“I find myself thinking about her more and more, even though I know she is not suitable for me once the king’s grant comes through. I want to seek her out and speak to her and . . .” He shrugged. “I have not felt this way about a woman before, as you said.”
“She is one of his villagers,” Roger said, nodding his head toward the castle. “She is tied here by family.”
“I understand all of that. I also know she is deeply involved in our mission. And I suspect it is much bigger than even the king suspected.”
“Bigger than treason?” Roger scoffed. “What could the king fear more than losing his throne?”
Losing his life? Losing his soul? William dared not voice those suspicions, but they weighed heavily on him.
“Well, between what happened to you and those strangers,” Gautier said, “and all of the peculiar things we have heard and seen, I know this is not something we have ever dealt with before. It will not be as simple as a battle or a fight, Will. There is something larger and more dangerous at play here now.”
William nodded. “I think we will long for the days of simple fighting by the time our task is done, Roger.”
William could not yet accept the things he suspected, but he knew the time was coming when he would question everything he thought and believed or pay for it with his life.
And knowing that, he prayed that neither he nor his men would pay that price.
ChapterFourteen
The weather outside remained sunny and mild for the second day in a row, and Brienne decided to walk outside and enjoy it. If the truth be told, she was bored at having no tasks to see to or errands to carry out.
The anticipation of what was to come this night made her shiver when she thought about it, and that brought attention from either Lady Margaret or Adelaide when they were with her. So she asked permission to walk and left the keep. She noted that her chamber was at one end of the building on the second floor as she followed a servant out. Trying to remember where Lord Hugh’s had been, she studied the windows from outside, deciding that his was on the far end in the small tower.
She thought about leaving the castle grounds and going to see her—Gavin and Fia, but she’d said she would remain here until she gained control over her power. Looking about, she walked toward the far corner of the castle, where men trained. Drawn by the sound of cheering, she discovered that small groups of men were practicing their skills by fighting other groups.
She walked to the fence that surrounded the training area and watched as one of the groups, four men in each, moved effortlessly and won against each opponent. They did not use the longer battle swords yet, but first worked with the long wooden staffs and then shorter ones and then short swords and shields.
The crowd grew and the men became quite boisterous, calling out to their friends, though none seemed happy that the successful four soldiers were winning. One of the four outshone the others, moving expertly no matter which weapon he held. His steps were like those of a dance; he was sliding and shifting without watching and all the while engaging whomever he faced. Only when he turned and came out of the shadows did she recognize him.
Sir William de Brus.
Her breath caught in her body and she could not turn her eyes away from his every move and step. William seemed to lose himself in the battle, paying no heed to anyone or anything but the fight. A pale blue shimmer outlined his body, and she watched as it ebbed and flowed around him with each movement.
Knowing now that he held some kind of power, as she and her father did, she was not frightened as she had been the first time she’d noticed it. It made sense now that there might be others like her and Lord Hugh. What power had he? The way that he fought this day and on that other one, the way his body had changed as he faced danger and became one with his weapon, she thought he must carry some warrior’s power.
She shrugged it off, content just to watch him.
Soon, too soon for her, the matches were over and the ground littered with his opponents, though none seemed to be injured. Their pride mayhap bruised, but all would live to fight another day.
Just then a cloud crossed in front of the sun, casting a shadow over William and his men. She shivered, knowing somehow that they would fight again and they would face Lord Hugh’s men, these very men, again. The next time, though, it would be a struggle of life and death for all of them.
At that moment, William looked away from the men to whom he spoke and met her eyes. At first glance, she thought he did not recognize her, but then he nodded to her. With a word to his men, who also followed his gaze and noticed her, he walked toward her. He wore only breeches, and his broad, muscular chest glistened with sweat. He’d pulled back and tied his long brown hair out of his face, which just made the masculine lines and angles of his jaw more attractive.
When he reached her and smiled at her with a sense of familiarity, any words of greeting scattered in her mind. This was the man who had kissed her relentlessly. This was the man who had touched her so intimately. Though he said it was to teach her the dangers in being alone with a man, even she recognized the moment when he’d forgotten the lesson and simply kissed and caressedher. Her body blossomed with heat of a kind different from the one she could bring forth.
“Brienne, I did not think to find you here,” he said with a glance around to see who was near. “Are you well?”
“I did not think to see you either, Sir William,” she finally said. “Aye, I am well.” He watched her as though he expected her not to be. That was puzzling. “So you have met with Lord Hugh as you wished to?”
“I have,” he said. Confusion filled his eyes now. “What are you doing here in the castle?”
What could she say without revealing Lord Hugh’s secrets? What reason could she give for being here, being dressed not as the daughter of the blacksmith any longer but as the daughter of the lord? Deciding simpler was easier, she gave him the truth, or part of it.
“Lord Hugh summoned me here.”
It was not enough; that much was clear on his face. But just as he began to pursue it, one of his men called out to him.
Torn, he waved back and turned to her.
