A Warrior's Perception (5 page)

The five-foot and five-inch beauty held her ground under his chin as well as any man. The men in the bailey slunk away as the two headstrong Duncans battled with words and body language. And none of them dared to stay around to hear the outcome, let alone to see it.

“
Why na, I'm eighteen and well past proper age of courtship!
”
she roared back as she handed him a twisted dagger.

“
Nay! I will'na ha'e ye prancin' 'round like a barmaid in front of the blasted vultures at that gatherin',
”
he snapped through clenched teeth.

“
Ye'r bein' stubborn and downright mean. All the girls in the highlands will be there and most of them are only fifteen or sixteen,
”
she screamed at her brother as he aimed the blade.

“
It is na a place I will allow ye to go. The men will slobber all o'er those girls and disgrace the ones that get lured out into the shadows,
”
he argued as he let the dagger fly at the target.
“
Ye are too gullible to be let loose prowlin’ ‘round a bunch of leeches.
”

“
Am I so ugly and homely that ye and Da keep me locked away like a prisoner? Are ye ashamed I am yer sister? Do ye na want me to be married and ha'e babes to sit on yer knee?
”
she asked as she tried to appear distraught.

“
Nay little sister, ye'r a beautiful woman, but it is for yer own good, na man is worthy of ye,
”
he quickly said as his brows etched together.

“
Just let me go, this one time. Please. I ha'e na once been to a gatherin' or to a dance or courted. I swear I will be careful and na attract any attention to myself. Please Crimm, I would be grateful and I'll promise to throw myself o'er a cliff if I shame ye in any way,
”
she pleaded as she let a tear slide down her cheek during her performance.

She desperately wanted to see Calin, her friend from years ago, and knew if she was going to see him she had to play Crimm right into her hands. She had played with Calin in the stables and he had been the first boy she had ever kissed.

When she was thirteen, he had kissed her. It was a new experience and they had kissed often and taught each other how to kiss until their lips ached. But even so, his kisses were always wet and rather poor in comparison to the kisses of Laird McKregan. It had never gotten past
Calin's
unskilled caresses before he had left with his father. He was eighteen then and twenty now.

Andra sighed. Calin’s kisses now seemed dull and empty. Her eyes hazed as she recalled Laird McKregan’s hard hot demanding kiss and the power that had consumed her. She had been so foolish and clung to him. She groaned softly as she wished for just one more kiss from the laird. How she longed to be able to touch his rock hard body and feel his warm breath caressing her neck and whispering in her ear.

Crimm took a deep ragged breath as he looked into his sister's pleading eyes. He could see the longing in her eyes and it tugged hard on his strings. It was an important gathering and he knew that everyone there would be looking for a mate, but how much trouble could she possibly get into?

“
Ye must swear to wear a cape and keep yer face hidden and speak to na one 'cept me,
”
he groaned knowing his decision was going against his better judgment.

Andra's happy smile brightened his heart. He smiled as she flung herself into his arms and kissed his cheek. Any other man would have given her the moon for such a kiss, but her brother tried to stand his ground as she giggled in delight.

“
Swear it!
”
he ordered.

“
Can I speak to Calin if he is there?
”
she asked,
“
As long as I wear my cape and speak to na one else?
”
She almost begged.

“
The stable boy?
”
he questioned.

“
Aye, the freckled faced one that I use to play with as a child,
”
she answered.

“
Only if he is ugly and deformed and already married off to another.
”
Crimm spit,
“
Now off with ye to get dressed 'fore I change my mind and lock ye in yer room!
”

“
I swear I will wear my cape and speak to only ye and Calin,
”
she returned over her shoulder as she ran to her room and under her breath she continued,
“
And to anyone else that I find interestin'.
”

Crimm's head sagged; his thoughts were heavy and taxed. Perhaps Kagan had forgotten about Ell'andra. After all, it had been nearly three years and Andra would soon be nineteen. By highland way of life, she should have been married and with babe by now. He thought she needed a husband to tame her wildness but Crimm knew that her defiance would never allow such a thing.

Crimm frowned, he had given an oath to protect her and keep her intact until his laird came to claim her hand. He must see it through for three more years until her twenty-second birthday; hence the marriage claim would become null and void.

He would permit this one gathering, for naught else but to see Andra happy for a few scant hours. He had kept her locked away and had forbidden her to leave the keep's grounds. His brow nervously pulled up and he hurried to his room to prepare for the gathering. It was only two hours of freedom, two hours too long, two hours with scores of men slobbering over the flesh of young women. By Dagma, he must let her have two hours!

Andra hurried in case Crimm had a change of heart and met him in front of the stables. She wore her best, prettiest white gown and matching slippers. The gold manacle clung tightly to her bicep and a gold locket hung to her exposed bosom. The gown stretched tightly across her breast and they threatened to burst out at any second. She carefully draped the scarlet silk cape around her bare shoulders and pulled the hood over her gold streaked curls. The cape hid her eyes and nose only to actuate her full lips.

A woman’s lips could be a man’s downfall and he groaned. He knew Andra was more than just another pretty face and that was a scary thought. He had overheard more than several of the guards and warriors saying that she was beautiful. Many men had died just to look upon a beauty such as hers. And then, he groaned again.

“
Let us take our lea'e 'fore my sanity returns and I chase ye to yer room!
”
Crimm announced as he helped her up into the carriage.

They arrived an hour and forty-five minutes later at Gildon Castle. The castle overlooked a huge eerie lake and loomed like a black cloud above the shoreline. The dark stone of the castle glistened with moisture as they neared. A chill went up Andra’s spine as they were ushered into the gardens where the party was in full bloom. The sun kissed the horizon and slowly melted away as maids lit the oil lamps and a soft glow floated over the obscenely elegant garden.

Andra searched frantically for Calin's face, oblivious to the fact that Crimm had wondered off to chat with a few of the young women who were swooning at his large handsome feet. She finally caught him in her sight as she waded through the crowded mess of men and women. The wind had grown chilled and she shivered as she breathed in the heavy smell of the lake’s water.

Calin had surprised her in the stable last month as she fed and watered the horses. She had squealed with joy as he swept her up into his manly strong arms, he was no more lanky and boyish. They had shared a deep kiss and hugged each other fiercely. His dark red hair lay in tight curls around his handsome face as he begged Andra to come to the gathering. She had promised and hurried him out of the stable yard before anyone was the wiser.

And now, here she was, walking towards him in the soft shadows and he was standing slightly to his right as he toyed with the banquet of food displayed on the large wooden table.

She spoke softly as she kept her eye on Crimm,
“
Go five hedges down and meet me in the tree line.
”

He pretended to be interested in the food before him as she slipped away and edged down the row of large hedges. A blonde caught Crimm's eye and Andra made her escape into the trees. She waited for several minutes before Calin came to her side. She flung herself into his open arms and buried her head into his neck.

“
I've missed ye much,
”
she whispered in true confession.

“
And I ha'e missed ye and yer green eyes as well,
”
he whispered back.

“
Why did we ha'e to grow up? Ye left me and went to find yer way in the world....
”
She paused as she wiped a tear,
“
It has been too long.
”

“
Yer brute of a brother tucked ye away like a spinster in that old drafty keep and tried to keep ye away from me,
”
he softly chided.

“
Crimm and Da are so overbearin' and protective at times that I want to choke both of 'em. They think that just 'cause I'm na as pretty as the rest of the girls, they ha'e to keep me at home under lock and key. It makes na sense less they are truly embarrassed by my homeliness. I honestly did'na think Crimm was goin' to fall for my charms, but thank Dagma he did. I ha'e longed to see ye,
”
she sulked.

Calin knitted his brows together,
“
Na pretty as all the others?
”

“
Aye, tis my curse,
”
she retorted as she twisted a lock of stray hair in her fingers.
“
Tis the reason Crimm and Da ha’e raised me as such.
”

“
Andra ye'r the prettiest of 'em all,
”
he insisted,
“
And I want ye all for myself. Ye da and brother, they see ye as the beauty ye are and hide ye from all eyes.
”

“
Oh, do go on, ye flatter me with yer kind words,
”
she cooed softly.

“
Damn, just hug me again!
”
he ordered. His body was ramrod stiff and his heart sped as she came into his arms.
“
Tighter.
”

She obliged and hugged his neck as he lifted her feet off of the ground. She smiled as he shoved the hood from her face and kissed her forehead.

“
Andra?
”
he breathed slowly as he sat her feet onto the ground.

“
Aye, it is me,
”
she laughed as his head bent to capture her lips.