Page 13 of Edge of Yesterday

“Ah.” Val nodded. “A hazard of the knight’s life.”

“If you will excuse me, I have another knight to locate.” She canted her head in Cailean’s direction. “Take care, my lord.” Her gaze shifted to Val. “My lord.” Before Cailean could reply, she turned and walked away.

He watched the gentle sway of her hips.

“You will do better to chase the sword chasers than to chase her,” Val said.

Cailean jarred. He’d been staring. “Is she married?”

Val shook his head. “Nae, but she is no’ a woman ye want to pursue.”

I’ll pursue any woman I choose, rose to his tongue, but Cailean shrugged as if the matter were now closed. It wasn’t, but he found Val’s attitude odd. Cailean had been sixteen the last time he’d been told he couldn’t pursue a woman. Memory struck of yesterday when the older man commented that Cailean hadn’t sought out female companionship. Cailean’s attention had been on the woman who stopped and flirted with them, but upon consideration, Val’s comment wasn’t about that encounter. But how could Val know what Cailean had been doing or not doing in Heatheredge?

“Ye must be pleased,” Val said.

Cailean broke from his thoughts. “Pleased?” He referred to the joust. “Aye, Alan is a formidable opponent. I’m honored to have won.”

“You should also be pleased that you’ve been awarded the secondary lead role in tonight’s play.”

“Secondary lead role?” Cailean repeated. Bloody hell. He really had won.