“It’s beautiful.” she said and as she looked at the shape that was very womanly.
Ruark said proudly “Christian is the best. The rest of the armor will be ready in your tent by tonight. I wanted to present to you what he had done so far. He also wanted you to come down and see if the clothing he had his wife make for you fits. You can head there after we finish here. The war counsel will start one hour’s time after the meal.”
Doireann spoke up her lavender eyes piercing into Lara. “Enough war talk. Lara, could you please tell us some things about your realm. It sounds fascinating. What do you miss the most?” she clasped her hands under her chin and listened in wide eyed anticipation.
“There is so much to tell. I miss the convenience of some things. It’s hard to explain without actually showing you.” Lara looked at her eager eyes and really didn’t know where to start and decided on electricity.
“Back home. At the flip of a switch or push of a button a light would turn on or heat would flow into a house. I have a MP3 player, Um, it’s a box that stores all sorts of music.” Lara couldn’t believe it be she thought Doireann’s eyes got even wider.
“Bevin said Aodhan was telling her about your, what did he call it, a jeep.”
“A jeep is a vehicle that can hold five people and has four wheels underneath. Kind of like a carriage that runs on its own. It goes faster than five mustang horses put together.” She grinned thinking of the mustang commercial.
Doireann wistfully said. “Amazing. If you go back would you take me through? Please tell me more.”
Ruark cleared his throat. “I think that is enough Doireann.”
Doireann let out a disgruntled sigh. “Yes General.”
Blaine stood. “Given that everyone is done eating I believe we should take a short break. The servants need time to clean and re-set up the war room. We will meet in one hour’s time to discuss our plans.”
Devlyn quickly got up and pulled Lara’s chair out for her. She stood up, smiled a thank you and looked over at Aodhan. The look he was giving Devlyn was not a happy one.
“Do you do this for the sheer pleasure of tormenting Aodhan?” she asked.
He tried not to look guilty. “Old habits die hard.”
Devlyn linked his arm through hers and led her out of the room where the servants were already clearing the table. He was trying not to look in Fand’s direction because he knew if he did, he’d make a fool of himself again. Devlyn let out a breath as he stepped out holding the door flap for Lara. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. Eion stepped up to him and held out his arm for Lara.
“I think you have tortured Aodhan enough I will escort Lara from here.”
“A little friendly competition does not hurt anyone.” He gave Eion a sly grin.
“Except for the fact that it is not a competition. Do not forget about Fand. I see the way you look and act around her.” Eion said.
Devlyn rolled his eyes at Eion. “I know. Like I told the lady, old habits die hard. Aodhan has Bevin too you know.” He sharply turned and walked over to where Aodhan, Dillon and Bevin were talking.
As Eion led Lara away she glanced over her shoulder at Devlyn. “What is with that anyway? It’s all fun and games but there has got to be more to it.”
“Devlyn and Aodhan are great friends. However, there has always been competition between them. Being it swordplay, seeing who could stuff as many pies of Orla’s down to women. We should hurry to see Christian so that you can get back to the war counsel in time. Also, I am anxious to hear what Liam and you talked about last night.”
Lara curiously looked at the large square tent Eion was leading her to. It had a rusty brown chimney sticking out the middle top of the tent and the large door flap was tied up so that the whole front was open. A few paces down from the armory were a set of three square tents with a small hallway connecting all of them.
“Would that be the healer’s tent?” she asked.
“That is where you are going to have the noon meal.” Eion said gladly avoiding any more talk about Liam.
Looking back to the forge or armory as some would call it she looked over all the body armor, weapons and shields of every kind. From spears, double headed battle axes, war hammers, crossbows and regular bows and of course swords of every length. All were neatly stacked and organized by type of weapon, armor and so on. She supposed Christian kept them in order for soldiers to easily get to them at a seconds notice. There were at least three apprentices helping him at the forge with the bellows.
Even though there were several pieces of armor Lara could tell which were Christians work. She had examined the pieces when she visited before and was amazed by the details in his work. Christian had a rare gift and the decoration on the armor included techniques such as engraving, gilding, etching and painting. There was also older armor set off to the side had been brought by some of the soldiers from their towns armory.
Walking up to her out of the open front of the forge Lara saw a woman unlike the skinny size zero models at breakfast. She was Lara’s height, curvy and all woman. Her strawberry blonde hair was tied up in a pony tail with a couple of strands hanging on each side of her face. There was a spray of freckles across her nose to match her smiling blue eyes. Lara was relieved to see she wasn’t the only woman not wearing a dress.
“Lara, I presume? It is good to finally meet you! Eion, it is also good to see you back. I have heard so much about you.”
“All good I hope.” he said as he held out his arm to her and she took it
“Please. Come this way you can change in my part of the forge it is where I do my sewing.” She looped her other arm around Lara’s and led them both into the open area of the forge.
“It is very rare that I get the chance to dress a woman for battle. I’ve also been making sure that Christian is getting your armor right too. He almost made your breastplate flat. For a woman can you believe that?”
Gobnait’s energy was contagious. Lara grinned at Eion. “I like her. She’s spunky.”
Eion laughed. “That she is.”
“The world would be a most dreadful place without my spunk.” Gobnait said as she laughed and let go of Eion’s arm. She led Lara past Christian working with an anvil and hammer pounding away on something she couldn’t quite make out.
“Lara.” he said and nodded at her and blushed.
She stifled a laugh knowing the blush was from earlier when he had to measure her. She removed her arm from Gobnait’s and stepped up to him and kissed his cheek. “The armor is beautiful.”
He winked at his wife “Happy to hear my work is appreciated. I see you’ve met my wife.”
“It’s girl time honey. You two can have your boy time.” She led Lara away from them.
“I apologize that I wasn’t here to help measure you.” Gobnait turned her head and looked at Christian. “I think he has a permanent blush on his face.”
Lara studied Christian and Gobnait. His long blond hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and he was not exactly how she thought a blacksmith would look. Instead of huge bulging muscles he was tall and lean. Not to say he was not a muscular man just not a hulk of a man.
“Excuse me for a second.” Gobnait said.
“Ok.” She watched as Gobnait walked up to him. He smiled and leaned over to kiss the top of her head Kodak moment Lara thought and committed the scene to memory.
Gobnait walked over to Lara and led her through a flap in the back of the tent into a separate room. It hit Lara and she realized who Gobnait was. The more she looked at her the more she started to see the resemblance. Shanna’s sister. Lara looked around and examined the area full of fabric, leather and a makeshift sewing machine. She walked over to a chair with some clothing draped over it. She heard the flap to the room rise and fall.
“Those would be yours. I will go back out and talk to Christian and Eion to give you some privacy. I’ll be back in a couple shakes.”
Lara walked over to th
e chair and picked up the leather pants. She ran her hand across the soft leather Humph figures she said and thought of some of the women who kicked butt that wore leather. Except that this was not Hollywood, comics or cartoons. This is the real world, or well, alternate world anyways.
She picked up the shirt. “Nice. Very Renaissance.”
It was an off the shoulder dark green blouse that the arms slightly flared out to her wrists. She examined the sleeves. Loose enough for movement but not enough to be grabbed by someone or get caught on something. She really didn’t think these were the clothes that she would wear into battle.
The next piece of clothing was a black leather bodice that was very corset like with thick straps. It laced up the back with a thick dark green ribbon. She examined the front of it and there was a raven pounded and embroidered into the leather.
“Guess that’s my new symbol.” she laughed to herself.
Lara took off what she had on and pulled the on the leather pants. She stretched a bit and the pants were actually more comfortable than she thought. Soft thick leather not stiff at all. She pulled the shirt on over her head, turned and looked over her shoulder into a tall mirror that was set in the corner of the room at her tattoo.
“I wonder if the bodice will hide that and now for the piece de resistance. Now I’m talking to myself.”
Lara put her arms through the holes and attempted to lace it up the back. She got it half way and gave up deciding to slip on the boots. As Lara was lacing up her boots Gobnait stuck her head in.
“How is it going?”
“They fit perfect. Except I need help with this.” Lara turned around and Gobnait walked over to help her.
“That is what a good man is for. It’s a good thing we are the same size. All I had to do was go off of my pattern and slightly alter some of the clothes that I had lying around at my sisters. Which by the way, she said my green dress looked lovely on you.” she begun lacing up the rest of the bodice and was forced to stop when Lara turned to her.
“Thank you so much for everything. Shanna is a wonderful person and you are the only woman around here that I’ve felt completely comfortable around.”
“What? You don’t like hanging out with the Royals?”
They both turned as the door flap opened. Aodhan stuck his head in and announced himself. “Ladies.”
“Don’t you have any respect for a woman’s quarters? You have not changed a bit Aodhan MacCionaoith. Always doing as you please. What if she wasn’t proper?” Gobnait squealed.
She walked up him to shut the flap in his face. Aodhan opened the flap and looked in again.
“I was coming to get Lara. Eion had to go and talk with father and he asked me to come for her.” He glanced over at Lara. “You look beautiful. Gobnait you are a genius.”
Their heads turned as Christian yelled. “Gobnait, can you please come and help me for a second?”
“You always were such a flatter. Especially when you are in a spot. Men, can’t they handle things on their own.” She looked at Aodhan and grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him the rest of the way in.
“Or barge in on a woman. I will be back in a moment there are a few more sets of clothes on the chair for you and a pack to put them in too.” she patted out the wrinkles in Aodhan’s shirt and glared at him as she left.
“She seems to be a huge fan of yours.” Lara said as she walked up to him and straightened his shirt.
“Gobnait? She is just territorial. Her and Christian balance each other out very well.” He noticed the laces hanging at the back of her bodice.
“Having a problem?” he asked.
“Yes. Unless you consider this woman’s work. Could you help me, my Lord?” Lara asked giving him a slight mocking curtsey as he smiled at her.
Lara turned around moving aside some of her loose hair. Aodhan let out a small laugh at her attitude and looked over the laces. He picked up the ends and started to lace up the back of her bodice where Gobnait had left off and paused.
“There a problem?” Lara asked and started to turn.
Aodhan playfully tugged on the laces facing her back away from him. “I just wanted to look at something.”
“My tattoo I’m guessing.” she smiled to herself.
He brushed aside some of her hair and outlined the tattoo with his finger giving her goose bumps. As Aodhan examined it closer he read Kedryn’s name in Celtic style letters with a sword and an orchid.
“It has meaning.”
“That’s what I was going for. Aren’t we supposed to be heading out somewhere?” she brushed his hand away from her tattoo.
He let out an exaggerated sigh laced the bodice up the rest of the way tying if off. She turned around and backed away from him.
“What do you think?” she asked and spun around.
The green of the shirt made her eyes stand out even more. Beautiful and powerful he thought to himself. Lara strapped on her belt with the sheath and dagger and smiled at Aodhan.
“You look like a warrior queen.” he said.
“I’m not quite complete yet and thank you for the compliment. Let’s get going.” Lara grabbed the other clothing and carefully placed it in the cloth bag Gobnait had set aside for her.
Aodhan and Lara stepped into the forge area as Christian and Gobnait were discussing something that looked like leg armor. Lara headed their way and stepped up to Gobnait giving her a huge hug.
“Thanks. The clothing turned out perfect I owe you big time. You should join the women for lunch. I have a feeling you will keep me sane through the gossip.”
“Women only?” Gobnait asked.
“Just us girls.”
“I would like to be a fly on the wall for that one.” Aodhan said.
“I’m certain you would. Thank you for inviting me.” Gobnait said.
Aodhan put his arm through Lara’s and gave her a slight tug. “We really should get to the war counsel.”
Lara let out a dramatic sigh and looked at Gobnait who rolled her eyes. She turned and let Aodhan lead her out of the forge. Kedryn saw them step out and walked over to them.
“Cool. I got some myself to add to what I got for my birthday.”
She looked him over. He had on black pants and an off white shirt under the long leather jerkin Carrick had given him. He fit in so well you wouldn’t even know he was from a different realm. One thing that always surprised her was how he adapted to every culture no matter what country they traveled to. She didn’t know why it would surprise her now.
“You look like a Ranger. Your Guild Wars Ranger.” she said and looked at Aodhan’s confused look on his face.
“Something of my realm. I wouldn’t even know how to explain unless I showed you.”
“You are officially now a Warrior Princess. Watch out Xena here comes the Battle Raven. The guys and I are going to hang out and play cards today. I guess there is a big party tonight.”
“I will see you there. Apparently I’m needed in the war room to give my account of last night.” She pushed some of her hair behind her ear.
“Liam.” Kedryn said.
“Yes. Liam. Could we please stop at my pavilion first so I can drop these off?” Lara asked as she swung the bag so it hit Aodhan in the side.
“As long as you do not take too long.” He caught the bag as she swung it playfully at him again.
“I’ll see you later.” Kedryn said as he turned and walked away.
“Love you!” Lara yelled after him.
Kedryn turned and gave her a wide grin and waived. “Love you too mom!”
Aodhan offered her his arm and she looked at him amused. She looped her arm through his and they walked up through the maze of soldier’s tents and up to her pavilion. As they stepped into her sitting area Lara threw the bag on the table and it landed with a loud thump. She knew the answer but felt devious enough to pull him up to her and looked him in the eyes.
“Did you kiss her back?”
“What?” he asked puzzled
and put his arms around her waist.
Lara moved her face closer to him. “Bevin. Did you kiss her back?”
“She explained afterwards. Bevin wanted to see your reaction. It was a bit childish if you ask me.”
“A bit juvenile. What did you tell her?” she stepped away from him and picked up the bag from off the table.
“Nothing. Father interrupted.” he ran his fingers through his hair.
“Let me get one more thing and we’ll go.” Lara walked away from Aodhan and into her sleeping area.
“Women are so complicated.” He said under his breath.
Lara rummaged through her pack looking for the box that Eion gave her. When she found it she pulled out the raven hair pins and re-wrapped up her hair and put them in. She put on the necklace and slid on the bracers and set aside the clasp. She pulled out a small compact mirror and re-touched up her make-up. Lara sprayed on some Black Orchid perfume and walked back out.
“Why do you have to always look so good?” Aodhan croaked out.
Lara grinned at him. “I like to doll myself up sometimes.” she set something down on the table and turned as he walked up to her.
“We probably will not have any more privacy after this.” he said.
Aodhan skimmed his hand down her cheek and Lara lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his fingers. He grabbed her waist, pulled her to him and slowly kissed her. Aodhan stopped and said with his lips still close to hers.
“You kissed me back.” and he gave her a lopsided grin.
Lara untangled her hands out of his hair and took a breath to slow down her heart. She put her head down on his shoulder to clear her head. Aodhan cupped a hand under her chin and moved her head so he could look in her eyes.
“You look flushed Lady Battle Raven.” he said as he watched a smile form on her face.
Lara pushed off his chest and walked around him over to the table. She grabbed the lip gloss she had set there and put some more on. Grinning she walked by him slapping him on the butt and walked out. Aodhan followed shortly behind her trying to calm himself before he walked into General Ruark’s pavilion.
Chapter 24
Celtic Rain (The Battle Raven Series) Page 26
