* * * *
“Married?” Cailin asked.
Aiden lifted his dagger from the whetstone, noted the amused expressions that crossed his men’s faces. “’Twould seem when I lauded Lady Gwendolyn’s attributes to the king earlier this day, I sealed my own fate. Unknown to me, once I departed, King Robert sentfor a priest.”
In brief, Aiden explained how the Bruce had evoked their agreements to wed a short while before the priest’s arrival.
“You know how the Bruce admires strong, intelligent women,” Cailin said.
Aiden wiped his blade, remembering the fate of his Templar brothers, Stephan MacQuistan and Thomas MacKelloch, too well.
“Though not your choice,” Rónán said, “she isna a stranger.”
As the men chuckled, Aiden scowled at them. “Never did I wish for Lady Gwendolyn to be entangled in thisblasted mess.”
“Mayhap,” Cailin agreed, but at least youcare for her.”
At the truth in his friend’s words, Aiden paused, unsure how much to admit. “Aye, she has become important to me, but the way I deceived her, she is furious with me. Nor was she pleased to learn of her father’s loyalty to King Robert.”
Quentin grimaced. “What will you do now?”
Other than sharing a bed? God’s sword, now wasna the time for thoughts of her body naked beneath his, assuming he could ever breach her icy defenses.
“What I intend to do is to think of the mission, as will all of you,” Aiden stated. “The king has instructed me to lead a contingent to recapture both Latharn and Thorburn Castles, and has ordered us to design the attack. One I will brief him upon this night.”
Hisfriends nodded.
“But,” Aiden drawled, aware his men wouldna be pleased, “a plan he insists Lady Gwendolyn help us create, along with allowing her to travel with us to the stronghold.”
Rónán’s brows narrowed. “The king granted her permission to be part of the assault?”
“Nay, she will remain hidden during the attack,” Aiden explained. “In return, she agreed that, once the stronghold is seized, she will give me her father’shidden ledger.”
“Which solves our having to find the Templar journal.” Cailin grimaced. “Given the king’s allowing Lady Katherine to sail with Stephan when we attacked Avalon Castle last year, you shouldn’t be surprised by his decision this day.”
At his friend’s reminder, Aiden grimaced. “Indeed.” Nor could he change the way of things now. “I will get Lady Gwendolyn and meet you at our tent.”
* * * *
Chest tight, standing at the edge of the forest, Gwendolyn slowly exhaled. With the plans for the upcoming attack to reclaim her home made and the king informed, she’d needed time alone. She stared at her wedding ring, the cold weight resting on her finger with macabre finality. A glint of the setting sun reflected off the emerald and rubies, as if mocking her plight. Numb, she ached to rip off the ornate band and cast it deepinto the woods.
Except, unlike the gift from her father, disposing of the ring would change naught. She’d given her vow and was wed to a man shecouldn’t trust.
Footsteps upon grass had her hand clasping her dagger as she turned. Aiden came into view and she released her blade.
He halted before her, his expression tense.“Walk with me.”
The sincerity of his words made her hesitate, then, at last, nod her agreement. Despite how betrayed she felt, she remembered their many days of being hunted, how her welfare had been his first priority. Out of respect for that, she would at least listen to whathe had to say.
In silence, he led her away from where the knights practiced near an open field, the scrape of blades a violent setting against the soft breeze rustling through the leaves. In the forest, he followed a well-trod path moving wellaway from camp.
Disquiet rippled inside as she glanced around the sweep of trees and clumps of brush and ferns. “Are you not worried that Lord Comyn’s men may be near?”
“If any of the guards see danger, they will sound the alarm. And with the number of troops filling the king’s encampment, I doubt Lord Comyn’s men are foolish enough to take such a risk.”
She prayed so.
A gust of wind sent the leaves overhead into a frantic dance. The breeze settled, and shimmers of fading sunlight sprinkled the path ahead, like fairy dust tossed.
