Bryce’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Did you as well?”
“I’d be lying if I said that on occasion I wasn’t curious. He was the closest I’ve ever come to love or being desired by a man.” She shook her head. “Yet I always knew his touch would be no different than the others. Very, very unpleasant. Contact with something born of evil is indescribable.” She took a deep breath and pushed memories of her mother down. “That’s why I was so grateful Mama’s death was swift.”
Bryce nodded but said nothing more as they went to bed. No matter how much she tried to give him privacy, his troubling thoughts still came through here and there. How sad he was about her life. How frustrated he was that a warlock had stolen a small piece of him before he was even conceived. Angry that his sister had somehow gotten wrapped up in all this.
She was a little surprised by what was most prevalent in his mind though. That a warlock had so many memories with her when he did not. That the warlock was there to offer her some small measure of peace where Bryce was not.
Yet who he was at heart was there with her all along. Because what the warlock stole from him was a mere piece of a whole that was good. That was Bryce. A man who would do anything to protect those he cared about. Moreover, a man who would always protect someone in danger.
Though she thought she would have trouble sleeping alone in the same room with him, the opposite proved true, and she drifted off to sleep quickly. When she woke, it was daylight, and he was roasting rabbit on a small spit over the fire.
As if he knew she was waking up, his eyes went to hers, and he nodded. “Good morn, lass.”
“Good morning,” she murmured, relieved that he didn’t seem upset anymore.
“I hunted.” He gestured at the table. “And brought in some fresh water.” His eyes went to a satchel. “Christina made sure you had a change of clothes too.”
She nodded, thankful, as she joined him and took a few sips of water. “I appreciate all this.”
He nodded and said nothing more at first. When he did finally speak, his words were measured. “While I didn’t go into much detail, you should know that for their own safety, I warned Graham, Christina, Sven, and Aðísla about how verra dangerous the last warlock really is.” His eyes turned to hers. “And that it might have a hold over you that we all need to prepare for.”
She nodded, understanding his need to share with them. Because if things took an unfortunate turn and she wasn’t strong enough in the end, it would be necessary for them to treat her like the enemy.
“Furthermore,” he continued as he removed the cooked rabbit and began slicing off several pieces. “I’ve decided that though I’m eager to learn more about the connection you shared with the last warlock, you’ve been through a lot and dinnae need to be pestered straightaway.”
His eyes returned to hers as he handed her a plate of meat. “I also wanted to thank you for being so honest with me last night. You’ve dealt with far more than most and need good people around you now.” He shook his head. “Sharing such things could have verra well put you at risk if we chose not to believe you.”
Would it ever have.
“But we do believe you, Jessie,” he went on. “I believe you.” He poured her some more water. “So now we will move forward with trust between us rather than doubt. Because as far as I can see, there is no other way. Not if we hope to ignite the power of your ring.”
She didn’t realize how truly concerned she had been until he said those words. Until he gave her such sound reassurance. She blinked several times as an unexpected wave of emotion rolled over her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You don’t know how grateful I am to hear you say that.”
“Aye, then,” he murmured. He cleared his throat before his eyes met hers and he made a declaration she didn’t see coming. “I intend to move forward with the certain knowledge that you are without a doubt the lass I’m meant to marry. Therefore, I will pursue you with that in mind.” He shook his head and took her hand. “That means I will make sure you have no further designs on a simple piece of me when you can have the whole of me.”
Her cheeks warmed beneath the determination in his eyes, the flicker of fire. She saw not just his but his dragon’s intent. Before all was said and done, he meant to seduce her. Which made perfect sense and was truly the only way to ignite the ring. Still, she suddenly felt like a novice. She had no experience. Nothing to offer him.
“Dinnae worry, lass,” he said softly, obviously catching those thoughts. “I have enough experience for us both.” Her heart skipped a beat as he brushed his finger over the tender flesh of her inner wrist. “When the time comes, the last thing that will be on your mind will be pleasing me.” The devil lit his eyes and the corner of his lips curled up. “In truth, ye’ll be unable to focus on anything but how I make ye feel.”
Now her cheeks were flat out burning. While some women might be put off by his forthright arrogance, she wasn’t. Mainly because she knew it was the truth and in some small way appreciated his confidence. After all, a part of her had wanted this for a very long time. Him. The chance to be together when she had begun to give up hope.
As they ate, they chatted about less serious things. Normal stuff like the types of food they liked and enjoyable pastimes. She shared her love for herbs and skills at healing. He shared his various responsibilities as laird that, naturally, made up a big part of his life.
“The poultice soothed my wound greatly,” he said. “Thank you, lass.”
“Of course,” she replied, glad to hear it.
“Though I thought to wait, I find myself eager to know more about my sister,” he finally said, his eyes both sad and curious as they met hers. “Might you share a wee bit about the time you spent with Ainsley? What she was like?”
While some might speculate he was testing her to see how well she really knew his sister, she sensed that wasn’t his intention at all. He had already made the decision to pursue Jessie with or without this information. He simply wanted to know the sister he never got a chance to meet.
“It would be my pleasure.” Jessie offered a soft smile as she remembered her friend. “In some ways, she was a lot like you. Protective, brave,” she shook her head, “a little stubborn.” Then she smiled. “Definitely playful. She loved embracing her dragon and flying all over New England.” She chuckled. “I think she gave conspiracy theorists more to talk about than Area 51.”
A small smile ghosted his face. “What is Area 51?”
“A highly classified Air Force facility in Nevada,” she informed. “Long speculated to be a place where the government hides anything related to extra-terrestrials.” She gave him a pointed look and even a wink. “So basically, like Ainsley’s dragon, not all that believable.”
“So she could shift even in spirit form,” he mused. “I would not have thought it.”
“She could, and she was beautiful.” Jessie had been so impressed. “She was black as night and huge...and of course mischievous.” She looked up at the ceiling and smiled as though it were the night sky in Maine. “She picked evenings bright with moonlight so that those who were more susceptible to seeing spirits wouldn’t miss her.”
“Her dragon looks like mine then,” he said softly. “I always wondered when I imagined what it would’ve been like to fly alongside her.” He shook his head. “I suppose it makes sense she would look like me considering we were twins.”
Though he clearly warred with a variety of emotions, the look in his eyes was only thankful as they met hers and she continued sharing stories. While most memories of Ainsley were very good and Jessie’s only salvation, her friend had a more secretive side too.
“But she was also mysterious.”
“How so,” he asked.
“I just always got the feeling she kept something from me,” she said. “And that whatever it was bothered her greatly.”
They didn’t talk much more about it because there wasn’t much to say. Jessie had no idea the
n and certainly no clue now as to what her friend might have been hiding from her. She supposed at this point it didn’t matter because Ainsley was gone. Or at least it had felt that way until sharing childhood memories with Bryce. Reminiscing with her brother kept Ainsley alive in some small way, and Jessie was grateful for it.
“So did the warlocks worry that you might be a dragon too?” Bryce asked. “Considering they thought you two were sisters.”
“No, they knew everything I was.” She shook her head. “So I was no threat.”
“Yet as it turned out, you verra much were,” he murmured, clearly impressed by her as they continued talking. Unfortunately, however, considering how much she enjoyed chatting with him, they eventually had to get going.
By the time she changed—during which he waited outside—he seemed much more at ease with her than before. She, in turn, felt the same. It was one thing to know him in a sense through the warlock and another to get to know the man himself. As far as she could tell, he was as noble and kind as she always knew he would be. Unlike the warlock, however, he had a sense of humor and was quick to smile.
“So has Angus or John confirmed that history has unfolded as it should have up to this point?” she asked as she joined him and they started toward the ships where everyone else was supposed to meet them. The day was cloudy and somewhat windy. Not too bad a day for sailing.
“Aye, all seems to have gone as history tells it, and it has been an eventful year for King Edward II.” He grinned as they reflected on everything that had happened leading up to Robert the Bruce requesting Angus’ aid. “As told, it started badly with a continuing revolt by Edward’s cousin, the Earl of Lancaster and Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford after Edward reneged on undertakings made at parliament in thirteen twenty-one. Those which limited him and his favorites abuses of power.” He shook his head. “And as reported, Edward was further enraged by the judicial murder of Piers Gaveston whose head was presented to the Earl of Lancaster.”
Edward and Piers had shared a very close relationship. Though some accounts said they were merely dear friends, most claimed they were lovers.
“As we know, Piers’ murder angered him enough that Edward enlisted the aid of Sir Andrew Harclay,” she said, “and defeated Lancaster and Hereford at the battle of Boroughbridge in March.”
“Aye.” Bryce scowled. “Encouraged by his success in downing two of his most dangerous enemies, the bloody bastard decided to invade Scotland. Accompanied by his wife Queen Isabella, he marched to Edinburgh with an army estimated to be no more than sixty thousand strong.”
Jessie nodded as she reflected on what had been happening in this country since Graham and Christina’s adventure in thirteen fourteen. The series of events that led to Edward’s recent invasion.
King Robert the Bruce had sought a peace treaty so that the war ravaged realm of Scotland could recover. Of course, this treaty would also recognize Scotland as an independent kingdom with himself as its rightful king.
Unfortunately, Edward agreed to no such thing.
So, each year Robert instigated forays into Northern England to extract tribute and gather booty to help rebuild the bankrupt Scottish economy. Accordingly, he sent Sir James Douglas and Sir Thomas Randolph in a series of wide ranging raids into Northumberland, Cumberland, Lancashire, Durham and Yorkshire to accomplish his goals. The hope was that by doing so, it would put enough pressure on the English barons to persuade Edward to agree to the treaty after all.
Each year Scotland’s coffers were slowly replenished, and the process of rebuilding started. Despite the serious ebbing of a high percentage of the English economy to Scotland, Edward still refused to negotiate. That meant a good number of his lords were in revolt and his position was becoming untenable.
As it turned out, it was two of those lords, both dangerous enemies, that Edward defeated at Boroughbridge, so it was no wonder he felt emboldened enough to strike Scotland once again.
“You know a great deal about my country’s history,” Bryce remarked, clearly impressed as he followed her thoughts.
“More than you can imagine,” she said, remembering all too well the endless research. “I had to so I could anticipate anything.”
“’Tis hard to imagine,” he said softly, taking her hand as the crowd thickened, “that you could have kept track of everything.”
“It came easier than it would for most,” she explained, “because I was part of the curse and so closely affiliated with the warlocks.” She shook her head. “Destroying Scotland was the sole purpose of their existence which meant they were very thorough about its history...as was I through them.”
Bryce nodded, as they chatted about and continued reflecting on the years that led up to now.
Naturally, angered by Edward’s invasion, Robert the Bruce reacted with savage energy and resolve. Giving citizens fair warning in advance to evacuate, he instituted a ‘Scorched earth’ policy in the Merse and Lothians. All the livestock were driven to safe places. Granaries were emptied and what could not be transported away was set on fire. The roofs of houses were torn off and burnt, and any growing crops were trampled to deny them to the English.
Bridges were destroyed, wells befouled with manure and carcasses and streams were dammed causing morasses and floods. He sent James Douglas and four thousand moss-troopers—marauders who operated in the mosses or bogs—with two thousand highland clansmen to harry the English army in Durham as they marched north. There they burned all before them including food, forage, and shelter that might be of use to the English.
“King Robert himself led an expedition of eight thousand light cavalry and highland clansmen,” Bryce remarked as he gestured at the ships ahead, “supported by the galleys of Angus in a long range sweeping raid into the northwest of England, sacking Preston and pillaging scores of other towns.”
By doing this, King Robert hoped that Edward would turn back to defend his northern shires, but instead, Edward fell out with Sir Andrew Harclay on policy and ordered him to confine Bruce to Northern England while Edward ravaged Scotland.
“Sir Andrew Harclay protested at Edward’s unmilitary division of the English forces.” Jessie shook her head but could only be grateful for the English king’s poor judgment. “Andrew warned him it would leave the English army unbalanced and short of archers.”
“Aye,” Bryce said, pleased. “Edward, backed by the Earl of Richmond, dismissed the only competent military leader he had.”
“Which worked out great for King Robert I’d say.” She met Bryce’s grin. “Seeing how Andrew Harclay retired in a huff to Carlisle with his army and came to an accommodation with Robert.”
“’Twas a good one too,” Bryce said. “Leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone.”
With Andrew out of the way, Robert moved fast and reached the Scottish border in late July where he immediately mobilized his forces.
By this point, King Edward occupied Edinburgh and Leith setting up home in Holyrood with Queen Isabella. Having been forewarned, over three-quarters of the populace had fled the city. The remaining quarter who remained, unfortunately, thought they would receive preferential treatment. Sadly, they did not.
Edward’s army soon discovered foraging would be impossible. Foraging parties were ambushed by the moss-troopers under James Douglas. Food became so scarce that the English were beginning to eat their own horses. So Edward finally did what he should have done earlier. He organized supply ships to sail from the Humber, Tees, and Tyne to replenish his army.
Upon confirmation of this news, Robert the Bruce contacted Angus Óg MacDomhnaill.
It was time to cut off the English’s supply ships.
So here they all were.
“Have you ever been on a ship?” Bryce asked as they drew closer to shore. “More than that, how do you intend to get a fleet of ships through bad weather?”
“With help from all of you.” Her eyes met his. “Thankfully, we have the right people along on this journey.” Her
eyes went to Christina and Graham who stood on one of the docks. “A witch with superhuman strength and instincts as well as her wizard whose element is water.”
He frowned. “Will that be enough though?”
“No.” She shook her head as her eyes returned to his. “It’s going to take all of us to get through this...including, quite possibly, yours and Sven’s dragons.”
He nodded slowly as he took her meaning. “You think we’ll need to shift.”
“It could very well come down to that.”
Bryce eyed her for another moment before he nodded again. “Aye, then, lass, whatever you need.”
They both knew it would be no small thing if he and Sven shifted. If nothing else, it would be hard to explain away to a fleet of Scottish ships afterward.
“You didnae answer my question,” he prompted as they started down the dock. “Have you ever been on a boat let alone ships the likes of these?”
“No.” She slowed, eyed the water and swallowed hard as it all became very real. “In fact, I have an unnatural fear of anything that takes me off the ground.”
Chapter Eight
UP UNTIL THIS moment, he thought they might just have a chance of seeing Angus safely around the north of Scotland. Now he wasn’t so sure. Not based on how pale Jessie’s skin had become as she eyed the ocean.
“Is it a fear of water then...or anything that takes you off the ground?” He frowned, surprised because she didn’t seem frightened of the waterfall.
“It’s all part of the curse,” she said softly. “As I told you, I’m better protected by Earth and fire. Air and water are more difficult for me to navigate and make me more vulnerable to the warlocks.” Her eyes stayed with his as if seeking comfort. “So it’s rather ironic that sailing ships through a storm is part of my journey with you.”
So it was more a fear of the warlocks than anything.
Or could it be something else?
Because for a moment there it almost felt related to dragons.
“Are you frightened of dragons, lass?” he couldn’t help but ask though it made no sense considering her time spent with Ainsley. Rather than point that out, he referred instead to her disposition when they first met. “Back at the beginning, you didn’t seem all that fond of us.”
Avenged by a Highland Laird Page 10
