“Just well?” He could count on one hand the men who could defeat him on the battlefield. He was probably the best overall warrior in the Highland Guard across all disciplines of warfare, from the sword to the hammer, axe, pike, and hand-to-hand combat. “You’re a hard woman to impress.”
Despite her weariness, an impish glint appeared in her eyes. “If I’d known you were trying to impress me, I would have paid more attention. Now Gregor MacGregor, he’s an excellent—”
“Helen…” His eyes darkened forbiddingly. He knew she was teasing him, but damn it, he didn’t want to hear her praising MacGregor.
She laughed, and the sound was so sweet it was almost worth the irritation.
She shook her head. “For someone so tough, you sure are sensitive.”
“Sensitive!” He straightened so quickly he almost dropped the king. “I’m not bloody sensitive!”
When she burst into laughter, he knew she’d done it again.
“Did I mention proud?” she said with a broad smile.
His mouth twitched. “I don’t think you did.”
Their eyes held, and something impossibly sweet passed between them.
“And I forgot the most important thing.”
He almost hesitated to ask. “What’s that?”
All the teasing was gone from her voice. “You don’t give up,” she said softly.
Her words stunned him. She had no idea what she said.Bàs roimh Gèill. Death before surrender. It was the creed of the Highland Guard. The one thing that bound them together.
“Aye, you’re right about that, lass. We’ll get through this.”
She nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I know.”
Her unwavering confidence filled him with warmth. They walked in silence for a while, even the sounds of their hard breathing lost in the swirling wind.
“It looks like it might rain,” she observed.
Aye, they were in for a vicious downpour. “The cave will be dry enough. I suspect you must be getting hungry?”
She groaned. “Don’t mention food. I think if I ever see another dried piece of beef or oatcake after this, it will be too soon.”
He chuckled, adjusting the king to take more of the weight off his bad shoulder. Ignoring the pain had become impossible; now it was simply enduring. The brief stops he took to rest were becoming more frequent.
“Although the deer are plentiful, I do not think you would like your meat raw?”
She made a face.
“Then I’m afraid our feast will have to wait until we reach Dun Lagaidh Castle.”
“When do you think that will be?”
“We’ll rest the night in the cave. If they haven’t followed us, tomorrow by midday.”
“And if they have?”
His mouth fell in a grim line. Then he would have to chance an attack. But he would better the odds by choosing the perfect spot. “We’ll worry about that if it happens.”
By the time they reached the cave, Helen was in a state of sheer exhaustion. She didn’t know how Magnus did it. The climb was strenuous enough without the added weight of the king.Stubborn and tough.
Bruce had stirred a few times on the journey, but it wasn’t until Magnus set him down in the cave and gave her a chance to examine him that she could assure herself that his condition had not worsened. His collapse had been from exhaustion and loss of blood. Now that the wound had been sealed, and with some rest, she hoped he would improve. He managed to drink some water and nibble on a few bites of oatcake before he drifted back into the healing balm of oblivion.
