A Warrior's Perception (23 page)

Haggart grinned as he watched Dagma send his love to Fae. He chuckled as Dagma gave him a warning look. They spoke in ancient silent thought as they walked through Valhalla's halls.

“
Your grandson will soon be off to war. I have staged a great revolt with the wanderers of the highlands. It will prove to be a mighty battle. He will have to overcome many trials and use all his powers of strength and knowledge to defeat this enemy.
”

“
And does he rise to the challenge as he should?
”

“
Does he ever not rise to a challenge?
”

“
And what of our plans for Ell'andra? Will he overcome the grief?
”

“
His arrogance may be his downfall. He often lets his pride override his arse. He continues to claim Ell'andra as property and she continues to defy him.
”

“
If Kagan needs a rude awakening then I will give him one he will never forget!
”

“
But you....you swore to Fae...swore you would not interfere.
”

“
I am not going to interfere, I am going to prevent.
”

Kagan returned to his keep late in the fourth evening of his second disappearance. Andra was standing at a window overlooking the bailey when he arrived, leaping from Demon's back like a lion jumping onto
its
prey. He wore his usual arrogant roguish smile and was cradling a white box in one massive hand.

Andra was remotely impressed when he turned to Demon and drug the quilt from his back and released his reigns. He did not lead him to the stable and let him go off on his own across the bailey. Demon looked up towards Andra and snorted a quick hello. Andra smiled and waved at him as he sauntered out of sight.

She watched Kagan talk with the warriors who jousted with spears earlier. They listened intently to whatever he was saying and grinned as they slapped each other on their backs. Kagan laughed and looked pleased with himself as he walked out of sight. Andra groaned, knowing she would have to deal with his presence sooner
or
later. She walked down the corridor and turned the corner that lead to her room. She slipped in and went to the vanity by the tub and sat down and stared at her reflection.

She was so very different from the women she had met and known all of her life, so very homely compared to them. She stared into her own eyes and wondered if her mother had looked like her. She smiled as her aunt came to mind, Andra did resemble her. They shared the same eyes and hair and even her face was the same shape as Joaquinn's. Andra quickly assessed the small traits that they held in common. Perhaps she was not as ugly and homely as she had once thought. Perhaps, she was even pretty. Perhaps.

Kagan hurled himself into his bed and smiled at the ceiling. He would wait until Andra was asleep before testing Haggart's potion. He would make her want him and be the seducer he knew he was. She would fall at his feet begging him to bed her, begging him to touch every soft lovely inch of her glorious body.

He tilted the small flask to his lips and let the bitter liquid run down his throat. It stung all the way down to his stomach. His guts roared in anger as it spread and entered his bloodstream. His pulse quickened and raged under the brew's spell. He took a deep breath as his body relaxed and his heart beat slowed to a silent murmur. His fingers and toes went numb and his lips felt heavy and confined. He closed his eyes letting the spell work out it's harsh beginning.

An hour later, he stood and stretched like a cat, his eyes were dull and his emotions no longer controlled his body. He would be resistant to her and she would have to exercise her greatest charms to entice him tonight. A roguish smile appeared on his lips as he imagined her begging him to take her.

He eased to the secret door and strolled into her room. He stood at the edge of her bed and smiled. Slowly, he eased down and kissed her forehead and was taken aback when she spoke.

“
I am'na asleep and ye will kindly refrain from touchin' me.
”

Kagan caught his tongue and replied,
“
I need ye to ease the pain in my back.
”

“
Lie down and I will see to it right away milord,
”
Andra bit out sarcastically.

Kagan obeyed with a grin and fell as if drunk at her side. She sat up and knelt by his side. She rubbed hard and intended on making his back hurt worse, but she was angered by his snore. She slapped his head and rolled over onto her shoulder. She grunted her anger when he laughed and turned his back to her.

“
Rub, I only jest with ye,
”
he lazily admitted as her hands pinched his shoulders.

“
Ye be drunk and mean,
”
she retorted.

“
Nay, wrong on both counts.
”

“
Men are all mean and
self-righteous
,
”
she gritted as she kneed him in the butt,
“
Ye each should ha'e ye arses kicked three times a day for ills ye ha'e done, will do, and plan to do.
”

Kagan chuckled as she slid her hands to his back and continued her speech,
“
Ye be a vile creature and care na what others think or feel. Ye only want to conquer those who are weaker than ye and want to destroy those who can best ye.
”

Kagan's eyes grew heavy and he rolled onto his back,
“
Hush woman. I am tired and need sleep.
”

“
Then go to ye chamber and lea'e me alone,
”
she replied as he crossed his arms under his head,
“
I can'na sleep with the likes of ye snorin' and breathin' like a dragon.
”

“
How do ye know I snore and breath...like a dragon?
”
He smiled as his words slowly drawled from his lips.

She sat up and smacked his chest,
“
I can hear ye through that damn door!
”

“
Then what difference does it make whether I sleep here or in there?

“
Because I sleep naked and donna want the sweat of ye body drippin’ on mine,
”
she angrily shot at him as she smacked his chest again.

“
If ye continue smackin' me, I will be forced to ha'e my guard come in and tie ye hands 'hind ye back and then ye will ha'e to use ye pretty little toes to rub my neck,
”
he teased as he strained to turn over facing her.

Her green eyes brightened,
“
If ye donna call ye dogs down, I will be forced to use my wily ways to seduce e'ery last one of 'em into doin' whate'er I want 'em to do!
”

Kagan laughed,
“
They are loyal only to me and donna fall for tricks of womanly flesh. Do as ye will and see I speak the truth.
”

Andra bolted out of the bed and cursed under her breath as she stomped out of the door to face the two guards in the hall. Andra gently shut the door and grinned as Kagan swung his boots to the floor. She turned smiling sweetly and leaned onto the arm of the first giant man. She sighed and ran her fingers down his arm. He stiffened and looked at his laird's door.

“
Can ye help me, can both of ye help me?
”
she whispered as she batted her lashes,
“
I am in need of the company of real men and am engulfed with erotic dreams. I do grow lonely at night without a man to share my bed.
”

“
Milady, the laird would kill us both if we took yer kind offer,
”
he sternly replied,
“
Go back to bed and rest easy.
”

Andra pouted and leaned closer, running her hand up his great chest,
“
Just for a few moments, come sit with me on my bed and hold me while I fall asleep.
”

The other guard stepped forward and took her hand. His foolish grin thrilled Andra and she stepped to his side,
“
I am so very stirred and my body is in sweats after my dream.
”

The first guard placed his hand on her back and eased her back to her door. He turned the knob with a greedy look in his eye. The other guard smiled broadly at the first as he led her back in. Andra shrugged her sleeve off of her shoulder and smiled. She silently hoped Kagan would hurry up and blow his temper.

Kagan swung the door open, a lazy grin on his face.
“
Fear na woman, I ha'e already explained to 'em what tricks ye may use against them,
”
he laughed,
“
I in my wisdom ha'e allowed for all that ye could possibly conceive.
”

Kagan’s grin did little to hide the dulled expression on his face. She stared at him and wondered how long he had been drinking. He stared at her and wondered how long she had planned her little escapade. She knew she was
losing
the battle at hand and decided to change her tactics. She placed her hand on her forehead and winced as if she were in pain. The guards disappeared as she grabbed his arm and swayed against his strength.

“
I feel faint,
”
she muttered against his chest,
“
I...
”

She smiled wickedly as he swept her up into his arms and quickly crossed the floor to her bed. She faked a soft moan as he bent to lay her down. He felt of her head to see if she were feverish and gently rubbed her neck, feeling for her heartbeat. He scanned her body and met her laughing gaze and cursed under his breath. She had won again and he laughed in his present state of shrouded mind.

She grinned and hugged his neck and rewarded his caring gesture with a kiss. Her lips were soft and exploring and he let her take him in her arms and pull him down next to her. He silently wished he had not taken the brew and hoped she did not explore his midriff, for it was useless and soft. She caressed his shoulders and her green eyes misted and he smiled lovingly at his woman for reasons he could not explain. He knew she had cast her shell aside and under the influence of potions or not, he was going to enjoy it.