Page 69 of Come the Morning

“Did you make a trade?”

“No.”

“Then where is Anne?” she demanded.

“At your uncle’s camp.”

“Then you’re lying, you did trade—”

“Nay, lady, I did not. Anne and Daro have nothing to do with you.”

“Oh?”

“We can speak later,” he told her, seeing Angus before him with the horses.

“Thank God, the lady is safe!” Angus called.

“Aye,” Waryk agreed briefly, turning to Mellyora. “Can you ride?”

“Of course.”

Could she? She walked to the horse she had ridden, but before she could mount, Waryk was at her side. “Let’s not take any chances, shall we? Ride with me.”

She lowered her head, then took a deep breath and spoke in a whisper without looking at him. “I don’t intend to run again. I’m exhausted, and there’s nowhere left to go. And you would only run me down again.”

“Perhaps not. You’ll be given a choice of what actions you may wish to take, but until then, ride with me. I am only thinking of your exhaustion, and your well-being, my lady,” he said. When his crystal gaze touched hers, she knew that he was lying. He didn’t trust her. He never would.

But neither did it matter. He lifted her in his arms and set her upon his horse before mounting behind her. She was tired and unnerved, cramped, sore, and cold. She closed her eyes, and she would not admit it in a thousand years, but she was glad to rest against him, to feel his warmth and strength at her back.

They made the ride back to Daro’s camp in silence, and there they were greeted warmly by Daro’s men, Waryk’s, and Anne. She was anxious, dying to demand of Waryk and her uncle just what was going on, but she was given no time with Anne, or her uncle or Waryk, who were both ready to bathe away the blood they wore. Mellyora realized that she was muddy and bloodied herself, sore from her fight and flight. Inga ushered her into the side room and again saw to her needs. Hot water filled the copper tub, and despite her anxiety and concern, she sank luxuriously into it. She washed her hair, and Inga helped her dry it. She was bathed and soothed, re-dressed in soft linen and warm wool, and given wine to drink.

And then he was there.

Bathed and refreshed himself, resplendent in his tightly knitted wool and sweeping cloak, he stood before her, a handsome, hardened man who seemed incredibly impatient now, and would give no quarter. “It was my choice to bring Anne here, and no part of any bargain. As to you, Mellyora MacAdin, you are not required to marry me.”

“What new taunt is this? You’ve pursued me mercilessly, and now we’re not to marry? Are you jesting?” she inquired.

He shook his head gravely, then a slight smile curved his lip. “In fact, should you wish to marry me now, you’ll have to ask me, and nicely, m’lady.”

“I will never choose to marry you,” she said, stung by his hard tone.

She didn’t know if his smile became more grim, or if she imagined it “But this is the king’s edict—the island and property formerly held by Adin are now to be held by me.”

“I—don’t understand,” Mellyora said.

“Ah, well, m’lady, lands are held of the king—of course, a laird’s might and heredity do come to play in all situations. Adin held that landof the king. The king now chooses that I shall hold that land. With or without you, m’lady. And my dear, precious, beauty, without you seems to be my personal preference at the moment, I do assure you. I leave in the morning. If you’ve anything to say to me, do so before then. A wedding is planned, but alas, God knows, many such events never occur. Good night, Lady Mellyora.”

He inclined his head and departed, dismissing her completely.

Waryk joined Daro in the hall by his fire. Daro had been seated in one of the carved chairs positioned before the fire; as Waryk joined him, he rose, offering Waryk a chalice of wine.

“You’ve told her.”

“Aye. The choice is hers.”

Daro nodded. “There’s only one choice my niece will make. If she had only realized how far David would go …” His voice trailed away. “The bodies of the dead men were brought here to camp. My men tell me that those we killed joined our group less than a month ago. One of my men told me that he found them an odd group, that their language was slightly different.”

“You mean they were not Norwegian?”