Page 14

“N-No,” Andrew stammered out in barely a whisper. Rune Dolph looked the picture of rage. His skin was flushed, and his hands trembled. He looked as though he was about to make the killing blow, and Isla was incensed. She began to step forward to aid her son and rebuke Rune Dolph, but there was someone closer who was already striding forward. Breath caught in her throat as she saw that it was Emmel.

What is he still daeing here? He should have left by now.

Emmel strode out of the crowd. It took a few moments for Rune Dolph to realize that anyone was approaching. Murmurs rippled through the onlookers as they saw what was happening.

“Gae easy on the wee lad, he’s just a child, and he’s trying his best!” Emmel cried. “How dae ye expect him tae learn anything if ye are gaeing tae yell at him and treat him like this?”

Rune Dolph reared back and looked at Emmel with a venomous gaze.

“Who are you to dare come and interrupt me when I’m training my son? Begone with you, vermin. Get back to the stables or wherever you’ve been working. I don’t want to waste my time with you,” Rune Dolph said. By this point, he had made no effort to help Andrew back to his feet. The boy was still on the ground, too scared to move. Emmel showed no sign of backing away. He went up to Andrew and helped the boy to his feet. When Andrew saw him, he gasped.

“I know ye,” he said.

Emmel looked panicked but tried to shrug it off with a laugh.

“That cannae be, lad. We are strangers, and I hae never seen ye before. Ye must be mistaking me for someone else,” Emmel said.

Andrew peered at him even more closely, and Isla felt a sinking feeling in her heart. Andrew knew nothing of their subterfuge, and if he should reveal that Emmel was from the island, Rune Dolph would know that Emmel was there for Isla, and that would mean trouble for them all. She could already see something churning in Rune Dolph’s mind, so she rushed forward to the aid of her son.

“Andrew, Andrew! Are ye well?” Isla asked, rushing toward him and gathering him in her arms, turning his face away from Emmel. She peppered him with kisses and feigned the role of a worried mother, although it didn’t take too much of an act.

“Thank ye, kind stranger,” she said to Emmel, and then turned to glare at Rune Dolph. “What are ye thinking of speaking tae Andrew like that? He is nae one of yer soldiers. He is just a wee lad! Ye cannae berate him like that.”

Rune Dolph towered above them, and when he spoke, his words were as dry as ash.

“He needs to learn how to defend himself. Enemies will not be as forgiving as I am. I tire of being told how I can and cannot raise my son.” He turned his baleful gaze on Emmel. “I suggest that you leave my sight now, otherwise pick up that sword, and I’ll show Andrew what happens when somebody doesn’t do as they’re told.”

Isla’s gaze fell to the wooden sword on the ground. For a moment, she thought that Emmel was going to be mad enough to take it and challenge Rune Dolph. With a wooden sword, she had no doubt it would be a short fight. Thankfully, Emmel showed more sense than that. He hung his head, rolled his shoulders, and walked away. Isla breathed a sigh of relief.

“The lesson is over for taeday,” she said, and ushered Andrew away from this mock battle, leaving Rune Dolph standing there with a deep scowl upon his face.