Coira watched her brother perch himself on the ledge of the parapet wall, not that he had a need to do so, given his current state of being. “You are speaking of Garrick, I suppose.”
“I certainly did not mean Morgan, although he, too, cares for your well-being.” Rolf folded his arms across his chest.
Coira rubbed at her eyes. “Garrick and I have fallen into disaccord,” she mumbled.
“Then make amends. ’Twill not be hard for you both to do so.”
Her brow rose at his implication. “You think ’twill be so easy to forgive him?”
“He must needs forgive you as well, Coira. ’Tis not his fault you assumed he was one of Dristan’s knights. Forgiving each other will be a good beginning for you both. Besides, I have given him my blessing and he will be here shortly, so you will need to decide your fate quickly.”
She put her hands upon her hips and made an attempt to appear stern, causing her brother to laugh as he did in their youth. “’Tis nice of you to decide on my behalf who I will wed, brother. I am not sure we can fix the problem facing us so easily. Not without Dristan’s blessing.”
“Only a blind man could not see for himself how you are both connected. He will make you happy, Coira, if you but give him the chance to prove his love to you,” Rolf declared.
Coira gave a heavy sigh. “I suppose you see things us mere mortals here upon earth cannot, so I must needs take your word for it.”
Rolf said not a word. He rose, and drew close to hover in the air at her side. He reached out to touch her cheek, and Coira felt her face tingling. “I will always be near, sweet sister. Keep me forever in your heart.”
Before Coira could answer him, he was gone, fading into a hint of smoky vapor. Her knees buckled with his disappearance, whilst tears rushed down her cheeks. She had just had an encounter with her deceased brother! She had no further time to ponder her brother’s miraculous appearance before she heard the turret door open. Turning, she saw Garrick’s approach and knew he already owned her heart.
Chapter 11
Garrick had almost reached the turret door when he encountered Fira on the narrow stairs. Their eyes briefly met when they passed one another but he had no time to worry over the troublesome look she gave him. He had bigger problems on his mind than to wonder what she was doing so far from Berwyck’s kitchen.
Coira was standing on the parapet and Garrick observed Coira’s reaction when he appeared through the turret portal. Any hint of remaining anger was quickly replaced with relief he had sought her out… or at least, ’twas Garrick’s wish she was happy to see him.
Garrick went to her. Taking her hands, he began to rub the coolness from her fingers. “Can ye forgive me, Coira, for not telling ye the truth myself?”
Coira gave a heavy sigh. “I am as much to blame as you are, Garrick.”
He continued to rub his thumb across her hand. “Then we must needs forgive one another and go forward. ’Tis the only way for us tae begin anew.”
A tear slid slowly down her cheek and he took a moment to wipe it away with a kiss.
“’Tis hopeless, Garrick,” she sobbed.
“Doonae worry yerself, lass. We shall think of something,” he whispered, and suddenly found his arms full when his lady reached out to him for support. He could do nothing less but clutch her trembling body to his own. “Please, Coira… I cannae stand yer tears.”
“If my cousin will not give his consent for us to wed, he will marry me to another. How will I bear it?”
How indeed, he thought remembering once again his meeting with Laird Dristan. His laird had warned Garrick that his life would be all but over if he so much as touched the hem of Coira’s gown. And now here he was with his arms wrapped around his lady offering her what comfort he could.
“Hush now, my sweet. Dry yer eyes. I willnae have this upsetting ye.” Coira lifted her head and he looked into her tear-filled eyes. He swore his heart broke all over again and he could not imagine a life without this woman at his side. He pushed back a lock of her hair that fell across her face and laid a kiss upon her forehead.
“I cannot marry another, Garrick,” she said, echoing his own thoughts, “not when my heart’s desire is to belong only to you.”
“’Twill not come to that, I promise ye.”
“You cannot make such a vow, Garrick, and I will not hold you to it. You know my cousin better than most. When his mind is made up, he will not change it. He had decided I will marry no less than a knight. How are we to move on, Garrick?” She groaned, pulling her hands from his and placing them behind her back.
“We shall think of something,” he answered, despite his doubt they would be able to find a solution to their problem. When all was said and done, he still held no title and had no right to wed a noblewoman.
“I am still the ward of Lord Dristan. Do you honestly think he will readily give my hand in marriage?” Her words echoed his thoughts.
“Ye mean to a lowly clan piper?” he fumed, turning from her, afraid in his anger he might say something he would regret. Still, his words rushed out of his mouth before he could stop them. “’Tis obvious ye do not wish tae be called the piper’s lady but feel ye must needs hold out for a higher, lofty title.”
“If you knew me at all, then you would know a title has little meaning to me. Such a status never did. I measure a person not by their status in life but by how they treat others, myself included,” she snapped lifting her chin in defiance.
He conceded her point with a short nod, for they had not really spent much time together having speech about their lives and how they had lived. “Again, I apologize for my words. I can plead my cause tae Laird Dristan. He and his lady will understand we have feelings for one another.”
Her brow rose at his words. “And do you have feelings for me, Garrick?”
“How can ye doubt me… or us, for that matter?”
“’Tis a near impossible situation we find ourselves in. I cannot change who I am and that I am expected to marry a nobleman,” Coira retorted sadly.
“Is this what you want? Tae marry someone else?” Garrick asked, his heart faltering at the thought of Coira belonging to another man.
She covered her face with her hands. “The thought of marrying any man, no less a complete stranger, never even occurred to me. I never expected to marry at all, for who would want me for his wife?” she bawled.
“I would. I will make him see reason, Coira, and prove my worth upon the lists,” Garrick proclaimed. “Trust me…”
She gave a heavy sigh. “You know I do with my very life, Garrick. Now kiss me as a token of your affection, for I must needs return to Amiria’s solar before I am missed.” She closed her eyes and leaned back her head.
He wasted no time claiming the lady’s lips, and she more than proved her own desires when he deepened their kiss. He was unsure how long they stood there wrapped up in their own little world, but the sound of Coira’s name being called from the turret stairs broke the spell woven around them. Not wishing to be caught openly disobeying his liege lord, he reluctantly set Coira back from his arms.
“I must go,” she declared, even though her eyes told him she would rather stay. “I will see you at the evening meal.”
He could only nod in response, not trusting himself to have further speech with the lady. Instead, he watched her leave to disappear down the stairway. Garrick leaned his arms against the battlement wall, lost in thought, till he felt a hand upon his arm. He did not expect to see Fira at his side. Her eyes were swimming pools of jealousy, for she clearly could not mask the emotions etched upon her mutinous face.
“What is it, Fira?” he asked, almost hating to hear her answer. She had been bothersome of late with hopes that there was something between them. He was unsure where she had gotten such a notion for he had been nothing but polite to her in the past.
“What does that outsider have that I do not?” Fira hissed, reaching for his arm. He pried her fingers away but she only step
ped closer.
“I willnae discuss the Lady Coira with ye,” he answered, hoping she would let the matter rest. Such was not going to be the case.
“Ye shall regret not taking me up on my offer, Garrick. ’Tis best tae stay with yer own kind instead of thinking ye can wed someone above yer station.”
Garrick scowled, her words thrusting into his heart like a dagger. He did not need Fira to remind him that he was only the clan’s piper and not a knight. “Doonae be daft, Fira. I have already told ye I am not interested in what ye offer tae any of the men who pass through Berwyck’s gates. Be off with ye and mind yer own business.” His voice was harsh as he lost what little patience he had left.
Fira gave a bitter laugh. “Ye best remember my words, Garrick,” she answered leaning her shoulder upon the wall and crossing her arms.
“If ye willnae leave me in peace, then stay and enjoy yer view,” Garrick huffed. He gave her no further thought and made his way back to the lists. He would pour every ounce of energy he possessed into proving to Laird Dristan he was worthy to wed the fair Coira.
Chapter 12
Coira had begun to lose hope of ever having a relationship with Garrick. There had been no more time for stolen moments together, not when Dristan kept her under close watch. Several knights had begun showing up at Berwyck’s gates at Dristan’s invitation. They were here to court her and, on the surface, went out of their way to win her favor. But no matter how gallant they appeared to be, Coira learned for herself they were only interested in being connected to King Henry’s champion knight. They praised her cousin any chance they could, and discussed her dowry when they thought she wasn’t listening. ’Twas clear they were only interested in the connections and wealth they would attain by wedding Coira.
Dristan grumbled when Coira turned one man down after the other. With Amiria’s help at soothing her fiery dragon’s temper, he began to back down on his efforts to find Coira a husband, at least for now. He said he would widen his search to find her a proper husband. She would enjoy this short reprieve whilst she had it, knowing her cousin’s relentless quest to see Coira properly wed.
She leaned back against the wall behind the stone bench on which she sat to watch the men training in the lists. A sense of déjà vu brought a smile to her face. She remembered the first time she had seen Garrick upon the training field. He was just as magnificent now as he had been months ago, mayhap even more so. He had poured every spare moment into his training in his attempt to prove to her cousin he would be worthy of her, and his efforts were paying off.
Her eyes lovingly moved down the entire length of his body and she suppressed a moan at what she saw. Garrick was shirtless, allowing her gaze to all but devour every inch of his lean muscled stomach. Sweat glistened upon his skin whilst he continued to swing his sword in long even strokes. Watching him now, she would have never guessed he was the clan’s piper. He appeared every inch a trained knight of Berwyck’s garrison guards.
Another low moan threatened to escape her lips as desire for the man she cared for made her body tingle in response. If they did not wed soon, she swore she might make a fool of herself and beg the man to bed her. ’Twas a sin, she knew, but she cared less and less about her virginity. She only wished to claim Garrick as her husband. But how were they to convince her cousin they should wed? She did not care if she became known as the piper’s lady.
“Ye should go back tae where ye came from,” hissed a woman who had crept up on Coira whilst her attention had been riveted on Garrick’s magnificent form. The woman’s eyes radiated enough animosity that Coria instantly knew this woman hated her but why? Coira recognized the young woman as one of the castle servants.
Confused, Coira peered closely at the woman, as though she should know what the girl was blabbering about. “Excuse me?”
“Go home! Ye dinnae belong here,” she fumed, with fists clenched at her side.
Coira came to a stand as she began to understand that perchance the woman also held an affection for a certain clan piper.
“You are Fira, are you not?” she inquired softly, hoping to put the girl at ease. She did not wish to have any enemies within the castle. The woman served her food and ’twas anyone’s guess what this girl might plan for her. However, Coira would also not let anyone intimidate her and belittle what she felt for Garrick.
“Aye,” Fira answered, taking deep gulping breaths of air as if to calm her growing anger.
“Berwyck is my home, Fira. Did you not hear Lord Dristan’s announcement that he is my cousin?” Coira asked.
“Ye cannae have him,” she shouted when her emotions got the best of her.
“Are you speaking of Garrick?”
“Of course, I am speaking of Garrick. He is mine.” Fira made the proclamation with a toss of her head.
So… Coira was right in her assumption that Fira was in love with the man too. “Garrick is honorable, is he not?” she inquired with a small smile.
“Aye! He is one of the most honorable men I have ever met.” Fira’s smirk boasted a confidence that would be fleeting.
“Then you must agree with me that Garrick would never carelessly give his attention to another if he truly cared for someone.”
Fira’s mouth opened and closed several times as though she was attempting to find a fitting response. “Ye cannae have him,” she repeated, although this time her words were barely above a whisper. Tears began to leak from her eyes.
“I believe that is for Garrick alone to decide,” Coira responded. Before Fira could reply, Amiria came running toward the lists.
“Dristan! Garrick!” she called out as she came to stand next to Coira. “Fira! What are you doing so far from the kitchen? Get back to work.” Fira left, with tears streaming down her face.
Dristan and Garrick quickly came to their side.
“What is the matter, wife?” Dristan asked, glaring at Garrick for standing entirely too close to Coira.
“’Tis Royce. I cannot find him anywhere,” Amiria said before being crushed into her husband’s embrace. “I have been searching nigh unto an hour. No one has seen him since the noon meal.”
Coira stood silent whilst watching the couple before her. Both so strong yet concern for their child left them both helpless. A small price to pay for the responsibility of parenthood.
Garrick put on his tunic and took Coira’s hand. She held on tightly, not caring if Dristan saw this display of affection. “We shall find him, my lady,” Garrick replied. “He cannae have gone far.”
Dristan called out to his knights. “My son has gone missing. Scour the surrounding area of the castle, the forest, even the beach. I want him found before the evening meal!”
Knights scattered as if their fire-breathing dragon had scorched the ground behind them, and their tails with it. Coira watched them leave before turning her gaze to Garrick.
“I want to help find Royce,” she whispered to the man who still clasped her hand in his. He placed a kiss upon her knuckles.
“By yer leave, my laird,” Garrick said, standing tall and proud as though to give Dristan the opportunity to berate him for touching his ward.
“Granted. You know the lad better than most.” He pointed his finger sternly between the two of them. “But do not think we shall not be discussing whatever this is going on between you and Lady Coira.”
“I love him, Dristan,” Coira said, with a confidence that proved her words were true.
“Bah! You barely know one another,” Dristan insisted with a scowl.
“I love him,” she reaffirmed, lifting her chin.
Dristan’s brow rose. “As I said… we shall discuss this later… after my son has been found.”
Coira smiled and loosened her grip on Garrick’s hand to stand before her cousin. Amiria smiled at her and gave her a wink, even though Coira could see how concerned she was for her son.
Coira rose up on her toes and placed a kiss on Dristan’s cheek. “I love you too, cousin.”
&nbs
p; Dristan grumbled some sort of a reply but Coira was already grasping Garrick’s hand as they hastened in the search for Royce. Where could the boy have gone?
Chapter 13
Knowing the outside perimeter of the castle was being carefully search by the garrison knights, Garrick pulled Coira with him to search the keep once more. The lad could be hiding anywhere but, somewhere in the back of his mind, Garrick had the feeling Royce was in trouble.
They were half way across the great hall when they encountered Kenna, Berwyck’s healer. She rushed toward them and grasped Garrick’s arm. The woman swayed, eyes rolling back in her head before she began to fall.
“Kenna,” Coira called out reaching for the woman.
“Dinnae touch her, Coira,” Garrick warned. “She has the sight and touching her may cause her to spin in an entirely different direction.”
“As you wish, Garrick,” she replied, as she lowered herself next to Kenna on the floor.
Garrick looked up to espy Fira near the kitchen. “Fira! Find Sir Geoffrey and tell him his wife will need him.”
“Ye cannae order me about!” she said with pursed lips.
“Not now, Fira. Please do as I ask,” Garrick ordered and watched her leave to deliver his message… or so he hoped.
Garrick and Coira continued to carefully watch over Kenna, unable to do anything till her vision had passed. ’Twas not the first time that Garrick had witnessed such an occurrence, although Kenna rarely had anything of import to pass onto him.
Several minutes passed till Kenna’s eyes began to flutter open. “Garrick… ’tis Royce!
“Do ye ken where he is, Kenna?” he asked, worry etching his brow.
“’Tis dark and cold,” she began. “He cannae move for someone has tied him up. The poor lad is scared, Garrick. Ye must find him!”
“Let us get ye near a chair by the hearth. Can ye stand, Kenna?” he inquired.
"Aye… with a wee bit of help,” she said.
The Piper’s Lady: The MacLarens (Book Three) Page 6
