Highlander’s Viking Seductress: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Page 14

  “Why do you keep it here?”

  “It is too precious a sword to keep in an armoury. Few weapons have that kind of ornamentation.” He sat in a nearby chair, watching her as she clutched her sword. She held it against her chest for a moment, overwhelmed to be holding it. “I havenae seen anyone so attached to a weapon before.” He chuckled as he moved the candle to his side, the flame lighting his features and casting his hair a brighter red.

  Because it was my mother’s.

  She could not tell him that. It was too personal.

  “What does the symbol mean?” He pointed to the motif. She hurried to his side and laid the sword on the table in front of him, holding up the motif in the candlelight to be seen better.

  “It is a Vegvisir,” she explained with a smile, “Think of it as a compass. It is an old Norse charm. It is supposed to guide you through life. Show you the path you should live.” As she repeated the words, her hand shook slightly around the blade. If she truly believed such a thing, she had to consider what the compass was telling her about her current path.

  “It is a beautiful thing.” He reached out and brushed the spokes of the compass. “Ye can come and see it when ye like, but ye realize I cannae allow ye to have it back.”

  “Thank you.”

  The kindness of his offer startled her. As the son of a Laird, showing such favouritism to a Viking slave could land him in extreme trouble. Yet this did not seem to bother him. He had helped her to sneak into the castle with the express wish of showing her something that mattered so much to her.

  Perhaps there is a kind heart beneath the handsome Highlander’s features.

  “Gavin,” she lowered the sword to the table and steeled herself to speak.

  “Aye, laoch?”

  “In Oslo…” she swallowed, keeping her gaze down on the sword, “I was betrothed to the Jarl’s son.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Idunn was unsure what had prompted her to make the revelation in the end. She wanted to tell him, though. Her sense and reasoning had not stopped her from speaking.

  Gavin leaned back in his chair as though she had struck him. The easy smile he’d been wearing vanished, his green eyes wide with surprise. He ran a hand through his dark auburn hair, as though trying to calm the whirring thoughts in his mind, struggling for speech. His gaze flicked between her eyes.

  “Ye were betrothed?” he repeated eventually, his voice raised a notch in volume.

  “Sh!” Idunn’s eyes turned to the door and gestured for him to be quiet, and he immediately covered his mouth, as though trying to claw back the sound of his voice. He waited another moment just in case someone had heard him. When no sound followed, he dropped his hand.

  “I…” Gavin trailed off as he shook his head, his green eyes turned from her, wide in surprise, “Ye never said.”

  Her hold on the sword became tighter as she let one of her fingers dance across the vegvisir compass. Of course, she had not told him. She had not told him any details of her past - who she was before had been her secret to keep.

  Gavin cleared his throat and shifted in his chair.

  “Who was he?” His voice was deep, unhappy.

  “The Jarl’s son,” Idunn repeated, noting that Gavin had not paid attention to her words beyond the fact she once was supposed to marry another man, “Einarr.”

  “Einarr?” Gavin repeated, his Scottish accent almost changing the word beyond recognition. She lowered the sword to the table and fixed her gaze on him. He was unsettled by the news and scratched his auburn hair, the locks glinting in the amber candlelight. “Did ye love him?”

  Gavin’s question stunned her. She felt as though her stomach had dropped down to the floor as his eyes returned to her.

  “Did ye?” he whispered in the quiet room.

  Did I love him? She considered the thought for a minute, her mouth opening and closing with each possible answer. She liked Einarr, of course, she did. But love?

  “Nei.” Her reply came from the gut. She could not turn her eyes to Gavin as she admitted it. It felt a betrayal to acknowledge the fact aloud. “I admired him. I respected him.”

  “But…” Gavin leaned forward suddenly. “Ye dinnae love him?”

  “Nei, I did not.” She shook her head and bit her lip, watching as Gavin lowered his face to his hands and hid his eyes from view.

  “Tell me more.” His deep voice whispered from behind his hands.

  “More?” Idunn repeated in surprise. “What else do you want to know?”

  “Anythin’.” It was a tone of voice she had not heard from him before.

  Idunn shifted between her feet for a moment, uncomfortable yet aware Gavin would still not look at her. She pulled the chair beside her out so she could sit in front of Gavin. Perched on the edge of the chair, she clasped her fingers together, considering what she was willing to tell him. She wanted him to know her better, but this was a life that was very far away from her now. It didn’t seem real anymore. An existence that had long passed.

  “Einarr is the Jarl’s son. I have been in many a battle with him. We practically grew up together, fighting.” Her words made Gavin lower his hands. He rested his elbows on his knees, watching her. “My parents had a good position; a warrior family. Descended from Jarls. It was a suitable arrangement. Our betrothal was prepared by our parents.”

  “Ye had nay say?”

  “Já, I did.” Her assent seemed to give him no comfort, and he winced at the idea. “I could have refused it if I was unhappy.” She had seen no reason to refuse Einarr. “He held a high position in our clan and was a good warrior. I was the best warrior woman. It appeared a good match.”

  “Then where was he in the battle?” he whispered harshly, moving more to the edge of his chair, suddenly agitated by the memory, “Why was he nae by yer side?”

  “I am capable of fighting alone, Gavin.” She bristled at the idea of needing anyone’s protection. “I did not need him. I need no one.”

  “Brushin’ past the idea that ye were injured for a moment, I ken ye can protect yerself, but that is nae me point.” He waved in the air, dismissing her objection. “Me point is if ye were to be married, shouldnae ye both have been lookin’ out for each other? Fightin’ side by side?” His green eyes flicked between hers.

  The color of his eyes reminded her of when she had first arrived in Banff. How when her ship was struck and sinking, she had jumped into the depths of the ocean and found herself lost, almost at peace as she stared in the green abyss.

  She shook her head, trying to shake off the hypnotic nature of his eyes.

  His words brought into clarity her own fear. Einarr should have been with her, and he was not.

  “Well, that is not what happened.” She dropped her gaze to her lap and fidgeted with her hands. “It is not what we did. We were on the same ship, but that is all. On previous raids, I used to fight side by side with a friend of mine. Signý.”

  “Signý?” He repeated the word, managing to pronounce it better than he had Einarr’s.

  “She was the best fighter I have ever known. Together, we were almost undefeatable.” Idunn smiled, recalling memories of her and Signý tussling in battle. “We kept each other safe. Whilst we were fighting together, the two of us never gained more injuries than a few bruises.”

  “Where was she in the battle? I saw nay other warrior women on the beach that day.”

  “She married.” She raised her eyes to see Gavin watching her closely. “She wanted to stay behind on this raid and be with her new husband. She promised to come next time. I…” Another confession nearly passed her lips, but she closed her mouth and held it in. She had already told Gavin more than she had ever thought of, and was not prepared to confess that Signý’s absence had been a bad omen. The image of the raven on the rock beside the fjord came back to her. There had been many bad omens before they set sail.

  “Ye were betrothed,” Gavin whispered, almost to himself, “I cannae believe it. Tell me one mo
re thing, and I promise ye I will stop askin’ ye questions about it.”

  “What do you want to know?” She steeled herself, nervous about what question he would ask.

  “Do ye miss him? This, Einarr?” His green eyes darted to hers again.

  She stared back, considering the words. Since arriving in Banff, she neither longed for Einarr’s conversation nor his company. When she had thought of him, it had been when comparing him to Gavin, whom she found both superior in appearance and as a conversationalist. As she considered this idea, she was even more drawn to him. With so little distance between them, she could close it. She could kiss him and end their maddening conversation. They could return to the excitement of their stolen kisses and secret touches. In his garderobe, no one would interrupt them. The intensity of such a moment could be breathtaking. Still, she held her place on the chair, calming her breathing. Now that she had started the conversation, she had to finish it. Gavin deserved an answer to his question.

  “Nei.” Her whisper brought a softness to his tense face, and he betrayed the smallest of smirks. “I seem to have made you happy by that particular revelation.”

  “Ye have done.” He continued to smirk as he leaned towards her. He gently took her neck in his hold and pulled her to him, pressing their lips together for a soft kiss. For a moment, she was lost in the kiss. With the touch of his lips on hers, excitement leapt in her chest.

  Idunn was the first to pull away, though she argued with herself as she did it. Part of her still wanted to climb onto Gavin’s lap and keep kissing him, to explore the fantasies that had consumed her dreams for the last few days. Those dreams tormented her at night, forcing her to wake up clammy with shivers of excitement. Yet having revealed such a private part of her past to Gavin, she now felt vulnerable and wanted to be alone again for a little while.

  “I should leave before someone discovers me in your garderobe.”

  “It might be a little difficult to explain if we are discovered.” He pressed one more kiss to her lips before standing.

  Idunn was struggling with the bucket of leeches and the sores on her legs when she saw Annas across the bailey courtyard. As much as Idunn wished to deny it, Gavin’s words from the evening before were bothering her. He had described her as ‘acerbic,’ and she did not like such a description. She saw her behavior as a natural defense against the servants’ jests around her, but the evening Annas had delivered her food was beginning to bother her.

  Perhaps the woman had intended to be kind. If so, then Idunn was burning a bridge that could release her in a small way from the despair of her loneliness.

  She watched as Annas prepared some clothes to be washed. As Annas lifted her head and looked around, she caught Idunn’s gaze. She offered a smile and raised her hand to wave. Idunn hesitated for a moment then waved back, the corners of her lips tweaking into a small smile. Annas’ smile grew wider before she lowered her head back down to her task.

  Idunn moved on, determined to deliver the bucket of leeches as her eyes lingered on Annas. As much as she hated to admit she could have been wrong, perhaps Gavin was right after all. Annas was certainly open to the idea of a friendship.

  Idunn lifted her chin as she watched the woman, determined to alter her behavior and attempt a different path. With perhaps one friend, the castle could be a little more bearable.

  Between her and Annas stepped an unwelcome presence that made her pick up a pace to deliver the bucket. It was Tadhg. His almond eyes were following her closely. Idunn turned her stare back down to her bucket and moved on, growing suddenly aware that he was now walking towards her across the courtyard. She had no liking for him.

  As she deposited the bucket by Maldouen’s door, the shadow of Tadhg crossed over her, forcing her to turn her gaze up to him. He picked up the bucket and analyzed the contents, leaving her to stand and watch him in silence.

  “Ye could have collected more.”

  “Maldouen said I should not be in the river above three hours,” she rebuked, about to turn away when Tadhg dropped the bucket at her feet.

  “Ye are mighty bold for a slave, ye ken that.” He gestured towards her as though giving a warning.

  “I am speaking plainly to you. If you do not like my tone, that is your concern.” She tried to walk away again, but his hand on her elbow pulled her to a stop. It was firm, aggressive, pulling him into her side. She did not wince at the hold, though she would not show any weakness.

  “Remember who is the son of a Scottish Laird and who is the Vikin’ slave, aye?” His almond eyes were menacing, urging her to raise her chin higher. She would not be intimidated by him. “Ye should show yer superiors some respect.”

  “I will show respect to those that respect me.”

  “Huh,” he scoffed with a shake of his head, “Slaves daenae deserve respect.” He released her elbow, pushing her away. “Go collect more.” He pointed down to the leeches.

  “But Maldouen –”

  “Follow me orders, slave.” He picked up the bucket and thrust it into her hands. As he walked away, her gaze followed him, wondering how he could be so different from his brother. Even the memory of being sat in the cell with the torture instruments proved how different they were. Tadhg had relished looking at the weapons, taunting her with the promise of pain. Gavin had wanted no part in it.

  She marched back across the courtyard, heading towards the river, staring down at the leeches in anger.

  Gavin could barely believe how pale Idunn looked as she splashed in the shallows of the river.

  “Idunn, ye have been in there for too long. Come out now!” He called as he marched down to the riverbank closest to her.

  “I am still following the last order I was given by your family,” she spoke without intensity or strength, too tired from her work. She was clutching at the reeds with her fingers.

  “What order? If ye daenae come out now, then I will fulfill me promise that I made before to come in there and get ye.” He looked behind him, fearful someone could see the two of them from the path up to the castle, but there was no one nearby. The path was empty, and up at the castle, people were busy with their duties. There was no one in the copse to his left either.

  “Your brother did not think I had collected enough leeches.”

  Gavin turned his eyes to the bucket near the yew tree, over half full of the critters.

  “Ye have done plenty.” He frowned at the idea of Tadhg giving Idunn orders. It was not his place, even though he was superior to her in status. Her responsibilities were for the steward, the marshal, and Kenna to decide.

  “A little longer.” Yet Idunn’s eyes were fluttering closed, and her grasp falling loose on the reeds.

  “Idunn! In the name of the wee man,” he cursed to himself as he grabbed his shoes and threw them to the ground. The sound of the leather falling to the earth called her attention – she snapped her startling blue eyes towards him.

  “You cannot come in.”

  “If ye are nae comin’ out, then I have to.” He rolled up his leggings and jumped into the shallows.

  “No, Gavin!” She tried to walk away in the shallows, but her movements were stilted, too exhausted to run very far.

  “I have told ye before that I am the stronger one between the two of us,” he smirked as he stood on the other side of the circle of reeds, watching her cower away, “If ye put up a fight, I will drag ye back to the riverbank.”

  “Já, you may be stronger, but…” She raised an eyebrow, setting a challenge for him. “I do not play fair in a fight.”

  “I ken that from experience.” He dived one way around the reeds, expecting her to go the other, but she surprised him by pushing a path through the circle of reeds, making his route to her full of obstacles.

  “Idunn, ye stay here much longer, and ye’ll fall in the water from exhaustion. Come out.”

  “Is that an order from your position as the son of the Laird? Or,” she cast a wary look around them, forcing him to do the sa
me, but they were alone, “Or is it a request from the man who keeps stealing kisses from me?”

  He debated his answer as he held onto the reeds, surprised when he felt the leeches biting into his own skin. It was sharp, painful, and brought into stark reality how much pain Idunn endured to collect the number of leeches sat in the bucket.

  I have to get ye out of this, bandia.

  “As I daenae think ye will obey the second man’s orders, I will say the first. The son of the Laird!” He dived forward again, stomping quickly through the shallows as she barricaded herself between more reeds.

  “Then, I am trapped!” she declared with a laugh, “I have received two orders from two sons of the same Laird, pray tell whose order I should follow?”