A Warrior's Heart

by Laurel O'Donnell

  “My lord,” said Jack, walking into the stable with a travel bag that looked full. “I have the food you requested for your outing.”

  “Fasten it to the horse, Squire. And do hurry because it looks like it might rain.”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  Within a few minutes, they were mounted and ready to ride. When they made their way to the drawbridge, Sweetcakes ran after them, wanting to follow.

  “Nay, go back,” said Lance. “Jack, get the dog.”

  “Aye, my lord,” called out his squire from behind him.

  “Are ye sure she canna come with us?” Coira looked over her shoulder to see Jack chasing the dog around the courtyard.

  “I want to be alone with you, Coira. No other people and no dogs!”

  “Oh. All right.”

  They rode to the river and stopped on the bank to eat. Coira sat down on a blanket as Lance laid out the food in front of them.

  “Tell me about yerself,” said Coira, picking up a sweetmeat and popping it in her mouth.

  “What do you want to know?” Lance pulled a chicken leg out of the bag and took a bite.

  “How can someone as nice as ye be related to someone as evil as the late Lord Ralston?”

  “My late mother was a half-sister to my twin uncles. I grew up only having met them a few times since my mother never liked them. She passed away from fever when I was very young.”

  “I can understand why she didna like them.” Coira picked up a hunk of bread and nibbled at it. “Do ye have any siblin’s?”

  “Nay. I am an only child. My father passed away ten years ago. He was a knight but held just a small amount of land and a manor house. It is where I lived before I attained Liddel Castle.”

  “Where is it?” she asked.

  “It is in Northumbria.”

  “And do ye still own it?”

  “I do. However, now that I have Liddel Castle, I will be selling it.”

  “Is it important ye live in a castle?” She looked down and picked at the bread.

  “Of course it is. Every knight yearns for lands of his own and the protection of castle walls. A castle is a man’s dream.”

  “I dinna think it is that important. After all, gypsies raised me when my mathair died birthin’ me. I lived out in the wilderness and slept in a tent.”

  “That must have been awful.” Lance picked up a skin of wine and uncorked it, holding it out to her first. She took a drink and gave it back to him.

  “It was all we had. My sister, Effie, raised me.”

  “Was Zara one of the gypsies that lived with you?”

  “Nay,” Coira answered. “She is a friend of the MacKeefes.”

  Lance nodded. “And afterward, you lived with the MacKeefes.”

  “Aye. I lived with Clan MacKeefe, but often I would visit Clan MacDuff. It was nice gettin’ to meet people from my late faither’s family.”

  “Then you never knew your mother or your father?”

  “Nay,” she answered. “Lance, if ye grew up havin’ both parents, then ye are a lucky man, indeed.”

  “I don’t consider myself lucky. Until now, that is, since I’ve married you.” He smiled and leaned over and kissed her. She liked the attention.

  “Dinna ever take for granted those ye love,” she told him. “It is more important than land or a castle or anythin’ else a knight could possess.”

  They finished eating, and after they cleaned up, Lance took her hand and brought her to her feet. “I have a special place to show you.”

  “Where?” she asked, curiously.

  “You’ll see.”

  After taking care of the horses, Lance led her to the opening of a small cave. “In here,” he said.

  “In there?” Instantly, fear washed over Coira. “I dinna like small, dark places.”

  “There is nothing to fear,” he told her, skimming her cheek with his fingers. “I will be with you. Besides, there is light in the entrance of the cave, and we are not going far.”

  “Hold my hand, Lance,” she said as they ducked and entered the cave.

  Lance could see the turmoil on Coira’s face. The girl had a lot of fears, and he wanted to make sure she knew that he would protect her. “Come, Coira,” he said, leading her over to the small pool of water just inside the cave. “Look. It is like a secret place to bathe.”

  “To bathe?” she asked. She glanced up and then down to the water again. “We’re no’ goin’ to get naked out here, are we?”

  “Would that be so bad?”

  “I dinna think I’d like that.”

  “Then let’s just put our feet in the water, shall we?” He sat down and removed his boots, slipping his bare feet into the pool. “Aaaah, this is nice. Try it, Coira.”

  “Well, mayhap.” She sat down and removed her shoes and hose and dipped her toes into the water. “Och, that’s cold.”

  “Naw, I don’t think so. Stick your arm into the water and see. It’s warmer down below the surface.” When she bent over to stick her fingers into the water, he pretended like he was going to throw her in, but held on to her tightly.

  “Nay!” she screamed, making him laugh. “I dinna think that was funny.”

  “Coira, I was just playing with you. I wasn’t really going to dunk you in the water.”

  “Still, I dinna like it. I want to go back to the castle.”

  “All right, have it your way.”

  Coira stood. “Is it really warm enough to swim in the pool?”

  “Of course it is. I’ve done it dozens of time.” Lance stood up, and when he did, Coira took him by surprise. She reached out and pushed him into the water. He landed with a splash, dipping beneath the surface and coming up spitting water from his mouth. “I can’t believe you did that.”

  All her fears had seemed to leave her. She laughed so hard she bent over, holding her sides. Well, he decided two could play this little game.

  “Give me a hand, and we’ll get out of here and return to the castle.” When she reached out to him, he grabbed both her hands in his and winked. “Just jesting.”

  Her eyes opened wide, and she used her feet to try to hold herself away from the water. “Lance, ye are no’ goin’ to –”

  She never got to finish her sentence. He yanked her into the water with him, and she landed with a splash in his arms.

  “I canna swim! I am goin’ to drown,” she screamed.

  He laughed, pulling her safely into his arms. “The water is only waist deep, Wife. Besides, I’ve got you. I assure you that you won’t drown.”

  “But I –”

  He covered her mouth with his, kissing her so passionately that she forgot to be mad or frightened.

  When he pulled back from the kiss, she was smiling. “I see what ye mean,” she said in a soft voice. “The water is gettin’ much warmer now.”

  “And it will continue to get even warmer.” He reached down and slid his hands up her thighs, picking her up, with her legs straddled around him. Pressed up against her, he kissed her once again. She giggled and held on around his neck.

  “Have you ever made love in a pool of water or a cave?”

  “Lance, ye ken I was a virgin when we married.”

  “Well, then, would you like to find out what it’s like?”

  “I’m no’ sure,” she said, her eyes glancing back and forth.

  “Don’t worry. No one is going to see us.”

  “Well, mayhap.”

  They probably would have made love in the water like Lance wanted if a loud crash of thunder from outside the cave hadn’t startled Coira.

  “It’s goin’ to storm,” said Coira, clinging to him so tightly she almost choked him.

  “It’s all right, Coira. Please don’t tell me you are afraid of storms, too?”

  She glanced out the entrance of the cave to the dark clouds rolling across the sky. “Lord Ralston kept me locked in the cage in all the elements,” she said with tears in her eyes. “There was a bad storm one night, and
it rained so hard I thought I would drown. I wanted to die before that storm ended.”

  He could see how upset she was and knew he had to get her back to the castle before the sky opened and the downpour started.

  “You’re trembling, Coira.”

  “I’m s-sorry,” she said. “I feel so cold all of a sudden.”

  “Then, let’s get you home.”

  They emerged from the water dripping wet, and hurriedly put on their shoes. Coira didn’t bother to don her wet hose. Once outside, lightning flashed across the sky. Coira jumped and clung to him at the next crash of thunder. Then the rain started to fall.

  “Coira, I want you to ride back with me. I’ll tether your horse to mine.”

  “Thank ye, Lance.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I dinna mean to be so afeard. I thought I was over the bad memories. But when ye brought me to Liddel Castle and I saw the cages as well as Sir Philip, everythin’ became worse.”

  “I’m sorry, Coira.” He reached out and gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you.” He started to think about the conversation they’d had. Coira said castles and land didn’t matter. She had grown up living off the land and in a tent. How could she be satisfied living that way and with gypsies? The girl was amazing.

  He hoisted her up into the saddle as the rain poured down around them. Then he pulled himself up behind her, wrapping his arms around her to stop her trembling and to keep her safe and warm.

  He started thinking about what else she’d said. She told him that all that mattered was the people he loved and not to take them for granted. Had he taken it for granted that she would want to live at Liddel Castle? He had only been trying to give his new wife everything she deserved. Suddenly, he wondered if, mayhap, his values had been misplaced.

  “Coira, I have something I need to tell you.” He decided he didn’t want to keep secrets from her and would tell her what he did. Aye, he would explain to her that keeping the castle was all that mattered to him before, but now he realized that what she said was true. She was more important to him than any castle or land. His heart broke every time he thought about Coira being kept a prisoner in a cage!

  Thunder boomed again, and her fingers dug into his arm. Her body shook harder. Perhaps, he should wait until they were back at the castle and dry. Aye, he wouldn’t upset her anymore right now. He needed her to calm down first before he told her anything that might upset her.

  “What is it, Lance?” she asked.

  “It’ll wait,” he said. “Let’s pick up the pace and get back before it rains any harder.”

  Chapter 10

  Even through Coira’s fear of storms, she felt safe in her husband’s embrace. Her body still trembled, but it was more from being wet and from the cold. They rode through the castle gates just as the sky opened up turning into an even harder downpour.

  “Get inside and into dry clothes,” he told her, dismounting and reaching up to help her from the horse. “Have Zara help you. I’ll meet you in my solar. Jack? Jack,” he called out. “Where are you?”

  “Here I am, my lord,” said Jack, running from the keep, stopping to nod at Coira. “Lady Coira, how was your ride?” he asked.

  “Egads, you fool, tend to the horses,” spat Lance. “This is no time for pleasantries.”

  “Lady Coira!” Zara rushed out to meet them. “You are soaked to the skin. I had no idea the rain was that bad. Come, we’ll go inside and get you into dry clothes.”

  Once inside the solar, Coira changed into dry clothes while Zara made a fire in the hearth. “Give me those wet things,” said Zara, waddling over and taking them from her. Zara looked down at the clothes in her hands and shook her head. “Where are your hose?”

  “Oh, that,” said Coira, running a towel over her wet hair. “My hose are in the travel bag.”

  “Something tells me that you were doing more than just riding and eating food on the grass.”

  “We were, Zara,” she admitted. “Lance took us to a cave with a pool of water inside.”

  “And?” Zara raised a brow.

  “And . . . I pushed him in.” Coira giggled and continued to dry her hair.

  “Then you jumped in after him?”

  “Nay, of course no’,” she said, bringing the towel over to the fire as well. “He pulled me in. We kissed and would have made love if the storm hadna scared me.”

  “Coira, I am starting to think being married has changed you in ways that I don’t understand.”

  “What’s no’ to understand?” Coira smiled, feeling warm inside just thinking about her husband. “Lance is a kind, carin’ man. I feel guid about myself around him. I feel safe when I’m in his arms and I ken he would never hurt me.”

  “Don’t be so sure,” Zara mumbled under her breath, but Coira heard her.

  “Why did ye say that, Zara?”

  “It’s nothing.” Zara spread the wet clothes out around the fire. “Just remember, you chose the card that depicted a blue rose.”

  “Enemies to lovers,” she said, thinking about the card. “It already happened when I married Lance to make the alliance.”

  “Perhaps,” said Zara, acting very odd. “Or perhaps the enemy part has not quite emerged yet.”

  “What are ye sayin’?” asked Coira.

  “You’ll find out. You’ve been shaken up enough today, so don’t worry your head about it.”

  “Nay.” Coira reached out and grabbed Zara’s arm. “If there is somethin’ ye need to tell me, then do so. Dinna keep things from me, Zara.”

  “I don’t want to worry you anymore tonight, but I think you ought to know.”

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  “It’s about Lance.”

  “What about him?”

  “Sit down.” She guided Coira to a chair. “I overheard Lance’s squire telling another knight that Lance tricked you into telling him where the Stone of Destiny is hidden.”

  “Oh, that.” Coira, waved her hand through the air in a dismissing manner. “We already talked about that. I kent he wanted information, and I told him the last hidin’ place of the stone to satisfy his curiosity.”

  “But there’s more.”

  “What more could there be?”

  “Coira, I know the real reason Lance asked you those questions.”

  Coira’s stomach clenched into a knot as the feeling she’d been betrayed entered her mind. “Tell me, Zara. I need to ken the truth.”

  “He gave the information to Sir Philip and that’s where the man went – to collect the Stone of Destiny and give it to King Edward to gain favor in his eyes.”

  “I see.” Coira’s knuckles turned white since she gripped the edge of her chair so hard. “Why would Lance do such a thing?”

  “It seems that Liddel Castle should have gone to Sir Philip after the death of Lord Ralston’s wife. But Lance swooped in and claimed it as his own. Now, Sir Philip means to take it back and fight to do it if he has to. But he told your husband that if he got you to divulge the secret whereabouts of the stone, he would take it to the king and the castle would be Lance’s after all.”

  “My husband betrayed me?” She stood up, feeling that Lance was not the husband she thought him to be.

  The door to the room opened and Lance walked in, followed by Jack. Both of them were sopping wet.

  “Oh, good, there’s a fire,” said Lance, looking toward the hearth. “I am so cold and wet that this is a sight for sore eyes.”

  “My lord, I’ve been trying to tell you something,” said Jack.

  “Ye betrayed me!” shouted Coira, feeling furious. “How could ye?”

  “What?” Lance stood at the fire warming his hands, looking up in confusion.

  “I ken ye told yer uncle about the hidin’ place of the Stone of Destiny only because ye wanted to keep Liddel Castle for yerself.”

  A shadow crossed Lance’s face and he came closer to her. “Coira, I wanted to tell you about it but was waiting until you had calmed dow
n from the storm.”

  “Calmed down? How could I calm down? I trusted ye and yet ye betrayed me.”

  “I understand how you feel, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “There is nothin’ to say,” she snapped.

  “My lord, I think there is something Lady Coira should know,” interrupted Jack.

  “Not now, Jack. Can’t you see I’m trying to talk to my wife?”

  “I thought ye were different, and that ye cared about me,” Coira continued.

  “I do, sweetheart. I care about you very much.” He reached out to touch her on the shoulders. Coira pushed his hands away.

  “Ye are no better than yer uncle.”

  “Now, don’t even say such a thing, because that’s not true.”

  “My lord?” said Jack, once again trying to get Lance’s attention.

  “Not now, Squire.”

  “It is true, and I ken that now. I am only glad that I gave ye the wrong information.” She smugly crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Wrong information?”

  “My lord?” said Jack.

  “What do you mean, wrong information?” A look of fear mixed with disbelief showed in Lance’s eyes.

  “I am no’ daft. I kent ye were tryin’ to find out where the stone is hidden, so I told ye its last hidin’ place.”

  “So, it’s not in the river now?”

  “Nay,” she said with a smile, shaking her head.

  “Then where is it?”

  “No one kens the answer to that but the MadMen MacKeefe. But even if I kent the answer, I wouldna tell ye.”

  “So, you betrayed me as well,” Lance pointed out.

  “That’s different,” she said. “I was only throwin’ ye off the path to protect Scotland’s coronation stone.”

  “You both seem to have betrayed the other,” Zara interrupted.

  “You have no idea what you did,” Lance said in a low and steady voice.

  “My lord,” interrupted Jack once more.

  “God’s eyes, Squire, what is it?” snapped Lance.

  Thunder rumbled off the walls of the castle as rain pelted down against the wooden shutter covering the window.

  “I just thought you and Lady Coira should know that when you left, the dog tried to follow.”