Chapter Seventeen
“Ye sent for me, m’laird?”
Cam was standing in the doorway of Clegg’s grand viewing box with its odd smells and rich furnishings. Clegg, wrapped up in furs against the cold, waved him in.
“Come, Cam,” he said. “Come in and close the door, although that seems ridiculous considering I’ve got two wide-open bays from which to watch the games that let the cold air in. Tonight, it was worth it, however.”
“What do ye mean?”
“The Highland Protector against The Eagle.”
Cam grinned. “It was quite a match.”
Clegg nodded firmly. “Indeed, it was,” he said. “I expected a show from The Eagle, but the Highland Protector was a surprise. The man has a great amount of skill.”
“He does, m’laird. He told us that he was a great warrior for his clan and we have seen that he was telling the truth.”
“Indeed, he was,” Clegg said. “How has he been in training? I heard that he and The Eagle became acquainted this afternoon.”
“That is true,” Cam said. “Up until then, Brody had behaved as if training was beneath him.”
“I know,” Clegg said. “Axel told me. You know he likes to cut down men with that kind of attitude.”
Cam nodded. “Aye, he does. And he did it effectively when he paired Brody with The Eagle. I think that was Brody’s first taste of defeat and, surprisingly, he seems tae have taken it tae heart.”
“He’s a proud man.”
“He is, indeed, m’laird.” Cam paused a moment before continuing.
“I had a long talk with him this afternoon about it and discovered there’s something more behind that pride.
It seems that he disobeyed a command and ended up getting men killed.
That seemed tae destroy something in him. He hopes tae find it again here.”
Clegg lingered on that thought as he went to pour himself more hot wine. “He’s not afraid to hold a sword.”
“Not at all,” Cam said. “I dunna believe his battle confidence was lost, but something else. Mayhap confidence in himself, in his own judgement. That may be why he seems so prideful. He doesna want us tae see his weakness.”
Clegg took a sip of his hot wine. “From what I saw tonight, he has no weakness. He’s an excellent warrior and, to be truthful, I am not sure we can teach him more than he already knows.”
Cam shrugged. “Possibly,” he said. “But he dinna come here tae learn tae fight. He came tae make money.”
“I remember. He wants to buy his lady’s freedom.”
“He does,” Cam said. “And he fought admirably tonight, as ye said. It was quite a bout.”
“Very exciting. We made a good deal of money on it, I’m told.”
“Then pit Brody against The Eagle again tomorrow night. I’d wager tae say the gambling pools will be high with a rematch.”
“But Brody was injured tonight.”
Cam shook his head. “I saw the wound and I dunna believe it was too terrible. I’ve seen worse.”
“I am pleased to hear that, but I’d rather have time to advertise such a rematch to guarantee a large crowd,” Clegg said. “Tonight was just a foretaste. We’ll move The Eagle and the Highland Protector up to a major bout.”
“With a big purse?”
“Indeed.”
Cam grinned. “Good,” he said. “But meanwhile, it might be a good idea tae test Brody again tae make sure his fight against The Eagle wasna an accident. The true test of skill will come the second time around.”
Clegg nodded. “Excellent idea,” he said. “If he’s up to it, let him fight tomorrow night. I will tell Axel to pin a small purse on the bout and see if the lure of money drives the Highland Protector even harder.”
Cam nodded. “My guess is that it will.”
Clegg grinned with a mouthful of wine-stained teeth. “Care to wager on that, Cam? Do you have enough faith in your Highland Protector to place money on him?”
“I do.”
“Good. But do not tell Isadora. I do not wish to rile the mother of my godson.”
Cam laughed softly. “Nor do I,” he said. “It will be our secret, m’laird.”
“I hope Brody is as good as you think he is.”
Cam’s smile faded as he thought on the prideful, stubborn, and somewhat mysterious Highland Protector.
“So do I, m’laird,” he said quietly. “So do I.”
*
Brody was just falling asleep when there was a soft knock on the door. Thinking Lilia had returned, he quickly sat up.
“Come,” he said.
The door creaked open but the person entering was not Lilia. It was the warrior called The Eagle.
Titus Stewart shut the door quietly behind him and faced Brody.
“Well?” he said, looking him over. “Will ye heal?”
Brody eyed the man, clearly mistrustful of him. “It seems so,” he said. “What are ye doing here?”
Titus rested his fists on his narrow hips. “I came to see how ye were,” he said. “It was a brutal fight between us. Much longer than usual. Ye’re good, Protector. Where did ye learn tae fight?”
Brody wasn’t entirely sure if the man was trying to be friendly or simply nosy.
Perhaps both. Or perhaps he was even trying to determine if he was too weak to continue fighting.
In any case, Brody wasn’t comfortable with the man in his cottage.
The door had a lock on it and he should have used it, but thinking that Lilia might come back, he didn’t bother.
Now, he was regretting that decision.
“I’m from the Highlands,” he said. “We learn tae fight when we are born. And ye?”
“Near Stirling,” he said. “But I, too, learned tae fight young. Not many hold out against me.”
“Nor me.”
Titus continued to stare at him. Then, he cracked a smile. “I’ll admit something tae ye,” he said. “It was a miracle I was able tae pull the blade on ye at the end. I thought for sure ye were going tae cripple me.”
Brody thought that sounded suspiciously like a compliment. “Ye like tae kick a man in the head, don’t ye? Ye’ve done it tae me twice. There willna be a third time.”
Titus’ smile faded. “I’ve learned tae strike hard and strike fast.”
“How long have ye been with Clegg and his fight guilds? I hear there’s more than one.”
Titus nodded. “There are five,” he said. “Besides the Ludus Caledonia, there is the Ludus Hadrian, the Ludus Antonine, the Ludus Trimontium, and the Ludus Valentia.”
Brody had no idea there was more than one guild location and his eyebrows lifted in surprise. “That many?”
Titus shifted on his big legs. “Some are larger, some are smaller. The Ludus Caledonia is the largest and the Ludus Valentia is the smallest.” He moved away from the door, going to the only stool in the cottage, and planted his body upon it.
“And in answer tae yer question, I’ve been here a little over three years. ”
Brody was starting to relax a little in the man’s presence. It seemed to him that the man simply wanted to talk. “Has it been worth it tae ye?” he asked. “Knowing what ye know now, I mean. Would ye do it all over again?”
Titus nodded without hesitation. “I’m richer than I could have ever imagined,” he said. “I have a place where I belong, where I can make my way. ’Tis more than most men can say.”
“Ye dunna mind fighting like this for a living?”
Titus cocked his head thoughtfully. “Being Scots, we are expected tae fight,” he said. “We fight the Sassenach, each other… it is in our blood. Why did ye come here, Protector?”
Brody avoided the question. “I havena been here as long as ye. There is a lot tae learn.”
“How long have ye been here?”
“Little more than a month.”
Titus’ eyebrows lifted. “And ye fight like that? God’s Bones, lad, ye’ve got talent. In fact, they have games where men fight in pairs. I’ll pair with ye anytime.”
Brody was mildly flattered. He found himself taking a second look at the man, thinking he wasn’t so short, after all. And he had good taste in warriors.
“If there’s a chance tae win a purse, I’ll do it,” he said.
Titus eyed him as if sensing something in that statement. “Do ye need money, then? Is that why ye’re here?”
“Aye.”
“Why do ye need money?”
Brody sighed faintly; he supposed it was no great secret why he’d come. “Tae buy my lady’s freedom,” he said. “She’s a servant in a great house, working off a debt.”
Titus stood up from the stool. “’Tis as good a reason as any,” he said. “So ye have a noble streak, do ye? Buying a woman’s freedom?”
Brody scratched his head. “I dunna know about that, but I want tae marry her and the debt must be paid before I can.”
“Good,” Titus said as he moved for the door. “That’ll make ye fight harder than most if ye’re fighting for a reason. I suppose I came tae see ye because no man has lasted as long as ye have against me. Now I know why.”
Brody watched him lift the latch. “And ye intend tae use it against me somehow? Is that why ye came – tae discover my weakness?”
Titus simply smiled, a genuine gesture. “From what I see, I’m not sure ye have any weaknesses. That makes ye interesting… and dangerous.”
It occurred to Brody that Titus had really come to inspect the competition – him. There wasn’t any animosity, but there didn’t seem to be any trust, either.
Simply an honest appraisal.
“Mayhap,” Brody said. “But the next time, ye just might be getting kicked in the head instead of me.”
Titus chuckled as he quit the cottage, closing the door behind him.
Brody stood up and went to the door, throwing the bolt because he didn’t want any more surprise guests.
Titus’ visit had been odd, but not entirely unexpected in the grand scheme of things.
The man fought someone who impressed him and he wanted to inspect him. Fair enough.
But what Titus didn’t realize was that Brody had inspected him, too.
Next time, there would be no mistakes.
With that thought on his mind, Brody lay back down again, physically and mentally exhausted.
He was still hoping Lilia would return to him, but as the minutes dragged on, he had to accept that it was less of a possibility.
Just as he closed his eyes and settled down for sleep, there was a knock at the door.
His eyes opened, staring at the ceiling in frustration. Again? With a grunt of effort, Brody swung his legs onto the floor and stood up, staggering his way over to the door.
“Who comes?” he demanded.
“Cam,” came the muffled reply.
Curious, Brody unbolted the door. Cam was standing on his stoop, looking at him with concern.
“Are ye well, lad?” he asked.
Brody nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“Did I just see Titus leaving yer cottage?”
“Ye did.”
“What did he want?”
Brody shrugged. “He came tae see if I was well,” he said. “I think he came tae discover for himself if he’d badly injured me.”
“He dinna try tae smother ye?”
Brody gave him a lopsided grin. “Nay,” he said flatly. “He made no move against me.”
Cam seemed satisfied. “Good,” he said. “I wanted tae make sure. I also wanted tae know if ye feel well enough tae fight in a bout tomorrow night. Sir Clegg liked what he saw. He’ll let ye fight for a purse tomorrow if ye feel well enough.”
Brody’s eyes widened. “He will?” he said, shocked. “But I dinna think novicius could fight for a purse.”
“Not usually,” Cam said, amused by the look on Brody’s face. “But ye did so well tonight that he’ll make an exception. Can ye do it?”
“Of course I can. I could move mountains if there was money involved.”
Cam grinned. “Good,” he said. “Sleep well tonight and tomorrow, we’ll see how that wound fares.”
Brody looked down at his wrapped torso. “It wasna deep enough for stitches,” he said. “If I keep it wrapped, it should be fine.”
Cam had a twinkle in his eye as he patted Brody on the shoulder and left him standing there in his doorway. Brody watched the man go, suddenly not so tired. The prospect of fighting for a purse tomorrow night had him excited.
This was what he’d come for.
The first step towards securing Lilia’s freedom.
He didn’t think he’d be able to sleep, but he was wrong. The moment he lay back down on his bed, an exhausted sleep claimed him.
His dreams had visions of plucking the feathers from a certain eagle.