“My Aunt Aleysia taught us how to sweep a man clean off his feet and onto his arse. She was and remains the only warrior who ever took down the merciless Cainnech MacPherson, High Commander to Robert the Bruce, and lived. She also taught us to run through trees.”
Silene looked up at him. “What do you mean? How can you run through the trees?”
“The trees around the stronghold are all connected by boughs or planks. We run along those. There are traps everywhere, as well. Her idea.” He smiled. “An army will have a difficult time if they go through the forest.”
He told her about his Aunt Julianna, who taught them all about different poisons that could either kill their enemy, paralyze them, or put them to sleep. “She taught us how to remove the tiny stingers of wasps, hornets, or the fangs of spiders, and more. ’Tis fer close contact, should ye find yerself at the enemy’s mercy. Ye only need to touch yer enemy to kill him.”
“Oh, my!” she whispered, astounded and rested her cheek on his chest again.
“Her husband is the youngest of the three brothers,” he continued. “Uncle Nicholas was raised as a servant and became an earl. He is more of a diplomatic warrior. He can serve or slay with his tongue. He has lived in the huts along the Marañon River, verra far south of here.”
“They sound fascinating!” she breathed. “And what of your father?”
His tone grew warmer when he spoke. “My father singlehandedly took down Berwick Castle, Till Castle, and dozens of others. In between, he learned to read because he wanted to find a story his mother used to tell him aboot a king called Arthur and his isle called Avalon.”
“You love him very much.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “He and my uncles have built a stronghold that can withstand much. If John’s men go through the forest, they will die. If they make it to the shepherds, many will die before they reach the battlements. There are over one hundred warriors within the stronghold. They are always ready fer battle.”
She shivered in his arms. “I am a bit anxious about meeting them.”
“No,” he told her, “dinna be. They will love ye as I do.”
She lifted her head to look at him and smile, but she should have known better. He smiled and she was lost.
When he dipped his head to her, she closed her eyes and tried to prepare for the feel of his…
…lips. They were warm—like the rest of him, firm but yielding, molding to her, tasting her in swift, breathless kisses. She loved kissing him. His lips were so soft. She wanted him to take her deeper and reached her hands around his nape. His dark, golden hair fell over her fingers. His mouth covered hers. His tongue licked and danced over hers, flicked across her teeth while his lips caressed hers.
She’d chosen this man over speaking her vows, but she had in no way given up the first place in her heart to anyone but God and she still might say her vows in the spring if being with Galeren proved too difficult.
Her uncle wouldn’t care. His secured place on the council was gone. Not only gone but stained because of her.
“What about Mac and the others?”
He raised a brow. The corners of his teasing mouth rose. “D’ye think of my men while ye kiss me?”
“Not always,” she teased back.
His smile grew into a wide grin and then they both laughed.
“They know where I wanted to take ye. I had hoped ye would change yer mind and gave them orders to collect anythin’ we left behind and meet us at the stronghold.”
Aye. She thought of her purple gown and nodded.
“They will also have a bit more information as to what actions John is takin’.”
“You are clever, Galeren,” she told him, staring into his eyes. “I love being held in your arms. I love your face and the things you talk about. I love how you feel in my hands.” She ran her palms over his chest.
His smile warmed on her. She inhaled a deep breath and prepared to be kissed by him again.
“Ye are mine,” he whispered, breaking their kiss for just an instant. “I will never let ye go.”
Chapter Sixteen
Galeren held herin his arms while she slept. He kept his horse close by and his knife in his hand, ready to run and cut anyone down. He hoped no one came. He wanted to keep holding her. They had kissed and spoke until she could no longer keep sleep from overtaking her.
He tried to work out in his mind, while he counted the stars, how quickly things had gone bad in Dundonald. He had always known that John was ambitious, but he never knew what lengths the high steward would go to be king.