Mist Warrior (47 page)

“
Aye,
”
Catriona replied
,
smiling.
“
You know...I really do love that man.
”

Beth grinned at her.
“
Good because he is smitten with you. He can be a bear at times
,
but he'd be absolutely lost without you.
”

Midnight Visitor

Branan shoved himself to his feet, knocking his chair over and growled a curse. Before he realized what he was doing, he launched his mug into the hearth, the ceramic cup shattered.

He stared at it, his limbs shaking, clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly.

The servants in the great hall scattered like frightened rabbits.

A pair of
month
s
had passed since Catriona's departure and already the blac
k rage threatened to possess Branan
again. He constantly found himself looking for her, half expecting to see her in a room when he entered, or hear her laugh coming from the hall. They had exchanged several letters
,
but already Branan felt as if Catriona resided leagues away.

Branan rubbed his hand over the rough stubble on his chin. He looked like hell, he knew. He had not been able to sleep and his eyes were bleary and bloodshot. Every morning
,
Branan
stared at his haggard countenance in the mirror and every morning he turned away, telling himself he didn't care.

What of Catriona? Was she as miserable as he? If she was, her letters gave no indication. The only reason she had struggled afore was due to the fever.

When had this happened to him? Never had he pined over a woman like a lovesick lad. But he could no longer keep his thoughts from her, he found himself painfully distracted every moment of every day.

“
Good God, laddie, ye have it bad,
”
he muttered to himself.

He leaned against the mantle, staring into the hearth flames.

“
Branan,
”
a voice said from behind him.

He turned quickly, surprised to see Gavin.
His foster-brother had requested, and Branan had agreed, that he be allowed to deliver the messages this week.
“
What are ye doing back already?
”

Gavin sat at the table, propping his feet on it
,
while a servant poured a cup of wine for him.
“
Catriona and Edmund have things well in hand. Haven't you been reading her letters?
”

“
Aye,
”
Branan
said tightly. But had to admit
,
he could remember little of what she said a
bout daily business dealings. Branan
had been so caught up in searching
Catriona’s
words for some sign that she missed him
, that she forgave him for leaving,
he had ignored the more mundane details.

Gavin studied him a long moment.
“
She misses
you
,
Branan.
”

He snorted, keeping his attention focused on the hearth.
“
What makes ye think I'm the least bit worried about that?
”

“
Christ Almighty,
”
Gavin muttered.
“
You two deserve each other.
”

Branan glared at him.

Gavin waved a scroll case at him
,
then tossed it on the table. It slowly rolled in Branan's direction.
“
More news you should know.
”

Branan picked up the case, trying to tell himself that his heart didn't pound in hope that this letter would giv
e him some indication of how Catriona
felt, how she was doing...if she forgave him. He withdrew the vellum, noting the Courcy seal and the anger that rose again. Catriona should be writing letters with his crest adorning them.

He shoved away his fury and began to read. No hint at her emotions, if she missed him, if she even wanted him anymore. Nothing but trivial information about Strickland.

“
Well?
”
Gavin asked.

“
Well what?
”

Gavin rolled his eyes.
“
Do you not agree that a raid should be planned?
”

Branan blinked
,
then read again, forcing himself to comprehend the letter this time. Silk traders had arrived at Brackenburgh and Catriona learned they had just sold a large amount of silk to Strickland
,
which he expected to sell for a good profit. The shipment was moving to Newbiggin Hall today
,
to be dyed. It would be a hard ride
,
but they could
probably intercept it
.

Perfect, another raid was ex
actly what Branan
needed to get his mind off of a beautiful, infuriating lass with bright blue eyes.
“
Gather th {nd" bright ble men,
”
Branan said, tossing the vellum on the table.
“
We ride within the hour.
”

****

Branan and his men caught up with the wagons at dusk. They stalked the drovers along the road
,
like a pack of wolves hunting a deer, staying hidden within the trees. Branan dismounted and moved silently through the undergrowth
,
to ge
t a better look at their quarry.
Gavin accompanied him.

“
They are better guarded than I had thought,
”
Branan whispered.

“
Aye,
”
Gavin replied.
“
Strickland must have paid a good pence.
”
He paused and smiled.
“
'Tis a shame all that money is going to go to waste and he will lose the shipment on top of it.
”

Branan chuckled.
“
Aye, brother, a terrible shame.
”

Quietly, the
y
slipped away
,
back to their horses. Branan waited until his men signaled that they were in position. He drew his claymore and lifted it over his head.

“
Cruach Mór!
”
he roared
. H
is horse exploded through the trees and onto the road.

The battle cry answered around him, his men surrounding the wagons. Branan swung his claymore at the closest guard, dispatching him instantly. Gavin's hammer crashed down on another guard's head, smashing into his skull. Jamie charged forward, his horse plowing into another guard's, knocking him to the ground, in front of two wagon horses.

The
fallen
rider tried to rise
< { ristify">/span>
,
but the wagon horses reared and trampled him. Geoffrey, Beth's husband, surged forward
,
but a guard sitting in one of the wagons managed to load a crossbow. The weapon thunked and the bolt drove into Geoffrey's chest, knocking him from his mount.

His cousin, Alaric
, aimed his own crossbow and killed the guard, then promptly hauled Geoffrey from the fighting. Branan turned, locking swords with another guard, and deflected the man's attack. With a swing, Branan's blade bit deeply in the man's throat.

The drovers tried to urge the wagon horses forward
,
but Branan's men blocked their path. Evan, one of the mercenary captains, charged in and leaped from his horse onto the lead wagon. With a strike of his meaty fist, the drover sailed off the wagon and into the dirt. Evan whooped as he grabbed the reins and turned the wagon so it blocked the road completely.

Branan again bellowed his war cry in response to Evan's success. Another mercenary took control of the third wagon and one of Branan's clansmen, Connor, grabbed the reins of the second. Within moments, the guards were dead along with the drovers.

“
Gather our wounded,
”
Branan barked.
“
Put them in the wagons.
”

Geoffrey and two other mercenaries were the only ones wounded. Quickly Branan's group took control of their booty and the wagons moved rapidly toward Thistlewood.

When they turned on the trail
,
only a short distance from the tower, Gavin pulled his mount next to Branan's.
“
Now that was fine fun!
”

“
Aye,
”
Branan said, grinning.
“
Mayhap we shall have another feast at Thistlewood tonight. What silk the ladies do not wish to use we can discreetly sell to the Courcy holdings.
”

Gavin winked at him.
“
Thistlewood and Brackenburgh will no doubt make a good profit. Those who pay rent to Brackenburgh will again avoid the pain of Strickland's taxes. I have to admit, I would love to see Strickland's face when he hears of this raid.
”

“
So would I,
”
Branan replied.

They broke into the clearing surrounding Thistlewood. Branan's heart twisted as he s
aw the women running toward the returning party, but Catriona was not among them
. He suddenly remembered Geoff's wife
, Beth,
was w
ith Catriona at Brackenburgh. Branan
jumped from his horse and hurried to the wagon. His heart stalled.

“
Damnation,
”
Gavin said next to him.
“
I didn't realize he was wounded so terribly.
”

“
I'd send a man for Beth,
”
Branan said.
“
But it is too risky to bring the lass here.
”