Mist Warrior (31 page)

Suddenly
,
Branan found his arms and his heart empty as Catriona tore herself away and lunged to her feet. At first she blinked at him, as if trying to come to her senses. Then she lifted a shaking hand to her lips. Her eyes narrowed.
“
Is that what you are doing? Trying to seduce me so I would have no choice?
”

Embarrassment flushed his face
,
but anger quickly replaced it.
“
Nay,
”
Branan
growled.
“
I was planning to order you back to Courcy before I did something as daft as this.
”

Catriona's eyes widened and the blood drained from her face with hurt and betrayal.

Branan again cursed himself for his foolhardy words. He couldn't think in this state, his wits turned to mush, and he blathered like an imbecile.

Fury bowed her body and she clenched her fists.
“
Get out, Branan,
”
she said, her voice deadly.
“
Now.
”

****

Catriona shook with anger and want. But she took an involuntary step back at the furor of emotions that played over Branan's features. His mouth hardened in rage and a muscle ticked in his jaw. His sea-green eyes were flat and desolate. Slowly
,
he rose from the chair. Catriona's throat worked and she reminded herself she had no reason to fear Branan. He may become enraged with her
,
but he would never, ever hurt her.

He stood glaring down at her, his shoulders hunched, his fists clenched. For an instant
,
he looked like a wolf ready to pounce.
“
Catriona,
”
Branan
said through clenched teeth.
“
Only ye can keep the blackness within me at bay. I
f I lose ye to Courcy, I lose myself to the demon in my soul.
”

She blinked in confusion. She had never heard him speak of a demon.

Branan snapped a curse and turned on his heel, striding purposefully through the door, closing it firmly behind him.

The tension drained from her body and her hands shook.
“
I am sorry, Branan.
”
Catriona
lowered her head, her cheeks burning with shame. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. She had wanted him to seduce her and she most certainly did not want to return to Richard.
“
Please, please forgive me.
”

First Raid

Days passed and Catriona worried about Branan
,
but spoke naught to him, fearing he would order her away forthwith. Her wraith again moved through the world
,
but insubstantial, hov
ering on the edge of reality. Branan
worked hard, as usual, but spoke little and had ceased sitting with her at meals. He no longer participated in the songs and revelry in the evening
,
but remained apart from everyone.

One morning another group of people approached Thistlewood
,
but Richard led them. Catriona stood at Branan's side
,
uncertain of what to expect.

Richard dismounted, moving a bit stiffly. He smiled and bowed before Catriona.
“
My lady, 'tis good to see you again.
”

“
How are you feeling?
”
she asked.

“
Much better
,
thanks to you. But as you can see, I'm still moving slower than usual.
”

“
That will improve with time, Richard.
”

“
Aye.
”
He turned to Branan and offered his hand.
“
My steward told me how you lifted that beam by yourself. I owe you my life. Thank you.
”

Both Branan and Catriona gaped at him. Then Branan grasped his forearm warmly.
“
Ye saved Catriona.
”

She felt her face burn as she looked up at Richard.
“
Aye, thank you.
”

He waved them off
,
but his smile never faded.
“
We could stand all day exchanging pleasantries but my business is urgent. Strickland is growing suspicious about my involvement with you. It seems he's heard a few rumors about the son of his enemy returning.

Branan gestured toward the tower.
“
The hall is almost finished. Come, we can speak there and refresh ourselves.
”

Surprisingly, Richard offered Catriona his arm.
“
Will you join us, lady?
”

“
Aye,
”
she said and accepted it, her head spinning. Why was Richard acting so strangely? Had his brush with death opened his eyes?

Inside the tower, Branan shooed out all the workers. A large table and a few chairs he had built graced the hall. The fresh scent of newly cut wood filled the place with a wonderful aroma. One of the maids brought bread and watered ale.

Gavin, Duguald, and
Sir
Greystoke
joined them, with Jamie standing guard at the door to keep the curious at bay. Richard sat and ran his fingers over the table.
“
Is this your work MacTavish?
”

“
Aye,
”
Branan replied.

“
'Tis very fine, especially considering the short time span. Mayhap, when this is all over with, I shall commission you to make a table for me. That is,
”
he said with a smile,
“
if you still have time after you become Warden.
”

Branan chuckled and shook his head.
“
I shall travel that bridge when I come to it.
”

Richard nodded and sat back with a sigh.
“
As I said, Strickland grows more suspicious of me. He always thought I was behind the raids
,
but with the rumors of you returning, he is not sure what role you are playing or how I fit into this scheme.
”
He paused and looked up at the tower.
“
This place is almost finished. I think it might be prudent if I stepped back from the raids and allowed you to organize them. I will continue to supply you with weapons and the like. We can send messengers and if you need anything, I will be happy to provide it.
”

“
Aye,
”
Branan said.
“
'Tis time I took a more proactive role in my own destiny. What we recover from raiding can fill our own stores. You can assume more of a benefactor role
,
as we had planned.
”

“
Richard nodded. His steward handed him a large map which he rolled onto the table. Everyone stood to get an unobstructed view of it.
“
All right,
”
he said.
“
Let me explain what we've been doing.
”

Catriona listened carefully to their discussion
,
but her gaze kept traveling to Branan and her heart pounded.
Now it begins,
she thought and tried to ignore her fear.

****

Dawn,
Branan thought as he dressed.
Dawn of the morning in which I truly become a thorn in Strickland's side.
His belly coiled into a bundle of nerves
,
but excitement flowed through his veins. Today was the first day of his future.

Despite his urgency to be off, Branan paused before the small table next to his bed. There were two bowls with small stones in them. He removed a stone from the bowl on the right and put it in the bowl on the left as he had done every morning since arriving at Thistlewood. Each stone represented a day–the days vanishing when Catriona would become Courcy's wife. He looked at the first bowl and sighed. There were woefully few stones remaining.

There had to be another answer to this
,
but try as he might he could not thin
k of one. Branan
had purposefully stayed away from
Catriona
, purposefully hardened his heart toward her, that was the only way he could function from day to day. But the desire
was still there and growing. Branan
battled many times with the practicality of returning
Catriona
to Courcy so he would not be tempted
,
but that would send her away from him and the day when
Branan
would be forced to do that forever too rapidly approached. He could not bear to give her up just yet.

Branan marveled at his growing possessiveness. One would think, after being torn from family after family, he would never be possessive again. But now he clung with all his strength to what little time he had left with Catriona. When the time came, would he be strong enough to let her go?

Forcing down his despondency, he turned away from the table. He had done it before, he could do it again.

Branan picked up his claymore. As he gazed at the weapon another wave of sadness assailed him. This claymore also had a thistle engraved on the hilt
,
but the weapon was not plated with brass. The leather o
n the pommel was well worn. The sword
was good, solid, and strong. It had also been his father's–when he had been young, before he became laird of the clan.

Now the man who had murdered the people dearest to Branan wielded the true sword of th [e s him ane MacTavish. It was time
Branan
seized what was his. It was time he reclaimed his father's sword and purified it of the innocent blood staining its blade.
Branan
donned his armor and gripped his sword tightly. Squaring his shoulders, he strode outside.

Branan was pleasantly surprised to see thirty men, fully armored and mounted on good horses
,
waiting for him
,
with Duguald and Gavin at the head. A page held his gray war horse and the women, craftsmen, and children gathered around the column. Branan's gaze immediately stopped on Catriona.