Rebel Warrior by Regan Walker

Author:Regan Walker
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2016-05-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Steinar’s stomach clenched with the rising tension boiling within him as they drew near to Dunfermline. Soon he would see the auburn-haired beauty. Anticipation warred with regret. He had found the woman he wanted and looked forward to their exchanges. And to holding her in his arms. The prospect of losing her to Colbán clouded his mind. How could he let her go? Steinar could only bring himself to give her up if Catrìona herself favored the match. But what if she did not? Would she defy the king’s order should he command her to wed his captain? Would Steinar defy the king to whom he had given his oath?

He studied the king’s back. Today, as always, Malcolm rode his white charger a little ahead of his guard, impatient to arrive at his destination, but unwilling to drive the weary men harder than they could bear.

The sky above was a clear blue for which Steinar was grateful as some of the men walked and the wounded rode in open carts that slowed their pace. At Malcolm’s insistence, Duff traveled in the middle of the army in a cart watched over by the king’s physic. But even with wounded among them, spirits were high all around for the raid had been successful.

Next to Steinar rode the king’s captain on his dun-colored horse. Was there a hint of a smile on the warrior’s face? Was it only the success of the raid that he thought of, or did he know that the king favored his request for Catrìona’s hand?

The woman Steinar longed to see.

Colbán was a leader of men: his sword arm strong in battle, his loyalty to the king unquestioned and his voice like brass when issuing commands. And, unlike Steinar, he was a Gael. Mayhap he reminded Catrìona of her father, who had been one of Malcolm’s chiefs.

But it was Steinar’s kiss she had accepted. Unless there was more between Colbán and Catrìona than he knew. Now that Domnall was courting another, had Catrìona turned her attention to the king’s captain? Did she know of Colbán’s request for her hand? If she knew Steinar had been granted lands in the Vale of Leven, she might not want to return to the place where she had lost all she held dear. Steinar pressed his hand to his chest where the green riband was tucked beneath mail and tunic, close to his heart. Did Colbán also carry her favor?

As the king rounded a bend in the road leading to the tower, loud cheers ascended into the air from the boisterous crowd lining either side of the road.

Steinar scanned the faces of the women and girls who stood waving and smiling at the returning warriors, disappointed that Catrìona’s beautiful face was not among them.

Giric broke from the crowd and ran to him, his eyes shining and his little gray dog barking loudly at his side. “Scribe!”

The crowd’s shouts of welcome made it too noisy to converse, but Steinar gave the boy a smile that told him he was glad to see him.

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