Chapter 13
“I
heard a strange rumor,” Calista began. She and Beitris were brushing their hair, preparing for the day.
“What rumor would that be?” Beitris asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“That ye kissed a certain warrior on the training field.” There was amusement in Calista’s voice. Beitris’s cheeks flushed red and she pulled the brush with force through a stubborn knot, wincing at the pain.
“Aye, well, people should mind their own business.”
“I dinnae think ye can blame them for talking about it when it’s in full view,” Calista said, and Beitris knew she was right.
“It was a mistake. It dinnae mean anything.”
“Was it thanks tae him for saving ye in battle?”
“Aye, perhaps it was. That’s all he’s concerned with anyway, battle.”
“It’s all anyone seems to be concerned with at the moment. Even Elliot can only speak of war. Dae ye think it will be over soon?”
“Ye could attend the meeting and find out for yerself.”
Calista smiled and shook her head. “I find those meetings tiresome. I dinnae ken how ye can stand them. Anyway, about this warrior…”
“There is naething more tae say. It was a mistake. He hae his duty, and I hae mine.”
Calista sighed. “Duty, duty, duty. There is more tae life than that, Beitris. I fear this war hae clouded yer sight. Hae ye thought about what ye are gaeing tae dae when the fighting is over?”
“Nae,” Beitris lied, because for a brief moment when she had been kissing Logan she did think about the future.
She thought about them dueling in the training field year on year, of riding out and hunting together, but such things were fading dreams that should never have been given serious consideration.
She left a few knots in her hair and excused herself from Calista’s company, as she did not wish to speak about Logan any longer.
She curled her hands into fists and breathed harshly, wishing that she could cut away her feelings for Logan.
The kiss had opened her mind to possibilities that hadn’t existed before, although there wasn’t any part of her that wished it never happened.
He was tied to his duty and that was that.
He could see nothing but justice and she understood that.
The loss of his family deeply affected him, although she also noticed that he only spoke with affection about his sister.
And then there was the matter of what she had overheard from the enemy general. The more she thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense. Why was Logan here if the enemy knew him? Perhaps their paths had crossed in battle before, but then why wouldn’t Logan admit it?
He’d looked directly in her eyes when she asked him if he could be trusted. Was it wrong of her to harbor doubts?
These thoughts lingered on her mind as she made her way to the Great Hall, where leaders from across the alliance had gathered.
Not everyone was present, Duncan and Rohan, for example, were defending the alliance’s borders.
Beitris nodded at Brody, who was standing guard at the door.
He had a surly look on his face, and the smile that flashed across his features seemed more forced than usual.
“Beitris! It’s good tae see ye,” Nessa said, rushing towards her and greeting her with a tight hug. “I heard ye hae tasted battle. Good on ye, lass.”
Beitris arched her eyebrows. “Aye, although I dinnae ken how many more I shall experience. Da seems intent on protecting me and wishes for me tae stay here.”
“Ach, even if he locks ye up just dae what we did and climb out the window,” Nessa said, winking, before leaning in to whisper into Beitris’ ear. “These men always need tae feel like they’re in control. Just nod along and then dae what ye want anyway. It’s served me well over the years.”
Beitris smiled and felt empowered by Nessa’s words.
She joined the others at the table. Keith Abernathy and Ramsay Gilmour were present, along with Ryan, Allan, and Elliot.
Nessa leaned back in her chair, resting her feet on the table.
Ryan looked irritated at this, but he did not say anything about it.
“Sae what are we gaeing tae dae next? Another village hae been burned. I ken we hae him penned in, but he still manages tae get his army through our lines and attacks villages. How many more are we gaeing tae let burn?” Nessa said.
“None,” Keith leaned forward, hands clasped. “We should take the fight tae him, once and for all. We cannae keep allowing him tae burn the Highlands.”
“I agree,” Ramsay said, sharing a curt nod with Keith.
“The longer this continues, the more opportunity he hae tae bend other clans tae his will and sow discord. I hae nae doubt that he already hae some scheme in mind tae destabilize us. This hae tae end with us taking his head and showing the Highlands that the threat is over.”
Ryan looked around at the others. Beitris remained quiet for now. There was a heavy look in Ryan’s eyes as he pursed his lips.
“I am inclined tae agree. We must muster our forces and assault his land. It will nae be an easy affair. I’m sure he hae burrowed intae his Keep and is hiding in a deep, dark place.
We will bring him intae the light and make him pay for his crimes.
I want each of ye tae gather yer best men.
We must leave behind enough tae defend our Keeps.
I’m sure he expects us tae attack, and he might be waiting for us tae leave our homes undefended. ”
“Finally! I hae been saying we should hae stormed his castle from the beginning. Save the killing blow for me. I want tae make up for last time,” Nessa said, narrowing her eyes. “Och, and Ryan, if ye cannae make use of Beitris, I will hae her with my archers.”
As she spoke, she glanced towards Beitris and gave a quick smile.
Ryan seemed annoyed, but he did not say anything that would prevent Beitris from fighting.
She’d already threatened to join Nessa’s army, and now that she had Nessa’s explicit approval it became clear that she was going to take part in the battle, even if Ryan would rather she didn’t.
However, Beitris found that she wanted to remain with her father’s forces.
She wanted to fight alongside Logan.
“There is another matter we must discuss,” Allan said with a serious look on his face. “We must ensure that every man in our armies can be trusted. There is one among us who raises concerns.”
“Who?” Ryan asked. Beitris felt an uncomfortable curdling sensation in her stomach.
“Logan,” Allan said.
“He saved Da’s life,” Elliot looked surprised at Allan’s words.
“He came from nowhere. We dinnae ken anything about him. I hae looked intae his past, but there’s naething. A man with nae past raises suspicions.”
“He hae a past, but Warnock wiped it out,” Beitris piped up, perhaps with more vehemence than she should have shown. “He lost his family and was left an orphan. Fighting was all he had and he found his way tae us. He will nae let us down.”
“I agree,” Ryan said.
Beitris kept Mikkel’s words to herself. Even if Allan was right to be suspicious, she would keep an eye on him. He thought he was guarding her, but the opposite was true.
“Very well, but I think he should be reassigned from our personal guard for the time being. It seems a waste of good talents for him to be kept behind walls. He should be in the first line of defense, the first man that the enemy encounters. I will put him on patrol,” Allan continued.
Ryan didn’t disagree with this.
“But he is still wounded,” Beitris said, raising her voice.
“I hae seen him on the training field, and if he sees fit tae ignore the healer’s advice then I trust that he kens his limits more than we dae,” Allan said.
The conversation moved onto other matters after that, but Beitris couldn’t concentrate on what was being discussed. Her thoughts were consumed with Logan, for better or worse.
“What happened last night? Ye missed yer chance,” Brody said. He and Logan were standing in a dark corridor, their conversation kept secret from everyone else.
“I was interrupted. Allan ordered me elsewhere and he was close tae his father.”
“Aye, well, he hae his suspicions about ye. He’s ordered ye on patrol. It will nae be easy tae get close tae Ryan now.”
Logan turned his head and sighed with disappointment. “Then I will hae tae find another way.”
“I hae thought of something. If we gae on patrol taegether we could take Beitris with us. She would be captured without being aware of it. We send a message back tae the Keep, tell Ryan tae come alone. I’m sure he will nae hesitate tae sacrifice himself tae save his daughter.”
“Nae,” Logan said abruptly.
He couldn’t bear the thought of putting Beitris in danger or seeing the look in her eyes when she learned that he intended to kill her father. Brody grabbed Logan’s shoulder and stared at him with incredulity.
“Logan, this was yer quest, but I feel that I’m the one making it happen. We are here. We’re in their home and all ye hae tae dae is swing the blade. There’s nae time for pity now. Did they show pity tae Abigail?”
“Nae,” Logan muttered.
“Right, and ye once told me that ye would dae anything tae get justice. There’s naething stopping ye. And she will dae anything ye ask. She came tae yer defense taeday against her brother. Ye hae tae use her. It’s the only way.”
“She what?” he asked, his ears pricking up.
“Allen raised his suspicions, and she told him that ye hae proven yerself. She hae bought the sob story ye told her. She really believes that ye are an orphan. It’s there for the taking, Logan! Ye can finally hae yer revenge, ye just need tae bring Beitris with us and then Ryan will come too.”
“I need tae gae,” Logan said, pushing past Brody, leaving the man with a confused look on his face.
Logan marched towards Beitris’ room. The hour was late, and when she opened the door she was standing in her nightgown.
One strap was barely hanging on her shoulder, and the milky skin of her neck was on display.
Her collarbones were smooth and she looked too alluring in these soft clothes.
Candles flickered behind her, casting her in an amber glow that softened her features.
Logan could not still his desire and he could not stop his gaze from falling down her body, following the lines of her curves.
“Logan,” she gasped.
Logan cleared his throat, trying to remember why he had gone here. He should have stayed away, but whenever Beitris came into his mind a haze descended and he did not make the optimal decisions.
“Ye dinnae need tae speak on my behalf. If someone dinnae like me, that’s their problem,” he said.
“It’s yer problem when he could stand in the way of yer future. I thought Brody might hae told ye what happened,” she said.
“I dinnae need ye tae come tae my defense.”
“Aye, it dinnae feel good,” she said pointedly.
Logan tilted his head and frowned. “There is a big difference between that and what I did. Swords are more fatal than words.”
“That depends on who is uttering them. I ken ye think ye are worthless, Logan, but I will nae watch ye be broken for duty’s sake.
I ken ye think that ye hae naething in yer life but war.
That’s nae true. Ye just need tae look past revenge.
Whatever happened, ye hae a place here. Ye dinnae need tae turn away from life. Ye dinnae need tae turn away from me.”
Her voice dropped at the last sentence. The words were like hammers against his heart. She reached up and twirled a lock of hair around her fingers. Her eyes shone and he could feel something coming undone inside him.
Without thinking, he stepped forward, over the threshold of the door. She reached out and took his hand.
Something shifted between them. He wasn’t sure what it was or how it happened, but the air had transformed and he felt as though he was possessed by an intense spirit.
“Why are ye daeing this?” he asked, his voice hitching on emotion. His head bent down, his lips parted. His hands twitched as their palms slid together.
“Because I hae always acted without thinking. I hae always trusted my instincts and there is something about ye, Logan. I hae felt it from the beginning. I ken I should nae. I hae every reason tae hate ye because ye are impossible and stubborn and pig-headed and downright rude, but ye are also…”
She never finished her words because he caught her lips, taking the kiss that was readily given. Her body melted against him. His fingers sank against the cloth of her nightgown, feeling the supple skin beneath. A growl of intent murmured in his throat as they staggered back and fell onto the bed.
They were a tangle of limbs and hair, and for that one night Logan lost control.
His discipline was broken and even though there was a voice in the back of his mind telling him to retreat, he could not leave this battlefield of passion. Beitris was too compelling, too enthralling.
She was the only flicker of light in a dark and gloomy life.