Free Mist Warrior by Kathryn Loch Page B

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    “ Good, ” Gavin said. “ It seems there are to be a few changes. ” Quickly , he explained all that had transpired with Richard.
    Catriona swallowed hard. Gavin had made clear his concerns about her impending marriage. She looked at Branan. His expression darkened , but his anger did not reappear.
    “ Aye, Gavin, ” he said, his brogue still thick. “ I must hie myself to Thistlewood afore I strangle the sod. ” He stood and extended his hand to Catriona. “ Will ye accompany us, lassie? ”
    “ Gladly, ” she said , forcing a smile , but her relief was very real. Four months was all she had left of freedom and she planned to savor every moment of it.
    Catriona was grateful to arrive at Thistlewood that afternoon , but her attention remained focused on Branan. H e became quiet and withdrawn, as if he once again stood between reality and the void, unable to return completely. Workers, mercenaries, and craftsmen all approached and greeted him. He returned the pleasantries easily enough , but Catriona knew his heart wasn't in it.
    She sighed and took her pack with her meager belongings and found an empty shelter to call her own. It had a small but comfortable pallet for a bed, clean blankets, an ewer and basin with fresh water waiting on a table for her. She quickly put her things away and stepped out. She looked for Branan and saw him duck away from the cleared area, his expression troubled. He vanished into the woods. Terribly worried, she darted after him.
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    Branan strode a few paces into the tree line then stopped. His body still shook. He squeezed his eyes closed. What was wrong with him? The rage had passed , but he sensed it was still there...lurking in the black corners of his mind, like a wolf stalking a hart. This had never happened before. Since the time he had nearly beat that lad to death , he had managed to control the demon within him, but now it was stronger than ever and it had absolutely no desire to release its hold on him.
    He opened his hands and stared down at them , noting their size, strength and roughness. “ Damnation, ” he whispered. “ If I doona control this bloodlust , I will kill an innocent. ”
    A small, feminine hand appeared and gripped his fingers with surprising strength. “ Nay, Branan, ” Catriona said softly, stepping next to him. “ No matter your rage , you will never, ever hurt and innocent. ”
    “ Catriona , how can ye say that? I was ready tae kill Courcy , but he ne'er touched ye. ” '
    “ You did what was right, Branan, he was going to hit me. ”
    Branan scowled, desperately trying to remember , but his rage had fogged everything. “ I doona think he actually raised — ”
    “ Branan , I remember watching you and Gavin in the lists. One thing my father taught you early on was that if the sword is in motion, before you think to block, then it's already too late. Your block has to be there first. ”
    “ Aye, ” he replied, his thoughts scrambling. “ A warrior needs tae act instinctively. ”
    “ The signs were there , but they were subtle, your training as a knight... your instincts… prompted you to act and I thank God you did. ” She pulled his hand up and cradled his palm against her cheek.
    He choked and hauled her into his arms. “ I canna stop shaking, Catriona, ” he whispered, his lips brushing her hair. “ For an instant, the thought ye'd s hare the same fate as my — ” H is voice cracked and he drew in a ragged breath. “ Since the day she died , I had ne'er felt fear like that...until today. ”
    “ Branan, I am so sorry. ”
    “ Nay, 'twas not yer fault. ” He paused and blew out his breath , weighing his words . “ Catriona, I want ye to break the betrothal. ”
    She blinked at him, stunned. “ Branan, you know I can't. Father — ”
    “ Yer father dinna realize what kind of man Courcy is. I know, if he was here, he would not wish ye to be in danger. ”
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    Catriona couldn't help the shiver of dread that