Warrior of Ice. Michelle Willingham

key and unlocked the door.

      Below them, within the inner bailey, Killian saw Taryn watching. He guessed that she wanted to speak to him, to tell him more about her conversation with Brian. He lifted his hand to acknowledge her before following Seorse inside.

      His friend led him into the small armoury and picked up a torch from an iron sconce. Swords, maces, and daggers lined one wall while spears and colc swords hung upon another.

      Killian studied each of the swords, ignoring the decorative hilts. Though a longer sword might be visually attractive, he preferred a sharp, light blade. In the end, he chose a colc sword. He also selected two daggers, neither one with jewels—only blades that were so sharp, the lightest touch drew blood upon his thumb.

      ‘I want these,’ he told Seorse.

      The man gave him a belted scabbard for the sword and Killian secured one dagger at his waist and another in his boot.

      The door opened, and light filtered into the room. Taryn stood at the entrance, and Seorse approached. ‘How may we be of service, Lady Taryn?’

      ‘I wish to speak to Killian alone. Leave us, if you will.’ Her regal demeanour made it clear that she expected to be obeyed. Seorse did, but he sent Killian a knowing look as he departed, closing the door behind him.

      ‘What did he say?’ he asked quietly.

      She leaned back and crossed her arms. ‘Brian agreed to lend me your service, as my personal guard.’

      ‘Did you tell him anything else?’ He didn’t know if the Lady could be trusted yet. Carice’s life hung in the balance, and he knew not what she had said to Brian.

      ‘He already knows that my father is the High King’s prisoner, and that is why I am accompanying Carice. Brian told me that King Rory ordered the provincial kings to send soldiers to help defend Éireann against the Normans. He wants to build an army of men from all across our lands.’ She paused, then added, ‘My father did not send the soldiers. I suppose he thought to keep peace in Ossoria, protecting our people from having to shed blood in a war.’

      But the man’s refusal was undoubtedly seen as rebellion, Killian suspected. ‘Rory will take the men, if that’s what he’s wanting.’ He came closer, studying the young woman. In the dim torchlight, the silver torque gleamed about her throat, though most of her face was shielded by the veil. ‘To deny the High King’s will is treason.’

      She tensed when he drew closer. ‘I know it. But I can’t let him die.’ She wrapped her arms around her waist. Before he could speak again, she continued, ‘Brian was not going to let you come to Tara. When I mentioned it, he said that he didn’t want you near Carice. I didn’t like the way he spoke of you.’ She raised her defiant blue eyes to his, and they seemed to hold a greenish hue in the light.

      ‘I told him that I would be grateful if you would...become my guard. He offered me a man called Seorse, but I refused.’ Though she was trying to keep her tone neutral, he sensed her reluctance to tell him the truth.

      ‘There’s more, isn’t there?’ He faced her fully, waiting for her confession.

      Taryn faltered a moment and admitted, ‘I let Brian believe that my interest in you was...more than the desire for a guard.’

      He didn’t know what to say to that, for it was the last thing he was expecting. ‘Why would you say that?’

      The young woman’s gaze lowered to the floor as if she were humiliated by the idea. ‘It was the only thing I could think of. And he...he agreed.’ She looked as if she wanted to disappear into the wall, but her daring had caught his attention in an intriguing way.

      ‘You let him think that you wanted me?’ The idea was so startling, he could hardly grasp it. ‘We’re hardly more than strangers.’

      Taryn closed her eyes. ‘I know it. But surely you know that you are...a handsome warrior. It was as good a reason as any. And he believed it.’ She raised both hands to her cheeks as if to cool the flush.

      That wasn’t the reason. The chieftain knew that Killian would rather die than be servant to a woman. It was a means of putting him in his place, of humiliating him. If he refused, then he could not guard his sister. If he agreed, then it forced him to obey the whims of Lady Taryn.

      His anger rose up again, and he warned her in an iron voice, ‘I am no one’s slave.’

      She stiffened, and her hands moved to her sides. ‘I never asked you to be.’

      He took a step nearer, adding, ‘I am not yours to command, either. You need me more than I need you.’

      ‘You’re wrong,’ she murmured. ‘And while it’s not the way I wanted to travel, I’ve done this to help you.’ She took a breath and faced him. ‘I know that I am not fair of face, and it is an insult, asking you to join me in this ruse. But I thought you would want to be near your sister.’

      There was no self-pity in her tone—only a woman who spoke with frankness. To hear her speak of herself in that way bothered him. Aye, she had scars that had transformed her face. But he did not find her repulsive at all.

      Killian reached out to her chin, forcing her to look at him once more. When she opened her blue eyes, he saw traces of fear and anxiety. ‘Were you wanting me to share your tent?’ He wanted to see if her shyness was real or feigned, so he loosened the veil and drew his hand across her scarred cheek.

      ‘No! Of course not.’ She jolted at his touch, trying to pull back. And yet, he sensed that no one had ever paid attention to this woman. She was trying to make herself invisible, trying to hide behind her veil.