Sword of King James by J. Ardian Lee

Author:J. Ardian Lee [Lee, J. Ardian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780441010592
Amazon: 0441010598
Publisher: Ace Trade
Published: 2003-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Iain didn’t look up, but continued to dig dirt from his nails. His elbows rested on his knees, and his heavy eyebrows met over his nose. Iain Mór Crosda, thought Dylan, and, perversely, he nearly laughed. Big, Bad John. He knew what was coming, and knew Cait’s father wanted her out of the way. So did he.

“Cait,” he whispered, “go on inside.” She shook her head and stood her ground, but he squeezed her elbow. “Trust me,” he said. She looked into his face, and he repeated, “Just trust me.” She went, and he closed the door behind her.

He turned back just in time to avoid Iain’s dirk. Dylan dodged, and it slammed into the door next to his head. As Iain yanked his knife free, Dylan drew Brigid from his legging and circled fast to avoid being cornered in the alcove, then backed away. “I love her, Iain.”

“Which matters not in the least, lad. That doesnae make you any different from a dozen other men who would do what you’ve done.”

“She loves me in return.” Dylan backed down the stairs. “That makes me different.”

Iain still came. “That nevertheless gives you nae right to decide for her, or for the clan, who she would marry. I’m her father, and I will do the deciding.”

Dylan took a deep breath and made himself relax in readiness and confidence. He had to know he would succeed, or the fight was already lost. “Me. I want to marry her, and I won’t let her go.”

Iain let out a roar and came at him. Dylan parried and nearly fell down the tower steps in his hurry to get away backward. He retreated, feeling his way down each dark step as he guarded his back. Iain took random swipes, which did little more than keep Dylan on the defensive. They were easily parried.

At the bottom of the tower, Dylan bypassed the door that led to the corridor behind the non-family living quarters. He needed open ground and room to maneuver. He continued to back around inside the tower toward the door that led to the stables. Iain saw his plan, and launched a series of attacks meant to back him past the door and corner him in the bottom floor room of the tower.

Dylan parried furiously, not willing to attack and risk hurting Iain, but not eager to be cornered, and perhaps be killed. He suddenly fell back a step and let aggressive Iain overbalance, then stepped in and shoved the older man away from the door. He ducked through it, ran under the stairs of the tack room with Iain right behind him, into the stable, and through the wide double doors to the castle bailey. There he turned to make his stand, in a spot where he stood a chance of defending himself without damaging Iain.

Iain’s frustration at losing his chance to kill Dylan away from prying eyes showed in his reddening face. “You want to marry my daughter? You? Would I let

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