Chapter 9

Slayer watched Sky as he stacked firewood near the cottage. She was busy fashioning a wreath from slim branches she had collected. She appeared content but he could tell by how her brow scrunched now and again that her thoughts were busy.

They had spent much time talking last night not only about the news concerning her and her sisters but also about what Rory had told him. She asked pertinent questions and offered suggestions that proved wise. While he had never considered discussing important matters with a wife, he found talking with Sky valuable and enjoyable. He was beginning to think that their marriage could prove beneficial in many ways.

One was that he would no longer need to look for a willing woman when the need struck him. Sky would be right there beside him in bed. That he found her appealing was an added benefit.

Maybe you never felt the touch of a hand gentle enough to trust.

Her words from yesterday had kept repeating in his mind since he woke and at the oddest times throughout the day. He had not given much credence to them since he was in no need of a gentle touch. He was a hardened warrior and needed to remain that way. And yet he had found her causal touch had brought him a strange comfort at times. He particularly liked the feel of her snuggled against him in bed and lately he found himself unable to stop himself from growing aroused when his mind drifted to Sky. Something that was happening far too often. He surmised it was because his need for a woman was growing and he would appease it soon with Sky, and the thought stirred his manhood. He did not want to wait much longer to consummate their vows since if he went too long without satisfying his need, he could be demanding when coupling. Experienced women found his demands enjoyable. He doubted an innocent like Sky would feel the same.

The sudden sound of birds taking flight had Slayer hurrying over to Sky. He yanked her up from where she sat under a tree and shoved her behind him to walk them toward the cottage.

"Your attention remains sharp," a voice called out.

"As always," Slayer shouted, "but you, my friend, are tardy."

Ross stepped out of the woods with a smile. "But I bring good tidings and," —he held up a jug— "ale."

Slayer did not know what tidings Ross had to share with him and after yesterday's disturbing news, he did not want Sky suffering any more or hearing something that did not concern her.

"I have a taste for more berries. I will go pick some while you speak with Ross," Sky said.

It was as though Sky read his mind and settled it for him, making things easier for him.

"Do not go far or be too long," Slayer ordered and leaned down, his face close to hers. "And save some berries for me."

Her face burst in a bright smile and her two different colored eyes filled with delight and, bloody hell, if her joy was not contagious rushing a smile to his lips that he barely stopped before it sprang free.

"I will," she whispered conspiratorially and with his cheek so close, she could not help but kiss it.

Her innocent kiss stunned him, and he stood there as she grabbed a basket off the blanket beneath the tree and rushed into the woods. What stunned him even more was that it pleased him, filled him with pleasure, and sent a spark to his loins.

"I had my doubts about you bringing her here, but I see it was a wise decision. It did not take her long to accept you as her husband," Ross said when Slayer turned and walked toward him.

"She is getting there," Slayer said and joined Ross on the bench under the cottage window and gladly took the tankard of ale he handed him.

"With the way she looks at you, I would argue that she is already there." Ross shook his head. "Though I wonder how you accomplished that since you were never one to court a woman."

"She is my wife. Why would I need to court her?"

Ross chuckled. "It is a good thing you didn't need to since she probably wouldn't have agreed to marry you. Though with her affliction she no doubt worries you will change your mind and does what is necessary not to lose you."

Instinct to defend her had him snapping at Ross. "Her affliction has no bearing on our marriage."

"You defend her readily." Ross pointed out.

"Why wouldn't I? It is my duty as her husband," Slayer argued.

"Or do her strange eye colors hold you captive?"

Slayer scowled at him. "Have you lost your mind?"

Ross shook his head again. "Nay, I wanted to make sure that you haven't lost yours."

"My mind is as sound as it has always been."

"What about your heart?" Ross asked.

"What about my heart?"

"Uh oh."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Slayer demanded.

"Whenever I would mention your heart, you would always respond with… what heart? Now you acknowledge that you have one. I think your wife may have awakened it."

"Enough with the nonsense," Slayer cautioned, annoyed at his friend's suggestion. "What news do you have for me?"

"Melvin has taken residence at Clan Murdock. He should have news for us soon."

Melvin was one of Slayer's best and most reliable warriors. There was not a battle or mission he feared and that was the reason he had sent him to spy on Cavell.

"Good, he can keep me abreast of what Cavell finds out about this mission to see the Murdock sisters dead. And see that some warriors and supplies are sent to Clan Murdock. Cavell could use the help with the dwindling clan."

Ross turned quiet, focusing on drinking his ale.

"Spit it out, Ross," Slayer finally said, knowing Ross grew quiet when he was reluctant to tell him something that might anger him.

Ross hurried to preface it with, "I tell you what I hear and what I see for myself."

"Understood. Now tell me," Slayer urged.

"Sky's affliction has been made known to the clan and whispering tongues are busy spreading fear. Many claim she is a cohort of the devil. She will not receive a warm welcome when you arrive home with her."

"Then they will face my wrath, so make sure that news spreads just as fast."

"I will try, but there is a good chance the clan will never accept her," Ross cautioned. "Your own warriors avoided looking at her when her strange eye color was spotted. By now the truth of that incident has been embellished into a tale told before a hearth in whispers. You must know having her as your wife will not be easy."

"Battle is never easy, and this is just another battle to win."

"Be careful, my friend. Your men have been at your side in every battle that has seen victory. In this battle, I fear you may only have me to stand with you."

Screams brought both men to their feet and tossing their tankards aside before running into the woods.

* * *

"Nay! Nay! Don't kill him!"Sky screamed, waving her hands at a group of warriors as she ran to place herself in front of a massive stag that snorted and pounded the ground with his hoof.

"Get away from him."

"He will kill you."

"Are you insane!"

"He'll make a fine feast."

"You will not kill him!" Sky commanded with a strength that surprised her.

"What are you doing, woman?" Slayer shouted when he caught sight of Sky shielding a stag from his men, whose arrows were ready to take down the majestic beast.

The stage snorted and held his head high as if warning them off with his impressive set of antlers that could easily spear a person. He let loose with a rougher snort that echoed throughout the surrounding forest, a primal warning that reverberated, deterring anyone from getting too close. The stag's entire demeanor conveyed a readiness to charge at the slightest provocation and in front of him, dwarfed by the creature, stood his wife bravely yet foolishly defending him.

"What are you doing?" Slayer demanded. "Move away from him."

"Nay!" she shouted. "Something troubles him. He searches for help." She turned to face the stag.

Slayer, stunned that she disobeyed him, wanted to rush at her and pull her out of harm's way, but knew the stag could grow alarmed and lash out at Sky.

All that was presently left to him was to shout, "Stay away!"

Sky took slow steps toward the stag and when their eyes met a silent understanding seemed to pass between them.

"Keep your arrows ready," Slayer commanded.

Sky's hand shot up in protest, not taking her eyes off the stage. "Nay! Do not hurt him. He needs help." She spoke gently to the stag. "I can help you. Show me what troubles you."

The stag responded with a bob of his head, snorted, turned, and bolted into the woods. Sky, undeterred, followed him, her movements swift and agile.

Slayer shook his head and released several oaths as he ran after her. She had not given a moment's thought to her own safety. Her only thought was for the stag. He did not bother to call for Ross and his men to follow him. They would do so without being told.

Sky's speed and agility surprised him. She kept a good pace ahead of him and did not stop until the stag did, not far from the stream. The stag protested when Slayer drew near, pounding the earth with one hoof and snorting.

"Stay back. Your annoyance threatens him," Sky called out in warning. "He protects his mate. She requires help."

Slayer could understand the stag's protest since he was as riled as the magnificent beast in his worry over Sky and the dangerous situation she had placed herself in. He raised his hand to bring his warriors, who were close behind him to an abrupt halt. He could not see what Sky was doing but he did hear the cries of an animal in distress, the stag's mate, and the reason for his upset.

"Easy love, I am here to help you," Sky said gently, realizing it was the doe from the other day and she reminded the animal of that. "Remember me? We shared berries off the same bush. I am a friend. You can trust me. I will not harm you." She continued talking in a soothing tone and with great care crouched down beside the doe. She was in the throes of delivering her fawn but there appeared to be a problem.

Slayer was ready to call out to his wife, not seeing her or hearing any movement but a hand clamped down on his shoulder stopping him.

"I would wait. That stag looks ready to charge," Ross warned.

Sky's head finally popped up above the bushes and she rushed a look at Slayer. "His mate is having difficulty delivering their fawn. I am going to help her. I have done it before, worry not and I trust you to not harm the stag."

She disappeared before Slayer could respond and he did something he never expected he would do. Because it was the wisest thing for him to do or because she placed her trust in him to do so, he could not be sure. But whatever the reason, he ordered his warriors not to harm the stag in a tone that warned of dire punishment if someone thought to disobey him, not that that was likely.

"This will only add to the gossiping tongues," Ross warned.

Slayer ignored him, though knew he was right. This was not going to help Sky to be accepted by his clan.

Sky kept her mind on the task at hand. She had been lucky to have witnessed several does giving birth and had helped two who had had difficulty, the fawns having twisted during delivery and gotten stuck. That was the problem now.

She kept a soft voice as she stroked the doe's head. "With a little help your fawn will be born soon."

The stag calmed as well, though didn't take his eyes off the men, and pounded his hoof now and again to warn them he was ready to charge if necessary.

"A few careful tugs and it will be all over," Sky said, knowing careful was what she needed to be, or things could go terribly wrong.

When the doe cried out, the stag got upset, snorting and pounding his hoof.

Slayer was ready to charge the beast, but his wife's strong, encouraging words stopped him.

"Worry not, she does good, and the fawn will birth soon."

It got quiet after that, and it was as if the forest held its breath in anticipation and surprisingly Slayer and his warriors did as well.

Sky's head suddenly could be seen above the bushes, and she smiled at the stag. "A fine fawn that will grow into a mighty stag like his da."

The men unexpectedly cheered, and the mighty stag pounded the ground with his hoof and nodded his head proudly.

"You all must leave now and give the doe time to tend her newborn," she said.

The warriors turned to Slayer, awaiting his command.

"Go and the stag and his family are to be left in peace," Slayer reminded and when he looked back at Sky, she was gone.

"She is headed to the stream," Ross said.

"Remain at the longhouse tonight. There is something I need to discuss with you tomorrow," Slayer said and did not wait for a reply.

He hurried after his wife.

"Are you completely mad, woman?" Slayer scolded loudly when he reached the stream to see his wife washing her hands and arms in the stream.

She turned her head and smiled at him. "There is no reason to yell. I can hear you well enough."

"Evidently not since you failed to obey me," he reminded, dropping down beside her.

"The stag needed help," she said as though it was explanation enough.

"Don't ever do something so foolish again," he warned.

"I cannot promise that," she said, not giving her quick response a second thought. "The animals are my friends, and I will help them when in need."

People would think her foolish, perhaps even insane, if they heard that, or worse that she was evil. After all, if she could understand those animals, what diabolical creatures could she understand and make do her bidding?

It annoyed him that she did not even give thought to the possibilities of her unusual actions.

"Friends or not, you will not put yourself in harm's way for them," he ordered.

She spoke softly without a trace of anger in her voice. "Friendship is important to me. So, please understand that I would put myself in harm's way for any friend and that includes you."

Her remark fired something fierce in Slayer and he grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet as he stood. "NEVER, will you put yourself in harm's way for me."

"But you would for me, wouldn't you?" she asked and knew what his reply would be.

"It is my duty."

"It is not a duty to me. I would do so because you are my friend and I care for you."

Slayer had suffered endless punches in his life, but the impact had been nothing compared to what he felt now. It hit him so hard he almost expected his legs to give way, and never had he suffered a punch that had almost knocked him off his feet. But never had a woman ever told him that she cared for him and never had he expected it to matter.

"My lord, are you all right?" Sky asked, resting her hand on his chest and worry filling her eyes.

He did not like it when she referred to him as my lord, even if it was the proper thing for her to do. He enjoyed hearing her say his name, gently, caringly.

Caringly.

He spoke without thinking. "I am not a caring man."

She chuckled softly and, as insane as it sounded, he thought he heard the birds chuckle with her.

"I believe you are a more caring man than you know."

He grabbed her other arm and yanked her against him. "Do not make the mistake others did and think I have a heart. I do not. And you forget you are my wife and meant to obey me."

That he held her a bit roughly did not trouble her nor did the fierceness in his eyes disturb her or that he reminded her to be an obedient wife. It was that he genuinely believed he had no heart that hurt her own heart the most.

"Everyone has a heart, Slayer, but it depends on what you feed your heart that makes a difference. Your heart has known little to no caring," —she smiled broadly— "but no more. I am going to care for you whether you want me to or not."

Joy snuck up to squeeze at his heart, but rage followed quickly behind it. He was a mighty Gallowglass warrior who led a large troop and reigned over a clan. A caring heart would not serve him well nor would a wife who did not obey him.

"I have no heart and care for nothing, and you, dear wife, need to learn a lesson."