The answers she’d sought were here for the taking. She had but to interpret their meaning properly. Which of them was to be the Warrior and which one was to be Reborn?
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Twelve
AS FEELINGS WENT,this was a new one.
Chase stroked his hand along the neck of the large horse he’d chosen last night, surveying the activity in the courtyard around him.
Being here felt right. Him, the horse, his friend Halldor at his side—all of it. He basked in a new-found sense that this was where he was supposed to be at this moment in time.
At this moment in time.
Thinking the words still sent a shiver down his neck, though not the jolt to his system it had a few days before. It seemed that whether he was boarding a C-17 in the States and offloading in a desert half way around the world or slamming through seven centuries, his brain adapted and compensated, keeping him on course like the autopilot on an airplane.
“How amazing is the human mind?” he muttered, tugging on his horse’s lead as he headed across the bailey toward the waiting wagon.
“Most amazing, indeed,” Halldor agreed, keepingpace with him. “It’s a man’s mind, not his brawn, what will most often save him in a battle.”
Chase spared a look at the big man, grinning in spite of himself. He wondered, for perhaps the thousandth time, how he’d been so lucky as to have this man be his first contact in this world.
“Is it not a fine day for a jaunt into the countryside?” Halldor boomed, returning the grin. “A hearty meal in our bellies, a sky filled with the promise of good weather, and friends to share the day. What more can a man ask from life?”
Ahead of him, Christiana waited by the wagon, her cloak fluttering in the cold breeze. She lifted a hand to brush a lock of hair from her face, revealing cheeks stained pink by the cold.
With scenery like that, a man didn’t need anything more.
“Not a single thing I can think of,” Chase responded. “It looks like I have everything I need for a good day.”
Any day he could find an excuse to spend with Christiana was a good day. The only thing that could make it better would be if the two of them were spending that day alone together.
A few more steps brought him close enough to realize it wasn’t the cold that brought color to Christiana’s face.
“Ignoring me will gain you nothing, Ulfr.” Her voice was raised beyond its normal pitch. “One barrel is no nearly enough.”
“Enough or no, it’s all yer witch gets from our stores. Now get in the wagon before our good laird changes his mind and refuses to send anything at all.”
Ulfr waited, arms crossed, making no attempt to assist Christiana.
The whole scenario struck Chase as odd. He would have expected the captain to show considerably more respect to his laird’s sister.
“If that’s yer final word, then so be it.” She stepped back from the wagon, crossing her arms to mirror Ulfr’s stance. “Unless we take the full complement to barter, I’ve no reason to go.”
They faced one another across the space of three feet, neither appearing willing to back down.
“Lord Torquil will no be pleased if I have to fetch him here.” Ulfr leaned closer toward Christiana. “I’d no suppose our laird’s displeasure is something you wish to bring down upon yerself, now is it?”
That Ulfr pulled the threat card didn’t sit well with Chase. Not well at all. Couple that with the way he’d been holding her arm when they’d followed her yesterday, and Chase’s hand itched for another go at the man.
“Is there a problem here?” He pasted an easy smile on his lips as he stepped within reaching distance of the two.
“No problem at all, good sir,” Christiana answered, not taking her eyes off Ulfr. “Though I fear you’vewasted yer time in preparing for a journey that will no be happening now.”
“We’ll see how brave you sound after I speak to yer brother.” Ulfr turned his back and strode off toward the main keep.
“Four barrels, Ulfr!” Christiana called after him. “I’ll travel with nothing less.”
An uncomfortable silence settled around them, broken at length by Halldor.
