Part 14 (1/2)

Lochlan indicated her with a jerk of his chin. ”Catarina met her cousin here a few moments ago.”

His eyes widened in surprise. ”Which one?”

Cat couldn't wait to see what his next expression would be since he thought even less of the man than she did. ”Damien St. Cyr.”

Bracken reached for his hilt as he scanned the crowd with a feral grimace. ”Is the b.a.s.t.a.r.d calling out guards?”

”Nay,” she said breathlessly. ”He gave me this cloak to hide with and told me to be careful lest they find me.”

This time, Bracken's jaw dropped. ”Damien...St. Cyr told you that? Damien-I-have-no-soul-St.

Cyr? Satan's misbegotten demonsp.a.w.n? The same demented boy who cut the strap on my saddle the first time I jousted and laughed when I broke my leg and collarbone?”

Actually, she'd forgotten about that one misdeed--there had been so many such events in their childhoods. ”Aye. The same.”

Bracken snorted. ”What the h.e.l.l happened to him that he'd find decency now?”

She shrugged, every bit as baffled by it as he was. ”Maybe he just grew up?”

Still, there was doubt in Bracken's eyes. ”More like he took a stiff blow to his head. Trust me, 'twould take much more than that for the devil to change his ways. He used to live to hurt others.”

Now Lochlan was looking sheepish.

Cat patted Bracken's arm. ”You're right, but I think he's different now.”

”Then get the name of whatever priest exorcised him. We need to send the man a gift of appreciation.”

”Bracken,” she chided. ”Have more charity. And let us be glad that he's on our side in this.” The one thing no one ever wanted was to have Damien against them. As Bracken had said, the man could be pure evil.

Bracken scoffed as he renewed his quest through the crowd. ”I'm still not sure he's not off to tell others where you are. They could be planning to take you even as we speak. Most likely at a time when you least expect it.”

She shook her head. ”Well that's something I don't wish to think of.”

While they argued, Lochlan paused as they reached an armorer's stand. He held up a long sword to test it.

Looking pleased with the weapon, he pa.s.sed it over to Bracken. ”What say you to this?”

Bracken placed his forefinger below the cross hilt to check the balance. ”Good proportions and balance. Fine lines.”

”You'll not find a better swordmaker in all of Christendom,” a youth said as he came out of the tent that was set off to the side of the table. ”My father takes great pride in his work.”

”And it shows,” Cat said, while Bracken swung the sword around his body. ”'Tis a most beautiful weapon.”

The boy beamed.

Cat stood back while Lochlan outfitted Bracken with everything he would need to fight. She'd never seen Bracken so pleased. There was a light in his eyes now that had been missing before and he stood taller. It was his dignity she realized. With the loss of his father and lands, the man had suffered a harsh blow to his ego. But now he appeared the same n.o.bleman she'd grown to know all those years ago.

It made her happy to see the return of her old friend and she was grateful to Lochlan for giving this to him. It was truly a good deed.

As soon as he was outfitted, Bracken excused himself to go partake of the armed games. But knowing him, she was sure he was off to take revenge on a few n.o.bles and ”conquer” them. Cat bit back her smile as he literally ran like a child to join the other men in the list.

She walked up to Lochlan, who was paying the armorer. ”That was a n.o.ble thing you did just now.”

He shrugged his charitable deed aside. ”I like to help people, especially those who've had a hard time of it.”

Her heart softened. ”My mother was like you. I once saw her pull the cloak off her own shoulders to wrap it around an old woman in one of the towns we were pa.s.sing through. It was freezing cold, but my mother said better it go to the one who needs it most. She was a kind lady.”

”And you, la.s.s?”

”I, too. It's how Lysander and Pagan ended up traveling with us. We found them on the road, starving. I invited them to dinner and the next thing my uncle knew, they were permanent fixtures. I would have had it no other way. Bavel used to chide me constantly about picking up strays. He said that one day they would turn on me.”

”And did they?”

”Aye. A few. And it was one such stray who kidnapped me from my uncle and tried to deliver me to my father. I still can't believe he betrayed me after all we did for him.”

Lochlan turned toward her as the armorer left them to wait on another customer. ”I'm sorry, Catarina.”

She sighed before she stepped away. ”Don't be. I'm the one who has to deal with my father at some point. It merely irks me that he must move through others rather than dealing with me forthright. I am his daughter, yet we are awkward with one another. No child should feel that way around its parent.”

She glanced at him as they walked back toward the trail that ran between the tents. His hair was tousled from the wind and his eyes vibrant. ”You've no idea how much I hate being my father's bargaining tool.”

”I think I have a good idea on that, la.s.s.”

Perhaps he did. There was something in his tone that spoke to the pain inside her. ”Tell me something, Lochlan? Have you ever used someone this way?”

”Nay. I have not.”

”And if you had a daughter--”

”I would treasure her with every part of me.”

How she wanted to believe that. ”Would you make her marry for the sake of your clan?”

Lochlan paused as he considered it. She gave him credit for the thought and she wondered what he'd say.

”Nay,” he spoke at last. ”I would never intentionally hurt my child. I'd find another way for peace.

One that could make both of us happy.”

Cat took his strong hand into hers as those words made her ache. If only her father felt that way.

But it also made her think of Lochlan's betrothed, who waited for him in Scotland. ”And how does your future bride feel about marrying you?”

He shrugged. ”I know not. However, there is nothing settled between us yet, so she is not truly my betrothed. I have yet to answer her father's offer.”

She c.o.c.ked her head. Given what he'd said earlier, she couldn't imagine why he would wait.

”Why not?”

”Because I don't want a wife who isn't suited to me.”