Hildi stood off to the side with Simone, watching her friend’s skills.
Heat rushed through Hagen. The way Brynja stood, her weight balanced, shoulders square, utterly confident. The power in her draw. The deadly accuracy of her aim.
And aye, the way those leggings fit.
“That lass can shoot,” he whispered to Jowell.
“Sure, her shooting is what made you hard,” Jowell drawled.
Hagen picked up a clump of dirt and flung it at his cousin, who cackled with laughter. “If you’ve not noticed, Hildi is also a fine beauty. Which one of you are going after her? I’m staking my claim on Brynja, so stay away. Far away.”
Jowell said, “I have noticed Hildi, since you mention it. She is a fine beauty and not as headstrong as her friend.”
Paden let Tenney down so he could run over to Magni’s side, then joined his cousins. He whispered, “I like them both.”
“Jowell, good to see you,” Artan called out a short distance away. “Hagen, Paden.”
Hagen’s gaze jumped back to Brynja, forcing him to stay behind his cousins until he got himself under control. She was just another lass, he repeated in his mind. Just like any other.
Except she wasn’t.
The group greeted each other, made introductions where necessary, and Brynja placed her weapons into a sack.
“Don’t stop because of us,” Hagen said.
“I’m done.” Brynja’s expression was unsmiling. “We’ll return to the nunnery.”
“Nay, wait, please,” Hagen called out, stopping her. “We’ve come to invite you all to the Yuletide festival at Duart Castle.Lots of family and friends, plenty of food. Big hunts the day before. You’re all invited.”
Brynja and Hildi turned to leave.
“You too,” Hagen called out. “You’re both invited.”
Brynja stopped and spun around. “Our thanks, but we stay at the nunnery. They don’t allow us to leave the isle. Too dangerous.”
“I’ll protect you, lass.” Hagen’s gaze locked on hers. The pain he saw there took him by surprise. Who had hurt her? He took two steps closer. “It would be my honor to protect you.”
She never smiled, never changed her composure. He swore she had ice in her veins, but what he wanted to know was who had put it there. Her reply was brief. “My thanks, but we’ll stay here.”
Hagen bristled at her quick response, as foolish as it was. Either way, he was going to let it pass. “I’m telling you that you need to come. I’m certain you’ll enjoy it.” He would not allow her to stay back, hiding in a nunnery. She didn’t belong in such a place.
Brynja took two steps toward him. “Are you trying to tell me what to do?”
Hagen noticed Simone’s smile and Artan’s hand now covering his face. “I’m telling you that anyone would be a fool not to accept such an invitation. If you have a good reason not to, please say so.”
Paden said, “Mayhap because you’re an arse, Hagen?”
Hildi whispered, “She’s had a bad day.”
Jowell approached Hildi and asked, “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Hildi shook her head, her gaze locked on Brynja, who still hadn’t spoken.
The look in her eyes told him she wasn’t done with him yet, and Hagen couldn’t wait to hear the lame excuse she was busy creating. His hands went to his hips. “Well? Your reason?”
“My reason is that I would prefer not to spend my time with arrogant fools who think they can order me about. Is that what you think? That your position means you have the right to order lasses around? Do you think men are better than women too? Because you’ll never tell me what to do.”
Hagen glanced at Simone and Artan, realizing he’d been a bit too harsh. “My apologies, lass. I do not have the right to control you. That was not my intent. I spoke too quickly. Do as you wish.” Hellfire, but that couldn’t have gone worse. Now he had to find a way to make up for his crudeness. Somehow, he knew she wouldn’t make it easy.
