A Worthy Rebel by Jody Hedlund

Author:Jody Hedlund [Hedlund, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Published: 2018-09-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter

13

My jealousy was so fierce it scared me. For the rest of the dance, I stayed by Izzy’s side, needing every other man there to know Izzy was mine and to stay away from her.

Thankfully, she wasn’t inclined to wander from me and seemed content to dance with me or rest against my side in the curve of my arm. She’d insisted Robert hadn’t hurt her. Even so, I couldn’t stop the lethal, almost feral need to go after the man and punish him for touching her.

“Robert bears fresh scars.” Priest’s whispered rebuke had stopped me. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.”

Even if Robert was volatile at times, he was a good warrior, and we would have need of his skills. Besides, he was somewhat justified in being angry with me about Macy. I hadn’t intended to lead his cousin on, had wanted to keep the connection with her since she had inside information about Neville.

A few times I noticed her glaring at me and Izzy from across the blazing fire. Apparently, the couple of kisses we’d shared had meant more to her than they had to me. And I was sorry now that I hadn’t used more self-restraint with giving my kisses away. My carelessness had hurt her, and that had only made Robert all the more belligerent toward me.

After the bonfire turned into smoldering embers, we started on our way home. Priest and Wilfred walked with us for a portion of the distance before parting ways. As we started down the footpath that led beyond the village, I was in no hurry for the night to end. I thought an eve together would satisfy my hunger for being with Izzy, but it only seemed to have increased it.

The moon had shifted with the passing of hours, but it illuminated our way clearly enough that I could see the outline of the cottage tucked away at the edge of the forest. My mind scrambled to find an excuse, anything that would extend our time together.

“Thank you for taking me with you this eve,” she said slowing, her steps. Was she feeling the same need to linger?

The breeze which had cooled my overheated face during the walk home now blew against me, reminding me afresh that Michaelmas was only a week away, and that another winter would soon shackle the land, adding to the daily hardships.

The men had wanted to discuss strategy again, particularly when we should rise up and attack Neville. Most agreed that if we did so before winter, we could hopefully gain hunting and piscary rights back. Fresh game could stave off starvation during the winter.

But throughout the discussion, a new hesitancy had invaded my resolve, a hesitancy I’d never felt before. I could point my finger at Priest for always quoting Scripture. I could blame the lack of weapons. Or I could fault the men for not training hard enough.

However, deep inside, I had the feeling Priest was right. The more I cared about Izzy, the fewer chances I wanted to take.

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