In the Kingdom's Name by Amy Jarecki

Author:Amy Jarecki
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Time travel
Published: 2016-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

William sat across the fire from Eva and watched her turn the oatcakes on the iron griddle. He didn’t like that the men had left without him. Bloody Blair had to go off and prove his point—make him feel like a worthless old relic. They’d argued, then the priest knocked William on his arse. With that, the men had left him behind whilst they headed for a raid.

He hated weakness. All his life he’d fought for the weak, the oppressed. He’d be damned if he would become one of them.

But, Jesu, his legs wobbled.

She glanced up. “Whatever happened to Paden and Adam Wishart?”

“Went back to serve their da after his release from Roxburgh gaol.”

“Ah.” She got a faraway look in her eye. “How is the bishop?”

“Forced to pledge fealty to Longshanks.” William pursed his lips and glanced aside. “He’s dead to me.”

“But he—”

Bile roiled in William’s gut. “What? Is a traitor?”

Eva shook her head and pressed the spatula atop the cake, making it flatter. “Never mind.” She said it like she disagreed.

Bloody oath, the woman hasna been in the midst of this hell in years. Wishart is a lost cause, just like the others.

“I’ll start training on the morrow,” he said more to himself than to her. God’s bones, it was awkward to see her again. She made him feel like an inexperienced pup—and he was nothing the like—he was bloody five and thirty and felt like sixty.

Why hasna she aged?

Aye, he couldn’t deny his fingers itched to touch her, to pull her into his arms and feel those breasts mold into his chest. But it had been too long. Too many battles and too many years—centuries separated them. And Lord knew his heart couldn’t withstand losing her again. It was best if he didn’t allow himself leave to succumb to her allure this time. Hell, he almost wished she hadn’t returned. But then he’d made a speedy recovery. The last time he’d endured such a grave injury, he’d been abed for a month—fevered with the sweat—delirious. Aye, he’d been close to death for certain.

William leaned back against the furs, resting on his good elbow. Why death continued to elude him, he had no idea. If Eva had not come, would he have survived? I suppose I’ll never ken.

She used the wooden spatula to remove the oatcake and placed it on a trencher beside a lump of cold mutton. Then she passed it to him. “I hope the men bring supplies when they return.”

“Aye.” He took the trencher and regarded her face. Could he still trust her? Had she turned like so many others? Days ago she’d talked about Robert Bruce. Why? What did she know? True, she had the gift of a seer.

William drummed his fingers. The man was nearly as large as he—a stout warrior for certain. But Willy didn’t trust him, couldn’t trust any nobles.

Bruce? The earl has a claim to the throne—mayhap weaker than Comyn’s, but nonetheless, a solid royal birthright.

She picked at her food as if nervous.

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