“Ach, ye have to keep it in the fire if ye wish it to stay hot. And ye daenae want it to stay too hot once it is out, or it might nae retain its shape.”
“Who taught you this?” She moved closer to him, noticing that he tensed slightly.
“Me faither did. He used to say that a man had to ken how to care for his own sword.”
She smiled. “That is very… broadminded of him. I do not think my father has ever touched an implement in such a manner. Not even to polish it.”
Kayden was tempted to say something about the English and their uppity ways, but refrained. Instead, he stayed silent as her fingers traced patterns on his sword. He could not help but imagine just what else those fingers might touch.
“I want to thank you for fetching Old Fergus to help me through my illness. It was kind of you,” she said, a bit shyly.
“Ye are me wife. It isnae kind of me to ensure yer good health and safety.”
She cast a glance at him again, before lowering her lashes. “Yes, well, I am grateful nonetheless.”
He tilted his head to the side, watching her intently.
Suddenly, she sneezed, and he frowned. “Ye do that when ye are in high dudgeon. Would ye care to share with me why ye are at this time?”
“I-I am not.”
He raised an eyebrow, watching her closely, and said nothing.
She huffed. “I was just going to say that if you helped me because you were afraid of what my father would do, I assure you that he would have kept his end of the bargain.”
“What would make ye say that?” he asked coldly.
She shrugged. “I know you don’t like my presence here, so?—”
“So ye think I would let ye die?” He could not help raising his voice.
She took a deep breath, looking everywhere else but at him. “What else am I to think?” she asked breathlessly.
“Ye are to think that ye are me wife!”
“So what? What does that mean to you? I have seen no evidence that it matters, aside from this bargain you made with my father. I would not blame you if you?—”
“Well, ye can keep yer blame and yer assumptions because it will never happen. I will never let any harm come to ye if I can help it. Ye are me wife! I will always protect ye.”
She blinked a few times, seemingly shocked by his words. “Oh…” she murmured, her face reddening.
“Aye. I hope ye understand me now.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “Th—thank you.”
“Ye have nothing to thank me for, lass.”
Kayden picked up the hammer and returned to his work. He could feel her eyes on him, and it made him preen a bit, perhaps hitting the iron a lot harder than warranted in order to flex his muscles.
What are ye doing, ye fool?
He put the sword in the fire, and she came closer to watch.
“Why do you do that exactly?” she asked.
She was so close that he could feel her breath on his arm.
“The iron must be tempered in the fire to make it malleable.”
