The two Scots could barely see each other in the dark, but it didn’t stop them from clashing their swords together, the sparks lighting up the dark night. It was clear immediately that Malcolm had the upper hand, expertly swinging his blade and backing Declan up with each strike.
“Ye will die for wot ye have done!” Declan called out, deflecting Malcolm’s blade. “Mah brother wants yer head!”
“He should have come for it himself,” Malcolm responded, not even winded from the strikes. “For ye are going tae lose yers.”
Declan let out a roar and lunged, but Malcolm was prepared, his sword slicing through air instead. Declan stumbled, and Edna felt the panic rise in her throat as Malcolm turned around, running his sword through the Scot’s back instead. Declan made a sound before pitching forward, sliding off the sword, and coming to a heap on the ground.
“Like I said,” Malcolm replied as he wiped the bloodied sword on the man’s tunic. “Yer brother should have come.”
There was no response. Declan was dead. Edna watched as Malcolm waited a moment, staring at the dead body before his eyes met hers in the darkness. “Come,” he said urgently. “We have to move quickly.”
Edna wasted no time following him out of the wood and to their horse. “Are ye hurt, lass?” he asked, sheathing his sword. “Did he hurt ye?”
“Nay,” she said shakily. He had saved her life yet again. For a man who didn’t care about her, he wasn’t having any problem saving her life.
Malcolm’s jaw clenched as he grabbed hold of the saddle. “We need tae find a place tae lay low until morning.”
Was this the same night still? Edna felt as if it was never going to end.
Malcolm mounted and helped Edna mount the horse as well, immediately clamping his arm around her waist. “I wilnae leave ye alone again, lass,” he murmured near her ear. “I shouldn’t have walked off.”
He was blaming himself. Edna’s heart softened at his words, grateful that he was here with her this evening. “’Tis fine,” she answered. “I’m fine.”
Malcolm grunted, but he didn’t let up on his arm clamped around her waist, urging the horse forward.
Edna allowed herself to slump against his warm, solid body, and his arm cradled her against him. She was tired, so tired of what was happening to her. She missed her family, her betrothed, but more importantly, she missed the way things were.
She must have dozed off, for the next thing Edna knew, Malcolm was nudging her awake. “Lass,” he said near her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Wake. We need tae get off the horse.”
Numbly, Edna forced her eyes open, and she held on to the saddle so that Malcolm could dismount before reaching for her, this time barely touching her until he was sure she was steady on her feet. Edna was far too tired to care, and as she looked around at their surroundings, there was an abandoned barn before them, no flicker of light shining between the wooden slats.
“There’s rain in the distance,” Malcolm murmured just as a rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. “We wilnae make it tae the village.”
While Edna would have preferred a solid bed and a warm fire, she followed Malcolm into the barn instead. He found an old lantern, and light flooded the barn, chasing away the dark shadows. Malcolm looked as tired as she felt, but he still cared for his horse while Edna rooted around in the moldy hay, finding nothing that they could use.
“Mah pack,” Malcolm grumbled, setting the saddle aside. “There’s some dried meat and apples inside.”
“We dinnae have any blankets,” Edna mused as she took the pack and her cloak. “But we can use this tae cover the hay.”
Malcolm shrugged, but Edna set to work, spreading the cloak across one of the bigger piles of hay. It wasn’t much, but for a quick sleep, it would work.
After Malcolm was finished, he eyed her makeshift bed. “Take the bed,” he replied wearily.
“Nay, ’tis big enough for both of us,” she insisted as he carried the lantern close to the hay bed. While she wanted to keep her distance from him, they were both far too tired to worry about her reputation or the warring feelings between them. After all, hadn’t Malcolm said that he didn’t want to wed her? “Ye’re exhausted, Malcolm. I think I can keep mah hands off ye.”
Surprise flooded his expression, and she gave him a smirk, moving to the far corner of the cloak. She was bone tired and knew once she laid her head down, she would be asleep anyway.
“Get on the bed, Malcolm.”
He doused the lantern, and she felt the hay shift next to her, keeping herself from rolling into him as he did so. There was very little room between them, and when Edna moved her arm, she felt it brush up against his. Immediately, her body warmed at the slight contact. Perhaps this would be more difficult than she imagined.
But it wasn’t long before Malcolm’s breathing evened out, and Edna realized he was already asleep. So, he wasn’t invincible after all.
Tucking her hand under her cheek, Edna closed her eyes as well, letting the sound of Malcolm’s breathing lull her to sleep.
11
Neacal Belshes drummed his fingers along the arm of the chair, waiting for the moment that his brother would walk through the keep’s entrance and bring him his intended back.
