Oath of a Highlander: A Scottish Highland Romance (Arch Through Time Book 25) by Katy Baker

Author:Katy Baker
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Not in Amazon Library, Medieval, Fiction / Romance, To Transfer, Highlander, Time Travel
Publisher: Katy Baker
Published: 2024-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Emeric studied the bow in his hand. His fingers clenched involuntarily, tightening around the ornate grip. It fitted his hand perfectly, as though it had been made for him. Ironic, really, considering who it had once belonged to.

How many times had he watched his father practice with this very bow? How many times had he listened as his father demonstrated a shot, pulling back the string, sighting along the arrow-shaft, and then letting fly with an accuracy that Emeric could only dream of emulating. He might be the best archer in Clan Mackintosh—and clans Murray and MacDonald for that matter—but his father had been better. Nobody had ever been in the same league as Edric Mackintosh. He won every tournament, bested every opponent, and for several years commanded the king’s own elite archers.

Aye, Edric Mackintosh had been a legend all right.

He dropped the bow onto the grass at his side and stared at the marker stone that rose from the grass three paces from where he sat. The area was well tended, the grass clipped short and neat and with fresh flowers laid at the stone’s base. Aislinn, no doubt. How often did she come out here? How often did she come to pay respects to their legendary father?

How often did she come to pay homage to a lie?

His gaze drifted to the bow again. For years, he had hankered after it. It had been given to his father by the king in recognition of his prowess and his service to the crown and it had become a symbol of Clan Mackintosh’s honor.

Honor? That, too, was a lie.

Now that the bow was finally his, he found he didn’t want it. He felt the strongest urge to break it over his knee, but knew that would only bring questions that he wasn’t ready to answer.

Ah, damn it. He felt that restlessness inside again. That desire to run. That desire to get as far away from this place as he could. Where were his sword-brothers now? Sharing a meal by a campfire at the side of a road? Swinging swords in training at Dun Saith? Riding at break-neck speed on some mission or other?

He’d take any of those things over where he was right now. He felt the ties of family and expectation tightening around his neck like a noose. If he stayed much longer, they would strangle him.

“Emeric?”

He turned. Anna was standing at the little iron gate that led into the graveyard. He hadn’t expected to see her and the breath left him at the sight of her. He hated how awkward he’d left it between them earlier. What was it about this woman that tied his thoughts into knots and made him behave like some confused adolescent?

“Anna,” he croaked.

Without waiting for an invitation, she walked over and seated herself cross-legged on the grass by his side. “Aislinn told me I might find you here.”

Was he that predictable? He supposed he was.

Neither spoke. Around them, all was quiet but for the chirping of birds in the trees and the low hum of the crowd on the other side of the castle.

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