Chapter 9

May half-expected Evander to kiss her. She wasn’t surprised when his arm went around her waist and drew her closer.

She was surprised when his other hand covered her mouth and he moved to pull both of them out of the firelight. She tried to ask him what he was thinking, but his hand was too firm, and a moment later, he hissed softly in her ear. “Shhh…”

She stilled, touching his hand to indicate that she trusted him. Moments later, there was a soft scuffing sound, and May bit her lip to stifle a cry as three figures filled the opening of the cave. She saw the glimmer of firelight on weapons and felt her heart begin to pound.

As much as she wanted to believe they were only patrolling soldiers from her clan or Evander’s she couldn’t bring herself to think so. They were moving too stealthily. She wondered if they’d been tracked from Mackintosh Castle, or if they had simply seen their fire and come to investigate.

She felt Evander’s hand slip from around her waist, and knew he was reaching for his weapons, only a short distance away.

The scrape of his sword belt on the rocks gave away their position, but by then Evander was already moving, exploding to his feet in a low, wide-stance that let him vault over her head without hitting his own on the cave roof, knives already bared in either hand. The movement startled all three men, enough that he was able to drive them out of the cave with his charge.

May forced herself to move. Evander might be able to fight three men, even defeat them, but if there were more nearby, he would find himself quickly outnumbered. They needed to escape, and for that, they needed the horses.

She grabbed the tack and saddles and hauled them forward, then stopped. The tangle of fighters in front of the cave was too chaotic and moving too quickly for her to risk trying to carry the saddles to the horses tethered nearby. There was no sign of the enemy’s horses either, which meant they needed to use their own.

Evander managed to send one man crashing to the ground. His position allowed him to see her at the entrance to the cave, and he nodded. “Go!”

He drove into his two opponents, pressing them away from the horses and giving her a path to the animals. May took the opportunity and heaved both saddles into her arms. They were heavy and unwieldy, but the sounds of battle and her own fear gave her strength. She staggered to the horses and began the work of saddling them in the uncertain light.

One of the men managed to avoid Evander’s blades and lunge at her. The horse she was saddling reared and jolted sideways at the sudden movement, and May stumbled. She dodged the man’s hand, and felt a faint stinging sensation on one arm.

Evander roared something incoherent and attacked the man from behind, forcing him to turn and defend himself from the slashing knife. There was a whirlwind of blows, then one man went down with a grunt, holding his gut. The last man fell a second later, dead or knocked out. May couldn’t tell which.

She finally got the second horse saddled as the first man got back to his feet. “Evander!”

There was a short exchange of blows, then he was beside her. Strong hands boosted her roughly into the saddle, then Evander vaulted onto his own horse. “Follow me.”

He kicked the horse into a run, and May held on for dear life as both their horses raced down the trail to the cave. She was half afraid that one or both animals would trip and fall, but the horses managed the footing with a sureness she attributed to luck.

Then they were out on the moor lands, and moving fast in a path that went generally in the direction of MacPherson Keep. May concentrated on keeping her seat and keeping her eyes on Evander’s back as he led the way. Her heart was pounding, and she kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see pursuers against the moonlit sky at any moment.

No pursuers appeared, and within half a candle-mark, they were riding into a wooded section. Evander turned off the main trail and threaded his horse through the trees until they came to a small clearing. Then and only then did he bring his horse to a stop.

He slid off his horse, and May followed his example with a sigh of relief. In their haste, she’d barely managed to get seated, and the borrowed trousers she wore were bunched and chafing in uncomfortable places. She was glad to have a chance to straighten the clothing and make herself a little more comfortable.

She was adjusting her sleeves and the tightness of the shirt around her chest when she heard Evander hiss in anger. She looked up, afraid their enemies had already found them, and was surprised to see him staring at her. “What is it?”

“Ye’re hurt.” Evander moved forward and took her arm. It was only then that she saw the stained sleeve, and the slash through it.

For the first moment, he couldn’t think properly. Then he darted to May’s side and took her arm in both hands, eyes scanning the length and depth of the injury. It didn’t appear to still be bleeding, but that was no reassurance, not when they’d been riding through the woods and there was no knowing what might have gotten into the wound.

May tried to pull her arm free. “Evander, ‘tis naething.”

“’Tis nae. I promised tae protect ye.” Anxiety he didn’t understand filled him. “I’m supposed tae be caring fer ye.”

“’Tis only a scratch.”

She might be right, but in the moonlight, how could either of them tell? He wanted to tend to the wound, but his saddle packs had been left behind in their wild flight from the cave. That included his medicine kit.

He took a moment to adjust his clothing and both saddles, then turned and lifted her back into the saddle. “We need tae find shelter and a healer.”

MacPherson Castle was a few candle-marks ride, but there was a village that was closer. He and May had visited it sometimes when they were younger. He found the main path through the wooded area and made for the village.

The moon was beginning to set when they reached the village. The healer’s cottage was a low black hulk against the sky, a short distance from the edge of the main cluster of buildings. May protested as he guided their horses to a stop in front of the hut. “Evander, there’s nae need tae be waking a healer. The keep’s nae far.”

“We’re going tae have yer arm looked at.” He swung off his horse and proceeded to pound on the door. “Healer! Yer services are needed!”

May dismounted and tried to pull him away. “Evander, yer being ridiculous. ‘Tis barely any sort o’ wound, I swear. The bleeding has already long stopped, and I’m fine.”

“Nae every danger from a wound comes from the initial blow.” He raised his fist to pound on the door again. “I’ll nae take the risk.”

A minute later, the door opened to reveal a stout woman with graying hair in a loose braid, a shawl thrown over a nightdress. “What is it?” She raised an eyebrow. “Ye’re certain nae hurt if ye’re shouting like that.”

“Nae me, but me companion is injured.” He pulled May forward, ignoring her protests, and held out the wounded arm. “This needs seeing tae.”

The healer’s other eyebrow rose, but she gestured them inside, to Evander’s relief. They waited while she stoked the fire and lit a lantern for more light. When the cottage was well-lit, she drew May to the small table in the front room and pushed up the over-large sleeve. She prodded the arm. “It appears tae be a scratch.”

“It needs seeing tae.” Evander saw the healer’s smirk and May’s resigned and exasperated gaze, but couldn’t bring himself to care. “There’s nae telling how serious it could become.”

He’d heard stories about warriors getting light wounds that became infected and killed them in the end. And men who used poisons or other things to contaminate the wound and ensure their enemies didn’t survive the encounters, or at least became ill following the fight. He’d never cared about such stories before, but it was different when he was faced with the prospect that May might be affected by the after-effects of a tainted wound or a tainted blade.

The healer snorted. “Me boy, if there’s a risk tae every cut, then ‘tis a wonder yer still standing. A warrior like ye shouldnae be waking healers in the middle o’ the night tae tend tae something so minor.”

“I dinnae have my healing kit.” He scowled at her. “And I dinnae want tae take the chance o’ her getting an infection. Or worse.”

“’Tis hardly likely tae dae either. An infection would show in red and heated flesh, even early. And aught else would show whatever symptoms might be expected. But the wound is clean, and dry and nae showing any signs o’ problems.”

“Evens so, it needs tae be treated.” Both women gave him incredulous looks, but he stood his ground. “I dinnae care if ye think ‘tis a minor thing and I’m a fool who’s acting more like an unbloodied priest than a warrior. I’m supposed tae protect ye May, and if I’ve failed that, then it stands tae reason I see me error corrected.”

He didn’t understand why the two women exchanged a look and started to laugh. All he cared about was that the healer nodded. “As ye will. The water’s heating…” She tipped her head at a small pot over the fire. “...and there’s clean bandages and a healing salve in the room off the kitchen.” She indicated a doorway. “Dae me a favor and go get them fer me.”

Evander nodded and hurried to the door, relieved there was something he could do to help May.

May watched Evander disappear through the door the healer had pointed him toward, lantern in hand. Once he’d disappeared, she turned to the healer. “Ye dinnae need tae trouble yerself, healer. I ken as well as ye that there’s nae danger from such a minor scratch.”

The healer smiled. “I’ll treat ye fer it nevertheless. ‘Twill be easier than treating yer husband’s attack o’ the nerves. As much as he cares fer ye, there’ll be nae peace until he’s sure ye`re well looked after.”

May felt her heart skip a beat at the healer’s words. “He’s nae me husband.”

The healer raised an eyebrow once more, looking in the direction Evander had disappeared. “Och, well, with that much love in his eyes, ‘tis only a matter o’ time. Nae man can look at a woman like he looks at ye unless he wants tae stay with her. Trust a healer on that, lass.” She patted May’s hand.

May swallowed hard. She’d never hoped Evander might love her, not after so long. Not when he was planning to marry someone else. The healer’s words made her heart ache with a combination of hope and grief. Hope that she might be right, and grief that nothing could ever come of it.

It would have been easier to think Evander no longer cared for her. And yet, as he came hurrying back with the salve and the bandages, the words stayed in her mind. So did the expression on his face as the healer carefully cleaned, salved, and bandaged the scratch.

Once that was done, the healer rose from her chair and pointed to another door. “That leads tae me bedroom. Yer welcome tae use it tae get some rest until morning comes.”

May blushed. “We dinnae want tae give ye trouble…”

“’Tis late fer that, and in any case, I’m wakeful now. I’ve plenty tae dae, and if I find meself wearied again, I’ll use one o’ the cots fer me patients.” The healer shrugged her shoulders, then waved them to the room in question and leveled a forbidding stare at Evander when he looked as if he wanted to protest. “Ye wanted me tae tend tae yer lass. And I’m telling ye both tae get some rest as part o’ that.”

It was funny to see the large, strong warrior cowed by the healer, who was several inches shorter and certainly older. May couldn’t help chuckling at his chagrined expression as she rose from her chair. “As ye say healer.” She took Evander’s arm and dragged him to the bedroom before he could argue any further, or cause the healer any more trouble.

Inside the room, there was a fair-sized bed. May started toward it, then hesitated, remembering the healer’s words. She turned back to look at Evander, who was standing near the door. She thought again of what he’d said during their time in the cave, not only about searching for her, but what they’d talked about when they’d awakened, right before the soldiers had come.

They were alone here, save for the healer. Alone as they would not be once they returned to MacPherson Keep. And after that, he would go back to his home and his betrothed. And she would remain with her father and her brother, unless she was sent away again.

The thought gave her courage to speak, as she might never have done otherwise. “Evander, ye ken that the wound was scarce more than a scratch.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Aye. But even scratches can be a problem.”

“But why were ye so worried? Ye ken I’ve dealt with worse.” She rubbed a shoulder self-consciously.

“Aye. But I care fer ye. And fer yer well-being. I didnae want tae chance anything happening.”

The admission gave her more courage, and she stepped closer to him, close enough to feel the heat of his breath on her face. “Evander, dae ye still love me?”

There was a long hesitation, and she knew both the truth and what his answer would be before he spoke. “I dinnae.”

“I dinnae believe ye.” She put a hand on his chest, and felt his heart pounding under the thin material of his shirt. “I ken when ye’re lying, Evander. And I ken ye’re lying now. I ken why, but we’re alone here. It doesnae matter, fer taenight at least, that ye’re tae be married in a month, or that I’m tae return tae me faither and braither.”

She took a deep breath. “I never stopped loving ye, and I want whatever I can have o’ ye Evander. Even if it’s just fer this one night. I want tae be with ye, in whatever ways ye want tae be.”