Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy)
Read Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) Online
Authors: Kara Griffin
Ms. Griffin’s story was
impossible to put down. Her characters popped off the pages. The dialogue held
me while not overpowering me with the Highland brogue and still grounded me
within the time-period. The conflict between all the characters was strong and
believable, adding richness to the setting. Definitely a historical not to be
missed by Ms. Griffin’s fans or lovers of Highlander tales.
Kimber
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
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Lass’
Valor
Kaitlin
Stanhope learns of her father’s death delivered with a strange medallion and a
cryptic message. He warns,
beware the friend with the black heart
. She
is wrenched from her beloved home and sent to live with her guardian. A
believer in the ancient ways, Kaitlin has a vision of a warrior which brings comfort
and many questions. Once at the home of her guardian, all is not what it seems.
Escaping his clutches, she embarks on a dangerous mission, one that could mean
the death of both her and the child she rescues.
Brendan
MacKinnon, protector of his Clan and doting uncle, is devastated when his niece
goes missing. His mission is to find her however long it takes. When he comes
across Kaitlin, the violet eyed fairy enchants him. The woman risked everything
to save his niece’s life, and courageously she stands up to his obstinate
nature.
How
could the LASS' VALOR not touch his heart?
Lass’
Valor
by
Kara
Griffin
Lass’
Valor
Lass’ Valor
Copyright @ March 2012 by Kara Griffin
This e-Book has been previously published.
This e-Book is a work of fiction. While references
may be made of places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and
locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to
actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.
This e-Book is licensed to the original purchaser
only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of
International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon
conviction fines and/or imprisonment. This e-Book cannot be legally loaned or
given to others. No part of this e-Book can be shared or reproduced without the
express permission of the author.
Published in the United States of America
Second publishing March 2012, second edition.
First publishing February 2006, first edition.
Dedication
This
story is dedicated to those who make it their goal to protect children
no
matter what the cost. And to Trixie for 19 years of love and friendship.
Table
of Contents
In
men of the highest character and noblest genius there is to be found
an
insatiable desire for honour, command, power, and glory. Ciecero
Whitehall
Castle, England
June
1221
“Hell,
I’m caught.” The edge of Henry’s golden threaded, gray cape caught the bottom
of a lance held by a vacant suit of armor that stood sentry beside the wall. He
sighed woefully, yanking his cape free, rattling the armor, and hurried on. His
official crowning as king would be delayed until he reached his majority. At
six and ten, he wasn’t old enough to sit on the throne, and the regency ruled
the kingdom. Steven Langton and Pope Innocent influenced Hugh de Burg—the highest
regent. Hugh complied with their demands lest he send the country into an
uproar again with the church. England couldn’t risk excommunication again.
Clergymen had only just accepted that the edict had been lifted and returned.
England came into the church’s good graces just before his father, King John,
had died.
Henry
put aside his thoughts of England’s turmoil as he turned the corner of the
hallway. He was beside himself because his beloved cousin, Julianna MacKinnon,
had come for a visit. Henry met her in his father’s court when he’d turned
nine. She lived in Scotland, but they kept in contact though letters.
He’d
just received word of her arrival and was anxious to see her. Julianna came
with her husband, Colin MacKinnon, a powerful Highland laird, and their
daughter, Bonnie. Bonnie had just turned seven. Henry loved the little girl
more than anything. Even when she had poured milk on his chair on purpose, all
she had to do was look at him with her innocent eyes and say it was an
accident. Who was he to dispute it? He chuckled—he being the unofficial King of
England.
Sweet,
sweet Bonnie. The adorable girl looked like her mother, with her light colored
hair and bright-blue eyes. Who would ever think she’d do something so wicked?
Alas, he knew the truth—the little lady was a hellion. She made him smile with
her endearing antics. It had been a year and a half since he’d visited them, so
he’d sent a summons for them to come during his summer retreat. He laughed
aloud at that, because his cousin wasn’t one to abide his summons, nor his
father’s, when he’d been alive.
Now
that Julianna was here, he could discuss the lands held in her name, which
became the heated debate among his council. Henry had spent most of the morning
cloistered with several lords, all speaking on their behalf for the grant of
those lands. The most arrogant lord, Richard de Morris, insisted he be given
the property bordering his, but Henry wanted to speak to Julianna before he
allowed the Regent’s proceedings.
He
scurried down the hall and rapped at the door. Colin MacKinnon opened the door
and stood scowling. Highlanders were an ornery bunch.
“Colin,
you’re here at last.” Henry strode past him. “Where’s my sweet, lovely lady?”
Julianna
held out her arms, but he bypassed her. He didn’t stop until he reached his
dear-heart. Henry lifted Bonnie in his arms, throwing her high in the air. She
squealed when she landed against his chest, and he placed a loving kiss on her
baby soft cheek.
“Sweeten,
give me a hug.”
Bonnie
wrapped her hands around his neck, giggling in delight. “I missed you, Honey.”
Her
nickname made him grin broadly. Henry finally noticed Julianna. “Greetings.”
“You
finally welcome us, Henry. I don’t know why we bothered to come, Colin, we
should have just sent Bonnie for a visit.” Julianna laughed heartily.
Henry
smiled in his charming, roughish sort of way, much like his father’s look. Even
though he dressed regally in flamboyant fabrics, the current trend of the
courtiers, he tried to be cordial. He continued to hold Bonnie and gave her
another hug.
“I’m
glad to see ye and you too Colin, but I’ve missed this little minx. Have you
been behaving, sweeten?”
“Oh,
aye, Honey, I’ve been a good lass. Papa hasn’t punished me since yesterday.”
Bonnie’s innocent tone told him that she must have caused trouble on the
journey.
“What
could you have done to warrant punishment?” He smiled at her then frowned at
her father. “Colin, I think you’re being too harsh on the poor little mite.”
“Poor
little mite! She knotted my horse’s reins so badly, I had to remove them and
get a new harness, but I can’t stay angry with her. Look at her innocent face,
she’s my bonny button.” Colin spoke affectionately, not in his usual gruff
manner.
“Perhaps
‘tis a good idea to be strict. How are you, Julianna? Are ye well since
delivering Colin his son?” Henry took a whiff of Bonnie’s sweet scent.
“Aye,
I’m well. Kevin is well, and safely at home. You know he’s too young to travel.
I had to beg Colin to let Bonnie come. He doesn’t like our children away from
our home, and it was bad enough traveling with …” Julianna’s rambling ceased
when she realized Bonnie listened intently.
Henry
squeezed Bonnie and laughed. “It’s really good to see you, all of you. It does
my heart good to see ye happy, Julianna. Father would have been fond of your
children.”
“’Tis
good to see you, too. All goes well in your kingdom, Henry?” Julianna asked.
“Hugh
rarely lets me know what’s going on, but I find a way to enforce my rule. I
don’t worry too much about it yet. Now, I have a surprise for you, many have
been invited to a tourney, even some of those Scots you favor, Colin. I must
settle a betrothal contract for a woman whose father died in the holy lands and
I’m considering Angus Barclay. What do you know of him?”
“Only
that he’s a rough sort, and causes a bit of mischief among the highlanders.”
Henry
sighed, because he didn’t want to place the woman in a bad situation. Her
father was a great noble. “Is he honorable, there’s rumor of his clan raiding
the borders?”
Colin
nodded. “As honorable as any other. I’m not aware of his activities.”
“Well,
we shall attend the parties and games and I’ll assess this Barclay for myself
and decide whether to gift him with the lady later. I want you to enjoy
yourselves whilst ye are here. How long are you planning to stay?”
“I
thought we would stay a fortnight.” Colin stood beside Julianna and took her
hand.
“Then
we shall have a long visit. I’ll see you at supper. We must speak of your
mother’s lands, Julianna. Hugh wants to gift them to a knight in his service,
but we can discuss it later. Get rest from your travel.” Henry left, feeling
elated that his family arrived.
*****
The
following day, the castle filled with fanfare as Henry’s summer festival began.
Bonnie stood by her nurse, watching the activity around her. A group of men
played beautiful melodies, their chairs cascading the steps that swept the
palace’s lawn. Everyone hurried outside because the weather was sunny and warm.
Trumpeters sounded in the distance, declaring Henry’s arrival at an event,
games were being played on the expanse of the lawn, and an archery contest held
in the lower courtyard drew crowds of spectators. Knights placed their names on
the lists for the event of the day, the joust. Their shiny armor reflected the
sun, sending blinding streaks toward the onlookers.
Bonnie
couldn’t contain her glee as she watched arrows flying though the air. She ran
off, and in her excitement, she forgot her nurse. Her attendant, Emma, couldn’t
keep up with her. Emma held her skirts and chased after her all morning. She
gave up and decided to ask her laird for his help.
She
pulled Bonnie along, holding fast to her arm. “Now you’re in for it. If I can’t
get ye to listen to me, I’m sure your laird father will.”
“Pray,
Emma, don’t tell Papa on me.”
“Ye
have not listened once this morn, wee lass. I’ve chased after you eight times,
no more. You’ll answer to your papa now,” Emma chided, giving her a stern look.
Her
plea hadn’t worked. Bonnie knew Papa would be disappointed. Emma tugged her
along, and she tried to pry her arm free. They reached the tent where she was
pulled inside. When they entered, Bonnie saw her papa kissing her mama. She
hoped Papa was in a good mood, he usually was after kissing Mama. He turned,
giving her a warning glance.
Her
mama strode to her and knelt. “Bonnie, listen to your papa, now give me a
kiss.”
Bonnie
kissed her mama’s soft cheek, and she waved goodbye as her mama exited the
tent. Emma, in the meantime, regaled the tale to her papa. Bonnie nervously
fiddled with her plaid, waiting for him to look at her.
“Papa,”
she called softly.
“Don’t
Papa me, lass. Emma says you keep running off. You’re supposed to stay with her
for your safety. What do ye have to say for yourself?”
She
was glad they weren’t home, because she would surely be put in papa’s chair.
The chair was uncomfortable, and she didn’t like sitting in it, mostly because
there was nothing to do but sit there and wait until papa said she was punished
enough.
“Aye,
Papa, I know och …” Bonnie didn’t finish giving her excuse, because her papa
frowned and she didn’t like it when papa frowned.
Bonnie
lowered her eyes, gave her sweet little pout, and tried her hardest to mellow
him. She hoped it would make him forget her punishment. Her papa looked as
though he wanted to laugh, but he didn’t. His melodic voice was soft, but she
knew he wasn’t pleased.
“I’m
going to have to punish ye, lass. Where is that chair when you need it? You
will stay in the tent for one hour. Give poor Emma a wee break, take a rest,
Button.”
“Aye,
Papa, I’ll rest, but I want to see the people walking on the sticks.”
“Sticks?
Oh, you mean the stilt walkers.” Bonnie nodded. “All right, I’ll take you
myself if you pledge that you’ll behave and rest for an hour.”
“Really,
Papa, you will take me?”
Her
papa lifted her in his arms. She always liked it when papa picked her up and
held her in his strong arms. His familiar scent comforted her, and she saw love
in his eyes. Even though she was about to be punished, she hugged him.
“Aye,
now give me your pledge.”
Bonnie
smiled; her face against his neck, smelling him, he always smelled so good. “I
give my pledge, Papa.”
“Pledge
what, Button?”
Papa
always made her repeat her punishment and promises, something he’d learned the
hard way—he’d told her. He hid his smile because she was just like her mother,
or so he’d said many times. She smiled widely, having no choice but to obey.
“I’m
supposed to rest and give poor Emma a wee break.”
“That’s
right, lass. Give me a kiss and I’ll come back for you later.”
Bonnie
lifted her head and gave him a wet kiss on his rough cheek. Her papa set her
down, and she scrambled to the pallet. She placed her head on the plaid atop a
pile of coverings, and as was her habit, she pulled nubs of lint from her plaid
and rubbed them on her face. Her papa smiled at her action and soon after, he
left the tent.
The
tent grew hot and she grew restless awaiting Emma. Her nurse had nodded off and
snored loudly. She snickered in laughter at the sound. Bonnie looked across the
tent, but wasn’t at all tired. An idea came and she slunk to the tent’s flap
and peeked outside.
People
walked around, and she could hear laughter from across the grounds. Excitement
called to her and not being one to wait, she slipped through the opening.
Why
doesn’t she come out? She’s inside that blasted tent with the nurse. Ah, I must
wait. She’s the one, the child I need, a MacKinnon. I stalked her all morning
and almost snatched her, only to be foiled by the damned nurse. I must wait,
but my patience is gone. Maybe I should return later? Nay, I need the child.
The Regent did not grant me the land, and I shall repay them for the atrocity.
Mayhap the child’s disappearance won’t affect them, after all, she’s just a
Scottish lord’s daughter. Nay, the king looked fondly at the child. I must do
it, I must take her.
Nothing
has gone as I hoped of late. I came away from my travel with nothing for the
effort, and must find the medallion Hawk hid. If I cannot gain wealth by
finding the map or joining my land with Bentley’s, the child will serve my
purpose of revenge. Aye, the child is perfect and not from England. I heard her
speech, none would refute the tale I’ve spun. I grow weary waiting.
There
she is! She’s sticking her head from the tent. Ah, the nurse is not with her.
Perfect, she’s alone. She’s played right into my hands. Now I shall snatch her
without anyone being the wiser. I’ll follow along at a slow pace. Don’t rush …
Bonnie
gawked as she skipped along. She looked everywhere at once, but didn’t notice
the man who followed closely. A row of high green yew shrubs blocked her view
of the tournament.
Perfect
.
She
rounded the corner of a hedge, when a man suddenly picked her up. At first, she
thought it was her papa and she turned to him. Only it wasn’t her papa. The
man’s hand clamped over her mouth when she tried to scream. She fought him,
kicking, and squirming. The man ran, jostling her, and he almost dropped her as
he ran to his tethered horse. He laid her across his lap.