Page 22 of Fearless Heart
Chapter Seven
Heath kept silent during the midday meal. He couldn’t cease the vision of Lillia and their passion the previous day. He was caught in a web, one that wouldn’t allow his freedom. If he had his way, he’d take her to his bed and enjoy every minute. She wasn’t making it easy for him to reject her either.
Lillia deceived him. He was certain of it, but he also was torn and held back his assumptions. When he glanced up, he found himself alone with Brodin. He should take a lesson from his comrade for Brodin never trusted women. His comrade almost murdered his mistress, but in the end stayed his hand. The woman his comrade loved cuckolded him and spoke falsely to the sheriff, her father. If not for Brodin’s clan’s retribution, he would’ve been hung or beheaded for attempting to murder his lover. Brodin rarely spoke of the incident, but Heath suspected his friend’s heart was wounded by the woman and likely never to be mended.
“You’re quiet. It’s not like you.” Brodin poured more mead into their cups. “We plan to train this night, so be ready. Graeme wants to go over a new fighting stance he’s thought up.”
“I could use the training to rid my … frustration.” He downed his drink and snatched the cask of mead from him and poured more into his cup. “I want to run something by you.”
“Aye? Something troubles you. I haven’t seen ye this tense since Liam was captured by the king.” Brodin sat back and waited for him to speak.
Heath set his cup down and leaned on the table. When Liam was captured by the king, they all despaired. Their comrade was as good as executed and the king called for his beheading. Fortunately Liam was saved. They pledged never to be in such a situation, and swore to always take a partner when on a mission. “I’ve known Lillia all my life, the lass that saved Gilroy.”
His comrade chortled and gave him a disbelieving glance. “Och say it is not so. No wonder you’re perturbed.”
He ignored his friend and continued, “When I ran into her at the festival, she was being followed by two men. She says they were suitors out for a wee kiss …”
“And ye don’t believe her?”
“Nay and we were catching up by the stream …”
“Catching up? Is that what you call it?” Brodin laughed. “My apologies, go on.”
“A man attacked her and I killed him.” Heath realized he’d forgotten to add a string to his boot, and then reconsidered since he’d saved Lillia in the process. “The men that Gilroy spoke of who questioned him … I suspect they might be Comyns.”
“With what Gilroy told us, they are definitely Comyns. Only the king’s closest guardsmen and the Comyns closest guards were present in the church that day. If they recognized Gilroy then they were there. They’d have to be Comyn’s kin.”
“If those men are after her then that means—”
Brodin knocked over his cup when he stood. “That means the lass is the king’s kin. The bairn we’re searching for.”
“The circumstances of her fleeing her home and the Comyns being there … it’s all too volatile. I’m trying to remember Lillia’s birth for our clans were close and we attended many celebrations and gatherings at the Hunter’s keep. But I was young too, and we’d just allied with them when she was wee.”
“Perhaps the Hunters protected her all these years and raised her as their own.”
“It is probable. Friar Hemm said the Guardians of Scotland took the bairn to safety. All the Guardians are now dead. Who else witnessed the queen giving birth? Only those in her bedchamber would’ve been privy to such a secret.”
Brodin retook his seat. “That’s a good question. One of the Comyn women might have been in court and handmaiden to the queen. It could be anyone, anyone out to see the Bruce unseated. Or it could be one of the Guardian’s kin who knew of the secret and deems her the rightful leader. Does Lillia know who she is?”
Heath sighed. “She’ll deny it if she does, for she swears the men weren’t after her. Lillia won’t tell me the truth even if I were to wring her bonny neck.”
“Why not? Have you asked her?”
“If she is indeed the queen’s bairn, she means to protect herself. I ken what’s running through that cunning mind of hers. She figures if she doesn’t admit it or speak of it to anyone, the less trouble she’s in.”
Brodin bellowed a laugh. “That’s not the only reason. She means to protect your sorry arse.”
“Mayhap. Should I confront her about my suspicions? And what do I say when she denies it? What if I’m wrong and she is not the queen’s bairn?”
His friend grinned. “Well now, when have ye ever been wrong? If your gut is telling you she’s the queen’s long lost bairn, then she might well be. You need to confirm it so we can ensure her protection.”
“There’s another matter that’s bothering me.” Heath rubbed his eyes and when he looked up, he found his friend grinning.
“You’re besotted with her, are ye not? I ken you well, Heath, and if you find the lady appealing … I’m the last person to speak with concerning matters of the heart. The only woman I professed to love wanted me dead.” He chuckled.
“I am besotted, but I need to resist her. The problem is I’ve never been able to do so. I will have to question her. I just need to maintain my distance whilst I do so. When I get near her all I want to do is … well, let us just say … touch her.”
Brodin laughed harder. “Aye, I can see she affects you. Confront the woman. What’s the worse than can happen?”