by Kara Griffin
Chapter Twenty-Six
The final days of harvest brought a bounty of food for both winter’s store and the gathering. Dallis hadn’t heard any word of Brodin and worried herself into a state of woe. She couldn’t help but think something dreadful happened to him. He would’ve come by now if he was able to.
The entire Cameron clan joined their laird and his family for the gathering, along with some allied nearby clans. So many people gathered. Graeme sent for Heath and Liam. They arrived with their families and their reunion brought forth a forlorn mien. She couldn’t help but be envious of their mirth and happiness. She wanted to be jovial, but alas until she found Brodin that wouldn’t be.
Kerrigan found her sitting alone with her tartan wrapped around her shoulders. The brisk chill made her shiver, that, and the thought that the tartan usually brought a sense of security to her. How she cherished it when she was held at Alnwick. Now it did little to ally her sense of calm.
“You should come inside. The day has gone cold.”
“I will come in soon. Has Heath or Liam heard from Brodin?”
“Nay, I’m afraid not. Neither has seen him, at least, not since they left him at Bannock. He’ll receive Graeme’s message. Come, you shouldn’t stay out here alone. Lillia and Makenna asked after you.”
Dallis rose and followed Kerrigan inside. As much as she wanted to be alone, she couldn’t put Kerrigan off. The woman was as stubborn as her gran. She greeted her dearest friends and hugged them close.
“The children have grown. Oh, and Benny is as bonny as ever. He’s got a tooth, I see.”
Makenna thrust the bairn into her arms. She wasn’t as apprehensive at holding the babe as she once had. Benny squealed a laugh and touched her face. It brought a small bit of joy seeing him happy.
Makenna squeezed her hand. “Is that a wee bump I’m seeing? Something tells me you’ll soon have a bairn of your own.”
She couldn’t refrain from smiling. “It is. Sadly Brodin doesn’t know yet.”
“Graeme says no one has seen him. I suspect the men will go in search of him if he isn’t found soon,” Kerrigan said encouragingly.
Dallis returned Benny to Makenna and pressed a hand over his light hair. “Aye I would suggest they leave this moment, but with the harvest celebration …”
Lillia set her arm around her back. “Brodin can take care of himself. Aye, akin to a cat who always lands on his feet. We shouldn’t worry about him and neither should you. He’ll come when he’s able. Come and eat.”
She sat through the meal and by the time it ended, she’d only taken a few bites. Dallis hadn’t noticed most left the great hall. The hour grew late and she thought to seek her bed. She wondered briefly where the guard had gone and thought to ask, but the women distracted her when they shuffled the children to the stairs.
Dallis affectionately watched her gran and Annag enjoying each other’s company. She joined them by the hearth, taking a moment to warm her chilled fingers. She listened to the tale Annag told about Kerrigan and Graeme and their rescue of a bairn at Sweetheart Abbey. The dear woman spoke slowly so Gran would catch her words.
Friar Hemm approached and joined the conversation. “Och ye should’ve seen the two of them. Neither knew what to do with the babe. He screeched louder than the devil’s kin.”
Once he finished his conversation, she stood next to him. “Did you receive my medallion, Friar? I had hoped it would find its way to Brodin.”
“Oh, aye, indeed, my lady. I brought it to return it to you. I doubt Brodin will come to the abbey. His business in Dumfries is finished.”
She sighed audibly. “Where can he be?”
“He is likely headed home to Grant land. Fear not, dear lady. Something of great import must be keeping him from you.”
“You’re very kind to say so, Friar Hemm. I worry he—”
“Brodin is a man who needs none to watch his back. He will come. Worry not.”
Graeme entered the hall and waved to her. He motioned for her to come to him. Dallis swallowed a lump as worry worked its way from her chest to her throat. The man never smiled except for rare occasions when his wife made him laugh. He wasn’t smiling now, but that wasn’t a reason to fear. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d received dreadful news.
“Laird Cameron. What is it?”
“We’ve known each other for a long time, lass. I am Graeme to you. Someone awaits you outside—”
She didn’t wait for him to finish and hurried through the door. A large body blocked her way and she gazed up at Brodin.
“I’ve found you, at last, lass.”
Hearing his voice caused her to break, just a little. She couldn’t speak because emotion clogged her throat. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and wept against his tunic.
“I’m happy to see you, too, love,” he said and chuckled. He took her hand and led her to the fire in the courtyard. Once she settled on his lap, she took a hold of his face and reveled at his warm skin.
“I worried.”
“So did I,” he said.
“What took you so long?”
“I had a matter to see to.”
“What matter? Brodin, tell me you didn’t do anything rash?” She set her head on his shoulder and rejoiced that he held her.
“I promised you I would make Percy pay for what he did.”
She squeezed him. “Lord above. You went to Alnwick? That’s where you’ve been?”
“Aye, and a good many places since then. Percy is no more.”
Dallis sighed and wished not to hear of such matters. “I should be angry with you. You put yourself in danger.”
“Nay, I was never in danger. I had the Buchanans seeing to my back.” He grinned devilishly.
She smacked his shoulder. “You mean …”
“Your brothers and clansmen went with me. I got Maurice to accept our marriage, and believe me, lass, it took great effort to get him to agree. Only the threat of sending James and his men to winter on Buchanan land cajoled him. When we got to your home, you weren’t there.”
“I left because Maurice threatened to marry me off when he returned. I vowed not to wed anyone except …”
“Except what, love?” He pressed his large hand against her cheek and turned her face to look at him.
“You. I love you.”
“I ken you do.” He lifted her and kissed her with all his passion.
Dallis kissed him back. She pulled away and scolded him. “You shouldn’t have gone.”
“You should’ve stayed put, lass.”
“I didn’t know what became of you. I thought by then the king punished you.” She leaned in and set her head on his shoulder again. All her worry abated. Her heart nearly burst with happiness.
“The king was lenient and allowed us to return to our clans. We must go when he calls though. Who knows when that will be? But we are all at the king’s beckoning.”
“I sent my medallion to Sweetheart Abbey. Friar Hemm is here and returned it. I thought you were lost to me forever.”
“I didn’t ken. After I left your home, I was crestfallen. I searched for you and I went everywhere I could think of … the cave … Carvenlock … even Buchanan land again, deeming you might have returned there, but I couldn’t find you. I was defeated and went home.” He sighed, his chest moving with great breath. “There was a message awaiting me from Graeme. He bid me to come but didn’t say why.”
“I cannot believe you are here and that I’m touching you. It all seems like a dream. A marvelous, beautiful, unaccountable dream.”
He grinned and slid his hand over her shoulder and down the front of her, and across her waist. “I want to see you naked, aye and your bonny body glowing in the candlelight.”
“You shall.”
“But first sweet Dallis is there something you wish to tell me?” He grinned and touched her cheek, his hard fingers grazing her jaw.
“There is. We’ll have a bairn come winter’s end.”
> Brodin bellowed a laugh. “I’m pleased to hear that. I thought you would tell me you would marry me.”
“There’s only one wee thing I want to know before I agree.”
“What’s that?” he asked as he plied her throat with light kisses.
“Do you trust me?”
He pulled back and sobered at her question. “I thought you wanted to hear a declaration of love. And here you demand my trust.”
“It means more to me than anything.”
“Aye, Dallis, I trust you. With my life, with my heart, with all that I am.”
“Then, of course, I shall wed you.”
“On the morrow before all our friends, before Friar Hemm leaves, we will wed. The rest of this night I want to hold you, touch you, and love you.”
“I do love you, Brodin.”
He pulled her tartan around her. “Come, let’s find somewhere warm and … private.”
She clasped his hand and followed him toward the loch.
“Worry not, Dallis. I’ll keep you warm.”
“I’m not worried at all. Not when I’m with you. I can’t deny what you do to me. Just the gaze from your beautiful eyes makes me warm.”
He chuckled but stopped and caused her to bump into him. “Then lass I’m going to make you so hot you won’t care if I toss that Buchanan tartan in the loch.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Aye, I would.” He kissed her hard and stripped the heavy cover from her shoulders. It fluttered to the ground.
As much as her tartan had been her only source of security in the last years, she happily let him discard it. She only needed him: the blue-eyed warrior who she loved more than anything.
*Author’s Note*
Dear Readers,
With sadness, we come to the end of the legend of the king’s guard series. Writing about the Wars of Independence was somewhat emotional an emotional journey for me. You cannot help but root for the underdog. Scotland continued to fight after the battle of Bannockburn even though the English lost. But the victory of that day gave them renewed spirit and more independence than they’d ever known.
A few things of note in the last book. Lady Katherine Buchanan was inspired by King Edward’s sister who was indeed born deaf. There’s not much about her historically written. I image she was sent away as children of disabilities often were. Likely she went to a convent or a place where she would be kept her entire life.
We know James Douglas continued to support Robert the Bruce until his death and that he was with his king when Robert died. Robert was indeed fortunate to have such a dedicated follower. Perhaps the Good Sir James losing his lands and wealth wasn’t such a bad thing since Robert and Scotland benefitted by the knight’s bravery and loyalty for all of his days.
Robert the Bruce’s speech at Bannockburn was parodied from a poem written by Robert Burns: https://digital.nls.uk/chapbooks-printed-in-scotland He gave an extremely long-winded speech. I took a little liberty but you get a sense of his words. The emotion and passion cannot be denied.
Sir Henry Percy fought under King Edward in the wars against Wales and Scotland. He was granted extensive estates in Scotland which were eventually retaken by the Scots. He was a northern warlord and did rebel against King Edward II and was imprisoned for a few months. After he was freed, he declined to fight under Edward II and instead remained at Alnwick where he died a few months after the battle of Bannockburn at age 41.
I hope you enjoyed all the guard’s stories and their courageousness. I like to believe there existed such men during the Wars of Independence, those faithful and devoted to their king and country.
I invite you to read the beginning of Pendragon’s Princess, a new book set during the Anglo-Saxon period coming soon (hopefully early 2019!) Let me know what you think of it. As always, happy historical reading.
Fondly,
Kara Griffin
Coming Soon
PENDRAGON’S PRINCESS
Here’s a sneak peek:
To win a woman’s heart, one must have a dragon …
He is the last of his kind. King Rhydderch Pendragon guards his secret: that he rules the last dragon in the kingdom. Uthur, his beloved pet, is ill and he cannot figure out what’s wrong with him. As Rhyder’s wedding day draws near, he is apprehensive about leaving his pet and retrieving the lass he was betrothed to when he was a child.
As the youngest daughter of King Raedwald Baldach, Katriona is the only one who can save their kingdom from marauders and embarrassment. When her sister compromised herself rather than wed the dragon prince, she’s substituted as the would-be bride. As a child, she was teased and told scary stories of the man she’d wed. Now grown, Katriona accepts her destiny with an open heart, especially when the sexy, brooding, man comes to claim her.
Rhyder vaguely remembers meeting the lass when they were young. He doesn’t have the time or inclination to get to know the reserved, beautiful woman. That is until Katriona reveals a secret of her own. Katriona does more than touch his heart when she vows to save his cherished pet.
Excerpt to follow…
~ Exclusive Advanced Reader Copy Excerpt ~
Excerpt may differ from published version and is copyrighted by the author
Chapter One
Kingdom of Deverdoeu
In the early age of Anglo-Saxons …
The dragon is coming! The dragon is coming!
“They say the dragon prince eats his foes and that he breathes fire and burns entire villages with just a sigh. When he turns into a dragon, he flaps his mighty wings and uses his sharp talons to pluck people from the ground and gobble them up.”
Katriona slunk down in her seat, fearful at her sister’s words. Tears gathered in her eyes and she stifled a whimper. She didn’t want to get eaten.
“Aye, and when he takes his fill, he feeds the remains to his beloved dragon friend. All except the eyes. Eyes are his favorite.”
Katriona stood upon her chair and screamed with a force from her toes to her mouth. The screech called her mother’s attention.
“Sweet Goddess Friege, save me. Cease giving your sister a fright, Mali. She’ll wet her clothes again and I’ve just changed her.” Clarisse scolded her daughter before turning back to the chore of readying the keep for their imminent company.
Mali made a teasing face at her, stuck out her tongue, and laughed. Her sister always told her scary stories of the dragon king and his son. Katriona always believed her too. Of course her sister was wise being that she was twelve summers, seven more than she.
“Eat your morning fare, Katriona. We must make haste this day. If the Goddess Friege aides me, I shall get all readied in time.”
But Katriona didn’t want to hurry. Fear kept her from eating. Their guests would soon arrive, and she swore she’d be on her best behavior. She promised her papa and she always tried to keep her promises to him. Her papa was the biggest, meanest, bravest warrior in the kingdom. Everyone had to obey him and that included her four brothers and three sisters. Even mama didn’t disobey him usually.
Being the youngest of King Raedwald’s brood, Katriona often went unnoticed. That was well and good since she liked to listen to the adults. She heard her papa say that Heloise, who was supposed to wed the dragon prince, did something atrocious. Not that she understood what atrocious meant. She felt sorry for her sister for Heloise was sent away. Many said she was the prettiest of her father’s daughters, but also the most wicked.
One day Katriona would be a lady and she wanted to be as graceful as Heloise, but she would never be as pretty, for Mali told her so many times.
Katriona slunk lower in her chair when she heard the massive door of their keep open. Papa returned. She held her breath and took a quick peek to see if their guests arrived. Mali told her the dragon prince had a scaly face and horns on the top of his head. Although she’d like to see that, the thought of it frightened her.
She was suddenly plucked from her chair and lifted high. Her sque
al sounded only until she saw her papa’s face.
“My wee sprite. Why are ye hiding beneath the tablecloth?”
She pressed her small hand on his whiskered chin and giggled at the tickle. Mali snickered from the other end of the table.
Her mother saved her from having to answer, “Mali’s been telling her frightful stories again. Mali, you shouldn’t scare her. Now finish your meal and keep silent.”
Her papa gave her sister a look of disapproval. Katriona set her arms around her papa’s neck and smiled because Mali would get what was coming to her. Papa always punished her sister when she teased her. She hoped he’d send her to bed this night without supper. That would serve her well.
But he said nothing. Katriona let out a small sigh of disappointment.
“Papa, why do I get the gift and Mali doesn’t? Is it because she’s bad?” She’d heard her mama and papa talking, and they spoke about a gift she would receive. Yet they didn’t give her anything and she wondered what it was. Perchance it was a new doll stuffed with Master Elman’s hay. He had the softest hay of all the farms near her papa’s lands. Or perhaps the gift was what she’d asked her mama for, a pup of her own.
Her papa laughed boisterously. “Oh, my sweet, the gift isn’t something that we give you. It’s something you’re born with. Aye, ye have the gift for I see it in your eyes. Your grandmother would be pleased for ye got the gift from her. Mama will give you the pouch and explain when you’re older.” He kissed her forehead and smiled.
“But can’t I have it now, Papa? I want the gift now. What’s in the pouch?”
“Not yet, my sweet. We have no time to discuss this. Our guests are arriving. They’re coming up the last incline. We should prepare.” He pressed her face back with a forceful kiss on her cheek. “Ah, wee princess, are you excited to meet your betrothed?”
