Vexing the Highlander by Terry Spear

Author:Terry Spear [Spear, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Terry Spear

When Aila arrived back at her chamber, she fully intended to remove the bundle herself, without anyone else’s help, but Alban had secured it so well, she had to ask her sister to untie it.

“You said you were going to speak with Inghean about taking care of the maids,” Wynda accused.

“Aye. And we did.”

“So what is this?”

“Something I must turn over to Alban. Do hurry. He is waiting and he will probably believe I am keeping it for myself.”

“The arrow?” Wynda struggled to untie the knot. “How in the world did you get the knot this tight?”

“He wanted to make sure it didna slip…“ Aila paused. Did she just say he?

Wynda’s eyes couldn’t get any rounder.

“Can you get it or no’?” Aila asked impatiently.

“Nay, I canna. I would have to cut it. But I would risk cutting you.”

“Oh, just cut the pouch that he, uhm, I made and remove the arrow. We must examine it before we turn it over to Alban.”

Wynda let out her breath and shook her head, then took her dirk and made a careful slice into the fabric, though Aila had planned to return the cloths to their rightful owners unscathed. When Wynda had removed the arrow, Aila dropped the hem of her kirtle, then the two of them examined the fletching, the feathers used to stabilize the arrow’s flight, the shaft, and the arrowhead.

“The shaft doesna have a groove to knock the arrow,” Aila observed.

“What? It has to have. How else could the arrow be nocked?” Wynda touched the end of the arrow that was shaped into a point just like the front of the arrow, instead of having a carved notch.

“That could be good for identifying the hunter, could it no’? How unusual to have a nockless arrow. ‘Tis possible only one man would own such a weapon.” Aila rubbed the knotted band around her waist. How in the world was she going to get it off?

“I agree. Hard wood was used for the upper part of the arrow, which means someone wealthier possessed it. And lighter wood at the tail end.”

A knock at the door had them both jumping. Mai went to get it. “’Tis Alban.”

“I am coming.” Aila took the arrow pieces and the cloths from Wynda, all but the one secured around her waist for all time, she was afraid. She crossed the floor to the door and handed them to him, all bundled up. “I canna untie the knot. Neither can my sister. Why did you have to tie it so tightly?”

“To keep it secure.”

“She canna cut it off without worrying the knife would slip.”

“I will untie it.”

“You willna!” Wynda said indignantly.

“Can you cover the lady up so I can just see the part of her that needs to be undone? Like we did before,” he said as if reminding Aila how they had worked this before since it seemed she was in trouble with her sister for what had happened.

“Oh, aye, of course. Why didna I think of it?”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.