Page 109 of Bride of Fire
Chapter 49
Jenefer had simply acted on instinct.
She wouldn’t have fired.
She knew the difference between a real threat and an imagined one. Even if that imagined threat was brandishing his claymore at her again.
He’d only startled her.
And she’d definitely startled him. His eyes widened, and he slid to a halt not five yards from her.
For a breathless instant, frozen in time, they stared at each other. Her three fingers, curled around the taut bowstring, were all that kept her from loosing the arrow and slaying him where he stood.
And he knew it.
Two days ago, she might have considered shooting him. This was war, after all. And one Highlander was a low price to pay for a prize like Creagor.
But two days ago, she hadn’t known Morgan. Two days ago, she hadn’t been in love with him.
From behind her, William suddenly squeaked with guilt. “M’laird!”
She heard the lad’s bow clatter onto the grass. Without turning around, she knew he’d turned as red as a cherry.
They’d been caught. And now Morgan would confiscate her weapon.
She silently swore.
Defying Morgan would only make things worse. With a sigh of frustration, she lowered her longbow.
Morgan’s fear vanished, replaced by anger and outrage.
“Where did ye get that weapon?” he demanded, indicating her longbow with the point of his sword.
Jenefer had intended to be reasonable. She’d intended to remain calm. But his question made her hackles rise.
“This? ’Tis mine,” she declared. “I foundmylongbow inyourarmory. Where didyouget it?”
Morgan’s eyes narrowed, and she saw him muttering curses under his breath. To William he said, “Leave us.”
“Aye, m’laird,” William choked out.
“Wait!” Bethac’s sharp bark, coming from the nursery window above them, surprised Jenefer as much as it did Morgan. “Ye stay right there, William.”
The lad hesitated, unsure whether to obey his laird or his grandmother.
“M’laird,” Bethac continued, “ye cannot blame the lad or the maid. ’Twas my idea.”
“Youridea?” Morgan burst out. “Your idea to arm a lass who has a grievance against me?”
“Och, m’laird! She has no grievance against ye. Do ye, lass?”
To be honest, she had several. But Bethac didn’t give her time to answer.
“Besides, I’ve been right here, keepin’ an eye on her the whole time,” the maid continued.
“She has,” Feiyan confirmed, appearing at the window beside Bethac.
Jenefer didn’t mention that she could have shot William, Morgan, and half the laird’s army before the old maid could have done anything about it.
