Chapter 10
Beitris fell to Logan’s side and clasped his hand.
“Logan… Logan!” she cried.
Everything was put out of her mind as she feared for his life, even what she overheard that giant brute say. Brody was already ripping off his sleeves, covering the wound and then tying it close.
“This is only gaeing tae hold for sae long. We need tae get him back tae the Keep,” he said.
Beitris beckoned to other guards, calling them over to help. She couldn’t help but feel guilty. If she hadn’t charged in like that then Logan would never have needed to come to her aid. She helped the guards and Brody deliver Logan to a wagon where other wounded warriors were being held.
Beitris looked back at the battlefield. The fighting was dying down. She thought it hypocritical of her to leave now after she had been so adamant about joining the fight, but she dared not leave Logan’s side.
The wagon pulled away. Beitris and Brody took horses and kept pace with the wagon until the Keep came into view. As the wounded were carried into the healer’s quarters, Beitris pulled Brody back.
“Brody, wait. That man said he recognized Logan. Something about Warnock looking for his blood. What could he hae meant?”
Brody was stony-faced, and his tone was flat.
“I hae nae idea. Must hae been a mistake, or maybe ye misheard. There was a lot gaeing on in the battle. I would nae trust anything ye heard. Come, we need tae see what’s happening with Logan.”
They found him being tended by a healer.
He had been given medicine and his wound had been cleaned and dressed.
An ointment had been applied to his skin.
The healer told them that the wound was clean and at the moment it didn’t show any sign of infection.
They had done well in getting Logan back to the Keep so quickly, although he would be unconscious for a while and there was a chance that he might develop a fever. He would have to be monitored closely.
Brody and Beitris sat beside Logan in silence.
She might have thought she and Brody would be united in their mutual affection for this man, although perhaps Brody blamed her as she blamed herself.
It became clear to her that Brody’s cheery disposition masked something greater.
Both men had lost a lot, and they only had each other left.
She wished she knew what to say that could make Brody feel better, but nothing came to mind. Anything she thought of seemed empty.
It meant that Beitris was alone with her thoughts, and she kept turning back to what she’d overheard.
I ken ye. Warnock hae been looking for his blood.
How would that man have known Logan? Perhaps he was the one who had killed Logan’s family, but then what did he mean by Warnock’s blood? The only thing that made sense was too horrifying to admit, and she dared not allow the thought to pass into her mind.
She would just have to wait for Logan to regain consciousness and ask him then.
The hour grew late.
Brody had been getting agitated, fidgeting. His foot tapped against the ground. He angled his head from right to left, and he drummed his fingers against whatever surface he could find. Eventually it was more than he could take and he left the healer’s quarters in search of food.
Beitris wasn’t displeased that she was alone with Logan. She reached for his hand, something she dared not do when Brody was present.
“I’m sorry, Logan. It was my fault. Perhaps Da was right… I should hae stayed at the rear.”
Then, his fingers twitched and she heard a sudden intake of breath. His eyelids cracked open and she let go of his hand.
“Logan,” she gasped.
“Aye… it’ll take more than that tae kill me,” he said, trying to sound upbeat, although he was clearly tired and in pain. “Besides, I could nae die after what ye said on the battlefield. I dinnae believe ye could say anything sae sweet.”
A deep blush came upon Beitris’ face. Flustered, she scrambled to cover up her words, for she had not believed that Logan would have been able to hear them.
“Ye misunderstand. I was asking Brody for help, saying I could nae carry ye by myself,” she said.
Logan’s head lolled towards her and he gave her a skeptical look.
“Speaking of that, I need tae ask ye—” she began but was silenced when thunderous footsteps entered the room.
Ryan came striding towards them, a grim look on his face. He stood over Logan and pressed his lips together.
“I am glad tae see ye survived. We lost a lot of good men taeday, but thankfully we fight on,” Ryan said. “Ye did well, Logan, even if ye did slip away from Beitris. I would be dead if nae for ye. I suppose that means I owe ye my life,” he said.
Logan winced and clutched his side. He coughed violently. Beitris poured him some water and held it to his lips. He sipped slowly, but he still seemed troubled.
“What happened with the rest of the battle?”
“Much of the village was destroyed. There are some buildings left intact, but I doubt the villagers are gaeing tae want tae remain there. Warnock strikes again,” he said darkly, then sighed.
“I came here tae check on ye and tae tell ye that from now on ye will be a part of our personal guard. I ken that we are safe with ye around, and I fear that Warnock will thrust his sword intae our heart before too long. Dae ye accept?”
“How could I refuse?” Logan replied, wincing as he dipped his head.
Beitris furrowed her brow a little, because if what she heard was true then… but she dismissed the thought.
There had to be something else to it, and why should she trust the word of the enemy anyway? He was probably just saying something to rile Logan. The battle had been so chaotic that she couldn’t even be certain her memories were true, although she could not allay her suspicions.
Ryan misinterpreted her worry and laughed.
“Dinnae fret, lass, he will nae begin his new duties until he hae healed. After the losses we suffered we will need everyone tae be at their best, and ye fought well, lad. Donal was nae lying when he said ye are the best he hae ever trained,” Ryan said before walking away, moving to speak with other men.
“He only said that because he hae nae trained me,” Beitris said, shooting a look at Logan.
He gave a slanted smile and then coughed violently again.
Beitris stared at him, trying to see if there was a hidden look in his eyes or some sign that he had been lying to her.
The thought of it curdled beneath her skin like a snake that was fighting to find a way out, and she could not delay asking him about it.
“How did ye ken that general?” she asked.
Logan wiped his lips and frowned. “I dinnae.”
“He seemed tae ken ye,” she replied.
“Is that all ye hae tae say after everything that happened? What were ye thinking, running intae battle like that? I thought we agreed that ye would stand back.”
Beitris wore an indignant look. “I saw a path tae him that was swifter than an arrow, and I wanted tae put my new training intae practice.”
“Nae, ye wanted tae make an impression on the other men. Ye did it for glory.”
“I dinnae,” Beitris denied.
“Admit it. Ye should hae remained disciplined. That’s what fighting is about. Ye cannae win battles by allowing emotions tae rule ye. It almost cost ye yer life.”
“And that would nae hae looked good on ye, would it? The man who was ordered tae defend me rushed away tae save his friend.”
“As far as I recall ye told me tae gae.”
“Then ye admit that I am yer superior. I should like ye tae tell Da and Donal, then they can formally make me a captain,” Beitris lifted her head airily, while Logan laughed.
“Ye are impossible. Ye would hae me abandon my friend?”
“I would hae ye recognize that I am a skilled warrior.”
“Skilled, aye, I will concede that, but nae wise. Ye should hae kenned he was too strong for ye.”
“Like ye ken? Ye still hae nae answered how ye ken him.”
Logan curled his lip and averted his gaze. “The enemies all look the same tae me. Dinnae ignore what I’m saying. How are ye supposed tae lead men if ye cannae remain in control of yer emotions? Ye were reckless.”
Beitris snorted with laughter and shook her head. The soft curls bounced against her cheek and her eyes narrowed.
“Ye think I’m reckless? That’s rich coming from ye. Ye are the one who threw yerself in front of me. Were yer emotions ruling ye then?”
She leaned towards him and teased him, just as she used to tease Angus. For a moment Logan paused. A conflicted look came upon his face and he twisted his mouth around. The features of his face were shadowed, and he muttered his reply.
“My orders were tae protect ye. Emotions hae naething tae dae with it,” he said, and this time she thought that she detected a lie. “Yer Da is right. I should rest, especially if I am tae become the personal guard. I ken I am gaeing tae hae a lot of work if I am tae guard ye.”
He turned away from her, closing his eyes and pressing his head into the pillow.
Beitris stared at him. Suspicion lingered in her eyes and she pressed her lips together, still unsatisfied with the way the conversation had played out. She got the sense that he was hiding something from her.
But was it just his feelings, or was there something more threatening, more destructive?
She decided to leave it be for the time being and went to rest herself, for the battle had taken its toll.
Logan’s eyes were closed when Beitris left.
He listened to her footsteps as she departed his bedside. He’d become used to the sound of her steps, having focused on them when they were training together. He pictured her hips swaying from side to side and tried to ignore the twitch of arousal that appeared in the deepest part of him.
He opened his eyes and thought about her question.
Why had he thrown himself in front of her?
He could tell himself it was to make a good impression on Ryan. He could tell himself it was because she reminded him of Abigail. The truth was more troubling than that.
He sighed, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes in the hope that it might eradicate these feelings.
He had been disciplined for so long, avoiding all the coy looks of lusty wenches in taverns, of lonely wives and widows whose husbands had gone to war, of merchants’ daughters who wanted a thrill to pass the night.
Of all the people to garner his attention why did it have to be her?
Beitris Knox, the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Logan curled his hand into a fist, digging his nails deep into his palm.
He could not allow himself to falter now.
There was no room in his life for such feelings, especially not for her.
However, he could not deny the terror and anguish he felt when he thought that Beitris was about to be taken away from him.
He’d thrown everything into defending her, just the way he wished he had been able to do for Abigail.
“Ah, ye are awake at last. Thought ye would never wake up, although I was looking forward tae inheriting yer coin,” Brody said.
“What little of it there is,” Logan said.
“Sae, how are ye feeling? That was a close one, lad,” Brody sounded more serious as he settled down and noticed Beitris’ absence. “Where’s the lady of honor? She was worried about ye. I think there might be something there,” He winked.
“She left,” Logan said dryly, ignoring his tone. “I received some news. I hae been assigned tae the family’s personal guard. I am one step closer, Brody.”
Brody smiled and leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Then perhaps some good hae come of all this.” He glanced at Logan’s wound. “All ye need now is the right moment and this will be over.”
“Aye, and he will never see it coming. He thinks I spared his life on the battlefield, but I only saved it for myself.”
“And is that why ye spared Beitris as well?”
“It was my duty tae keep her safe,” he lied.
Brody wore a skeptical look. He knew Logan too well to be deceived by a statement like that.
“Besides, I needed tae silence Mikkel before he said too much.”
“Aye… Beitris was asking questions. Ye might hae tae dae something about her if she suspects anything. Then again, I doubt ye will be troubled by killing more than one Knox,” Brody said.
Logan nodded but didn’t say anything in reply. Before he’d arrived at this Keep he wouldn’t have balked at the suggestion, but now that he knew Beitris… Well, the thought of killing her didn’t appeal to him at all. Still, if it was required for his quest for justice then so be it.
Abigail deserved everything, no matter the cost, and he needed to keep his sword steady and his aim true. He would just have to hope that her suspicions would not become too strong, although he considered the fact that if he acted swiftly enough then her suspicions wouldn’t matter at all.