An Oath Sworn (2 page)

“Sisters?”

“You seem relaxed in the presence of women.” Heat returned to her cheeks. And why wouldn't he be? A fool could see he was a man who could easily charm a woman into his bed. Mortified, she shook her head. “I did not mean—”

“I know what you meant.” A smile tugged at his mouth, deepening his dimples. “And I do have sisters. Three of them, to be exact, and a brother. If you would want to be knowing,” he gently teased, “my name is Colyne.”

“Thank you.” Before she uttered something else humiliating, Marie hurried out, the soft rumble of his laughter trailing in her wake.

 

Colyne shook his head as the lass all but fled the cave. As she stepped into the sunlight, hints of gold teased by the sun shimmered through her hair like a majestic fire.

He sucked in his breath. For a moment he'd almost lost his good sense and agreed to escort the comely lass to the coast. With a curse, Colyne rubbed his throbbing temple. What was he thinking? Since Elizabet had married another and broken his heart, he'd nae been drawn to another lass.
Elizabet.
His chest tightened as he thought of the woman he loved, a lass he'd known since his youth, a woman who he would forever hold in his heart.

Nay, Alesia inspired naught. 'Twas the woman's beauty that intrigued him. He must focus on reaching France and of learning what she knew of the writ, nae more.

A wave of dizziness swept over him as he knelt. Bracing a hand on his knee, he took several deep breaths until his vision cleared. Aye, his travel would be slowed by his injury, but it couldna be helped. He reached for his gambeson.

“What do you think you are doing?”

At Alesia's reproach, Colyne's grip eased. The thick padding plopped upon the dirt. He shot her a quelling look as she stood in the entry, herbs piled in her palm. With a muttered oath, he snatched the gambeson. “I am donning my mail.” Dizziness threatened his balance as nausea gnawed in his gut. Irritation slammed through him when his fingers quivered from the effort to hold his gear.

“You are too weak to be moving about,” she snapped, “much less entertain ideas of travel.”

“You brought me in here?” he asked.

She arched a cool brow as she walked toward him and then deposited the handful of leaves on the flat surface of a nearby rock. “
Oui
. I am stronger than I look.”

Mayhap, but with her slender frame and without help, the task of moving him hadna been easy. He was at least a hand's length taller than her.

“And you removed the arrow?” Her head made a slight tilt, but he noted that with each question, her expression grew more guarded. “How long have we been here?”

“Two days.”

A sword's wrath. Two days of much-needed travel lost.

“You had a fever,” she explained. “You will be weak and needing food and rest, not moving about.”

He ignored her rebuke and donned the gambeson. His wounded shoulder burned from the effort. “What I will be needing or nae is my decision.”

She scoffed. “If you had half as much wit as charm, you would be—”

“Charming, am I?” Colyne challenged, pleased by her spirit.

Coolness flickered in her eyes as she stalked over and shoved the water pouch in his hand. “Drink this.”

Nay, he wasna about to be thrown off topic so easily. He waggled the leather vessel at her. “You said I was charming. I heard you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I also think you are—”

“Hold, lass,” he interrupted, assured by the fire in her eyes that her comparison would be far from flattering. His lips twitched with amusement at her heated reply. He took a gulp. “But I will be thanking you for the water.”

Alesia snatched the leather sack from his hand and secured the top. “Save your charms for those who will be swayed by them.”

At the coolness of her tone, he chuckled, and then Colyne sobered at how easily he'd flustered her by his teasing. As a missionary, how had she handled those who vied for her attention? Given her beauty, numerous men would have tried.

She withdrew a flat round made of oats from the bag and handed him the baked good.

“My thanks.”

With a cool nod, she removed an oatcake for herself and then sat on the ground.

Out of reach, he noted. Intrigued, Colyne studied her. Even irritated, Alesia moved with a natural grace as if life had dictated such. Yet, the worsted wool of her dress indicated a simpler existence, which prior to their speaking he'd believed. Nay longer. Now he suspected the simple garb a ruse, one tied to the reason she'd found him here.

“I am surprised to find someone of your class in the Highlands,” he said, phrasing it more as an observation than a question, in hopes she'd open up to him. “Even voluntarily.”

She focused on her biscuit and then took a dainty bite. “I explained why I am here.”

“Aye, you did.” But the hesitation before her reply assured him something about her story was untrue.

Moss green eyes locked with his. “And what brings you to an end where I find you unconscious with an arrow in your shoulder?” She tore off a piece of her flat round, but he didna miss the worry hidden within her question, or the subtle cut that she knew little of him as well and had her own suspicions.

“I am nae an outlaw.”

She regarded him like a queen weighing sentence on one of her subjects. “You would not be.”

“You know little about me to draw such an opinion,” he said, curious as to how, in fact, she had come to such an accurate conclusion in such a brief time. As if she had lived a life where her judgment of those around her was a necessity.

“Your actions speak clearly of your character,” she explained, drawing him from his musings. “If you were a scoundrel, you would not have cared a wit about my misfortune.”

“You have discerned more about me than most would in our short acquaintance.”

For the first time since he'd regained consciousness, her mouth curved in a smile, one that briefly grazed her full lips. A look hinting of passion. One Colyne found himself wishing to taste.

Caught off guard by his thought, he stared at her. Except for Elizabet, never had a woman roused his interest.

Until now.

What was it about Alesia that intrigued him? He knew little about her, and he had misgivings that what she'd disclosed was the truth. A sword's wrath. France was his sole objective. Until he delivered the document to King Philip, he could trust nay one.

Including her.

“Learning to deduce a person's motives is a necessity with the life I have been given,” she explained.

“And exactly what has life offered you?”

Alesia stood. “You must be thirsty. I will refill the water pouch.”

The silky ease with which she guided the conversation away from herself assured Colyne she had done the same many times over. “It can wait.”

Without glancing back, she picked up the sewn leather and started toward the exit.

“Who are you?” At his quiet command she halted, neither did he miss how her body tensed. “I can believe you are a missionary, but there is something more that you are hiding.”

She faced him. Her fingers clutching the leather grew white.

“Your words. The graceful manner in which you move,” he said as he studied her, “have given you away. And your hands are soft and unblemished, those of a well-bred lady, nae of a commoner.”

Though slowly given, she nodded her assent. “I once traveled in those circles,” she replied, her words rich with distaste. “I do so no longer.”

“You are nae fond of nobility?” he asked, curious as to how she would react if she learned he was an earl. Would his status repel her? The thought disheartened him.

“Nobility?” she repeated, her words wielded with cold precision. “'Tis an insult on the word. Many who bear powerful titles are often a pathetic reflection of the noble personage they strive to personify. So caught up in their own worth, they see naught of the self-serving fools they have become.”

“Is that why you traveled to Scotland?”

With a sharp tug, she secured the sack. “Monsieur, what I chose to do or not do is my concern.”

“Indeed.” He chose his next words with care so as nae to raise her suspicions. “ 'Tis only that I find your appearance here—”

“I have explained my reason.”

At the rebuff in her voice, he refrained from further questions, but before they parted, he would have his answers. A stiff silence fell between them as he pondered a subtler approach. “I will be taking a second oatcake.”

Suspicion flashed on her face.

He offered her a roguish smile. “Because I am hungry.”

She arched a doubtful brow, but she walked over, reopened the sack, and removed another round. “You need several more days of rest before you begin moving about.” Alesia nodded toward the armor near his thigh. “Without bearing the weight of your mail,” she added with emphasis. “If you are not careful, you will reopen the wound I have bound. I need not inform you of your outcome should your injury putrefy.” She stepped closer, and then tossed the oatcake onto his lap.

Colyne caught her hand before she could move away.

Her eyes narrowed with warning.

“I want to thank you.” But a part of him had wanted to touch her. And he'd guessed right. Her skin did remind him of silk.

Ire flashed in her eyes as she tugged to free herself from his hold.

He let go, but nae without regret. “And I am nae thirsty.”

After a moment's hesitation, Alesia sat on the other side of the blackened remnants of their small fire, her expression wary. “As you are awake and without fever, on the morrow I shall leave.”

“You will go alone?”

She angled her head in a regal tilt. “Monsieur, I will do what I must.”

Instead of admiring her sheer determination, anger ignited at her foolishness. “With the unrest between England and Scotland, travel will be dangerous.”

“I am well aware of the challenges I face.” She lifted a curious brow. “Unless you have changed your mind and have decided to escort me to the coast.”

A sword's wrath, 'twas nae a luxury he could offer. “ 'Tis impossible.”

The fragile hope in her eyes vanished. “I see.”

Nay, she didna! He was a hunted man. For all he knew, Renard's men scoured the woods within a league of their position. Without wanting to, he had placed her life in jeopardy.

If caught, his life was forfeit.

But if they found Alesia with him, he doubted their actions would be those of honor. Grizzly visions of the men taking liberties with her ravaged his mind, of their thirst for their own base needs.

He wanted to help her, but for her safety they needed to part. As long as she remained with him, the risk to her life increased. “You do nae understand.”

Her face softened with concern. “Then make me.”

Tiredness washed over him. Colyne wished he could explain, but too much lay at stake to take such a risk. “Nay, 'tis better if you know naught.”

“But . . . why?”

The concern in her voice had him again damning the situation. With a curse, Colyne stood. His legs trembled, as if mocking his weakness. He couldna escort Alesia to the coast; she was a stranger, a woman whose presence here raised numerous questions. Still, how could he allow her to travel unprotected? Neither could he forget that she'd saved his life.

Bedamned this entire situation.

“Fine,” Colyne snapped. “I will take you eastward to a trusted friend. But nay farther. He will make arrangements for you to reach France.”

She paused as if mulling over his offer.

“I would nae hesitate if I were you,” he warned. “I might change my mind.”

“Then I accept your gracious offer,” she replied, her voice somber, but a wisp of laughter danced in her eyes.

A sword's wrath, the lass toyed with him! And as much as he should be irritated, Colyne found appreciation at her daring, a tactic he'd employed himself moments before.

The hard, steady cadence of hooves echoed in the distance.

Colyne turned toward the entrance. Renard's men!

Alesia's face paled. “They have returned! We must keep quiet until they have passed.”

Returned? Guilt collided with suspicion. Why hadna she told him the men had searched the area while he was unconscious? Whatever the reason, thank God she had kept them hidden. He unsheathed his sword, biting back the pain in his wounded shoulder. “Move behind me.”

Frustration flashed in her eyes. She rushed over and tried to pull the blade from his grip.

“Ale—”

What do you think you are doing?” she demanded.

The rumble of hooves increased.

In disbelief, Colyne stared at her hand clasped above his own. “Release my weapon!”

She gave a hard tug. “You are too weak to be wielding a sword.”

“If we are discovered, you had best pray for my strength.”

“Why?”

“Because,” Colyne snarled, “the men want me dead.”

C
olyne hadna thought her face could whiten further but it did. “My lady?”

Panic streaked through her eyes as she stared up at him. “They want you dead?”

A sword's wrath! “Hide behind the boulder.”

She didn't move.

“Now!”

With a start, Alesia ran to the large rock near the back of the cave, and he followed.

The thrum of hoofbeats halted near the entrance.

Sword readied, Colyne tensed.

“She is not out here,” a rough English voice grumbled.

“Our orders are to find her,” another man snapped.

“We have searched for three bloody days now,” a man farther away stated. “She is long gone.”

A man close to the entry grunted. “If you want to keep your head, you best pray that we find her.”

A horse squealed, another snorted, and leather and mail clanked as the men rode off.

The rumble of horses faded.

Colyne exhaled a relieved sigh as he stepped from behind the boulder. Whoever the men were, they were nae searching for him. With the threat over, weariness swept him. He needed to rest. He sheathed his blade and turned toward Alesia.

And stopped.

Eyes widened with guilt watched him.

And he understood. “The men are after you.”

She stepped back.

Irritated that he'd nae suspected they sought Alesia at their mention of a woman, he stepped closer. When she made to move farther away, he caught her shoulder. “Tell me!” Sweat trickled down his face at the effort, but anger gave him strength.

“
Ou—oui
.”

He cursed beneath his breath. “Before you end up getting us both killed, tell me what in blazes is going on!”

 

At the Scot's furious glare, Marie trembled. Though she believed he was a man of honor, what did she truly know about him? His Christian name? His belief that men were after him? However tempted to admit the truth, Scotland's freedom was too big a risk for her to offer him her trust.

Colyne's grip on her shoulder tightened.

She winced. “Please, you are hurting me.”

His hold gentled, but he didn't release her. “Why do the men want you?”

The lie of gold or some other viable reason as to why the men pursued her came to mind. No, she couldn't tell him another untruth.

She shook her head. “I cannot.”

“Canna or willna?”

She'd not believed it possible for him to appear more dangerous, but with his eyes darkening like an incoming storm and his body tensed as if prepared for battle and towering over her, he appeared every inch the warrior. “The reasons are mine alone.”

Blue eyes narrowed. “ 'Tis nae only your life that is at risk.”

“I know,” she quietly replied.

“Do you?” A muscle worked in his jaw as he studied her, and with an exasperated sigh, he let her go.

Marie didn't move back but stood before him humbled. He was wounded. How could she have been so selfish as to have asked him to jeopardize his life further by escorting her to the coast? “Monsieur—”

“Colyne,” he said between gritted teeth. “I think we can agree to bypass the formalities.”

She nodded. “Colyne, I have decided to take my chances.”

His nostrils flared with annoyance. “Pray tell, lass, what does that mean?”

Marie shifted, uncomfortable beneath his all-too-seeing glare. “It means I will continue my journey alone. You need rest, time to heal. You are in no condition to travel, much less further endanger your life by escorting me to your friend's home.”

“Is it a man?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with caution, barely controlling her rising panic.

He glanced toward the cave's entry. “Is it a man who sent his knights in search of you?”

The tension in her body ebbed. “
Oui
.” Let him believe her reasons for running were personal. It would simplify everything. Neither was it a lie.

“Who is he?”

He far from understood the importance of the question he asked. “What does it matter who it is or the reason his men are searching for me?”

Colyne shot her a wry grin. “If I am going to risk my life escorting you, I need to know what I dangers I face.”

Hope stumbled through her. “You will escort me? But—”

The Scot held up his hand, any trace of humor gone. “To my friend's home, as I offered before. Nay more. Once you are in safe hands, I must go. I have my own business to attend to.”

Colyne's reaction to the knights who'd ridden by flickered through her mind. Uneasy, she cleared her throat. “You believed the men were after you?”

His expression grew shuttered.

Marie tensed. Was this Scot a threat? She didn't want to believe she'd miscalculated to such a degree. But if she was wrong . . .

Long seconds passed as he stared at her, his deep gaze assessing. “Aye, they are.”

“Why?”

A grim smile touched his mouth. “Well now, lass, I have my own reasons. Ones I will nae be sharing. And,” he paused, “you will have to trust me as well.”

Marie disliked this turn of events. “It seems I will.”

Humor softened the stern angles of his face. “A fair trade, would you nae agree?”

At his teasing, she looked away, unable to find anything light-hearted about the situation. Though men pursued him with deadly intent, he didn't hold a country's fate in his hands.

If he was in better health, she would accept his offer. As a woman who enjoyed quick wit, 'twould be interesting to remain with Colyne for a while longer, for their discussions if naught else. Except his pallor betrayed his weakened state. Neither could she forget how the sword had trembled in his hands as the knights had ridden by. He was in no condition to protect her, much less travel.

“My thanks for your offer of escort, but I must decline.”

Colyne's mouth tilted into a half smile that sent her pulse racing.

Flustered by her reaction, she dropped her gaze. At his soft chuckle, she looked up. “What?”

“Only you would debate this.”

“I am not—”

His smile widened. “You are.”

“I was,” she amended, finding herself hopelessly charmed. 'Twas foolish to entertain agreeing to his offer. He was too weak to travel. But if she didn't agree, then she'd be alone, a stranger in a war-torn land. Though she far from trusted him, despite his cautious manner, he treated her with courtesy and respect without the knowledge of her royal ties. “Thank you. If you insist, I will accept your offer. But we must remain here another day to allow you time to heal before you travel.”

He nodded, but Colyne's eyes scoured hers, his wariness easy to read. With his intelligence, she'd expected nothing less.

“They say when you share your worries, the choices you need to make become so much more clear.”

Sadness filled her at the sincerity in his voice. “I cannot.” And sadly, never could.

 

Canna? She could, but the lass was afraid of whoever sought her. Colyne took in the bruise on her cheek, disgusted by men who found strength in battering women. If the scoundrel who'd struck her stood before him, he would serve the bastard his own brand of justice. “You are exhausted and need to try to sleep.”

Alesia glanced toward the cave's entry. “The men—”

“I will keep watch.”

She scraped her teeth across her lower lip. “Only for a short while.”

“Go to sleep,” he said, evading any agreement to her request. Unless absolutely necessary, he would allow her to rest until she awoke on her own.

With a yawn, she walked toward the back of the cave, lost in shadows.

“Where are you going?”

“Behind this ledge is a small chamber. While you slept, I crafted a bed from dry grass and leaves.” Pink crept up her cheeks in a flattering hue. “For you to use once I had left. If the men did a quick search of the cave while you were asleep, you had the chance of being overlooked.”

“And why have you nae slept there?” he asked, impressed by her tactical measure. “It would have offered you more comfort than on the cold, hard ground.”

“While you were asleep, you developed a fever, one that thankfully went away before you awoke. I could not risk leaving you alone.”

Moved by her sacrifice, he stepped toward her. “So you slept by my side until the fever broke?”

Her blush deepened. “
Oui
.”

Caught off guard by her sudden shyness, he halted, too easily picturing her moss-colored eyes dark with passion. “Go to sleep,” he whispered. Before he did something foolish like kiss her.

With a blush on her cheeks, she slipped from view. Dried grass and leaves rustled as she settled behind the wall of uneven rock.

Colyne blew out a rough breath and walked outside. Alesia's genuine nature bespoke a nurturer, a woman given to helping others. How had he wondered if she was King Philip's bastard daughter? Nae that she couldn't be as giving, but raised beneath a royal hand and without ever having a need, he had his doubts.

After a quick survey of the surroundings, he leaned against a boulder at an angle, where he could spot riders in the distance, but close enough to the entry so he could hear her if she called.

He rubbed his temple and tried to ignore the throbbing in his left shoulder and the dizziness he couldna shake. He needed to deliver the missive to King Philip, nae ponder the thoughts Alesia inspired. A sword's wrath! The only reason he'd agreed to escort her to his friend was that 'twas too dangerous for her to be in the Highlands alone.

Disgusted with that lie, he shot a cool look to where he knew she lay. Aye, and so what if she intrigued him? 'Twas nae the same feelings he had had for Elizabet. Pain lanced his heart at the thought of the woman he loved. With a grimace, he scanned the surroundings. She was happy now. He should be happy for her. And he would be. When was another matter.

 

Two days later, Colyne strode through the forest with Alesia at his side. Though his body hadna fully recovered and against her objections, he'd announced it was time for them to leave.

A grim smile touched his lips. For his sanity, he couldna remain trapped within the cave with her another day. It had taken every ounce of his willpower nae to satisfy his question of how her mouth would feel beneath his.

“How is your shoulder?” she asked, her tone crisp.

“Am I slowing you?”

Impatience simmered in her eyes. “Not at the moment.”

Colyne laughed. He should have found disapproval in her outspoken manner. Instead, he was fascinated by her intelligence, impressed by her ability to debate him on the most insignificant of issues and, on occasion, to reason a point to where he conceded to her view.

He didna have the heart to inform the lass that he'd kept his pace slow more out of concern for her than his injury. He'd dealt with worse discomfort in his life, but traveling afoot through the Highlands proved an arduous trek for a knight familiar with such demands, much less a gentlewoman. And the slippers she wore offered her little protection against the sticks and rocks strewn about the forest floor.

At the break in the trees, a glen lay before them, thick with rich blades of grass scattered with heather. He scanned the familiar, narrowed tract of land. Soon they would arrive at Stephano's home. His friend would secure her safe passage to France. With a fresh mount and Alesia in trusted hands, he would be on his way.

And he would miss her.

Greatly.

“You said you had three sisters and a brother?” She glanced over, her eyes bright with interest. “Are you close?”

“Aye. And what of your family? Are you close as well?”

She looked away and kept walking. “Are you the eldest?”

“You have nae answered my question,” he said, remembering her avoidance of speaking about herself before.

“I have many relatives,” she finally replied, “many of whom disagreed with my decision to live on my own or to aid those who are less fortunate.” She shrugged. “I should not pry into your private life.”

A smile touched his mouth. “I wish to pry into yours.”

Alesia stared straight ahead, nae allowing Colyne the luxury of discerning her reaction. “I have led a very boring life.”

“I doubt that,” she said.

When she didna respond further, his smile grew. “Your silence will only make me more curious.”

She halted and turned with a scowl. “This is not a game we play. There are men out there who, for various reasons, want both of us dead. What difference does it make if you know of my family, or if I have chosen to live a simpler life without the false pageantry of nobility?”

“Is that what you have chosen?” Colyne caught her hand as she started to turn away. “I did nae mean to upset you.”

“The fault is mine. I was the one who asked about your family. I will not do so again.” She shot a cool look at his hand. “Now release me.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“We both have secrets neither of us are willing to share. In a day, two at most, we will never see each other again.” Her voice began to break.

Colyne stepped closer, but she shook her head.

As if erecting an impenetrable wall between them, she moved back. “You are a stranger to me,” she whispered. “A fact I have no wish to change.”

“Is it so wrong to offer friendship?”

“Monsieur, can we not go?”