Mist Warrior (19 page)

"+0" faaramond">“
Of course.
”

Branan looped his arm in hers.
“
Excuse us, Courcy.
”

Richard said nothing
,
but the veins in his forehead grew more prominent.

Branan led her away.

“
Am I in trouble?
”

“
Nay, but I dinna like the way he cornered ye.
”

She sighed softly.
“
He wants me to return to Brackenburgh. He thinks I'm sullying myself with peasant's labor.
”

“
And what do ye want, lass? Ye are looking a bit pale.
”

“
I want to stay here, Branan, with you and Gavin.
”

“
Then here ye shall remain.
”

“
Thank you.
”

“
But I am concerned, perhaps we shouldna focus so much on work.
”

“
It needs to be done and I enjoy working.
”

“
I remember a lass who was a fine shot with her bow. Gavin tells me ye have grown even more skilled.
”

She nodded.
“
But my bow was lost in the fire.
”

“
The bow-maker from Brackenburgh has arrived. Mayhap we should speak with him.
”

Catriona almost clapped her hands in glee.
“
That sounds like an excellent idea.
”

“
This spaamond">way, lass.
”

She walked through the camp with him, her heart lighter and it took a moment for her to realize what he had done. Branan had given her a fine distraction and kept her occupied so Richard would not see her alone again. She couldn't help but chuckle.

“
Something amiss?
”
Branan asked innocently.

She laughed again, stepping closer, her arm tightening on his.
“
You are a cunning man, Branan MacTavish.
”

He winked at her.
“
I've heard mention of that afore.
”

Catriona grinned. As they passed the door of the tower, Richard emerged
,
his eyes locking on hers. Branan guided her to a different path, leading her away from the tower and into camp. For an instant, Richard looked confused. Then his expression darkened like a thundercloud as she walked away.

****

Days later, the bow-maker brought Catriona's bow and asked her to try it. She agreed
,
but moved toward her shelter first.

“
Where are ye going, lass?
”
Branan asked.

“
To change. You keep working, I don't like people watching when I try a new bow until I get a feel for it.
”

He smiled and nodded.

Catriona changed into a heavy tunic, breeches and boots. She found it difficult to shoot in skirts if she had to move with any speed
, or
if she was hunting in the woods, skirts became impossible. Her father had actually defended her choice of clothing and she wondered if he had taken pride in her abilities.
Unfortunately, thinking of him brought tears to her eyes.

She walked with the bow-maker to a small clearing, where he had filled barely sacks with sand. It took her a moment to adjust to the bow
,
but soon she sent her arrows through the center of the target with ease.

“
Nicely done, lady,
”
>
the bow-maker said, retrieving her arrows.

“
Thank you. I am most pleased with your work.
”
She dug into the pouch on her belt for a few precious shillings.

The bow-maker saw her actions and held up his hands.
“Lady, 'tis not necessary.”

“
But you deserve something for this fine work.
”

“
Mayhap,
”
Duguald said as he approached.
“
The bow-maker would agree to a meal brought down by this fair weapon.
”

Catriona saw the burly Scot standing with his own bow.

“
Branan and I were considering a quick hunt.
”

“
That is a fine suggestion, Duguald.
”

“
Come then, lass. Let's fetch Branan, the day's a wastin'.
”

To Catriona's shock, Branan and Duguald gave her the lead on their small hunt. A part of her wondered if this was some sort of test
,
but the other part of her didn't care. She was having too much fun. She spotted a recent track of a deer foraging for grass under the snow.

The musky scent of the creature hung in the still air. She pointed to the track of upturned earth. Duguald nodded and signaled Branan to move out and to the right while he went to the left Catriona continued straight ahead.

They entered a small clearing where the large stag ripped at the earth with his hoof. Catriona readied an arrow
,
but the stag stood closer to Branan, he had the better shot.

She sensed rather than saw Branan move, the stag oblivious to them. With deliberate slowness
,
Branan drew his bow and aimed. Suddenly, the stag's head shot up, just as Branan released his arrow. The missile buried into the heavy muscle of the stag's neck
,
but it wasn't enough to bring the animal down. The stag turned and bounded away-moving closer to Catriona.

She quickly rose, pulling back her bowstring. For a brief instant, all she could hear was the beat of the creature's hooves. She felt her pulse thundering through her veins and took a breath to steady it. She sighted down the arrow, waiting for her shot and slowly exhaled. Her gaze locked on the animal's neck where the vein of life ran through it. The stag surged into the air, leaping over a bush.

Catriona opened her fingers.

The arrow shot forward, landing solidly in the stag's neck
,
and ripped through the vein she had targeted. The creat
ure's head dropped and its back
end cartwheeled over the front, snapping its neck. It plowed into the earth and lay still.

Branan whooped, raising his bow and charging forward.
“
Och, lassie, a fine shot indeed! We shall feed our camp well tonight.
”

“
Aye,
”
Duguald said.
“
The wee bairns will be glad for new wraps of soft deerskin.
”

Catriona blinked.
“
Babes? There are babes in our camp?
”

“
Aye, lass. Three women with a haggle of children arrived this morn, begging for sanctuary. Strickland slaughtered their menfolk and they near starved this winter.
”

Branan knelt beside the stag, working to remove key glands.
“
'Tis a good buck,
”
he said.
“
Not sickly like the others we've seen.
”
He glanced up at her, his eyes sparking merrily.
“
Well, lass, it seems ye proved the tales. Ye can out-shoot a man.
”

She laughed and crouched beside him.
“
Only a bit of Providence, Branan, you know that.
”

“
I doona think so, lass. Now, let's hie this beastie back to campes?back to.
”

Catriona returned to camp in time to see an enraged Richard gathering men, his sword in hand The bow-maker cowered before him, his fearful gaze locked on the ground.

“
What do you mean she went hunting?
”
Richard roared.
“
Women don't hunt!
”

“
I...I told y
e, m'lord, I made her a bow and
—
”

“
Richard,
”
Catriona snapped, quickly stepping forward.
“
What is going on?
”

He spun and for a brief instant she thought she saw relief in his eyes
,
but his anger quickly returned.
“
What in the hell did you think you were doing?
”

“
Hunting,
”
she replied, her own anger rising.
“
Just like I used to do almost every day at home.
”

“
Are you daft, woman? What if Strickland's men patrolled the woods?
”

“
Richard, I was with Branan and Duguald the entire time.
”

He glanced at the two men, his eyes widening when he saw the stag.
”

“
Glory,
”
Gavin said.
“
That one is the best I've seen yet.
”

“
It's her kill, Gavin,
”
Duguald said
,
but his gaze remained focused on Richard, a scowl creasing his brow.

A soft murmur of surprise rippled through the camp.

Richard ignored the others as he stared at Branan, rage simmering in his eyes. Branan returned the glare equally.

Suddenly
,
Richard rounded on her.
“
Never again...you are not allowed to leave this camp. If you do, I will take you to Brackenburgh by force.
”

She gaped at him.
“
What?
”

“
I'll not have you throw your life away!
”