Bound to a Warrior (20 page)

“Rand is nowhere to be found,” Mercy explained.

“I'm sure he's fine. He's a smart one. We'll find him after this is done.”

Cora looked ready to protest and Mara slipped an arm around her. “You know the men are needed. Rand will do fine. He always does. We will find him later. This will be done soon enough.”

Cora nodded, though clearly she didn't agree.

“We can't just leave the lad out there on his own,” Mercy protested.

“We can and we will,” Mara said. “There are no men to spare to search for him now.”

“Then I'll go,” Mercy said.

“I believe Duncan ordered you to remain in the keep as all women do,” Mara challenged.

“If he had known Rand was in need of help—”

“You don't know if Rand is in need of help and even if Duncan knew he would still have ordered you to remain in the safety of the keep.”

“I cannot remain here when a small, helpless child is out there alone,” Mercy argued.

“I'm afraid you'll have to,” Mara said sternly.

Mercy tossed her chin up. “No, I won't. You hold no authority over me. I do as I please.” She turned to Cora and Alida. “I'll go find Rand and bring him here. Is there a particular place he might go?”

“You will not leave here,” Mara ordered.

“You cannot stop me.”

“There's a small grove not far from the cottage where he likes to play. A worn path leads the way there,” Alida said. “I'll go with you.”

Mercy shook her head. “No, you must stay here. I'll bring your brother back.”

“I forbid you to leave here,” Mara said.

Mercy simply smiled and said something she never ever thought she would. “You cannot forbid me to do anything. I am daughter to the king.”

Silence settled over the hall and Mercy didn't care how loud she had said it, or who had heard. She turned and hurried out.

M
ercy had no time to think of what she had just done. Later she could ponder it and most certainly offer an apology to Mara, but right now she needed to find Rand. She maneuvered through women and children running to the keep and headed to Cora's cottage. She entered the woods just beyond and stilled for a moment listening.

The soldiers could be anywhere, and if they found her, she would be returned to her father, and she wasn't ready for that. And besides, she had to find Rand. He was out there alone and needed help.

She glanced down and realized that she had kept hold of the dagger all this time and was relieved she had. She could protect herself and Rand if necessary. Not that she was by any means skilled, but she knew a little and could possibly make it appear she knew a lot more.

She found the trail Alida had spoken about and with careful, though speedy, steps she followed it. She didn't allow herself to think. She kept her mind free and eyes and ears alert.

It didn't take her long to find the groove, though Rand wasn't there. She stood amongst the spreading oaks and could see why the young lad would come here. The many lush trees were perfect for climbing…

She looked up and there was Rand, eyes closed tight and his little body curled up in the crook of a thick branch.

“Rand, it's me, Mercy.”

His eyes sprang wide and he peered down at her. “Mercy, you come for me?”

“Yes. I've come to take you to your mother.” She heard a distant rustling noise and with a finger to her lips, she cautioned Rand to be silent. He nodded and hugged the tree tighter.

She didn't know what produced the sound and not wanting to take any chances, she decided to climb the tree and join Rand. If soldiers were afoot they may have heard her and Rand talking and would comb the area in search of them.

The tree was the safest place for them right now.

Her mother would have disapproved if she had ever known that her daughter climbed trees. Not only climbed them, but loved climbing them. So it was with little effort that Mercy grabbed hold of a branch and climbed up.

Once she reached Rand, she decided it was best if they climbed a bit higher. Having tucked the dagger in her boot, she took Rand in her arms and climbed two branches higher to nestle quite comfortably in the crook of a solid branch.

She cautioned silence again with her finger to her lips
and Rand nodded and cuddled closer against her. Mercy wrapped her arm around him and held tight. She'd let no one harm this child.
No one.

They waited and it wasn't long before she heard…

“Have you seen her yet?” a man's voice asked.

Rand grabbed tighter to Mercy and she felt his little body tremble. She squeezed him close, letting him know he was safe with her.

“I've seen her from a distance.”

Mercy barely heard the other man's reply, his voice no more than a whisper.

“You have three days, no more. Get her and bring her to the border.”

“But—”

“Three days,” the man repeated.

Footfalls drifted off, but Mercy remained where she was, again warning Rand to remain quiet. She didn't know if it was safe just yet and intended to wait awhile. Besides the brief exchange upset her. She knew they spoke about her, and she wondered how they had gotten one of their own men into the village. And why didn't her father simply attack and be done with it?

He had gotten to be king because he had let nothing stand in his way, not even claims that no true royal blood ran through him. He had defied the kings who ruled various areas of Scotland and through bloody battles claimed victory and dominance.

Why not do again what he had done once before?

And why did he seek her return so tenaciously?

The questions troubled her and she would need to find the answers.

“I think we can climb down now,” Mercy said softly to Rand.

“Safe?” he asked.

“I think we'll be safe, though we should be as quiet as we can be.”

Rand nodded and Mercy smiled.

It took less effort to climb down than it did up and in no time they were on the ground. Rand remained clutched to Mercy and she took quick steps to get them away and closer to home.

She took no more than a few steps when a man stepped out from among the dense trees. Startled, she stumbled back, righted herself and then realized he looked familiar.

“Bailey?” she asked.

“Aye, it's me.”

Rand hugged her neck tight.

“It's all right, Rand. I know this man and he won't harm us,” she said, glaring at Bailey as if defying him to deny it.

Bailey reached out and tickled Rand under the chin. “I'm a friend.”

Rand laughed, though kept firm hold of Mercy.

“Are you?” she asked.

“We should return to the keep. It's not safe here,” he said.

Mercy nodded and began walking, Bailey following beside her.

“I climbed trees when I was a lad,” Bailey said.

“Like to climb,” Rand said and yawned.

They walked a bit in silence and when Rand's head finally hit Mercy's shoulder in sleep, she said, “You knew we were in the tree when you spoke with the soldier.”

Bailey nodded.

“The noise I heard. You purposely made it to warn us.”

Bailey nodded again.

“I don't understand.” Mercy shook her head. “You helped Duncan and me once and you warn me now. Why then do you help the soldiers?”

“They have my wife.”

Mercy gasped.

“We left shortly after you and Duncan stopped at our cottage. Though we were cautious they found us and claimed us enemies of the king. Of course they had no proof of anything, but still they took us prisoners along with others they had taken captive for various reasons. All I could think about was the safety of my wife and unborn child.”

“Where is Kate?”

“I'm not sure where they took her. When I was told I could save her and my child, it didn't matter to me what I had to do. I knew I would agree to anything and so did they. I was told that if I found you and brought you
to them, Kate and I could go free.” He shook his head. “I had no choice.”

“Of course you didn't,” she said.

“I picked up your tracks fast enough, but lost you when you entered Pict territory, since I would not dare go there. Your earlier tracks gave me a good indication of your destination, and I knew if I kept going that way, it would eventually lead me to the stronghold. And I had no doubt Duncan would get you safely home. So I came here and waited. Everyone was so good and generous to me, and then you arrived and I saw how you and Duncan looked at each other.” He shook his head again. “You two love each other as much as Kate and I love each other. And I knew the only way I could save my wife was to ask you.”

“Ask me?”

“To return with me so that they will set my wife and unborn child free. You could do this. You're daughter to the king.”

Mercy stopped walking and stared at him.

“I don't know what else to do,” he pleaded.

“We could talk with Duncan. A rescue could be planned.”

“They are too busy planning for the king's return,” he said.

She looked at him oddly.

“You don't know where you are?” Bailey asked.

“Duncan's land.”

He shook his head. “You're in the stronghold of the true king of Scotland.”

She took a step back startled by his remark. “Duncan fights for the true king?”

“He and his brothers were raised to protect the true king and to succeed in seeing that he claims the throne.”

“How do you know this?” he asked.

“There are men who cross the land recruiting others to join the fight. I heard one such man speak, and after hearing him tell of the brothers, who from the time they were young, trained to help seat the rightful king of Scotland, knew I wanted to be part of that fight.”

“How did Kate feel about your decision?”

“She agreed, wanting a better and freer life for our child. And after you and Duncan showed up, and I realized he was one of the brothers, I knew I could dally no more. Kate and I had to journey to the stronghold, and besides, I knew my wife and child would be safer there.”

“How did you know where it was?”

“That was simple. I only needed to track you and Duncan.”

“You followed us?” she asked.

“I'm a good tracker and can track from a distance, but enough of this. Will you help me?”

Mercy didn't know what to say. She certainly couldn't be responsible for a mother and unborn child's death, and yet she knew Duncan would never agree to her returning to her father. It was a quandary and the solution not an easy one.

“I will not let your wife die because of me, but I know not how to approach this matter. I must think on it.”

“You won't tell Duncan, will you?” he asked anxiously.

“It will be difficult for me not to do.”

“He will never permit you to leave.”

“He cannot keep me against my will,” she said.

“No, but his love can keep you here, just as my love brought me here.”

He was right about that, which made the situation all the more difficult. She had no idea what she would do.

“Let me think on it,” she said again.

“Please don't take long. I have but three days,” Bailey pleaded. “And I fear for my wife's life.”

When they reached the edge of the woods, Bailey insisted that it was better if no one saw them talking and pleaded that she meet him at the groove tomorrow at dawn.

She shook her head. “No. I do not know if I will have an answer by then and I do not trust that you will not turn me over to the soldiers.”

Upset, Bailey said, “I wouldn't do that.”

“You told me you would do anything to save your wife and unborn child, and I believe you. I will be in touch when I decide.” With that Mercy left him and walked out of the woods.

Upset herself, Mercy didn't know what she was going to do, though if she intended for Kate not to suffer because of her, her actions were clear. She would need to return to her father. That would mean losing Duncan, but then if he fought for the true king of Scotland and she was
the daughter, bastard or not, of the reigning king, how safe was she with the true king?

The chain wasn't even off a day and she felt more trapped than ever.

When she rounded Cora's cottage she could see men and horses loitering in front of the keep's steps. As her steps took her closer she could see that it was Duncan and his two brothers, their horses prancing in agitation as Mara spoke to her sons.

It wasn't long before Mara pointed in her direction, and Duncan didn't waste a moment; he rode straight for her.

When he reached her, she didn't let him speak first. “I found Rand.”

“So I see,” he said curtly. “But you should not have left the keep.”

“I needed to,” she insisted. “Rand was missing and with soldiers lurking about, his safety was of concern to me.”

“So you defy my orders and leave?”

“I did what I felt was right,” she said.

Rand woke then, lifting his little head in a stretch. As soon as he saw Duncan his eyes flew open and he smiled. “Mercy climb tree. Save me.”

He glared at her. “You climbed a tree?”

“I did,” she admitted proudly and spotting Cora and Alida running toward her, began walking in their direction.

Duncan followed and said nothing until after Cora
and her children had taken their leave, though not before they had thanked Mercy profusely.

The agitation in his dark eyes told her that a fight was brewing, though she wished it was a grouchy look she had seen for then the solution would be easy. She wondered if perhaps it would work anyway.

“I think we should settle this in your bedchamber,” she suggested.

That brought him off his horse to stand in front of her. “You think coupling will settle this so easily?”

“No, but it might ease your agitation, which will allow us to discuss this more reasonably.”

“You think
me
unreasonable?”

“No.
You're
agitated. I want
us
to discuss it reasonably,” she clarified.

“So we couple and all of a sudden we're reasonable?”

She placed her hand on his chest, though did not slip it beneath his shirt. She simply let it rest there. “Perhaps not, but I doubt you'll be agitated anymore.”

Her tender touch had the desired affect she had hoped for. He smiled.

“I suppose you could be right,” he said.

“We won't know if we don't try.”

“That is a good point,” he agreed.

“And afterwards we'll talk, which we have been trying to do all day,” she reminded him. “Perhaps it would be best if we had food brought to your bedchamber so that we won't be disturbed. After all, we have much to discuss and I have yet to eat.”

“That might be wise.”

Finally, she ran her hand beneath his shirt, her fingers crawling along his muscled chest. “So then we'll give it a try and see how it works?”

“Aye, we'll give it a try.”

They approached the keep steps, his brothers, father and mother stood waiting, obviously wondering what had gone on between her and Duncan, and if he would do anything about her defiance of his order.

He threw the reins of his stallion to Reeve and said, “See to him.” Then he turned and scooped Mercy up, flinging her over his shoulder and giving her bottom a slap. “I have to see to Mercy's punishment.”

He was demonstrating his authority over her and it annoyed the heck out of her. She'd been the one who handled the matter and rather wisely, proposing a settlement that worked for them both and now he goes and makes it seem like he's handling the matter his way.

What to do about it?

The solution came quick and it was simple. As he walked up the steps to the keep, she raised her head and sent everyone a victorious grin.