Kiss Across Swords (Kiss Across Time Series)

by Tracy Cooper-Posey

  She swallowed back the rising panic inside her.

  Brody kissed her. It was a soft, comforting touch of his lips to her temple. “We ignore everything but success because failure for us is unthinkable. We don’t compromise. We don’t let go for a second. Veris doesn’t get a choice on this either. As soon as we get back from finding water, we ramp up the seduction again. Both of us at full wattage. Veris won’t know what’s hit him and will have no idea which way to turn. He may not like the loss of control, but he’s going to have to accept the inevitable because we simply can’t afford to do anything but win on this one. We don’t give up until Veris gives in. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” She stifled a sudden yawn.

  Brody laughed. “That’s a signal even I can read.” He rose from the bed. “Sleep. I’ve got arrangements to make for the journey tomorrow, especially if you insist on travelling with us.”

  “I do,” she said, snuggling down on the hard mattress.

  “Will you let me make decisions for you?”

  “You know I trust you,” she said sleepily.

  She felt his lips brush her cheek. “Sleep, my beautiful Tyra.” He spoke the words in his native, archaic Celtic, which even Veris did not know. It was Brody and Taylor’s private language.

  Taylor could feel herself smiling as she drifted to sleep. A happy note to end a dreadful day. Brody may deny it constantly, but the bard in his blood knew a thing or two about romance.

  She woke to find Mary shaking her shoulder. Harsh sunlight pierced her eyes as soon as she opened them and she winced.

  Then the noise registered. Men shouting and talking. Ropes straining, horses snorting and stomping.

  “He said to wake ye when they were hitchin’ up the horses,” Mary said. “Bring ye food and get ye ready, so ye could get a good long sleep for the way ahead. You’re actually going with them, m’lady?”

  Taylor nodded and opened her eyes again. The dazzling sun was shining directly into the tent and even the gauze didn’t not diminish its power. Only when someone stepped in the way of the early morning rays was there relief. She rolled over to face away from the east and sat up.

  She clutched her stomach as the bed seemed to rock beneath her. Nausea swept her. Taylor swallowed as her mouth filled with saliva and her body flushed in heat. She did not want to vomit in front of Mary, who would instantly interpret the symptom correctly. So she breathed steadily, trying to stay on top of it, willing the sickness away.

  Thankfully, it passed.

  Shakily, Taylor turned to Mary. “You said something about food?”

  * * * * *

  Thirty minutes later, Taylor accepted the reins Brody held out to her and deliberately copied the knights and soldiers around her who were accepting boosts from pages to hoist themselves up onto their horses. Just like the knights, Taylor was wearing chainmail, leggings, tunic, belt and a sword strapped to her side. Her hair was parted and braided in two long braids down her back, her only concession to womanhood. She wore leather gauntlets rather than mail gauntlets and a knife in her belt. She had also left off the braies, but wore the undershirt to save herself from scratches from the mail.

  The chainmail was marvelously flexible, but she felt considerably heavier than usual and she was already sweating.

  Brody was grinning as he watched her settle on the horse. It was a big stallion and twitched at her slightest movement.

  “This is Goliath,” Brody told her. “He’s a trained war horse and as good as a third arm in a fight.”

  “You put me on a war horse?” she asked, incredulous. “I thought the chainmail was pushing it.”

  “We’ll be in enemy territory, Tyra. I’m not letting you put a foot there without all the protection I can devise. You’ll wear mail and Goliath will protect you in a fight. And you will do what I say without question if there is a fight. Is that clear?”

  She bit her lip, remembering Brody as she had seen him in the first few hours of their arrival, yesterday—bawling orders at his men, splattered in blood, swinging his long sword. She would be in the middle of something like that, if they came across locals who wanted to fight them. She would be hopelessly, helplessly lost. “You make yourself perfectly clear,” she told him.

  He nodded. “I want you to ride by me for a while. The men will think it odd. Women are supposed to ride at the back of the line with the wagons. However, you are the only woman on this expedition and I am the leader and I am fast acquiring a reputation for oddness.” He was smiling as he said it. “I want to watch how you handle Goliath. So come along with me now.”

  She nudged Goliath into a walk alongside Brody’s big mount as they rode down a short line of men on horses and three big wagons. Two of the wagons were filled with barrels and the third was filled with gear.

  “Two wagons of barrels to bring back water,” Brody said, pointing. “A wagon of food and a small amount of water to get us there and back, along with some camping supplies and not much of those. We’re going very light and lean because I’m trusting Alexander knows exactly where the water is and that I don’t have to wander the desert looking for it. We go there and straight back.”

  “All these men are not just to haul water. It’s because we’re in enemy territory, right?”

  “And because we must protect the water on the way back. We are not the only people who suffered when the Fatimids poisoned the wells here.” Brody brought his horse to a halt at the front of the line and Taylor tugged on Goliath’s reins. Her horse was marvelously responsive. He came to an immediate halt and she nudged him forward a few steps more.

  A man about the same age as Brody in appearance sat upon a large chocolate mare, wearing the apparel of the Fatimids, except for the turban. He had close–cropped, curly black hair, olive skin and a full beard that was neatly trimmed. His eyes were black and alive with thought. Taylor knew this must be the Alexander that Brody had spoken about.

  “Alexander, I present my lady, Tyra,” Brody said.

  Alexander inclined his head. “My lady.” His gaze travelled over her. “I have heard much spoken about your beauty. Now I begin to understand why.”

  “Thank you,” she said, suddenly uncomfortable with his scrutiny. Exactly how much could he see with his placid gaze? “Men far from home have too much time to talk among themselves,” she added.

  “True,” Alexander agreed easily. “Yet one would expect their rumor mongering about a lady among them to center upon her more obvious…endowments. Yet they linger upon your beauty. Surely, that is a true compliment?”

  Taylor could feel her cheeks heating furiously. Brody was smiling, enjoying her discomfort.

  “Shall we start out?” Taylor suggested. “We are wasting valuable daylight.”

  “The lady speaks,” Alexander said, with a quirk of the lips at Brody.

  Brody’s smile broadened. He lifted his arm in a signal that was repeated down the line of men behind them, then moved his horse off at a slow walk. It was quite undramatic and after all the noise of preparation, almost silent. Only the occasional snort of a horse and the creak of the wagon wheels marked their progress.

  Then there was a shout behind them and the thunder of many hooves. More shouts for Brody to wait.

  Brody held up his hand again and came to a halt. He turned to look behind the long column of horses and gear.

  So did Taylor, using Goliath’s rump as leverage to twist herself around.

  There was another column of riders and horses and two more wagons, overtaking theirs. The column was shorter, with fewer riders.

  Selkirk colors.

  Were they going to compete with Brody for the water source?

  Taylor sought out the lead riders, her heart suddenly racing.

  It was Veris. No matter that she couldn’t properly see his face because of the visor, or the movement of the horse, or the adrenaline in her system making her shake. Nothing could disguise his size and no other knight Taylor had seen in Selkirk’s household had shoulders like
Veris’.

  He cantered up to where Brody and Alexander sat waiting, bringing his horse to an easy stop and pulled off his visor. He glanced at all of them, even Taylor. His gaze seemed to heat through her face, searing her flesh.

  Veris was not a happy man.

  “My lord has instructed that my men and I join you in your search for water and food. We are to bring back enough of both for the northern camps, as you are to do for the southern.”

  Taylor felt a touch of admiration for Selkirk’s sense of politics. He wasn’t going to lend her Veris, but he didn’t mind looking like a hero to the rest of the Christian allies with a bit of careful rephrasing and the cost of a few more men and two wagons for a few days. As Taylor had pointed out to Selkirk, he gained by ridding his household of a troublesome domestic problem while there was no chance of any serious fighting, and now he gained an enhanced reputation among the allies, too.

  Brody’s smile had disappeared as he studied Veris. “I’m sorry you have been saddled with a duty so clearly not to your taste and pulled away from the comfort of your camp.”

  Veris snorted. “I’m not.” He slapped one gauntlet on top of the other. “Permission to file my men with yours, my lord?”

  Brody blinked. Taylor knew that was his reaction when he was hiding surprise. It was the “my lord” that had caught him, along with Veris’ lack of distaste over being here. “Of course,” Brody said.

  Veris pulled his hand out of the gauntlet and waved it. Behind him, the men he’d brought started to merge with the line of riders behind Brody and Alexander. The two wagons were maneuvered into position with the three already in file.

  Brody lifted his arm in the signal to ride and began to walk his horse forward.

  Alexander was riding on Taylor’s left and Brody on her right. Veris fell into place almost naturally on Brody’s right. He removed the other gauntlet and placed them both on the horse’s back between his thighs, holding the reins in place.

  “Forgive me, my lord, but I do not know the fellow to your lady’s left.” Veris nodded toward Alexander.

  “Alexander,” Brody said. “A Christian, despite his dress. I would trust him with my life.”

  Alexander nodded toward Veris.

  “This is Sir William of York, one Selkirk’s best knights,” Brody explained to Alexander.

  “I have heard of you, Sir William,” Alexander replied.

  Veris shrugged. “You are a listener. I imagine you’ve heard about all of us here.”

  Alexander smiled. “Yes.”

  “A collector but not a dispenser,” Veris added.

  Alexander’s smile widened. “That would simply make me a conduit. One cannot collect wisdom if the knowledge is only passing through.”

  “You’re a philosopher,” Veris concluded.

  “I was, in my former life. I would like to be once more, if I can ever find peace.”

  Their horses had taken several steps before Veris replied. “You were born in the wrong times for peace, Alexander.”

  “So I am beginning to understand.”

  The two of them exchanged glances. Veris grinned. Slowly, Alexander smiled. Taylor got the impression that somehow, Alexander had met with some sort of approval.

  Veris sat back on his horse.

  “You do not object to your assignment, Will?” Brody probed. “I thought, from the scowl on your face when you rode up here, that you resented the work most bitterly.”

  “I did, until I saw your faces.” Veris didn’t seem to mind talking in front of Alexander now. “The column had begun to leave and you were clearly shocked to see me here.”

  “Yes,” Brody said. “We were.”

  Veris chuckled. “I spent the night and the morning thinking your lady had connived with Selkirk to have me put here.”

  Taylor could feel the guilt swirling through her. She pushed Goliath ahead a step or two so that she could see Veris properly past Brody’s body. “I tried, Will. That’s exactly why I went to see Selkirk last night.”

  Veris’ smile faded. “You tried?”

  She nodded. “You know these lands and how the people live here. Your knowledge would have been so useful. I wanted to surprise Brendan with my thoughtfulness, as he didn’t appreciate this assignment any more than you did last night. I asked Selkirk if we could borrow your services for three days. He refused. I even tried gambling with him and lost.”

  “Gambling?”

  “A wager,” she amended.

  “You wagered for my services?”

  Taylor couldn’t tell if Veris was pissed or not. His tone was completely neutral.

  “It was a last attempt to make this work for Brendan and I lost,” she said, confessing it all.

  Veris was utterly silent. Taylor could almost hear him thinking it through. “He won’t give me to you for a favor, but he’ll use me to enhance his own reputation. Well, I knew the man was self-serving.” He stirred and looked at Taylor. “I thank you for your honesty, although I’m pleased you are such a bad gambler.”

  “So am I,” Brody confessed. “It’s better this way.”

  Veris parted his lips to say more and shot a glance at Alexander. He closed his mouth. He said nothing more that day that wasn’t perfectly polite until they had camped for the night and he found Brody and Taylor alone.

  Chapter Nine

  They had five wagons, three of them empty of everything but wooden barrels, which they used to make a large protective semi-circle on the other side of a huge set of sand dunes that would protect them from the worst of the night winds. The horses were strung out on lines behind the wagons and a guard set.

  Brody defied normal security precautions and found a location for Taylor and him to sleep away from the rest of the camp, outside the wagon ring. He built a fire for them. Taylor spread her saddle blanket. That would be her bed for the next three nights.

  She stripped the mail from herself and plucked the sweat-soaked undershirt from her chest. Then, unable to stand it any longer, she pulled the shirt off, too. Then the leggings.

  She unbraided her hair and rubbed her fingertips through the stressed roots with a sigh.

  Brody sat watching her with a half-smile as he tended the building fire. “I would give anything to have a camera right now.” His smile faded. “I know why you took it all off. I wanted to every day when I was first getting used to it. But you’re sleeping in it, Taylor. I mean it.”

  She grimaced. “At least let me air-dry the undershirt, first.”

  He nodded. “We can wait that long. It’ll only take a few moments in this climate.” He picked up the undershirt, walked over to the nearest wagon and spread it over the side to dry. He came back at a slightly faster pace, hooked up her tunic from the sand where she had dropped it and tossed it to her. “I’d put that on,” he suggested. “Veris is coming.”

  She struggled to throw on the tunic, suddenly all thumbs.

  Brody grabbed the hem and hoisted it over her head. She managed to push her arms through the sleeves as he yanked it down over her body. She was still pushing her head through the opening when she heard Veris say, “Your guard said to come straight through.”

  Taylor pulled all her hair out of the neck opening and brushed it out of her face. Veris stood about ten paces away on the other side of the fire.

  Brody turned to face him. “That’s because the guard has standing orders to let you pass at all times.”

  “I see.” Veris crossed his arms. He was watching her adjust the tunic. “No matter what I interrupt?”

  “That’s right,” Brody agreed easily.

  Taylor dropped her hands to her sides. The tunic covered everything it needed to. There was no way it was going to look like anything but a potato sack on her. It was what it was. She gave up and turned her attention back to Veris and Brody instead.

  “You stopped speaking this morning,” she said to Veris. “You were going to say something, but then you looked at Alexander and stopped. What was it?”

>   Veris licked his lips. “That is why I am here.” He came closer to the fire, but stopped on the other side of it. He looked at Taylor again. “Do you ever wear the proper clothing of a woman?” he asked. He didn’t sound angry. He sounded stressed.

  Attack, Taylor reminded herself. Attack the emotions. Keep him unsettled.

  “I wore the proper attire to visit your lord. Did you enjoy that gown more than this?” She put her hands on her waist so that it was emphasized and the tunic was drawn in.

  She heard his breath draw in. “No,” he confessed flatly.

  Truth.

  Brody stepped forward. “Come around the fire, Will. Don’t be a stranger. Neither of us is armed. Neither of us means you harm. I think you know that now.”

  Will glanced at Brody’s big sword, planted blade first in the sand, next to the fire. He stepped around the fire and stopped two paces from their blankets. He was still armed, but his hands and head were bare.

  He was studying Brody once more. “You set out this morning, knowing I would be left behind in Jerusalem. Why?”

  “Those were my orders,” Brody said simply.

  “Despite your lady’s failure to have me recruited to your task, you still went ahead as ordered.”

  “Well, yes.” Brody frowned. “Was there another course you expected me to take? I don’t understand, Will.”

  “You brought your lady with you,” Veris pressed.

  “Tyra asked to come along,” Brody corrected.

  Veris glanced at her. “Asked? You indulged her?”

  “I wanted her with me,” Brody replied evenly.

  Veris drew in a breath that even from a pace or two behind Brody and to one side, Taylor could see was unsteady. Brody’s quiet, truthful answers were not helping give Veris the vent he needed. They were acting like accelerant.

  “Why go at all?” Veris demanded. “Why not leave her in the city to eat at me a bite at a time while you do as you are told? We both know she can do that.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “She has that power at least.”

  Brody frowned. “Her name is Tyra,” he said flatly. “Or if Tyra is feeling very kindly toward you, she may let you call her Taylor, her true name. I’ll leave that entirely up to her.”