Page 21 of Nyall

None of the Selseus had the Francian’s battle experience, as in his homeland he had served as soldier, and also had detailed knowledge of the Norse and their practices from his years of enslavement. Jamaran also had a war master’s knack of thinking as an enemy did, so that he could anticipate their moves before they made them. Since leading the Selseus garrison he had successfully prevailed over every Norseman attempting to raid Caladh.

I’m gratified you hold me in such high regard.

Nyall came upright as Jamaran swam into the cove and surfaced. “You shouldnae eavesdrop on a friend’s thoughts.”

Once he’d cleared the water from his gills his friend chuckled. “I hoped memories of a certain lady would fill your head. Our dark beauty, she’s ever in my thoughts.”

“Is that what you call me?”

Nyall looked over as Caroline appeared at the edge of the cove. She wore her wet suit, and carried a dripping sack filled with large shells, as if she’d spent the day collecting them. “Why come you here? Who permitted you leave the stronghold?”

“Do I need permission? Not that I’d ask for it anyway.” She placed the sack on a rock before wading into the water. “I came because I heard your voice. Hi, Commander. Dark beauty, huh?”

“Fair evening, my lady.” Jamaran inclined his head. “’Twas meant as a compliment, I assure you.”

“For a second I was worried you were talking about him.” She jerked her chin at Nyall. “He’s certainly dark and beautiful.”

“Never should you swim alone here.” He couldn’t believe she was jesting about him while returning to the water. “We’ve a man-killer shark in these waters, which you dinnae ken at all—and you’ve an open wound on your hand.”

“We have sharks in my time, too, Captain. Also, my cut stopped bleeding last night, and I wore my gloves.” She swam out to the edge of the cove to look out at the sea. “Commander, I caught a glimpse of your settlement today. Am I allowed to swim out there, or is it off-limits to everyone except your people?”

“No mortal’s ever wished visit us.” He glanced at Nyall, shaking his head a little before he added, “I shall ask the king if he would permit such.”

“Thanks.” She came back to tread water between the two of them. “So, what do you guys do for fun here?”

Chapter Seven

Caroline had expected the guys to say they were too busy to have fun, but as soon as she asked, they looked at each other as if she’d touched on some kind of in-joke. They did that a little too long, too, as if they were trying to signal each other by batting their eyelashes in code or something.

“’Tisnae for a lady ken such,” Nyall finally said.

“Good thing I’m not a lady, then.” She nudged his side with her elbow. “Come on, tell me. Is there a bar near here? What would you guys call them...a tavern? Or do you ride those horses I saw in that huge barn outside the castle?” When neither of them replied she splashed them. “You can’t be all work and no play. What about those circle mazes by the woods? What do you do in those, play hide and seek? Chase squirrels? Or girls?”

Jamaran laughed out loud.

“We save our horses for our forest and shore patrollers, for they must cover too much ground to go on foot,” Nyall told her, folding his arms and looking very disapproving now. “The walking labyrinth, ’tis a sacred place used by the laird and the king or others when they wish parlay.”

“Oh, sacred, huh?” She glanced around. “Not like this place, then. Where do you drink?”

“We rarely indulge in spirits,” Jamaran said, “but when we do, ’tis at a quiet spot after we finish our duties.”

“You mean, like right now?” When he nodded, she grinned. “It just so happens I have nothing to do, and I’m dying for a drink. Want to take me to this quiet spot?”

The men exchanged another over-long look before they waded out of the cove. Caroline followed, intrigued now, but all they did was walk down a stone-covered path to a small, shimmering pool set further back in the trees. The scent of salt told her it was a sea-fed spring, and the steam rising from the surface suggested it was thermal-heated. She crouched down at the edge and gingerly tested the water, discovering it was very warm but not too hot for a dip.

“Why don’t you build one of these at the castle?” she asked as she sat down to put her feet and lower legs in the spring. “Ah, that’s so good. I’d love one in my room.”

“’Twas created by my sire, Prince Mar,” Nyall said as he went to some rocks and retrieved a pair of jugs. Handing one to Jamaran, he brought the other over to her, uncorked it and offered it to her before he sat down on her left side. “Whiskey.”

Caroline took the jug, and had a sip. The alcohol proved so strong it seemed to burn a new path from her tongue to her belly, and made tears prick her eyes. She suppressed a gasp as she handed it back to him.

“Yowser. You could clean some barnacles off a boat with that.” She cleared her throat and looked at the commander, who had perched on her right side. “What’s in yours?”

“A Selseus spirit called Sleepfast.” As she stretched out her hand he gave her a doubtful look. “’Tis made with kelp fermented with sea snails.”

“I’m not squeamish. In my time I drink tequila, which is made from fermented plants called agave. The one I like best is nicknamed ‘temporary amnesia.’” As he handed her the jug she gave him a serene smile. “Good man.”

Sleepfast tasted at first weirdly like cooking sherry, but ended with a sinus-clearing bang that actually did make Caroline gasp.