Mist Warrior (13 page)

He felt every muscle in his body trembling violently. Just as he had always done when faced with his mother’s pain.

“
I should have you beaten from this keep,
”
Courcy growled, rising to his feet.

Branan took another step forward.
“
Raise yer hand against her again and I will kill ye.
”

Courcy scowled, his eyes still radiating hatred.

“
Branan, please!
”
Catriona cried.

He
looked down at her and
realized she had thrown her weight against his body in a futile attempt to keep him from moving. His fury eased only slightly. Once again
,
she reached through the blackness, trying to pull him back to sanity.

“
What in bloody hell are you talking about?
”
Courcy snapped.
“
I didn’t do anything to her.
”

Catriona spun, planting her back firmly against Branan’s chest.
“
Richard, you don’t understand. He thought you were going to hit me.
”

“
He struck me without cause.
”
Courcy’s anger grew and Branan found himself coiling again. A low growl rumbled through him.

“
Saint’s blood!
”
Catriona snarled.
“
Just be silent, Richard. Can’t you see I’m the only one keeping him from killing you right now?
”

Courcy stared at Branan, his face paling.

Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Branan blinked his vision clear and saw Gavin and Duguald
,
still fully armored
,
standing at the door.

“
Gavin,
”
Catriona said, relieved.
“
Branan thought Richard was going to hit me.
”

Gavin looked at Branan in understanding.
“
Take him to the gardens, Catriona, until the rage passes. I’ll talk to Courcy.
”

Branan hunched his shoulders, glaring again at Courcy, unwilling to allow his prey such easy escape.

Catriona turned and firmly wrapped both of her arms around one of his.
“
Come, Branan,
”
she said and took a step forward.

She clung to him so tightly Branan knew he couldn’t disengage himself o
r resist without hurting her...
and he would never, ever do that. He still tried to gulp air into his lungs and that made him dizzy. He took a deep
,
shuddering breath.

Catriona looked up at him and smiled. Branan’s rage eased considerably. There was no blood on her face, no bruises, no injury...that was all that mattered. Slowly, his limbs still quivering, he followed her out of the keep.

****

Gavin sighed as Branan and Catriona left.

“
Bloody bleeding hell!
”
Courcy roared.
“
Bring me some wine.
”
He faced Gavin.
“
I will kill that bastard.
”

“
Doubtful,
”
Gavin replied, trying to keep the humor from his voice.
“
Branan can rip you apart with this bare hands.
”

A servant handed Courcy a cup and he drank deeply.

“
Catriona said Branan thought you were going to hit her.
”

“
We argued.
”
Courcy stopped and glared at Gavin.
“
Your sister is a willful creature. That surly streak within her needs to be curbed.
”

“
Be grateful for that surly streak,
”
Gavin said, his own anger growing.
“
She stood betwixt you and Branan, otherwise you would be dead.
”

“
But I never lifted a hand against her. We were arguing and the next thing I knew Branan w
as in front of her and launched
his fist out of nowhere.
”

Gavin shook his head, knowing exactly what happened. He had seen it many times in the two years Branan had stayed with them. But only once had Branan actually lost control and used the strength of his rage along with his fists to stop a threat.
“
Courcy, you can’t blame Branan for his actions. You know Strickland killed his mother.
”

Courcy shrugged.
“
I had heard something to that effect.
”

“
He beat her to death.
”

Courcy stopped his cup mid-way to his lips.
“
Beat her?
”

“
Aye. He persecuted her often, many times severely injuring her. Branan was naught but a boy. Witnessing that kind of brutality for twelve years will effect a man. Then one night, Strickland struck her head, the blow which eventually caused her death.
”

“
Sweet Jesu.
”

“
We didn’t realize what this had done to Branan until he came to live with us. Catriona was...something of an impulsive child, many times preferring rough games with the boys rather than playing with the other girls.
”
He paused, smiling.
“
Some of the lads did not take well to losing to a girl.
”

“
Losing?
”

Gavin nodded.
“
Catriona is like no girl I have ever seen, Courcy. But when she did win the games, sometimes a boy would get angry and try to teach her a lesson. This was the first time we witnessed what could happen to Branan. He lost himself to a rage and beat the lad so badly he nearly killed him. The boy raised his hand to strike her
,
but Branan reacted before the blow could fall. No one has ever been able to touch Catriona with Branan in the same room.
”

“
But I didn’t do anything. I don’t even think I moved my hand.
”

“
That’s my point, Courcy. Branan has seen the signs too many times. He knows what is going to happen before you even realize what you might do. One blow is all it takes to severely injure or even kill a woman, especially one of Catriona’s small stature. Branan will make sure that blow never lands.
”

Duguald stepped forward
,
his expression troubled.
“
I ne’er seen the lad become so enraged.
”

“
What do you mean, Duguald?
”
Gavfonramond"in asked.

“
He dinna like a man striking a woman. Branan will become agitated and aggressive if he thinks it may happen. Usually, he tries to talk to the man. He has stopped beatings afore
,
but by
simply stepping betwixt them, his size and rank as laird is enough to do the rest. I’ve ne’er seen him become violent and I ne’er seen him so out of control.
”

Gavin thought for a long moment.
“
Perchance it is his regard for his foster-sister, although he never hit anyone after the lad he beat, I remember seeing him struggle many a time to control himself.
”

Duguald arched an eyebrow as if thinking Catriona’s status as foster-sister was too mild a term. Gavin knew Duguald would be right
,
but prayed he wouldn’t say anything in front of Courcy.

Fortunately, the Scotsman held his tongue.

Courcy took another gulp of wine, thinking for a long moment.
“
Gavin, Catriona challenged me. The Church and our king mandate that I administer discipline to curb her errant impulses.
”

Gavin’s jaw tightened. He was well familiar with the status of discipline. But his father had raised him never to strike one weaker than he except to protect an innocent life or in battle. Even growing up, his father never thrashed him or Catriona. Punishment of errant behavior was swift and sure, usually something that made Gavin wish his father would strike him and be done with it, something wholly distasteful that lasted for an eternity…cleaning chamber pots,
or
garder-robe chutes, the list was endless and only grew worse.

Gavin took a deep breath, trying to clear his thoughts.
“
Courcy, you are wrong on one count.
”

“
Wrong?
”

“
With my father’s death, Catriona is now my ward and any discipline she may require falls to me. She may be your betrothed
,
but she is not your wife yet. Until you exchange your vows before God and the Church
,
she is my responsibility, not yours.
”

="+0" fGaramond">Courcy again bowed, fury darkening his face. Gavin suddenly feared what would happen to Catriona when she married this man. Dear God, what has his father been thinking? Courcy would either kill her with his discipline or destroy her spirit. Gavin could not bear to witness either.

“
I will not be challenged or accosted in my own home. I may not be Catriona’s husband yet
,
but you are all here by my leave.
”

“
Then mayhap we should find another place.
”

“
Another place?
”
Courcy barked in amusement.
“
Where?
”

An idea pushed forward and Gavin glanced at Duguald. The Scotsman’s eyes sparked and his lips twitched, trying to smile. Gavin knew Duguald was thinking the same thing.

“
Thistlewood,
”
Gavin finally said.

“
Thistlewood?
”

“
’Tis Branan’s land, part of his mother’s direct dowry,
”
Duguald said.
“
As her heir it falls solely to him without challenge
,
unlike the Wardenship
,
which is merely a title to govern royal lands. Thistlewood is his alone.
”