A Warrior's Perception (28 page)

“
Go!
”
he ordered as he pointed his sword towards the keep,
“
And Ell'andra?
”

“
Aye milord?
”
she teased.

“
If ye plan on seducin' someone, pray ye choose someone I donna know,
”
he spit.

“
If I choose to seduce a man, I'll do so na matter who he is,
”
she spit back as she leaned into Darten's arms and kissed his cheek on her tippy toes. Thankfully, Darten leaned down to receive his reward with a comical grin on his face.

Andra turned and whispered a good-bye to Darten and winked at him. Kagan's heart pounded hard and the intense battle raged inside of him. Darten watched Andra take her leave and prayed Kagan would wait until she was gone before having his fit. They had fought over women before but he knew this was going to be different. This lass held Kagan's heart in the palm of her hand whether he knew it or not. Darten grimaced as Kagan's fist slammed into his jaw.

“
Keep ye hands off of her!
”
Kagan spat.

“
Seems to me big brother she wanted my hands on her,
”
he laughed as he shook off the pain in his jaw.

The keep was filled with the sounds of two mighty warriors raging at each other. One was caught in his jealousy and the other was painstakingly trying to dodge the others anger. The thuds and swooshes lasted for well over an hour. The two beasts brawled and quarreled. The fight ended in smiles and
handshakes
. It was a good fight, blood flowed from each of their mouths and each wore a swollen eye. Their knuckles ached and bled and it was indeed good.

Darten smiled at his brother's back as he walked away. It was going to be very interesting for the next few days and he chuckled to himself as he hurried to catch up with Kagan. He had never known Kagan to get jealous over anything and it pleased him greatly to see his brother take an interest in something besides war and politics.

“
Have ye made the announcement yet?
”
asked Darten as he swallowed his scotch.

“
What announcement?
”
returned Kagan as he leaned across the balcony overlooking the vivid green and alabaster hillside of McKregan Keep.

“
As laird ye must hold a banquet acceptin' that ye are to be betrothed and ye must invite all the boyars and rich landowners so they can parade their eligible daughters 'fore ye eyes.
”
Darten stated in amusement.

Kagan ran his hand through his hair. It was the custom and as laird he would have to abide. He had already chosen, what had it been, three, four years ago? He smiled as his thoughts ran back to Shinonoble Keep. He could still see Andra whispering to Demon and her long hair flying behind her. Her legs holding tightly onto the stallion's sides as she raced from the stall. She had been beautiful even then barely sixteen winters old.

He grimaced as he recalled how skilled her kiss had been and wanted to cut Calin's throat
forever
touching her. His roguish smile returned as he wondered how she would react if he told her that Calin was one of his Watchers. He was indeed very skilled and had seduced some of the prettiest women in England and France. Even now, Calin was on a mission to retrieve important documents from the hands of King James' mistress.

Kagan's outburst of laughter caught Darten off guard and he threw Kagan a curt look,
“
Ye find ye marriage announcement amusin'?
”

“
See to it that Traykell takes great care to invite all of the highlands. It will be a fine day to say the least. And when Calin Comlings returns, make sure he gets a personal invitation from his laird,
”
Laird McKregan ordered.

“
Ah...Pup Calin, is he persuadin' Eliza Burke with his gentle kisses and manly endowments?
”
drawled Darten.

“
Just see to it and send word to Flaron that all is well.
”
Kagan rubbed his jaw, still sore from the fist fight earlier, and continued,
“
Seems whoe'er has been mullin' round on that side of the highlands has taken their lea'e.
”

Darten stood and turned to leave,
“
I promised Andra a walk through the gardens to see that dreadful lookin' flower she found in full bloom. She has decided it suites her. We will be a little late gettin' back this evenin' so do'na expect us at the table.
”

Kagan bit his temper back and smiled,
“
Ye must refrain from takin' her advances, as my betrothed she must act like a lady and stop gallivantin' round with men of ill-gotten reputations.
”

“
Aye, this is true, but I ha'e already gi'en my word and she is terribly hard to resist.
”
Darten threw his words over his shoulder as he left the balcony.

“
She is to be my wife and ye will adhere to my command,
”
Kagan growled.

Darten turned and looked Kagan in the eye, knowing full well what his brother's response would be to his offer,
“
Perhaps, ye would care to make a wager?
”

“
On what?
”
he asked.

“
Ye betrothed.
”
Darten smiled crookedly.

Kagan's eyes slowly narrowed as he pondered his brother’s next move,
“
Go on...
”

“
I'll wager that she will succumb to my advances willingly and want to bed me in two
days’ time
.
”
Darten offered,
“
I'll wager the cost of ye weddin' and finance the additions to the orphanage that burned.
”

Kagan leaned against the stone wall around the balcony and considered the wager before he grinned and replied,
“
I accept and if ye win the wager, first I'll allow ye to live, second, I'll e'en let her live, and third, I'll e'en finance the buildin' of a cottage in the lower regions of the highlands for her to live after ye finished with her and take ye lea'e of her bed.
”

Darten studied Kagan's hard cold face as he spoke in rich even baritone,
“
Ye would disgrace her for fallin' for me and banish her from the kingdom?
”

“
Keep in mind that it is ye that wanted this wager and I would be disgraced if my brother bedded my betrothed. She would'na be worth my time or effort if she chooses ye o'er me,
”
He stated unemotionally.

“
And if I choose to keep her for myself?
”
he quickly added to fire up Kagan's emotions.

Kagan remained calm under his roguish grin,
“
Then unfortunately for ye dear brother, ye will be joinin' her in her little cottage and ye would be ordered to serve as a watcher instead of a warrior. Do I make myself clear on the subject?
”

Darten bowed in front of Kagan sarcastically and retreated back into the Keep. He knew that he had almost pushed Kagan too far but his grin widened.

He knew his brother all
too
well, Kagan could not resist a wager, he would cut off his own hand to win and that suited Darten just fine. Darten had no intention of winning this bet, but he was sure as hell going to give it his best effort. Kagan would be in fits before the night was over!

Andra waited for Darten in the garden watching the sun set. She was lost in the beauty of the hillside as Kagan walked up behind her. He could smell her hair, hear her humming, and could clearly make out her womanish figure behind the tight gown she wore. He stood still as she scanned the horizon, no doubt waiting for Darten.

“
Would ye care to take a walk with me?
”
he asked softly.

Andra turned, expecting to see Darten. Kagan was softly smiling at her and she frowned as he took her arm and swirled her around.

“
I'm waitin' for Darten,
”
she stated.

“
Aye, I am aware he was comin',
”
he returned as they edged deeper into the garden,
“
Howe'er, he seems to ha'e business elsewhere so I took it upon myself to show ye the gardens.
”

“
Nay,
”
she replied as she tried to pull away from his arm,
“
I will wait for Darten.
”

Kagan wrapped his long fingers through hers and softly pulled her in place beside of him. He gently rubbed her knuckles as he guided her through the maze of trees. Andra prayed silently that a bolt of lightning would strike her so she could escape the blissful agony of Kagan's touch.

He stopped as they cleared the trees and entered a gazebo surrounded by immense flowering vines. She was in awe as he led her to the flower she was longing to see.

It was called the Orce of Pain. It was said that the flower bloomed only once and then shriveled and died the following day. The legend said that once the flower had been a woman, beautiful and wild, and she fell in love with a highlander warrior. He had pretended to love her and had bedded her before marriage. She had fallen in love with him and had found out too late that he was already married to a king's daughter.

She was devastated when her lover had left and returned to his wife. She took her life in a great garden. Her tormented soul had taken the form of a flower that blooms one night a year in hopes her warrior would return for her. Andra frowned, apparently the warrior had not returned. Andra marveled as the flower began to open, revealing the soft pink petals. Kagan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and caressed her arm as she continued to watch.

The flower slowly opened as the sun disappeared; it was the size of a shield, perfect and beautiful. The pink edges gave way to satiny slivers of gold and red that ran down to the heart of the bloom. It glistened as it finished its performance. Andra touched the petals and smiled as they extended into full bloom. The night was taking over and the garden grew darker. Andra was having trouble seeing the bloom as it began curling outward. She knew it was dying and she felt like doing the same.