Page 53 of Highlander the Conqueror

“My lord,” Glynis called out. “She saved Oona from the hounds. She had fallen in the pen and Sky did not hesitate to enter the pen and keep the hounds from harming her. She saved my little lass, she did, and without any thought to her own well-being.”

“And where were my warriors in all of this?” Slayer demanded, sending a scathing look to each one of them there.

“I did not give them a chance to do anything,” Sky said, “I jumped over the fence before anyone could stop me.”

One of his warriors stepped forward. “There is no excuse for our failure, my lord, we should have been able to stop her.”

“You’re right and you’ll pay for it,” Slayer shouted. “And, Glynis,” —he turned to the woman— “if you let Oona get anywhere near the hounds’ pen again, you will suffer the consequences.”

“Aye, my lord, it won’t happen again,” the woman said, her lips trembling along with her words.

“It better not,” Slayer warned. “Now begone, all of you.”

All left but his warriors. They remained, waiting to face their punishment.

“I will speak with you all tomorrow. For now, you will do extra duty at your posts. Now go and never disappoint me again,” he said with a scowl at each one of them.

Their heads hung low as they walked away, though one of the warriors hurried to take the reins of Slayer’s horse to see to his care.

“Take extra good care of him,” Slayer ordered.

The warrior nodded. “Aye, my lord.”

Slayer walked past Sky to the hounds’ pen. “Food will be brought to you soon. Rest until then. We will hunt soon.”

The hounds laid down, resting as he ordered, though their attention sparked when Slayer mentioned that they would hunt soon. What amazed Sky even more was that the hounds remained in the pen, though they could easily jump the fence as the two had done upon returning with Slayer. Yet they didn’t. They remained there waiting for Slayer’s order. It appeared that everyone, even animals, obeyed him without question.

Slayer glared at her, angry at the scene that had greeted him upon his arrival home. He wanted to lash out at his wife for being so foolish while also wanting to wrap his arms around her tightly, grateful she was unharmed.

“You are a foolish woman!” he yelled and reached out to grab her hand and yanked her along to follow him.

When Sky felt him squeeze her hand, she knew he yelled at her for others to hear and to see that he had grabbed her hand to force her to walk along with him when truthfully it was an excuse for him to take her hand. But she also knew that part of him was angry with her, and she could understand why.

Sky cringed at the enormous shout that echoed through the crowded Great Hall upon entering beside Slayer. Praise of his leadership and how he had led his warriors to victory rang out. He stopped to grip hands in solidarity with those who reached out to him and reminded them that victory was not possible without all of them battling side by side fearlessly.

She lost him somewhere in the crowd, maneuvering around the tables filled to the brim with battle-worn warriors. They ate with enthusiasm from the mounds of food in front of them and downed tankard after tankard of ale. While those who had remained behind stood around the tables and in between the aisles, drinking and listening to the praises lavished on Lord Slayer and snippets of the fierce battle.

Sky made her way just beyond the dais, thinking they would not be alone together anytime soon but then she caught his eye, and he sent a glance to the stairs. She made her way to the stairs, taking a few steps up and stopping out of sight when his booming voice filled the room.

“Eat, drink, enjoy! I have an important matter I must see to.”

Cheers of praise once again rang out and Sky smiled and waited on the stairs.

“I have missed you,” she said when he appeared, and he eagerly took the steps up to her.

“Not as much as I missed you,” he said and nodded for her to continue climbing the stairs. “I would snatch you up in my arms, but I will not stain you with the blood of battle.”

She hurried up the stairs, eager to be alone with her husband. When she saw that the tub was already prepared and food and drink covered the table, she realized that word must have reached the keep to prepare for Lord Slayer’s imminent and victorious return. If she had remained in the keep, she would have learned of the news, but then she would not have been there to help the little lass.

She turned to her husband, discarding the last of his garments. She had come to know his body well and had come to enjoy seeing him naked. Never had she seen a man with such muscles. There was no paunch to his stomach or lag to his skin. He was firm with muscles everywhere. They rippled and curved beautifully over his body, taut and strong, almost as if they had been sculpted. Even the grime and blood of battle that he wore could not diminish his fine body.

“Did I not warn you to stay away from the wolfhounds?” he demanded more than asked, wanting badly to take her into his arms, but he would not stain her with the stench and grime of battle.

A sigh of resignation preceded her admission of guilt. “You did, but at least they let me approach them and did not turn away from me as everyone here does.”

It hurt to hear that his clan purposely ignored her. Why couldn’t they see what he saw, a kind and loving soul who would never do any of them harm?

Sky pointed to the tub. “Please hurry and wash so I may feel your arms around me. I have missed you and your touch immensely.”

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