Verena meanwhile had brought one wooden chopine up and kicked her attacker between the legs. She then twisted sharply, elbowing him in the face and punching him in the kidney as she turned. He fell back in astonishment, roaring in pain.
She should have killed the soldier while he fumbled with her skirts, but a twinge of conscience had stayed her hand. Unfortunately her kindness had cost her the advantage of surprise. Now the soldier faced her warily with weapon drawn, realizing his quarry was not as helpless as he assumed.
"You are unnatural!" gasped her attacker. He had certainly never expected to find himself in a knife fight with a woman. He slashed wildly at her face and torso making her dance around the small clearing.
As Gundy predicted Cairn and a small band of Scottish knights exploded from the nearby trees almost as soon as the fight started. Cairn’s faceplate was up, revealing a mask of fury that made even her retreat a few steps. He wore the McPherson’s traditional coat of arms and looked nearly identical to the tapestry of the Old Lord hanging in the abandoned chambers. She half expected to see a grinning familiar following him into battle.
The Englishmen saw the berserker apparition and their wits deserted them. Half of the men turned to fight and the other began tripping over themselves to get away. Neither stood a chance. Cairn was a wild thing, slashing at the English as if he fought demons sent to carry away his soul.
She stood transfixed watching the graceful dance. She had often seen Cairn on the practice field even in the most abysmal weather, but she had never seen such rage. It was all she could do to stumble out of his way as Cairn reached her attacker. His sword flashed through the air, parrying the soldier’s pitiful swing. He took a step backward and Cairn followed, intent on dismembering the man that dared to touch his woman.
Though she felt no love for the Englishman she didn’t wish for his death. Before she could think of the stupidity of her actions, she grabbed a shovel and dove forward to parry Cairn’s deadly downward thrust. The wooden handle snapped beneath Cairn’s power and she had to jump back, falling over the Englishman to avoid being sliced open.
"Nay!" she yelled, throwing her hands wide to protect the dumbfounded soldier. Everyone in the clearing—including the English—looked at her as if she were daft. "Don’t do this. He isn’t worth it."
"Do you realize what he was about to do to you?" Cairn ground out. He grabbed her shoulders and thrust her aside. She reached for Cairn’s arm to restrain him but he irritably shook her off.
"But he didn’t. I am safe because of you. There is no need for this."
"He needs to be taught a lesson."
"He has."
The soldier in question had fallen backward onto the burial mound when she bumped into him. He lay there quivering, knowing there was no escape surrounded as he was by furious Scotsmen. Fergus took her by the arm and tried to drag her away, but she fought him, trying to twist out of his grip.
"Please don’t do this."
Cairn was a knight. It was his duty to protect his people. She understood this and knew many had fallen beneath Cairn’s sword in the heat of battle. So why couldn’t she let him kill this one insignificant man?
"Gundy used him as he used me, and the little boy who served you wine, and the archers in the woods. No one else should die for that man."
The point of Cairn’s sword dropped to the ground. His expression changed to one of such kindness she had to look away. Somehow it was easier to face him when Cairn was enraged. Now his pity made her want to squirm. How could he possibly understand the gnawing guilt she struggled with as more and more people were destroyed in Gundy’s machinations?
The sword fell to the ground as Cairn gathered her into his arms. She ignored the uncomfortable bite of his armor and pressed herself tighter into his embrace, eager to feel Cairn’s tenderness again. She should have run away with him when Cairn found her in Gundy’s camp, but she was too stubborn, too afraid to trust. She vowed to never make that mistake again.
"There is so much I need to tell you." Verena’s voice was muffled; her face was still buried in Cairn’s shoulder.
"And I you."
As she lifted her head to speak, her lips were trapped by Cairn’s. It felt too good to touch and taste him again. The stress of the past melted away as Cairn became her world. In the back of her mind she knew the danger was not over. She should tell him about Gundy’s trap, but Cairn wouldn’t let her go.
"This is such a touching sight I am loathe to interrupt," Gundy cackled as he emerged from the trees. "I knew you were being modest, Verena. The Scot looks ready to rip your clothes off. Perhaps I should let him …"
Two score Englishmen stepped out from the forest led by Lord Gundy. At his side rode Hadran and Owen, armed with sinister looking crossbows and short swords. These were nothing like the other, uncouth soldiers. Before them stood the best of Gundy’s army, knights handpicked for their bravery and skill.
"Come here, Verena," Owen said in a voice that brooked no disobedience, but she shook her head. She would no more follow her former comrade than jump into a pit of vipers.
"Your performance was inspired," continued Gundy as if Owen had not spoken. "A little show of danger quickly drew out the barbarians."
The muscles beneath her fingers tensed. For a moment Cairn’s gaze turned thunderous as he realized her attack had been a show to force his hand. She was the succulent bait he couldn’t resist. Verena had betrayed Cairn before, could he trust her now?
"I had no part of this," she insisted. She turned to Cairn, ignoring the English threat before them. "I will never deceive you again."
Cairn brushed his lips lightly over her brow before thrusting her behind his armored back.
"I know."
"Verena, come to me!" There was desperation in his tone as Owen ordered Verena to his side. The trap that she had unintentionally sprung on Cairn had sealed his fate. What interest had Gundy in taking prisoners when the McPherson castle would soon be his? If she didn’t go with Owen she would share his demise.
"Nay."
"Verena, you stubborn girl." Hadran chided her this time, urging her to abandon her love. "Think about your future. Come to us."
"I have no future without him."
A tear fell softly down her cheek for her unborn child, but she angrily wiped it away. Gundy would never let her keep the baby. He would never allow her to escape his service. It was better to die now with the man she loved than to be forced back into slavery.
"If that is your wish …" Gundy lifted a hand and the English drew their weapons. The outnumbered Scots prepared to fight to the death as the English encircled them. It was then Owen finally decided to make his move. Before anyone knew what he intended he slipped from his horse and mounted behind Gundy. One hand snaked around to pin his arms to his sides while the other held a wicked-looking knife to his throat.
"What are you doing? This is treason!" Gundy made a halfhearted attempt to struggle, but Owen’s knife soon made him rethink any sudden moves. "I’ll have your head for this!"
"I believe I’ll have yours first," Owen drawled with glee. He let the blade press a little deeper until a small drop of blood trickled down Gundy’s wrinkled flesh. "Drop your weapons."
Obediently the Englishmen dropped their weaponry to the ground in a loud shower of metal and leather. They were as perplexed by this turnaround as Gundy. During the last days of this mission they had frequently seen Owen in their lord’s company. They had no reason to believe he might mean their lord harm.
"Jon," barked Owen, delighting in his new position of power. "Gather their arms!"
Hesitantly Jon collected the discarded weapons. He didn’t have complete faith in Owen, but they had been together so long it was difficult to disobey. He looked to Hadran for answers, but the old man merely watched.
"For the first time I am doing what I please!" Owen expertly twirled the knife before returning it to Gundy’s quivering throat. "Like you I am taking my freedom, but I am much smart
er than any of you! Now you shall obey me, not some noble. I will be your master."
"To what avail?" Verena asked when Hadran remained silent. If he wished to protect her, she would be jubilant, but he only wished to mold himself in Gundy’s sinister image. She hated to see him become like the man she detested. "We cannot go on as we have before. Can’t you see that?"
"We will do much better than before," insisted Owen. "No one will be safe from our intrigues. The crowns of Europe will cower before our powers, but I need you. I need you by my side."
"Nay." Verena shook her head sadly, knowing she could never return to the life she knew before Cairn opened her eyes to love. "This is where I belong. I’ll never leave Cairn again."
"Then you shall die with him."
"Nay!"
Faster than she thought possible the knife in Owen’s hand flew through the air. Verena had stepped forward while she spoke and now was completely exposed. Though Cairn thrust her to the side she knew it was too late. She saw her fate written on the flash of the blade.
They crashed to the ground in a painful heap. Cairn tried to cushion her as he fell, but the weight of his armor was suffocating. It took her a moment of disbelief to realize the knife had not found her after all. Looking around she discovered Hadran had planted himself firmly in her path and blocked the knife with his body.
"Hadran!" she shrieked. She tried to push Cairn off and run to her mentor, but Cairn wouldn’t let her up. Chaos had broken loose in the small clearing when Owen released his blade. Seeing his chance to escape Gundy elbowed Owen sharply in the ribs and ordered his men to attack. He might have been saved, but Owen had more than one weapon on his large frame.
A small opening beneath his arm had provided Gundy’s armor with flexibility of movement. Unfortunately his armorer had not anticipated Owen’s skillful attack. Another knife was in his hand and thrust into the unprotected flesh before Owen was pulled from Gundy’s seat.
The English soldiers grabbed their weapons and turned on the Scots, infuriated by their lord’s betrayal and ready to take their anger out on anyone who happened to be near. Mary had long since grabbed the shocked Ivone and dragged her to the treeline. Jon was quick to follow their example when the English broke free.
Seeing the desperate situation Cairn gave a shrill whistle through his front teeth. The Old Lord’s tunnel suddenly burst open, spilling dozens of Scottish and French knights into the clearing led by Cairn’s brother Andreu. Seeing their comrades in danger they threw themselves into the battle. Though terrified for Hadran, she was smart enough to remain pinned beneath Cairn’s armored bulk until it was safe to come out.
The fighting seemed to take forever while she waited to be released, but it only lasted a few minutes. The English were infuriated over the death of their lord, but not nearly as passionate as the Scots defending their homeland. Many of them turned and fled when they saw the Old Lord’s crypt fly open.
When Cairn finally released her she took a deep breath and checked herself for injuries. She was amazed to discover that despite her rough adventures the baby rested comfortably in her belly. Only a tiny kick let her know the child didn’t appreciate such activity.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Nay." Cairn’s response was to once again crush her in his embrace. She would have been content to remain there forever if she wasn’t beset by the need to breathe. "But you are suffocating me."
"I should do more than that after the scare you have given me."
He was furious, but she knew his emotions were the outpouring of relief after battle. Some people cried, or laughed hysterically, but Cairn glowered, trying to rein in his emotions. Understanding the reasons behind his fierceness she tipped her face up and gently kissed away his frown.
Jon was at Hadran’s side trying to staunch the bleeding with a rag. Verena knelt beside the old man, pulling out the medical supplies she had hidden in her skirt pockets. The knife was deep in his shoulder and she knew if she tried to pull it out he would likely bleed to death.
"Why did you do it?" she asked. She blinked rapidly to clear the tears that blurred her vision. Verena was so angry when she learned of Hadran’s betrayal and then he nearly gave his life for her. She told herself Hadran wasn’t her real family, but she couldn’t imagine a father doing more than this dear, old man.
"I couldn’t let him hurt you." The words were whispered as Hadran’s strength seeped out like the blood staining Jon’s cloth. He reached up to grasp her hand, but his grip was much weaker than it should be. She held him tightly, trying to squeeze some of her strength into him. "What I did before was for you. I knew how you felt about the Scot, but I have been with Gundy far too long. I thought it best to stay with him."
"You don’t have to apologize. I need you to save your strength. I am going to pull this knife out and I don’t expect you to like it."
"It is more than I deserve for my stupid meddling."
His melodrama forced a chuckle from Jon’s clenched lips. "I hope you remember those words when you are on your feet again."
Long before they were finished sewing Hadran’s wound he passed out from the pain. Cairn knelt by her side when he finished giving orders for the English soldiers. The surviving knights were to be held until the English armies dispersed. Without Gundy’s leadership she had no doubt the truce between the bickering lords would soon dissolve. Gundy and his fallen knights were to be stored in the Old Lord’s crypt until Cairn decided what to do with the bodies. It was an ignoble end to a man with such a high opinion of himself.
"Will he survive?"
She continued to tightly bind Hadran’s wound, knowing if she stopped the slight tremble in her fingers would become uncontrollable. She tried to be the strong, capable agent Hadran taught her to be, but the strain of the last few days was more than she could bear. She thought she was going to die along with Cairn and her unborn child. The shock of her last minute reprieve turned her knees to jelly. Only by focusing on Hadran had she been able to keep the flood of emotions at bay and not completely disgrace herself before Cairn’s men.
"That is up to the old man. I have done all I can."
"If anyone is stubborn enough to pull through this it is Hadran," Jon chimed in. "I have been telling him for days the McPherson would make a much better master than Gundy, but he wouldn’t listen."
"Master?" Cairn reared his head in surprise, looking from one spy to the next. "What do you mean?"
"Just imagine what our skills can do for you."
"I believe you have done more than enough already," countered Cairn, running his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "I have no interest in Gundy’s methods."
"But we’ve always been together and we earn our keep. Isn’t that right, Mary?" Jon’s young chin jutted forward impudently. Like Verena, he had been taking care of himself for a long time but he had grown to love his family of spies. His future was less than certain. Mary had been watching this exchange in silence with one arm around the terrified Ivone.
"You may stay as long as you wish," Cairn replied. "But I am no Gundy. If you truly wish me to be your ‘master’ I have a few rules for you. First, you are retired. Second, you must come to my wedding."
"Your wedding?" She was so startled she dropped the medical supplies she had been collecting.
"Aye, Verena. Will you marry me?"
"I cannot. I’m a peasant …"
"Do you love me?"
"Of course."
Cairn pressed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips before continuing. "You are the person I want in my life and in my bed. I want our children to have your strength, intelligence and kindness. Your nobility is in your spirit. That means more to me than any pedigree. Say you will marry me."
For a long moment she couldn’t speak as tears wracked her frame. She knew she was in love with Cairn, but never expected to marry him. What happened to the spoiled, selfish knight he was supposed to be? She realized long ago those words could never apply to Cairn. She nodded because
her throat was still closed with tears.
The forest erupted with cheers as Cairn took her into his arms again. Even the baby kicked in appreciation.
"In that case," interrupted Jon when he could be heard above the shouts of the soldiers. He let out a shrill whistle and a young lad stepped forward, leading several packed horses into the clearing. "Consider this an early wedding present."
Andreu opened one of the sacks to examine the contents and swore loudly in surprise before pouring several silver coins into his hand.
"Remind me to invite you to my wedding," he teased. "If I ever find a lass as fair as our Verena."
"I may be able to help you with that. As Gundy discovered, the possibilities of my talents are endless, but they do not come cheaply."
Jon led Andreu into the Old Lord’s tomb while boasting of his many exploits. Though he intended to stay with her, Jon was too young to retire and had no interest in becoming a shepherd or farmer.
"I’ll speak to him," she said, noting Cairn’s bemused expression.
"I wonder what would have become of the treasure if I had not allowed a group of enemy spies into my clan?"
"Some questions are better left unanswered. What will you do with your stepmother?"
"I will not see her harmed, but she has done too much to forgive. Andreu has a small manor in southern France where she cannot cause trouble."
Some people could cause trouble no matter where they were placed, but she wouldn’t ruin the beautiful moment by pointing that out. She hoped Ivone’s bevy of spoiled, aristocratic females would go with her.
Though Andreu’s French soldiers and supplies had arrived before the English siege, there was much to be done before the McPhersons could feel safe. They had no guarantee the invaders would slip away once they learned of Gundy’s death. There were more mouths to feed, but at the moment she was blissfully happy knowing that no matter what dangers appeared in the future, she would face them with the man she loved.
Seducing the Laird Page 25
