“Mayhap I will,” said Eira, after all. She supposed if she took MacKay for her own needs he would learn his lesson. “Yes, Medea, I think you are right.” She stood up, no longer feeling her knees buckling beneath her. “The fool needs to learn he can’t get away with the way he’s been acting lately. Perhaps I will use him for my own needs and discard him afterward, just like you suggested.”
Chapter 9
MacKay and Ollie headed to the coast early the next morning, hoping to find the fisherman who said he’d take them back to England.
“Hurry, my lord, the sun is rising and we might be spotted,” Ollie called back over his shoulder, as they got closer to the shore. The squire had woken MacKay from a sound sleep saying it was important they leave right away.
MacKay and Ollie were on foot since they had to sneak out of the castle through the postern gate. MacKay yawned, not thinking clearly yet.
“Slow down, Squire. You are acting awfully odd this morning.”
“I’m not the one acting oddly, my lord.”
MacKay wondered what the boy meant by that. “Stop, Ollie.”
“What is it, my lord?” Ollie turned around and came back to MacKay.
“What did you mean I am acting oddly?”
“Don’t you remember? The curse,” he said as if that were supposed to jog MacKay’s memory.
“What about the curse?” he asked, remembering the shard in his chest. Just thinking about it made his heart hurt. He put his hand over it and rubbed. Ollie’s eyes followed.
“Oh, nay. It might be too late, Sir MacKay. You are rubbing your chest again like a magic lantern.”
“Mayhap a genie will appear,” MacKay responded with a soft chuckle.
The sound of barking dogs filled the air. Ollie’s eyes shot up to the top of the hill from where they’d just come. “There’s your genie now, my lord,” he mumbled, shaking his head.
In question, MacKay looked hard to see the Snow Queen seated atop of a horse. She followed her hounds as they descended the hill. It looked like Medea and the queen’s guard, Angus, were riding along with her.
“That looks like Eira,” he said. Just the sound of her name springing from his lips made memories of yesterday come crashing through his head. He smiled. “She looks fetching the way she bounces up and down riding that horse. I swear I see her breasts bobbing. Matter of fact, I think she is wearing the gown of a lady instead of a tunic and breeches of a man.” He leaned forward, squinting to see clearer. When he realized he was right, he let out a slow, deep whistle. “She is looking better and better every day.” He felt his scar glowing under his tunic as he said the words.
“It’s too late, my lord. The shrew has spotted us and now she has commanded her hounds of hell to hunt us down. Fast! Run for the water. Mayhap we can lose them there.” Ollie took off with a sprint, but MacKay stayed there, wanting to see Eira once again.
The hounds of hell, as Ollie had called the dogs, kicked up snow and dirt as they barreled down the hill and headed right toward MacKay. They barked and snarled as they got closer.
“Run, my lord!” shouted Ollie. He came back and tugged on MacKay’s tunic. “Please, my lord, we need to get away from the horrible creatures. Those dogs kill for fun.”
“They are just hounds, Ollie. Egads, you act as if they are dragons or griffins. They are not going to harm you.”
Ollie’s eyes opened wider and he drew his sword. “If you are staying, I will also stay and protect you, my lord. However, it would be appreciated if you drew your sword and helped. There are two of them, in case you’ve missed the fact.”
“I see them,” said MacKay, hunkering down, doing nothing to reveal his weapon. He had no idea why his squire was so frightened by two friendly dogs. “They probably just want to play.”
“Or rip out our throats,” Ollie said under his breath, stepping in front of MacKay with his sword held in two hands. “If I die, I will go protecting you.”
“Ollie, get behind me.”
“What?” The dogs got closer, growling and snapping and showing their teeth.
“You heard me, now do it.”
“Aye, my lord.” Ollie stepped behind MacKay just as the hounds lunged for MacKay.
“And put away that weapon before you take out an eye.” MacKay held out his arms wide as the dogs landed atop him, taking him to the ground. Ollie cried out.
Eira couldn’t believe the fool. Instead of running from the dogs like his squire was telling him to do, MacKay held out his arms waiting for the attack and his demise. She shook her head at the man’s foolishness. She was going to call off the hounds, but before she could, MacKay stood up, petting each of them with one hand. Thor and Odin licked MacKay’s hands as they jumped up playfully, wagging their tales. Ollie still stood with his sword at the ready, not as trusting as MacKay.
“Look at that,” said Angus from her side as they slowed their horses. “The knight has managed to break your hounds.”
“I don’t believe it,” she muttered.
“Well, I don’t believe you are wearing a gown, my queen,” said Angus. “I have never seen you wear anything but breeches and a tunic in all the years I’ve known you.”
“My clothes were soiled and I needed something to wear, so I borrowed the gown from my lady-in-waiting,” she lied. While Medea was the one to give her the gown, it had been a part of their plan to attract MacKay to lure him into doing her bidding. She would use him for all her needs and then discard him as quickly as she abandoned her tunic and breeches.
“I think Lady Eira looks lovely in a gown,” said Medea from the horse next to her. While Medea rode the horse sidesaddle, Eira had hiked up the gown and rode the way she was used to doing, riding astride like a man.
“Enough talk! Angus, get the hounds,” Eira commanded, stopping right in front of MacKay. She didn’t understand what she was seeing. These dogs had been trained to kill by her late father. They had always been so mean that even Eira felt uncomfortable around them. But now, in a matter of seconds, MacKay had turned them into naught more than simpering puppies.
“Good morning, my queen,” said MacKay with a nod. Thor jumped up and put his paws on MacKay’s shoulders and started licking his face. Odin followed suit, doing the same. MacKay laughed, moving his head back, grabbing one dog in each arm, running his hands up and down their backs.
“What did you do to my hounds?” she asked.
“Thor and Odin just want to play,” MacKay told her.
“I’ll get them, my lady.” Angus dismounted, holding the dogs’ leads. He approached the animals cautiously. As soon as he got close the dogs snarled and growled at him and showed their teeth. Ollie held his sword up again and Angus jumped back in surprise.
“They don’t seem to like you much,” MacKay told Angus.
“They are killer dogs. They don’t like anyone,” the man answered.
“I beg to differ with that opinion.” MacKay reached down and picked up a stick. He threw it far and the dogs ran after it. “They are very nice hounds. I don’t know why you can’t see it.”
“Sir MacKay, what were you and your squire doing? Trying to escape?” Eira asked from atop her horse.
“Escape? That would mean we are prisoners, which we are not. Are we?” The dogs returned with the stick and he threw it farther this time. The rod made a whizzing noise in the air and the dogs hurried after it.
“If you were prisoners you’d be in my dungeon,” she answered, noticing the way MacKay eyed up her gown.
“That’s where she’ll put us now,” commented Ollie.
“Is that true?” MacKay walked up to the side of her horse. “Are you planning on making us prisoners again, my lady?”
“Well, I . . .” She looked over at Medea who nodded slightly. They planned to attract him and make him want to do her bidding. The purpose wasn’t to turn him against her by putting him behind bars again, even though that was where he needed to be. She couldn’t take the risk that he would turn against her again. Ailbe
rt would be arriving any day now. She wanted MacKay to lead her army. He was a knight and must know many strategies that would keep her enemies at bay. She needed his help. “Of course not, Sir MacKay. I came to invite you to ride with me as I make a check of the island.”
The dogs came back and MacKay bent down and petted them and told them to sit. Then he held out his hand and took the leads from Angus, slipping them over the dogs’ necks and handing the leads back to the man. “I would be honored to ride with you, my lady,” he said with a smile.
“Lord MacKay,” Ollie whispered urgently, shaking his head.
“Put away the sword, Squire,” MacKay commanded. “You can head back to the castle with Angus and Medea and I will meet up with you later.” He pulled himself up behind Eira on the horse, settling himself and wrapping his arms around her waist. She was caught off-guard and didn’t know what to say.
“Aye, my lord.” Ollie tried to pull himself up onto the back of Medea’s horse but she moved the animal and he landed on his rump in the snow.
“Don’t think you are going to ride with me,” snapped Medea. “You will walk with the hounds.”
“The hounds?” said Ollie, looking very nervous.
“Here, take the leads,” growled Angus, slapping them into the squire’s hand seeming glad to get rid of them. Then he hopped on his horse and headed away with Medea following on her steed.
Ollie eyed the dogs and they growled at him.
“My lord, I don’t like this idea,” complained Ollie.
“Just be nice to them and you’ll have no trouble.” MacKay was so close to Eira now that his mouth was against her ear. She shuddered, liking the way his deep voice sounded and the way his arms felt around her waist. “Thor, Odin, go with Ollie and be good now.”
As if MacKay had magical powers, Eira’s killer dogs whined and wagged their tales and pulled at the leads, heading back to the castle.
“Whoa!” Ollie called out, almost having his arm jerked out of its socket as the dogs took off at a run. He had no choice but to follow, as he was all but being dragged behind them.
Eira turned her horse and headed down the beach. She was not concentrating on where she was headed, but rather at what she was feeling now that MacKay’s body was pressed up against hers as they rode.
“You look striking in that gown,” he said in her ear, causing her to shudder once again. “The midnight blue of your clothes makes the blue of your eyes look even brighter. And the contrast of your pure white hair is more than stunning. You are ever so lovely, my lady.”
She closed her eyes, warmed by his words and from the compliments she had never gotten from any man during her entire life. A part of her really liked the attention he gave her. Was he sincere? She had no idea. But what did it matter? After all, she only wanted to use him the way Medea had suggested.
“Why were you trying to leave the island?” she asked. “After all, you told me you were going to fight for me.”
“Aye, I did and I will.” He leaned even closer, causing her to melt into his strong arms. “It was my squire’s idea to leave. I am not sure why I went along with it, but I assure you it won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” she said, trying to focus on the real reason she was letting him touch her and get so close. All she wanted was his service in her army. Once she conquered Ailbert and secured her holdings, she didn’t need to let MacKay near her again.
“Why did you wear a gown today?” he asked. “I heard your henchman, Angus, say he’d never seen you in anything but breeches and dressed like a man.”
“I – I wanted a change,” she said, hoping he liked the way she looked. What was the matter with her? Why did she even care? This man was probably only acting and didn’t like her at all. No man could go from hating her to being infatuated with her that quickly, could he?
“I like the change,” he whispered in her ear, using his lips to nibble at her earlobe.
Her breath caught and she shivered.
“Are you cold?” he asked, wrapping his arms tighter around her. She could barely breathe.
“Nay, I’m never cold,” she told him. “Now, I want you to promise me you will not try to sneak away again. Also promise that you will help lead my army to victory when Ailbert and his troops arrive on the island.”
“Of course, my queen,” he said, placing kisses up and down her neck. Her head fell to the side and she let him do it. Just a little more, she told herself. When she was sure he would give her everything she wanted, then she would drop him quickly. “There is just one thing I require in return, and then I will do everything and anything you request of me.”
His breath tickled her earlobe, making her smile. Why did she like being in his embrace? It took all her attention and she could barely concentrate on his words.
“What is that?” she asked, getting lost in the moment.
“I want to be intimate with you.”
“Aye, I want that, too,” she agreed. She couldn’t believe she was planning on using him in this manner. But Medea told her she should use MacKay to fulfill her desires and womanly urges. Perhaps it wasn’t as immoral as she’d first thought.
“Are you saying what I think you are saying?” he asked. His hands ran up her sides and under her breasts. She couldn’t think straight. A throbbing between her spread legs led her to believe that she needed a man more than she thought.
“Yes,” she said as his hands slid higher and his palms covered her breasts. “Yes,” she almost cried out feeling her breasts ache beneath his touch.
“All right, then it is settled.”
Before she knew what happened, he’d dismounted the horse and was standing on the ground.
“What are you doing?” she asked, disappointed that his fondling had stopped so suddenly.
“I decided it would be better if I returned to the castle and started the preparations immediately.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied, pleased with how devoted he was to lead her army. “I suppose you have a plan?”
“It will be fast and simple,” he told her. “There is no need to draw it out. I’d say we do it tomorrow. I’ll summon him right away.” He started to walk away.
“Tomorrow?” she asked, wondering if he meant they should leave the island to seek out Ailbert. “Nay, don’t summon him. I will wait for him to come to us.”
MacKay stopped and turned around in question. “All right, if that’s the way you’d like it. But someone is going to have to tell him our plans or how will he know?”
“Tell him our plans? Why would we do that?”
“Because, if we don’t tell him, the priest will have no idea we want to be married in the morning.” He turned and headed back to the castle, humming happily to himself.
Eira sat atop her horse with her spine ramrod straight. Her heart lodged in her throat and she was unable to speak. What just happened? She thought they were talking about a battle when MacKay was talking about a wedding. Her wedding. Their wedding. She couldn’t deny him now or he might go back on his word to help her. In following Medea’s advice to use him for all her needs, she’d just made a big mistake. Sir MacKay used her instead. She kicked her heels into her horse and rode like the devil, trying to blow away the confusion in her mind.
Nothing made sense anymore and she was unsure about anything except for the fact that she was going to wring Medea’s neck for giving her advice that landed her in such a mess.
Chapter 10
You told her what?” asked Ollie, handing the leads to the kennelgroom, happy to be rid of the hounds.
“You heard me,” said MacKay. “We are getting married. Why do you sound so surprised? I told you I planned on wedding her.”
“Sir MacKay, please forgive me for saying that I don’t believe you are doing the right thing.” They walked toward the great hall as they talked.
“I thought you’d be happy for me that I am finally taking a wife,” said MacKay, not understanding why Ollie was acting this wa
y. “After all, the rest of my siblings are married. Now it is my turn.”
“Not all of your siblings are married. That one isn’t.” Ollie pointed to Medea dismounting her horse and handing the reins to a stable boy.
“I wonder why Medea is really here,” said MacKay.
“I am wondering why we’re still here,” replied Ollie. “We were almost to the boat and home free, but you had to stop and talk to the Snow Queen. Now we are back where we started.”
“Nay, I’m in a much better position now,” said MacKay, seeing Medea coming to join them.
“MacKay, why are you smiling?” asked Medea.
“I want you to be the first of my siblings to know that, on the morrow, I am getting married.”
“You’re doing what?” Medea asked in surprise.
“That’s the same thing I said,” mumbled Ollie, kicking at a stone on the ground.
“I am marrying the most beautiful woman in the world. Lady Eira – my queen.” MacKay smiled from ear to ear feeling like the luckiest man ever.
Medea rolled her eyes. “Stop it, MacKay. You are not marrying her. She would never agree to such a silly notion. Besides, she is mean. It is just the curse talking.”
“Nay, Lady Eira agreed to marry me.”
“She did?” Medea exchanged glances with Ollie who shrugged his shoulders. “MacKay, she is only using you to get want she wants.”
“Nay, she loves me,” he said, thinking about the way Eira shuddered when he nibbled at her earlobe.
“Lust, mayhap, but I assure you it isn’t love,” said Medea. “Who do you think told her to use you to get everything she wanted?”
“You told her that?” asked Ollie in surprise.
“Thank you,” said MacKay with a sincere smile on his face. He felt so lighthearted and carefree that nothing could upset him.
“Thank you?” asked Medea. “I wasn’t doing it to help you or to be nice so why are you thanking me?”
“Sister,” said MacKay, putting his hand on her arm. “You have such a good heart.”
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