Page 16 of Summer Warrior

“Leave now, Sweyn, else my father will kill you!”

He reached out to grab her and she yanked her arm back. “Do not touch me!”

He closed the distance between them and pressed her against the stall, his breath hot against her neck. “I can make you want me.”

Behind Sweyn, there was the flash of a sword and the edge of a blade suddenly rested against his throat. “Do as the lady says or I will remove your head from your shoulders.”

“Lord Somerled!” she exclaimed, relieved and happy to see him.

Sweyn slowly backed away from the blade at his throat. “No need to get riled, lordling. I merely came to join the princess in greeting her horse.”

“You lie!” Ragnhild and Somerled spit out at the same time.

“Leave while you have all your members, Sweyn,” said Somerled. “There is a score to settle between us and I would be happy to see it done this day.”

The Orkneyman turned and, tossing a mean look at Somerled, fled out the stable door.

Somerled gave Ragnhild a look of concern. “Are you unhurt, my lady?”

Flushed but unharmed, she said, “I am well but I thank you for intervening. You spared me an ugly scene or worse.”

“I saw him follow you from the hall, and knew he intended mischief. That snake is not to be trusted.”

“A vile man,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around her. “I like him not.”

“It would be well to stay clear of him. Come,” he said, offering his arm, “I will see you safely to the hall and then I must meet my men at the shore.”

As they walked back to the hall, she said, “Say nothing of this, my lord. Some would not think kindly of me. They would say it was my fault.”

He gave her an enigmatic look. “Aye, some might but I never would.”

The blue of his eyes was clear, his demeanor sincere. Had she gained a champion, a protector? Or mayhap more?

Once they entered the hall, he faced her and, taking her hand, pressed a warm kiss to her knuckles. “I will see you again, Princess. Once I have set my mind to something, I never falter.”

She did not know how to respond. Should she be flattered? Insulted at the possessive gleam she glimpsed in his eyes? In truth, she felt none of those things, only an inner warmth at his words. She very much wanted to see him again.

His companions approached and, after greeting her, they walked with Somerled and her to the castle door where she bid them “Godspeed”. From the top of the rise, she raised a parting hand to Somerled as he looked back at her one last time.