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“How could he have known where the baron was to do so?”

Galien smiled, proud of his friend and companion. “Wallace has not accomplished what he has without being more resourceful than most.”

Oriana rolled her eyes. “So he intercepts him, knowing the baron is secretly a supporter, and they come. . . here?”

“Where else? Wallace knew who had been captured, knew my identity, of course. When he learned Reina was likely with me, he found her father and was able to easily infiltrate his camp. Apparently Anbarth left his men behind to accompany William here. What they must think of their master’s disappearance, I cannot say. Though perhaps he left behind a missive.” Galien shrugged. “’Tis a problem for the baron but not for you or I.”

“It is all. . .quite unbelievable.”

He could not agree more. But just then, he watched as Reina went to her father and embraced him. Knowing the lass would forgive him for having lied to her, if not now, someday, he gestured for Oriana to walk over with them.

There was one question he’d not asked the baron in their discussions thus far, so as Reina pulled away and she and her father turned their attention to him, Galien asked now. “What would you have done, had you returned home to find me in your dungeons?”

Anbarth did not answer for a moment. All three of them waited, until he said finally, “I would make the only decision that would protect my wife and daughter.”

Galien shuddered. He’d thought as much, but it was still chilling to hear him confirm it. Anbarth would have turned him over to his king, and Galien would likely be dead by now. He asked the baron another question.

“Did you tell her?” He nodded to the chamber, surprised his father had not come to fetch them yet, impatient as he was.

“Nay,” Anbarth said. “My poor daughter has had more revelations this day than I’d wish for. And yet,” he admitted. “There is to be one more. Reina, come and meet the man who has devoted his life to avenging your parents and others like them.”

It was at that moment Galien truly realized what they had in Anbarth. An English noble who supported their cause. He was not the only one—most border lords were more loyal to their own interests than to their crown. But knowing his history, Galien suspected this one would sway to each side less than most when it served them.

Like him, the baron had made a vow. And if a man was truly honorable, he would see it fulfilled, no matter the cost. As Galien pushed the doors open once again, it was he, and not Reina’s father, who would be immediately forced to face the repercussions of such a vow now that the one he’d made to Reina was fulfilled.

Wallace watched them as their small party entered. He’d asked already if Galien planned to accompany him back to the Ettrick Forest, where his men continued to train. To fight another day.

Galien’s reckoning would no longer be delayed.

31

Reina had just learned she was the daughter of two Scottish farmers. And that her parents had been killed by a ruthless bastard of a man she cared little for even before she knew of her past.

She discovered her father secretly fought for the same cause as the man she loved—and was about to lose, if she correctly read the room just now.

It had been confirmed her parents had lied to Reina for her entire life. And that she was, indeed, the missing babe of Dennochbrook. A legend come to life.

If those were not enough revelations for one day, she had also just shaken the hand of a man who had single-handedly reignited a war that would be unlikely to end anytime soon. The man responsible for Galien being captured. But also, one who had actually known the people of her village, who had given his life to ensure attacks such as the one at Dennochbrook would cease someday to ever happen again.

Despite all of it, what ran through her mind as the conversation, and food and wine, swirled around her?

The man sitting beside her. Not on her left, where Reina’s father sat, looking at her so often it was beginning to make her uncomfortable. His eyes begged for forgiveness, which she knew she would give, eventually. But she was still angry that he’d lied to her, continued to lie to her, until the very end.

Nay, Reina was thinking of the other man. The one now shooting daggers from his eyes at the very man he swore to fight alongside. Reina would giggle at the very preposterousness of it, Galien being jealous of William Wallace, if she were not worried for how his bubbling anger may spill over. Reina wasn’t sure if Wallace realized his flirting had such an effect. Nor did she know if anyone else in the room could tell that the Scotsman was, indeed, flirting with her.

But each time Wallace’s eyes caught hers, the unmistakable desire there reassured her Reina was, indeed, not dreaming of his intentions. Which were, she assumed, more nefarious than she would like to believe, since the man certainly could not take a wife. Galien had explained that Wallace’s inner circle were all either unwed or, like Wallace himself, widowed. They did not remain in one place for long. Their heads, if King Edward had his way, belonged on wooden pikes rather than attached to their necks. Nay, not ideal circumstances for a happy marriage.

But there it was again. She darted her eyes away as they talked of raids and battles and alliances. “I would speak to you alone,” Galien whispered into her ear. She pretended to be unaffected when, in truth, his breath so close to her made Reina think of last eve.

She ignored him, not wanting to draw attention.

Reina could hear, or rather sense, him move away. Not daring to look at him, her cheeks already likely aflame with the memories his whispered words raised, she pretended instead to attend to the conversation around her.

“None believe Edward’s truce will last,” her father said. “But at least it will give a temporary reprieve for those of us weary of war.”

“If it lasts beyond this winter, I would be surprised,” said Galien’s uncle. “If not for the pope’s intervention, he would still be at our border.”

“And will be so again, I fear,” her father said. Reina would not become accustomed anytime soon to this change, at least in her mind, in alliances. “I cannot aid you now,” he continued. “Your release,” he addressed Galien, “will be enough to account for at the moment. If I can turn Edward’s ire away from Anbarth, ’twill be a feat indeed.”