Mist Warrior (46 page)

“
Are you sure that's wise, Branan? Strickland will no doubt turn his full attention to Brackenburgh now that you have announced yourself.
”

“
He may turn toward Brackenburgh
,
but I willna give him the chance to do anything more. I will hit him with so many raids
,
se="ith he
willna
dare pull men from his stores to harass Catriona.
”

Beth grinned at him.
“
Now that sounds like a fine plan.
”

“
I must ask one more boon of ye, lass.
”

“
Of course, Branan.
”

“
Will ye please stay here with Catriona. She hasna friends here. She needs an ally most of all
,
since I canna stay.
”

“
She will not be happy when she awakens and discovers you are gone.
”

“
I know and tell her I'm sorry
,
but I'm already mired up to my neck, I don't need to go under entirely. If ye will stay, I know she has a friend she can trust. I can even send Geoff to work with the mercenary guard if ye wish.
”

“
I will stay, Branan, but keep my husband. He has fine fun during your raids. Now that you are planning more, if he learned you sent him here just because of me, he'd never forgive me.
”

Branan chuckled softly.
“
Verra well, lass, and I thank ye.
”

“
I will let you sit with her, she should sleep the rest of the night
,
but if her fever goes higher, send a servant for me.
”

“
Aye, thank ye again, Beth.
”

“
You're welcome, Branan, good eve.
”

“
Good eve.
”
He watched her leave
,
then moved to the bed, looking down at Catriona's small form. Slowly, so as not to disturb her, he eased himself into the bed and pulled her to him. She muttered something
,
but settled comfortably into his embr
ace. Branan smoothed Catriona’s
hair from her brow and pressed his lips against her skin, noting she was still fevered.
He
hoped it would pass quickly. He made sure the blankets were still tucked around her and simply held her while she slept.

Branan only dozed
,
b
ut
the hours passed too
rapid
ly. Although still dark, judging by the embers of the hearth fire, he knew dawn was not far away. He kissed Catriona's cheek,
vexed
to note her fever
seemed to be worse
. Branan
unwound himself
,
but hesitated, remembering her words about the
night he left with Duguald. Catriona ha
d already suffered through too much, he would not force her to remember that pain on the off chance she might aw
aken as he left Brackenburgh. Branan
took his brat and wrapped it around her, hoping she would understand his promise. Silently
,
he opened the door and like a wraith, he melted into the darkness.

****

Catriona sat up with a start
,
then groaned as the room spun. She pressed her hands against the sides of her aching head. She struggled to make sense of the flashes darting through her memory
,
but her pounding head would not allow her to sort through them.

“
Catriona?'

She looked to her left and saw Beth rise from her chair.
“
Beth, I thought for a moment I had dreamed you.
”

“
Nay,
”
she said smiling.
“
But you've had a bit of a fever.
”
Beth
touched her skin and scowled.
“
I thought it was improving
,
but now I'm not so sure.
”

“
My head feels like a blacksmith took up residence.
”

“
Let me get you some more
Willowbark
tea.
”
She turned to the hearth fire to put the kettle over it.

Catriona glanced down at herself stunned to see Branan's brat wrapped around her.
“
Wait...Branan...he is really here?
”

“
He was, he had to return to Thistlewood before dawn so the spies wouldn't follow him. Catriona, everything that happened with the law cleric was one of Strickland's plots.
”

“
How did Branan learn of it?
”
She paused.
“
Greystoke
...it had to be
Greystoke
who told him.
”
Catriona’s
thoughts tried to function again
, she dimly remembered Branan
appearing in the doorway.
“
Please don't tell me he did something daft.
”

“
You mean like tell one and all who he is and why he is here
,
or just claim himself lord of Brackenburgh by right of handfasting to you?
”

Catriona muttered a curse and fell back in bed. She pulled the brat over her head.
“
Lack-witted barbarian.
”

Beth laughed brightly.
“
Don't be too hard on hi soo ize="+0" fm, Catriona, he was quite worried over
you. He stayed
with you the rest of the night. The only reason why he left was to organize more raids
from Thistlewood. He's going to smack Strickland in the teeth
,
so the Warden doesn't dare move against Brackenburgh.
”

“
That is probably the best solution now and I am grateful he came when he did. I just couldn't deal with it all.
”

Beth brought her tea.
“
It's understandable with your fever that high.
”

Catriona pushed back the brat and drank the tea quickly.
“
I should go below-stairs and break my fast.
”

“
I'd rather you stay here. Your fever is reasserting itself and you really need to rest.
”

“
I will,
”
Catriona said quickly.
“
But people need to see I will not be bullied from my own hall, fever or no.
”

“
All right, a short time won't hurt and I think there's something in the great hall you need to see. I heard the men hauling it in about an hour ago.
”

“
This sounds intriguing.
”

A bit later, Catriona dressed in a plain woolen gown and descended the stairs with Branan's plaid wrapped around her shoulders. It still carried his scent of leather and spice. Although
,
she was painfully aware of his absence
,
it did remind her he was not that f
ar away. Branan’s
appearance in the great hall so suddenly also gave
Catriona
courage. When she had needed him most, her mist warrior had returned.

There were only a few merchants and travelers in the great hall
,
taking advanta saki the greatge of Brackenburgh's Christian hospitality and breaking their fast. As Catriona's crossed the room, her gaze fell on two chairs. She stopped, blinking in surprise.

The chair Richard had
used
as lord of Brackenburgh was gone and the smaller chair
next to it,
that had been hers
,
had disappeared as well. Instead, two huge beautifully carved chairs, equal in size and decoration
,
stood in their place.
Catriona
had seen them before.
These were from Thistlewood,
and
Branan had carved them. Both bore his heraldry.  Over his chair draped another plaid and she saw a folded parchme
nt on it. Crossing the room, Catriona
looked closer and saw her name. She picked up the parchment and read.

My bonnie lass,

Forgive me for yesterday's events. It was not my wish you should suffer so. I hope Beth told you all that transpired and why I had to leave you. I pray you understand. I had Jamie deliver our chairs from Thistlewood's hall. At my clan seat in Scotland, it is tradition for a laird to leave his plaid on his chair if he must depart to tend to business or fight for his king. The plaid is a reminder of his promise to return. And I will return to you, my bonnie lass. I am not far and will be there again should you have need of me. As always
,
you have my heart.

Branan

She gripped the note ti
ghtly and drew a deep breath. Branan
had heard her plea and listened. He knew how much it hurt to see him disappear in the night all those years ago.
Branan
disappeared again last night
,
but not by choice and
he
was doing everything in
his power to minimize her pain. His brat graced her shoulders and beside her chair
,
his plaid woul
d remind her of his promise. Catriona
also did not miss the meaning that the two chairs were equal in every respect. She would govern Brackenburgh with
Branan,
not as his subservient wife
,
but as his love and lady, shouldering the responsibility together.

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“
Catriona,
”
Beth asked in concern.
“
Are you all right?
”