Highlander Oath Of The Beast Read online

  “What else, Greta?” Wolf urged, a warning that he would have an answer.

  “It will sound strange, but being a healer I am curious when someone dies. I want to see the wounds and try to discover whatever I can about them.”

  “You’re a wise healer,” Raven said. “Tell me, did you notice if the second man had a knife tucked in his boot?”

  Greta shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I had no reason to look at his boots.”

  “Anything else catch your interest about the two men?” Wolf asked.

  “No,” she said, a sadness drifting over her. “Only that I wish I could have saved them.”

  “That’s all, Greta. Go and enjoy your night,” Wolf said.

  “Can I send Arran and Lars in?” She smiled. “They complain of deep hunger.”

  “Send them in,” Wolf said.

  Arran and Lars both dug into the food on the table as soon as they sat.

  “Are you going to tell us what goes on?” Arran asked and tore a chunk of bread off one of many loaves of bread in the middle of the table.

  “Why did you go to see the dead man?” Wolf asked him.

  Arran shrugged. “When I learned there was another dead man, I got curious. I thought by chance I might recognize him. If he had been a captive of Brynjar I may have run into him.”

  “Did you?” Raven asked, though knew if he had he would have shared the news immediately.

  “No. He, like the other man, wasn’t familiar to me.”

  “I went to have a better look myself,” Lars said. “I thought that maybe there would be something familiar about them if I saw them together.” He shook his head. “There wasn’t.”

  “So you still don’t know if they were sent by Brynjar or why they were coming here,” Arran said. “But it matters little now. We’ll know tomorrow with Brynjar’s arrival what his intentions are. I say we kill him and his men quick and be done with it.”

  Lars wiped his wet mouth on his sleeve, nodding. “I agree. Gut him and save us from the devil.”

  Talk went on, though Brynjar wasn’t mentioned again. Arran entertained them with tales of Raven when she was young. And she countered with her brother’s escapades with women. Lars added tales about Wolf when he was young and much laughter was shared through it all.

  When Wolf and Raven were finally in their bedchamber, Wolf asked his wife what he’d been waiting to ask her all evening. “So we have three suspects, excluding Arran since he wasn’t here when it all happened, and all gave reasonable explanations.”

  “It’s obvious,” Raven said with a shrug. “One of them is lying.”

  Chapter 26

  “I sent Iver on a last minute mission,” Wolf said the next morning as he dressed. “He actually suggested it. I meant to tell you yesterday but with everything that had gone on, I forgot.”

  Raven donned her shirt and plaid. The furs and leather kept her warm but they were also cumbersome at times and with a possible battle on the horizon she didn’t want to be weighted down. “That’s all right. He talked with me about it first. His suggestion certainly held merit. I’m glad you agreed to it.”

  “I should have known he would speak to you first. Will he ever trust me?” Wolf asked, a bit disappointed but not surprised Iver went to Raven first.

  “I think he already does, but he is accustomed to coming to me with things and he knows that I share them with you before any decision is made.”

  “I have to admit, Iver was wise in suggesting that he track Brynjar’s troop even though I have warriors already keeping watch on them. Iver made it clear it was easy for one to slip off unnoticed, meaning something more could be planned that we don’t see.”

  “Iver often sees things others don’t. If anything is amiss, he will spot it,” Raven said with confidence in her friend. She walked over to her husband and draped her arms over his shoulders to lock her fingers at the back of his neck. “We don’t know what today holds for us. So I will tell you now in case I don’t get to say it again—words I never ever thought I’d say to you but now say them most willingly, truthfully, and from my heart. “I love you, Wolf, and I always will. Nothing will ever change that.”

  His arm hooked her waist to tug her close, needing the feel of her snug against him. “Ours is a most unusual union, love not expecting to grow from it, not even friendship. I am grateful we found both. I love you beyond reason and you will not—I repeat you will not—place yourself in harm’s way today. Brynjar battles without honor. He often has others make it easier for him to deliver the final blow. I will not lose you. You will let me battle if necessary and you will keep yourself safe.”

  Raven went to speak.

  “I will hear no objection. I understand you have the scars of battle to prove you capable, but those were mere skirmishes compared to what you would face against Brynjar. You have fought and protected your men well, but it is my turn to protect you and you will let me do that today. If not, you will leave me to worry and it could cost me my life. So promise me you will take no unnecessary chances. You will let me and Arran deal with Brynjar.”

  She settled her brilliant blue eyes on his dark ones. “If your life is in danger I will not hesitate to help you, otherwise I will take no unnecessary chances.” A slight scrunch of his brow told her that he wasn’t too sure of that. “You have my word.” Her smile surfaced as his scrunch vanished and they kissed.

  Arran looked up from the table in the common room when they entered. “You will keep yourself safe, Raven, and take no part of any fight.”

  “How sweet of you to worry about me, Arran, but you don’t get to tell me what to do anymore,” she said with a pleasant smile.

  “But your husband does,” Arran said and turned to Wolf.

  “Raven gave me her word. There is nothing to worry about,” Wolf assured him.

  “I don’t believe that for a minute,” Arran argued.

  “Then believe this,” Raven said when she saw worry heavy in her brother’s eyes and the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes that seemed to have deepened overnight. “I will not rob you of the pleasure of killing Brynjar, nor will I make it difficult for you to do so.”

  “I appreciate that, Raven, and I am pleased to know that Wolf will protect you with his life.” Arran looked once again to the man.

  “That I will,” Wolf confirmed.

  Raven chuckled. “Don’t be upset if it comes down to me having to save the both of you.”

  Neither man laughed.

  Gorm entered the common room, a light dusting of snow on his head and shoulders. “It begins to snow, but all is in place and ready.”

  “Then there is nothing for us to do but wait,” Wolf said.

  Arran shook his head. “The most difficult part.”

  Talk lagged among them as they ate, though little was eaten. Raven felt somewhat vulnerable not knowing the reason for Brynjar’s arrival. She had made sure she never let her men go into anything without knowing what they were going into. She had never allowed random attacks on travelers. The men would learn who traveled the roads and why and what they carried on them. Only then would they lay in wait and seize the opportunity, leaving less chance of a surprise attack or losing any of her men. Nothing was known of why Brynjar was here, leaving them all vulnerable.

  When word came that Brynjar was not far off, cloaks were quickly donned and Raven stepped outside with her husband and brother.

  Arran took her arm to hold her back when Wolf continued to Gorm. “I need your word.”

  “You don’t have to ask, Arran. If anything should happen to you, I will see Purity and your bairn well cared for and protected as will Royden,” she said, well aware of what he would ask of her.

  “And you will convince Purity to find a good man to wed so she will not be alone,” he said to Raven’s surprise. His dark eyes warned when she laughed.

  “Don’t waste your thoughts on that. There is no way Purity would ever love or wed again. She has loved you and only you for as long as
she has known you.” Her smile softened and she laid a gentle hand on her brother’s arm. “I understand now how and why she feels that way, for I would feel the same if I lost Wolf, and I would never force her to go against her heart. It would be quite impossible for her to do.” She jabbed him in the arm. “So you have no choice—you can’t die today.”

  “Either can you,” Arran warned.

  “If death claimed me, he’d want nothing to do with me and spit me right back,” she said with a laugh that brought a smile to Arran’s face.

  “And I wouldn’t blame him.”

  They both laughed and went to join Wolf.

  Snow fell gently around them and Raven couldn’t keep a grin from her face when she saw Wolf’s warriors all but surrounded Brynjar’s troop, not giving them room to attack, as they led them to the longhouse. Brynjar rode in the front, his hood draped low on his face. She had never seen the man, but she had heard stories of the many scars on his face that had destroyed his once good features.

  Brynjar’s troop slowed and let their leader move forward on his own. He had barely dismounted when Wolf was upon him.

  “Where is Brynjar?” Wolf demanded.

  The man pushed his hood back and there wasn’t a scar on his face. “He had a task to see to. I am here to collect his intended, Eria.”

  “No, you’re not,” Wolf accused. “You’re here to divert our attention from the true reason for Brynjar being here.”

  Arran stepped alongside Wolf, recognizing the man. “Where is he, Rouard?”

  The bulky man shrugged. “I ask no questions. I do what Brynjar commands. Give me Eria and I will be on my way.”

  “Eria isn’t going anywhere with you and Brynjar knew that when he sent you here,” Wolf said, a stinging anger to his tone.

  “We’ve had a long, tiresome journey. The men need rest and food. We will rest today and talk more tomorrow.” Rouard nodded as if it were settled. “We will make camp on the outskirts of the village.” He turned away and ordered his men to turn around, that they would make camp and eat. They all eagerly complied, many of them appearing worn out and definitely hungry.

  “I will send drink and food to your camp,” Wolf said.

  Rouard didn’t hide his surprise. “That is generous of you. I will speak with you tomorrow.”

  Arran waited until the group was a distance away, Wolf’s men continuing to surround them, before he voiced his annoyance. “He lies and you let him.”

  “His presence here is nothing more than a ruse. Whatever Brynjar has planned, he will see it done today. And tomorrow before dawn, Rouard and his men will be gone as long as Brynjar has succeeded. If not, they will attack,” Wolf said.

  “We have to find Brynjar before nightfall,” Arran said and shook his head. “But how? He could be anywhere.”

  “I think there is someone who knows where he went,” Wolf said with a smile to Raven.

  “Who is he? Where do we find him?” Arran asked anxiously.

  “He’ll find you,” Raven said.

  It wasn’t long before one of Wolf’s trackers arrived with a message from Iver and plans were formed. Raven stood behind the longhouse where the men gathered so none could be seen. She wished she was going with them, but she and others would remain behind to keep watch on the clan. With Wolf’s warriors surrounding Brynjar’s camp and ale plentiful to keep them busy, she didn’t fear any problems with the men.

  Wolf came to stand in front of her, looking like the Northman warrior, swathed in furs, leather, and weapons, that had come to claim her the day she had returned home. He had put a fright in her that day, but not today. Today she saw him as the mighty warrior the Beast, ready to devour anything in his path.

  “Make sure and stay here, wife,” Wolf ordered.

  “I will stay here,” she assured him. “And you will give me your word that you will do your best to return home safe to me.”

  He kissed her and whispered, “It’s difficult to kill a Beast.”

  She grinned. “I had no trouble taming one.”

  “We’ll see about that later tonight,” he challenged and kissed her again. He turned away from her and her words stopped him.

  “Come back to me or I will make it my mission in life to kill the one who took you from me.”

  He turned and grabbed her arm. “You will do no such thing. You could be with child right now. You will keep that in mind and do nothing that would put you or our bairn in danger.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, he walked away and didn’t look back.

  Raven remained where she stood, stunned by the intensity of his words and the way his dark eyes had flared with angry worry. The man truly did love her. She watched with a heavy heart as her husband, brother, and four warriors made their way into the nearby woods.

  Iver’s message had been clear. Two of Brynjar’s warriors had left the camp and Brynjar joined them a short time later. One warrior went ahead of Brynjar and one trailed behind him. They were headed toward the village from a different direction. Iver told them where they should go to stop them from reaching the village.

  Raven understood why her husband didn’t take a troop of warriors with him. He planned on a surprise and quick attack that would see Brynjar and his two warriors dead before they could lift a weapon. This would finally be done and Brynjar would threaten them no more.

  She joined Clive, who waited at the back corner of the longhouse for her.

  “It is good that this will be done and over,” he said as he walked with her around to the front.

  Raven nodded and squared her shoulders. “I need to keep busy or I will worry endlessly. Where are the men?” She held up her hand. “George is at the keep with Eria and also Detta where he was ordered to remain. What of Brod?”

  “He’s drinking with Brynjar’s men to see if he can find out anything.” Clive shook his head. “I don’t know how he does it, but he works his way in with strangers without them even realizing it. Fyn is with Greta, watching over her and Tait.”

  “Where’s Lars?”

  “He’s with Gorm making sure all goes well,” Clive said.

  “And you’re to look after me?”

  “Your life has been threatened,” he reminded.

  “No more than a ruse to distract from Brynjar’s true intention.”

  “Clive, can you help a minute?” Lars called out, waving him over toward one of the storage sheds throughout the village.

  “Come with me,” Clive said reluctant to leave her.

  “Go, I’m good. The village is well protected and I can well protect myself,” she urged. “Besides I wouldn’t mind some time to wander alone with my thoughts.”

  “Stay where you can be seen,” he said like a parent worried for his child.

  “I will, now go,” she ordered with a smile and he left with a shake of his head.

  Raven felt as if a burden had been lifted off her. She hadn’t realized how much it had made her feel a prisoner to have someone constantly following her. She was glad for the reprieve.

  She smiled at the bairns who ran about in play oblivious to the possibility of battle that loomed around them. Their parents weren’t. Weapons sat conveniently at hand by cottages and hung from belts. Shields were everywhere, ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice and caches of arrows waited alongside bows. The village was well prepared, though Raven doubted they would need to fight. The troop guarding Brynjar’s men would be stopped before one warrior could enter the village.

  Raven didn’t believe that Rouard had any intention of attacking the village. He appeared more ready to wait than to battle, which meant he expected Brynjar to be successful at his mission. But why would Brynjar leave his men and head toward the village without them? It couldn’t be her who he was after. He would know Wolf would see her well protected. So what did Brynjar want?

  She shook her head annoyed she couldn’t find an answer and her eyes caught on the shed that housed the two dead men. For some reason, she felt they held if not the answer,
then at least an important piece to the puzzling mystery.

  Raven entered the shed, hoping to find something that would help her. It was the first man they had found frozen to death that caught her interest. She stood over him staring. There was something familiar about his face, but try as she might she couldn’t recall him. She had met many people through the years, though they mostly were brief meetings, so faces didn’t remain long in her memory. Why then was it that his face seemed so familiar?

  She shook her head and turned away to leave, then turned back for one last look.

  It struck her then. She saw it clearly. She knew where she had seen him.

  Chapter 27

  “Where’s Clive?” Fyn asked looking about. “You’re not to be by yourself.”

  “He’s helping Lars and I believe I’m safer here than ever before with everyone prepared for battle,” Raven said and smiled when little Tait squealed with delight when his snowball hit Fyn in the leg.

  Fyn grinned and leaned down to scoop up a handful of snow. “Now you’re going to get it.” He shot Raven a questioning look as he formed the snowball.

  “Go. I’m here to speak with Greta,” Raven urged.

  “She’s in the cottage,” Fyn said and turned to throw the snowball only to get hit in the leg with another one. “Now I’m going to get you.” He laughed as he ran after a laughing Tait.

  Raven gave a hasty knock on the wood door before opening it.

  “Raven, come in,” Greta greeted. “Are you in need of healing?”

  Raven shut the door and stared at Greta a moment.

  Greta grew uneasy, her hands gripping her apron.

  Raven kept her tone gentle. “You took the knives, didn’t you, Greta?”

  Greta’s hand remained tight on her apron. “What do you mean?”

  “The missing knives from the dead men,” Raven said, though knew full well that Greta had understood what she asked. “You took them. You know the two men or you know at least one of them. You need to tell me, Greta. I need to know if my husband is in more danger than he realizes.”