The afternoon wore on. The merchants were ushered inside the castle, their goods stored safely around the back – from Laird Cameron's grim expression, they'd sooner see the castle itself fall than give up the merchants or their possessions. Men were sent out to parley with the bandits, but the discussions weren't fruitful. The bandits, arrogant to a fault, had an absurd list of demands – they wanted not only everything in the merchants' carts, but a promise that the guards of the castle would cease interfering in their criminal activity in the area. The negotiators were sent back with a couple of arrows hastening their flight – the shots missed, but narrowly, and the anger on Kieran's face at the threat to his men was a sight to see. For a moment, Sarah thought he might stride out there himself, his enormous sword in hand, to deal with them personally.
Thankfully, though, he was a wiser man than that. But he did rally his guards in the courtyard, calling for bows and arrows to be fetched from the armory. Sarah helped with that task, too, glad for an excuse to keep hanging around. As worried as she was by the assault on the castle, she had to admit she was fascinated, too. Kieran selected the best archers from the men and gave them bows and quivers full of arrows before posting them on the walls, in full sight of the bandits. Sarah could hear the group's jeering from the steps of the castle.
And as sunset approached, so did the bandits. It seemed that one way or another, the siege was about to be broken.
Chapter 16
Kieran was at the gate with the rest of his men when the bandits began to approach. Sarah lingered on the castle steps – he'd told her in no uncertain terms that when the bandits made their attack, she was to go inside the castle and wait for the battle to be over. She'd agreed at the time, of course, but now that it was actually happening… well, she wasn't going to miss it for the world. Still, she lingered on the steps so she could have deniability. Oh, me? I was on my way inside… and then, when she was sure Kieran's attention was elsewhere, she slipped across the courtyard and up a set of stone steps that led her to the top of the wall. From here, she could see everything – the distant group of bandits preparing their attack, the archers on the wall with Laird Cameron among them, and the rest of the guard down below, led by Kieran.
The men on the walls were lighting torches as the sun set behind the castle, bathing the whole courtyard in orange light. The guards who weren't on the walls with bows and arrows had moved through the gate and set up a defensive perimeter there, with their Captain leading them. Kieran was outlined by the warm glow of the setting sun, a good head taller than any of the men at his side, and she could tell by the tension in his body that he was ready for a fight. His great sword was out of its sheath, loosely clenched in his fist, and he'd lowered his helm down over his eyes – much as the other men had. She'd admired his armor many times, but she'd never actually seen it in action… a shiver ran down her spine at the thought.
The bandits were growing closer. Sarah was no expert, but compared to Kieran's strict control of his men, the bandits seemed disorganized – they were moving in a great clump, with their numbers being the main thing that made them a threat to the castle. Laird Cameron moved to the top of the wall, shouting a warning that echoed effortlessly across the distance between the castle and its hapless band of attackers. A final warning… and a warning that went unheeded. Worse, one of the bandits loosed an arrow. It flew well wide of the Laird… but the message was clear. Words wouldn't settle this dispute.
Laird Cameron raised his fist – and dropped it. And a hail of arrows was loosed on the attackers.
The roars of pain and anger echoed off the castle walls, and Sarah felt her heart leap into her throat as the bandits began charging the castle. Another volley of arrows flew, and another. From here, she could see them roaring with rage as the arrows flew amongst them, cutting several men down and sending others running back the way they'd come, frightened and bleeding. But there were still more, still more charging the castle… but Kieran and his men stood firm, implacable, Kieran roaring to his men to hold the line until the last possible moment…
The clash of swords against shields was terrific, and Sarah felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest, for all the world as though she was down there among them. She could almost feel the clang and clash of metal, hear the roars and shouts of the men as they fought. The bandits fought furiously, angrily… but even from here she could see the benefit of the guardsmen's armor, their superior equipment, as well as their discipline and coordination. Kieran roared instruction after instruction as he laid about with his great sword, the gleaming blade quickly reddened with blood as he and his men broke the back of the assault.
As the sun set, it grew harder and harder to make out what was happening. Sarah would panic every time she lost track of Kieran, then feel acute relief when she made him out again, still on his feet, still fighting. What would she do if he was hurt – or killed? She felt powerless here, perched on top of the wall like some ghoulish voyeur… but she knew in her heart that she'd be worse than useless if she were to go down there to help. The smooth way each and every man handled his sword, the way they worked together… that was the kind of skill that took years to develop. Nothing she could hope to imitate after her paltry few weeks of lessons from Kieran.
No – she had to rely on him and the men of the watch to protect the castle. To protect her. It was a strange thing to think of… but as she watched the tide of the battle turn, she felt an odd feeling of gratitude in her chest for the men who were risking their lives to protect the people of the castle.
By the time night fell properly, the bandit assault had been vanquished. She could see handfuls of men limping away, supporting one another as they fled the battleground. Kieran stood outlined against the dark, watching as one by one, his vanquished foes limped away. Many bodies were left, strewn about the road… she felt an odd twisting in her stomach as she looked at them. They'd seemed so frightening when they'd been on their feet and charging… but now, the life gone from them, they were just fragile human beings after all. She found herself wondering, with a surprising lump in her throat, who they'd been. What had driven them to bandit life. Didn't she remember hearing something about poor harvests in neighboring counties? Were these just poor, desperate people, driven to crime to defend themselves?
She watched as Kieran stood vigil over the dead, watching and waiting as some of the bandits returned to carry away their dead. There was honor among thieves after all, she couldn't help thinking with a soft smile, tears standing in her eyes. Kieran waited until every last trace of the bandits was gone before he dismissed his men. And just like that, the siege was over.
Dinner that evening was a somber affair. The merchants – those who weren't too badly injured to sit upright, at least – joined the castle folk in the hall for dinner, and there was an odd atmosphere of subdued jubilation, of gratitude and celebration for their safety, undercut by a deeper anxiety about what the attack meant for the future of the castle. Sarah sat at the Laird's table alongside Kieran, but he spent the whole meal deep in conversation with an exhausted-looking Laird Cameron, discussing the assault, the size of the attacking force, and what it meant about the remaining numbers of bandits still at large.
She spoke with Maria, instead. The woman had used her own first aid training to assist with patching up the various injuries of the merchants who had taken shelter with them, and she looked exasperated but not surprised when Sarah revealed that she had watched the fight from the top of the wall.
"You know a stray arrow could have killed you, right?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Battles are serious business, Sarah. Just because they don't have guns like we're used to, doesn't mean the weapons they use aren't every bit as deadly."
Sarah nodded, feeling guilt run down her spine and pool in her belly. "I just… I didn't want to hide away inside," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I guess I wanted to see these bandits for myself."
"Well, I hope you're happy with what you saw," Maria said, her v
oice hard. "Do you believe us now, that there are enemies out there? Are you going to give up this ridiculous obsession with your jewel thief?"
Sarah took a deep breath, steadying the flare of temper she'd felt at Maria's insulting words.
The woman sighed, rubbing her forehead and lifting a hand almost as soon as she'd spoken. "I'm sorry. That was unfair. I'm just… exhausted."
"I know," Sarah said softly. "And it's okay. You've got a point. I've been… shortsighted. People are dying," she said heavily, thinking of the bodies strewn about outside the castle walls.
To Kieran's relief, none of the guards had been killed – there were several superficial injuries, including a few cuts to his own forearm where his armor had given way during the battle, but even the worst injuries sustained would be mended in a few days. Overall, the battle had gone very well, from what she could gauge from the conversation. But it was still a worry to know that the bandits were so bold that they'd risk an outright attack on the walls.
Kieran had barely spoken a word to her throughout the meal – not out of spite, she knew, but out of a need to debrief about the battle with Laird Cameron. But when she got up to take her plate to the kitchen and head up to bed, Kieran surprised her by getting to his feet too, offering to escort her back to her room. She felt a shiver run down her spine, and caught a meaningful look from Maria, gritting her teeth as she realized she'd be in for a prying conversation sometime over the next few days. Still, she couldn't hide her enthusiasm when she accepted his suggestion. She'd been itching for some time alone with him all day… and besides, she wanted to hear about the battle from his point of view.
They climbed the stairs together, and she resisted slipping her hand into his, mindful that people were watching. Servants were bustling back and forth, and there was an electricity in the air as they shared story after story of the battle that afternoon – news traveled fast in Dunscaith Castle, she remembered. But when they reached Sarah's room, they found themselves alone at the end of the deserted corridor… and it seemed so simple, so obvious, to simply invite him in for a moment or two.
She lit a candle, shivering a little in the chill of her room. It seemed with all of the excitement, the servants had forgotten to light a fire in her little grate, and even though it was summer, the Scottish evening was frosty. With the candle lit, she turned back to Kieran, who was looking at her intently in the warm, flickering light of the candle.
"What a day," she said softly, feeling a strange need to break the silence between them, the intensity. "You must be exhausted."
"Aye," he said softly, nodding. "Battle takes it out of you, to be sure. But at the same time, I feel… awake. Fighting for your life will do that, I suppose."
"Adrenaline," she agreed… but his blank expression made her remember who she was talking to, and she chuckled. "That's the name of the chemical that gets released in your bloodstream when you're under stress or being threatened."
"Oh, aye?" He tilted his head, smiling a little.
He'd made fun of her before, for all the things she knew about the future. He was usually very interested in hearing all about what she knew, fascinated by the glimpses into the distant future she could provide him. But when he stepped closer, she knew without asking that he had something else on his mind tonight.
Well, that made two of them.
Chapter 17
She leaned into his embrace when he stooped down to kiss her, smiling a little against his lips as she felt the familiar rasp of his stubble against her skin. Kissing him felt… electric. Invigorating, but at the same time, comforting, like coming home to a warm fire and a comfortable bed… as though she was safe in his arms as they curled around her, protected from all the terrors the night held. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but not an unpleasant one. She'd always been the one who was responsible for her own protection. It was empowering, yes, but it was a little lonely, too. And watching Kieran fight, today, to protect the castle, watching all of those men lay down their lives in defense of the little community that dwelled within these walls… it had made her realize how solitary her life had been. How she'd never really been a part of something bigger. Had that been why she wanted to be a policewoman – a secret need for a community like this one?
But Kieran was deepening the kiss, drawing her closer, and she found it harder and harder to think about anything but the feel of his body against hers. There was something new, tonight, something different and strange in the way that he held her, the way his hands roamed… a different kind of energy, more intense, more passionate. A little frightening if she was honest… but at the same time, deeply, deeply exciting. He growled a little when she ran a hand down his front and she tensed for just a moment – long enough for him to pull away for a brief second, checking whether she was alright even as the desire for her burned bright in his eyes. She gazed back, unable to fight the smile that spread across her face.
"What?"
"Just – you," she said softly, not sure how to explain what she was feeling. How much she trusted him… how he kept proving he was worth that trust, that she could be vulnerable around him without fear. "I like you."
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine at this close proximity. "I like you too," he said softly, the lilt to his voice making those pedestrian words seem exquisitely beautiful, and she buried herself in his arms again, losing herself to the sensation of kissing him.
Part of her was acutely aware that they were finally alone together in her room. No prying eyes to watch them, no chance of anyone walking in to discover them… people knew where he was, of course, she thought with a momentary shiver of worry. There would be conjecture, when he didn't return from escorting her to her room… but right now, with his arms around her and his lips against hers, what other people knew or didn't know about their relationship was the furthest thing from her mind. She'd been wanting him for so long, their stolen moments together only serving to stoke the fire in her body… now she finally had him all to herself. And they had a bed.
Gently, she tugged at his wrist, not breaking the kiss as she brought him down to sit on the bed beside her. He hesitated, just for a moment, before sitting down… and she grinned a little at the look on his face, half exhilaration, half wariness.
"Kieran," she said softly, tilting her head a little. "Would you like to stay the night?"
His eyes widened imperceptibly, and she fought the urge to laugh at the way he tried to hide his eagerness. "Are you sure?"
"Well," she said thoughtfully, gesturing to the bandage on his arm. "I'm worried about your wounds."
A wicked grin spread across his face, sending electricity shooting down her spine. "Is that so?"
"Oh, yes. I think you need to be kept under observation," she said softly, reaching out to run a finger down his arm and ever so lightly across the bandage. "By a skilled medical professional –"
"And that's you, is it?"
"Well, I'm certainly not leaving you alone with any of the other healers," she said archly.
Laughing, he drew her into his arms again, and this time the heat between them was unmistakable, their kisses burning as they explored each other with a little more freedom. She found herself itching to undress him, but before she could, he'd beaten her to it. Not to be outdone, she loosened her gown, cursing a little as she realized how complex the undressing process was going to be.
"All of this is much easier in the future," she grumbled, more to herself than to Kieran, but she smiled at the rumble of laughter she drew from him. She'd complained at length about the complicated gowns that women were expected to wear in the medieval era.
Still, before too long they were much less clothed… and she felt a shiver run down her spine as he pushed her back against the bed, his broad body blocking out the ceiling as he pressed her down and kissed her deeply. The feeling of him against her, the heat of his body banishing even the chill in the room… she pulled the blankets over them, letting her hands roam fr
eely across those broad shoulders, the powerful muscles of his back, the body she'd admired for so long… and the hard-earned muscles she'd seen in action earlier that day. This was no gym junkie bodybuilder's physique. This was the body of a man who fought for his living.
And yet, his hands on her body were unbelievably gentle. Sarah could feel her breath catching and gasping in her throat as he caressed her, his rough skin balanced by the softness of his touch as his hands explored her body. The look in his eyes, too, was softly reverent – desire still burned beneath that look of wonder, of course, but she'd never felt more safe in a man's arms. Or more appreciated… she felt herself blushing as he admired her body so openly, feeling oddly shy. Nobody she'd ever been with had been so… careful, with her. Treating her body like a treasure, like a work of art to be admired and enjoyed… and the lower his hands moved, the more she felt the fire building in her body like a furnace.
Had he done this before? she wondered, feeling oddly vulnerable in her lover's arms. Had he seduced other women like this? He certainly touched her like he knew what he was doing… but when he looked into her eyes, she decided she didn't care one bit what his past had been. She, too, had had other lovers… but nobody like him. And she would be willing to bet that he'd never been with anyone like her, either.
It felt like hours that they spent in each other's arms, kissing deeply, their hands exploring each other… but before long, she could feel her impatience rising, her need for him, for more than just the casual contact of their lips. Every time they'd slipped away for a clandestine meeting, she had felt her desire rising… and every time they'd had to break apart and part ways, it had been a frustration that grew increasingly difficult to bear. Part of her felt like she should stop this here – should bid him goodnight and send him away. She knew that he'd go, without question – even with the lust that burned in his eyes and the way his arms held her tight, she knew he'd respect her if she told him to go.
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