Conquered Heart (Legend of the King's Guard Book 1)

by Kara Griffin

  Graeme took the cup Brodin handed him. He raised it. “For all the shite we went through this year.”

  “Aye, it’s been about a year since we returned to Scotland,” Liam said.

  “Here’s to another eventful year.” Brodin raised his cup.

  “And to the king’s return.” Heath lifted his cup.

  To the king’s return, they all said in unison.

  *Author’s Note*

  Dear readers,

  When I came up with the idea for this series, I must admit that I was excited. However through research and writing these stories, I am heavy-hearted. The Wars of Independence were a difficult time for many people on both sides of Scottish and English borders. Many lost their lives.

  When I write characters that lived during those times, I am especially diligent about how I portray them. I like to ensure I’m putting them in the right time and place. For a few purposes, I’ve had to alter a few things, but mostly kept to the historical fact of the timeline.

  Robert the Bruce was indeed an honorable king. It was said he had fled the country after killing Comyn and when he was inspired by the spider to try, try again, he returned. His family was captured as I’ve included in Conquered Heart by Edward’s army. Sadly they were held in cages and his brother executed. Robert lost many he loved during this turbulent time. Still, I imagined him to be a gallant warrior king.

  The Black Douglas, James, was a guerrilla fighter who was on a mission to make those pay who stole his land. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with during the wars. I imagined him to be a gruff man who enjoyed warfare pursuits and reveled in defeating anyone he came across. I did take liberty with the medicinals, but since he was tutored in France and had world knowledge, I thought, hmmm … James would so do this to make himself more invincible like other ancient soldiers did. Whether you think James was a villain or a hero, I leave that up to you.

  Sir Andrew Moray died apparently during or after the battle of Stirling. There is no specific date given of his death. I chose to have him taken home where he could be buried at his beloved Bothwell Castle. His son was captured by the English and returned to his birthright some years later. Young Andrew, when he reached his majority, joined with the Bruce and was successful in many battle campaigns.

  To find out more about the songs included in the story, please visit:

  Song Graeme sings to the bairn:

  http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item100326.html

  Song Kerrigan sings to Graeme:

  http://www.contemplator.com/child/morndew.html

  As to the Ghost Warriors, there really was a Germanic force that covered themselves with soot, and were renowned in their fighting tactics against the Romans. Their desire to fight for their land is quite inspiring.

  Join me in the next adventure of the Legend of the King’s Guard and we shall find out how Liam fares with a lass who is sure to torment his UNBREAKABLE HEART.

  Happy historical reading.

  Fondly,

  Kara Griffin

  Coming Soon

  UNBREAKABLE HEART

  The Legend of the King’s Guard

  Book Two

  Here’s a sneak peek:

  After losing the love of his life, Liam of Clan Kincaid is sent in service for what his uncle considers betrayal. Liam gives himself to the battle wearied king, Robert the Bruce, and vows to mend his tarnished reputation. That would be easy if not for the lass who insists he aids her.

  Makenna Mackenzie has lived through hell. Her home and land taken by the English. All she wants to do is seek vengeance on the man who cut off her ear and destroyed everything dear in her heart. The only way to achieve her goal is to plead with the legendary king’s guard. She wants them to train her to be a mercenary like they so she can use her sword to the fullest when she finally meets her enemy.

  Liam finds himself in a quandary because Makenna is not the sweet lass he deems her to be. But his unbreakable heart can withstand her, can’t it?

  Excerpt to follow…

  ~ Exclusive Advanced Reader Copy Excerpt ~

  Excerpt may differ from published version

  Prologue

  Balloch Castle

  West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

  April, 1303

  Fire swathed the entire village and nearby loch with light. High flames from numerous bonfires lit the sky and lent a glow through the trees and over the waters. Their celebration of the Beltane was in full swing. Liam, the laird’s nephew, ran naked through the trees and caught up to the sweet vixen that teased him. Blayre fell to the grass, he rolled next to her, and captured her in his arms.

  He’d taken to drink much earlier in the day. A pleasant lethargic mien came over him and he was lulled by its affect. For days his uncle beleaguered him to take a wife. To which his father’s lands would finally be given to him. He’d waited for three years for his uncle to make a decision. The lands were initially given to his mother, but when she died, they reverted back to her brother. His uncle placed one stipulation on the covenant that he be wedded before he could return home.

  Woman after woman was set before him, and yet he balked. It wasn’t that he abhorred marriage or that the ladies were unacceptable. It was because his heart was already taken. Blayre besieged his heart, and he was besotted at first glance. No other woman caught his gaze since. Unbeknownst to his uncle, the lass he wanted to wed was unfortunately the daughter of their clan’s most hated rival, the MacDoughalls.

  Away from the revelers, he lay back and pulled his sweetheart into his arms. “Och ye don’t want to be leaving so soon, love. Come and lay with me.”

  She pressed a hand on his naked chest. “I must away. There are too many about. Someone will see us. Danger abounds.”

  “There is always danger around us.” Liam regarded the bonnie face of his lover. Her light eyes took on an unaccountable concern, for he wouldn’t allow anyone to interrupt their time together. He’d picked the spot purposely knowing none would come near the waters during the celebration. She relaxed against him, and he held her tightly. Her lips, full and lush called, and he would do nothing but spend the night kissing her.

  He set his mouth on hers and felt the sweet response of her lips. His hands moved fast lest she changed her mind and reject him. Liam stroked her body, effectually causing his desire to swell with need. He had only been with her one other time and it wasn’t enough. He’d never be sated nor satisfied with naught less than the surrender of her heart.

  As he joined his body with hers, she gasped and writhed beneath him. He kept up the gentle thrusts, mindlessly unaware of the merriment beyond them. Liam patiently waited for Blayre to culminate before he was released from the strain of holding back. He shouted his climax, and his breath harsh. Never had he experienced such utter volatile pleasure.

  “I should go, my love, before someone comes.”

  He held fast to her waist. “No one would dare interrupt us. Stay, for I wish to hold you a wee bit longer.” Liam lay next to her and peered to the dark sky above. With the bonfires surrounding them, he could barely see a star. “I wish to tell my uncle of you and our betrothal. We will confront him together and make our wishes known.”

  She gasped. “Liam, we cannot. My father would never agree and I cannot gainsay him. You ask too much.”

  “Will ye leave me and break my heart?” He pouted, knowing he had to say something to gain her agreement. “I want no other woman but you. I will wed no other. ‘Tis time our clans understands this.” Liam cupped the softness of her bared arse. “Tell me that you love me as I do you.”

  She opened her lips to respond, but turned when riders bounded from the trees. Liam stood and helped her to rise. He pushed her behind him, and hid her nakedness from the intruders.

  “Och, there ye be, Liam.” Micheol, his cousin, the eldest son on his uncle, Laird Lennox, the Earl, had a smirk upon his face. He whistled and more men came, all sat on their horses awaiting him. “What’d ye have there, a Goddess,
a fairy?” He bellowed with raucous laughter.

  Liam hated him with the might of a thousand thorns. He was definitely a prick and one no matter how much caution he used, his cousin still smarted him.

  His uncle Mormaer rode forward. He wore a hauberk of fur with leather bands circling his chest and arms and appeared ready for battle. Mormaer Lennox was one of the most formidable warriors in all the kingdom and he showed his might with the hard gaze he now wore.

  “I sent Micheol looking for ye, lad. We are to journey to meet with Wallace and Moray for they have called men to arms. We’re to Falkirk. Can’t say I’m not pleased, for we’ll be going against the English. About time we squelch the England and banish them from our lands.”

  Liam retrieved his tartan from the ground and fastened it around his waist. His uncle dismounted and walked toward him. He stopped a few feet short of reaching him and scowled.

  “I didn’t mean to keep ye, Laird.”

  “I see ye were honoring the spring rites.” He laughed and turned to peer at his men. “As we all should be, but there is a greater need presently. None of us have time for such amusements.” Lord Lennox tilted his head, and scrutinized Blayre. “Micheol, is this not the MacDoughall lass?”

  “I believe it is, Da.” Micheol dismounted and stood next to his father.

  “Liam, lad, why would ye go against us and couple with this rabble?”

  He stepped back and stood in front of Blayre. She’d dressed and looked fearful for Laird Lennox was known for his brutality. He wished he could say something to appease her, but decided now was the time to voice his wishes.

  “Laird, we are together. Aye and I will ask her father for her hand.”

  His uncle grasped his arm and flung him forward. Micheol rushed forth and took Blayre’s arms. The awaiting men pulled their swords free. The moment was more tumultuous than Liam had considered or expected.

  “Ye be a treasonous lad. This is the kin of our most hated enemy. Surely ye wouldn’t go against us, me, your own laird. Tell me it is false and I shall be relieved.”

  “I cannot,” he said with conviction. “She is mine and I am hers.”

  His uncle pressed his hand on the back of his neck. He’d never seen his laird appear more perturbed. “Have I not been a giving uncle? I took care of your own mother, God rest her, when your own father died. Och my heart is repelled with your deceit.” He threw the back of his hand and struck his head.

  Liam kept to his feet and hoped to mend the situation. “Uncle, the lass has nothing to do with our riff with the MacDoughalls. I mean no disrespect, but I care for her and want to keep her safe.”

  “The hell she doesn’t have anything to do with it. She’s their own blood kin. Take her, Micheol, and toss the rabble in a ditch.”

  Micheol turned and pulled Blayre along with him. Liam ran past his uncle and yanked his cousin back. “Nay, release her. You won’t be taking her anywhere.” He turned and spotted his sword on the ground, but it was too far a way to retrieve in time.

  His uncle marched forward and unsheathed his sword. He aimed it at his chest and Liam didn’t think for one second that his uncle would hold back. He knew his peril.

  “The lass be gone. I won’t have a MacDoughall on my land. Micheol, rid my presence of her. Return with haste for we must depart within the hour.”

  His cousin took the handful of men with him, leaving Liam alone to face his uncle’s wrath.

  “I am disappointed, Liam. Of all my nephews, I thought ye be the most devoted, the most trustworthy, the most loyal. Och we all make errors in judgment. Am I wrong about you? Where do your loyalties lie?”

  Liam kept his eyes on his uncle and he spoke in a confident tone. “Laird, of course my loyalty is yours. It shall always be. I’ll defend you and Scotland with all that I am, but I love the lass. Can you not see reason and return her to me? Haven’t you loved a woman so much that you’d do anything to win her, to protect her?”

  “You’ve your father’s passionate nature, but nay I never have and likely never will. A woman is good for producing bairns and keeping your home. That lass is unworthy of ye, Liam. The thought of your children born with her blood sickens me. I will not allow your insolence or her return. You must make a good marriage, Liam, for if ye want the blood of your kin to further your line, the line of your father … I have given ye a choice in your wife, but no longer.”

  Ire such as he never felt came upon him. Liam wanted to thrash his uncle, to hurt him as he’d done to him. He knew not what to say, and the only thought that kept coming to him was that he’d lost his only love.

  “I will make the pact with my good comrade, the Mackenzie. Aye, for you will wed his oldest daughter. It will be done, Liam, and ye won’t refute me.”

  “You wed her for I will not. I won’t allow ye to choose my wife.” Liam stood firm in his decision. He wouldn’t back down no matter what his uncle did or said.

  His uncle scowled and shoved him. “You defy my order?”

  Liam wanted to shout the frustration that built inside him. “If I cannot have Blayre, then I shall have none.”

  “I should kill ye as I would any other who betrayed me.” His uncle took a step forward and grabbed his neck, the sword held tight, positioned to run him through.

  Liam stood rigidly even though he had but a moment to live. “Do your will then for I am not sorry for what I did.”

  His uncle lifted his elbow as if he was about to thrust the sword. Liam didn’t flinch. Laird Lennox lowered his arm. “Alas I promised your mother I would see to your protection. I shall not kill ye, but I cannot allow you to stay on our lands.”

  “Are you banishing me?” Incredulous at his uncle’s wrath, he resisted the urge to shout his appall.

  “For a time. Mayhap you’ll learn what loyalty means in the Bruce’s service. Given time I might have the heart to forgive you.”

  “I will not leave without Blayre.”

  He cuffed his head. “Aye you will and you’ll be forgetting her. Trust me, lad, this is the greatest gift I can give you. You’ll wed the Mackenzie lass as I bid when ye return from your service. One day you will thank me for this gift.”

  Liam had no choice but to follow his uncle. He was furious about losing Blayre, but not about being banished. One day he’d repay his uncle for his gift, and his thanks would come with his retribution.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kara Griffin has been writing for over 17 years, publishing over 15 novels, and has received praise from readers and reviewers alike. She’s been married for over 27 years and has raised 3 daughters, who are on their own paths to love. Her first grandchild arrived early and she’s excited about being a grandma and having a baby to spoil.

  When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching any sort of historical dramas and also favors historical mystery shows. Yes, Hallmark’s Mysteries & Murder channel is a favorite. Her writing partner, a fat tabby named Pearl can usually be found trying to steal items from her desk.

  Visit Kara on Facebook at:

  www.facebook.com/AuthorKaraGriffin

  Or visit her website at:

  http://karagrif66.wix.com/authorkaragriffin

  She always enjoys hearing from readers,

  so be sure to say hello.

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