Christina gasped when Cormac took a particularly hard blow and fell back. She covered her mouth with her hand and stared as the warrior picked himself up and lunged forward again. The sounds of clanging metal pierced the air as Cormac fought with renewed vengeance.

It was over seconds later, when Cormac’s opponent’s sword went flying through the air. Cormac raised his sword over his head and then slashed downward until the point rested under the other man’s chin.

The man held up his hands in surrender and Cormac extended a hand to help him to his feet.

“Our men are making short work of the McDonald warriors,” Bertha said smugly.

Indeed the McCabe soldiers quickly dispatched the next two. The match was over, given that four of the McDonald warriors had already fallen, but the fifth stalked into the ring fully adorned with protective armor and helmet.

“He’s a small one!” Maddie exclaimed. “Why, he can’t be more than a lad.”

Evidently, Diormid, who’d been chosen to go last, agreed, because he stood to the side, a perplexed look on his face. When the smaller warrior raised his sword, Diormid shook his head and strode forward.

Though he was a great deal smaller than Diormid, he proved to be extremely nimble and agile. He deftly avoided blows that would likely have knocked him from his feet.

The McDonald warriors, inspired by the best performance thus far, surged forward, shouting encouragement to the lad. He was quick to parry and he had Diormid fighting to remain on his feet.

Mairin found herself holding her breath, impressed by the smaller man’s courage. She leaned forward as Diormid dodged a barrage of thrusts and she held her breath when the lad jumped to avoid Diormid’s sweeping kick.

“ ’Tis so exciting,” Gretchen whispered beside her.

Mairin smiled at the little girl who was so enraptured by the spectacle in front of them.

“Aye, it is. It looks like Diormid has his hands full with the lad.”

The fight wore on and it was apparent that Diormid was frustrated by his inability to make the much smaller man yield. Diormid’s movements became more desperate and wild. It was clear he wanted to end the fight and just as clear the lad was having none of it.

Then an amazing thing happened. Diormid lunged and the lad’s leg shot out, tripping Diormid. In an instant, the lad leaped on top of Diormid with a yell worthy of the most seasoned warrior. Sword held high, he slashed downward until the point rested against the vulnerable flesh of Diormid’s neck.

Diormid glared up at the youth but finally dropped his sword in concession.

“The lad has bested our Diormid,” Maddie whispered.

Slowly the lad rose and extended his hand down to Diormid. He pulled himself up, nearly knocking the lad off his feet as he struggled with the weight of the much larger warrior.

The McDonald man staggered back then sheathed his sword. Then he yanked his helmet from his head and a mass of golden hair spilled from the confines.

Rionna McDonald stood in front of the assembled men, her hair flashing in the sun. The women next to Mairin gasped in astonishment.

“ ’Tis a lass!” Gretchen exclaimed in delight. She rounded on Robbie, her eyes gleaming with unholy light. “See? I told you that women could be warriors!”

Crispen and Robbie were both staring at Rionna with a mixture of awe and grudging admiration.

Rionna’s father was apoplectic. He shoved through the crowd of men, his face mottled in rage. He waved his arms and shouted at Rionna, and Mairin strained to hear his words.

Rionna bowed her head, but not before Mairin saw the flash of anger cross her face. Rionna’s free hand curled into a fist at her side and she took a step back from her ranting father.

Mairin was on her feet, her heart going out to the woman despite the fact that she’d donned man’s garb and humiliated a McCabe warrior. Indeed, Diormid was furious, his face as dark as a storm cloud.

Still, Mairin found herself hurrying toward the courtyard, intent on rescuing the lass from a horde of angry men. Murmuring pardons, she elbowed through the men, ignoring their irritated murmurs when she shoved them aside.

Getting through the last line was difficult because the warriors were all shoulder to shoulder. She poked and prodded without success and finally she kicked one in the back of the knee, causing it to buckle.

He turned with a snarl until he saw who was behind him. His expression turned to one of shock and he hastily stepped aside to let Mairin through.

Relieved that she’d made it into the ring, she realized she didn’t have a plan beyond getting there. Ewan didn’t take her presence well and he stared holes in her from across the ring of warriors.

Mairin tucked Rionna’s hand into hers, ignoring Rionna’s look of surprise.

“Curtsy,” Mairin whispered.

“What?”

“Curtsy then back away with me. And smile. Really big smile.”

“Begging your pardons, Lairds. We’ll be going now. The children of the keep need our attention, and we must see to the evening meal,” Mairin said. She offered them a dazzling smil and dipped into a curtsy.

Rionna flashed a smile, and Mairin marveled at how stunning the lass was. Her mouth spread into a wide smile, showing perfectly straight, white teeth and a dimple in the smooth skin of her cheek. Rionna also dipped low in a curtsy and then allowed Mairin to drag her toward the perimeter.

The men tripped over themselves to move as Mairin gifted them with another sweet smile. She dragged Rionna off, fully expecting Ewan’s roar at any moment. When she managed to exit the courtyard, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Where are we going?” Rionna asked.

“There is a little girl who would dearly love to meet you,” Mairin said cheerfully. “She was most impressed with your performance.”

Rionna shot her a puzzled look but allowed Mairin to take her all the way up the hill where the others sat watching with avid interest.

Gretchen could contain herself no longer. As soon as Mairin and Rionna drew near, Gretchen jumped to her feet and fairly danced over to Rionna.

She curtsied but bubbled over with excitement and proceeded to bombard Rionna with a dozen questions in succession.

Seeing Rionna’s complete befuddlement, Mairin took pity on her and laid a hand on Gretchen’s shoulder to staunch the flood of chatter.

“Gretchen wants to be a warrior,” Mairin explained. “It was explained to her that women couldn’t be warriors, and now she’s decided that ’tis obviously an untruth since you defeated Diormid in swordplay.”

Rionna smiled, this time a genuine smile, and knelt in front of Gretchen. “I must share a secret with you, Gretchen. ’Tis not a popular opinion, but I firmly believe that a woman can be whatever she wants to be if she sets her mind to it.”

Gretchen was aglow with delight. Then she became somber as she looked beyond Rionna to the courtyard. “Your papa wasn’t happy that you fought Diormid.”

Rionna’s eyes darkened from the light gold to an amber hue. “My father despairs of ever making a lady of me. He’s not impressed with my skills as a warrior.”

“I’m impressed,” Gretchen said shyly.

Rionna smiled again and took Gretchen by the hand. “Would you like to touch the hilt of my sword?”

Gretchen’s eyes rounded and her mouth dropped open. “Could I?”

Rionna guided her hand down until it hovered over the jewel-encrusted hilt of the sword. “ ’Tis smaller than a normal sword. ’Tis lighter, too. Makes it easier for me to wield it.”

“That’s amazing,” Gretchen breathed.

“I want to see!” Robbie said belligerently.

He and Crispen both shoved forward, their eyes bright with wonder.

“Can we touch?” Crispen whispered.

As reticent as Rionna had been over the meal, she was open and friendly with the children. Mairin decided she must just be extremely shy.

As the children gathered around Rionna, chattering and exclaiming over her sword, Mairin chanced a glance back at the courtyard to see Ewan standing in the distance, hands knotted at his waist as he stared at her.

She offered a small wave and turned away before he got any ideas about summoning her.

When the children drifted away from Rionna, Mairin eyed the other woman. “Would you like to have a bath drawn before the evening meal?”

Rionna shrugged. “I usually swim in the loch, but I suppose it would horrify my father if I were to do so here.”

Mairin’s eyes widened. “Are you mad? The water is frigid!”

Rionna smiled. “ ’Tis good training for the mind.”

Mairin shook her head. “I have no understanding for someone who would forego the joys of a tub full of hot water for a hellish swim in an icy loch.”

“Since swimming in the loch isn’t a possibility, I’ll gladly take you up on your kind offer of a hot bath,” Rionna said with a grin. Then she cocked her head to the side and looked at Mairin with an odd expression on her face. “I like you, Lady McCabe. I don’t appall you as I do others. And the way you waded through the men to rescue me was very well done.”

Mairin flushed. “Oh, do call me Mairin. If we’re to be friends, ’tis only appropriate that you should address me thusly.”

Maddie cleared her throat behind Mairin, and Mairin turned, horrified that she’d forgotten her manners.

“Rionna, I want you to meet the women of my clan.”

Each woman stepped forward in turn and Mairin went down the line, introducing those whose names she remembered. Maddie supplied the names that Mairin hadn’t learned as of yet.

When they were done, Maddie directed the women back to the keep so they could heat water for Rionna’s bath.

After showing Rionna to the chamber she would occupy, Mairin went below stairs to check on the plans for the evening meal.

She was nearly to the kitchens when Ewan entered the hall. Laird McDonald accompanied him and Mairin quickened her step.

“Where is my daughter?” Laird McDonald demanded.

Mairin paused and turned to face the surly laird. “She’s above stairs seeing to her bath and dressing for the evening meal.”

Apparently mollified by the idea that his daughter wasn’t out battling more warriors, the laird nodded before turning back to Ewan. Mairin waited a moment, fully expecting Ewan to reprimand her for her interference, but he looked past Laird McDonald and winked.

It was done so fast that she was sure she’d seen wrong. The idea of the laird doing something like winking was too much to contemplate. Sure she’d imagined it, she headed for the kitchens once more.

CHAPTER 26

Mairin was long asleep when Ewan came to their chamber that night. He stood by the bed and watched as she slept, so burrowed under the furs that only her nose peeked out.

Talks with McDonald had rapidly deteriorated as more ale had been consumed. Instead of talking marriage and alliances, the men had sat around the table in the hall drinking and engaging in bawdy tellings of tavern wenches and old battle scars.

Ewan had excused himself, more interested in slipping into a warm bed with his wife than engaging in ribald boasting. It should bother him that even asleep the lass had such a hold over him that all he had to do was imagine her above stairs in his bed and he grew restless and ready to depart the men. But he found that it didn’t bother him at all.

While the rest were in the hall fondly recounting nights spent in the arms of a woman, he’d be above stairs holding his in his arms.

He undressed and carefully pulled back the bed covers. She immediately stirred, frowned, and then yanked the furs to bring them back up. He chuckled and slid into bed beside her.

The shock of her warm body against his brought him instantly and fully to awareness. She stirred again, murmured something in her sleep, and proceeded to burrow underneath him.

Her nightdress fell down one arm, baring the curve of her neck and the smooth skin of her shoulder. Unable to resist, he pressed his mouth to her flesh and nibbled a path to the column of her neck.

He loved her taste, loved the way her scent filled his nose as his tongue laved over her softness. She emitted a sigh that tickled over his ear.

“Ewan?” she asked sleepily.

“Who else were you expecting, lass?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It seems every time I wake, there are people in our chamber.”

He chuckled and nipped at her earlobe.

“You aren’t angry with me?”

He drew back and stared down at her. “What have you done now?”

She huffed, and her lips twisted into a disgruntled line. “I’ve done nothing. I was referring to earlier today. When I took Rionna off me. I know I shouldn’t have interfered but—”

He put a finger over her lips. “Nay, you shouldn’t have. But I’m fast discovering that you do many things you shouldn’t. It was a good thing that you removed Rionna when you did. Her father was angry, and you diffused the situation. My only complaint is that you placed yourself in a potentially explosive situation, not to mention you waded through a bunch of men who were caught up in the excitement of a battle.”