freezing pit, leaving Logan alone.
“I must approach Beitris.”
“But ye saw what happened. Her brothers dragged her away.”
Logan smirked. “Something tells me that will nae stop her.”
Indeed, the following day Beitris was present at the training field, sparring with a guard. Logan kept his distance at first, watching the way she moved. Her dark hair flowed with her body. She wore an outfit that was tight and it showed the curves of her bosom and waist.
Logan felt his throat tighten. He watched her not as a warrior, but as a… woman.
He gripped his sword tightly, so tight that the hilt dug into his palm and caused him pain. It helped him concentrate. It helped him push aside these feelings because they would only serve to distract him, and he didn’t truly understand why they were flooding his mind anyway.
It wasn’t as though he desired her. There was no room in his heart for desire, only hatred.
Logan marched up to them.
“Ye can gae now,” he said to the guard sparring with Beitris.
The lad nodded and scurried away, readily obeying the second in command.
Logan’s gaze met Beitris’. She stared at him defiantly, her cloudless eyes hinting at mystery and intrigue, although he could only think of them weeping when she learned of her father’s death.
It might well be that she would be the one to kill him in the end, avenging her father as he avenged Abigail.
“What are ye daeing? If ye are about tae send me away—”
“I hae nae cause tae dae such a thing. I was only gaeing tae offer tae show ye how tae improve yer stance.”
“My stance dinnae need improving.”
“If that were the case I would nae hae knocked ye down,” he replied, the corners of his mouth rising. Beitris narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “That is if ye are allowed tae spend time with me. Yer brothers might come by and pull ye away again.”
Beitris’ cheeks turned a bright crimson and she stepped forward.
Tension thrummed through her body. They weren’t standing especially close, there were a few feet between them, but even so he could feel it radiating off her.
The air crackled and when he was around her there was a sense that anything might happen.
This wasn’t a welcome feeling for Logan. He preferred things he could control and predict, but those two qualities did not apply to Beitris.
“They will never dae that again. Otherwise I will show them up in front of the entire clan.”
“Tae dae that ye are gaeing tae hae tae improve yer stance. Ye cannae get by with the arrow alone.”
Beitris leaned back, the anger fading for a moment. “And why should I come tae ye for help? If I want training, I can learn from a master. Donal would nae refuse me.”
“Perhaps, but I am here, and if ye recall, ye owe me a favor from the duel.”
“I dinnae!” she protested loudly, her features becoming harsh.
Logan found it impossible to look away. There always seemed to be a part of her that was in motion, like a raging, stormy ocean. There were waves and ripples and she was imbued with life throughout every inch of her body.
“Ye left the combat. Ye forfeited.”
“But that duel was for first blood, and nae blood was drawn. Plus I beat ye with the bow. At best it was a draw, and that’s with me being very generous.”
“And I’m sure ye hae never been accused of being that,” he said.
Beitris’ hands formed tight balls, but Logan continued speaking before she could reply. “In that case I shall dae ye the favor and teach ye, or dae ye want me tae put ye on yer back now tae convince ye?”
As he said this he lunged forward, although he stopped short of attacking her. Beitris could not have been sure of his intentions however and hopped back, raising her sword and glaring at him.
“Yer feet are too wide,” he said.
Beitris glanced down quickly. She considered the proposal for a few moments.
“I suppose since ye are here I might as well. Donal seems impressed with ye, and there must be a reason,” she said.
He suspected that thumbing her nose at her brothers played a part in it as well, although if that was true she did not confide in him.
There were no tricks to Logan’s lessons, even though she was wary at first. Lies would not have served him in this instance. He showed her how to stand, how to wield the sword, and how to use her body to generate momentum and strength.
“Think of yerself as the bowstring,” he said, and this helped her understand.
They had a mock duel. This one was less ferocious than the last, and he held back, not that he showed it.
He needed her to think that she was superior, that she had him figured out.
He could not afford for her to suspect his ulterior motive.
He allowed her to land a few blows on his arms and legs.
After each one she cawed and mocked him.
“If ye are succeeding, it’s only because of my training. When ye defeat yer enemies ye will hae me tae thank. I’m sure ye will be thinking of me many times over,” he teased.
Beitris shot him a look. “I’m sure I will nae be thinking of ye at all.”
By the time they were finished, sweat glistened on their foreheads and they were breathless.
Beitris’ clothes were damp at the top of her chest and it made them cling even more closely to her skin.
The more time he spent with her, the harder it was for Logan to tear his gaze away.
She ran her hands through her hair, pushing all the slick locks behind, and for a moment breath caught in his throat.
He looked away, troubled by the effect she had on him, and wondered about the next phase of his plan.
“Since ye hae done me a favor, I shall dae ye one as well, then we shall be even,” Beitris said. “I will teach ye how tae wield a bow properly.”
An indignant look came upon Logan’s face and he was about to say that he had no desire to learn how to wield such a weapon. He bit his tongue at the last moment though, for his goal was to get close to Beitris, not to insult her. He wiped the doubtful look off his face and inclined his head.
“I’m sure I can learn much from ye,” he replied.
Beitris gave him a suspicious look, perhaps wondering if he was being sincere. They made their way to the archery range. Logan was half a step behind her, and his gaze kept darting down to her hips, which swayed in a mesmerizing manner.
She gave him a bow and showed him how to stand properly, mirroring the lesson he had given her. She taught him how to sense the wind and adjust the bow’s angle. He fired the first arrow, although it went wide of the target because he had focused more on his stance than on the aim.
“Where did ye learn tae fight as ye dae?” she asked.
Logan was careful with his answers. He could not have her deducing his true origins.
“Life taught me. It can be a harsh teacher. I could either learn tae fight, or I would die.”
Beitris nodded. “It hae been a hard time. Many warriors hae been forged by Warnock’s desire tae tear the Highlands apart. He is a petty, cruel man. He should hae died a long time ago.”
“Aye,” Logan replied quietly.
He fired another arrow, this one flying through the air with venomous speed, the tension in Logan’s body rising at the mention of Warnock.
“Remember that the bow is nae about strength, but accuracy. Ye dinnae need tae put all ye strength intae it like when ye wield a sword,” she said.
As he placed another arrow against his bowstring she continued speaking. “I suppose yer kin were killed because of him?”
“The war took them,” Logan said.
“I ken it cannae be easy for ye tae talk about, but it will end. My family will nae let him continue this war. Da is determined tae put an end tae it, and I’m sure ye will hae yer revenge too. Ye will look intae his eyes and make him pay for what he did tae yer family.”
“Aye, I will,” Logan said.
Only she meant Warnock, while he meant Ryan.
He fired the arrow and this one hit the gold target, almost exactly in the middle. Beitris smiled and handed him another arrow.
“Now dae it again,” she said.
He noticed how close she was. He took the arrow from her and their fingers brushed together.
Her chest pressed against the bow that was between them.
Just an elegant piece of wood kept their bodies apart.
The scent of her filled the air and made his mind hazy.
Her sharp tongue and celestial eyes threatened to provoke him into rash action.
It was too easy for him to get distracted by her.
“Aye, Grimhand, better watch yerself or her brothers will come by,” a guard cried out as a group of three of them walked past.
“We’re supposed tae be training, nae courting!” another teased.
“Get on with ye or ye’ll hae an arrow through yer shoulder,” Beitris snapped back.
He noticed the way she shifted away from him, as though it was a sin to be close. He didn’t know much about Beitris yet, but one thing he did know was that she hated being told what to do.
The guards passed and she was cursing their impudence. Logan leaned in, whispering into her ear.
“Meet me at midnight, then we dinnae need tae worry about any interruptions. If ye are brave enough, of course,” he said.
Glinting eyes flashed up and for a moment he was wrong-footed.
“I’m nae afraid of anything, certainly nae ye,” she said, and then the two of them moved in opposite directions.
Logan exhaled deeply. Getting closer to her meant that he was closer to Ryan. But it also stirred feelings in him that he could not allow to be unleashed.