Mist Warrior (33 page)

*****

Catriona always worried when Branan left and she chided herself. After a month of constant raiding, she should be accustomed to this.

The raids progressed well and Strickland was feeling the pinch. Very rarely some of their group returned wounded
,
but the injuries were usually minor. Still, Catriona
put
her knowledge of herbs and bandages to good use.

S
he had to admit she enjoyed being able to help. Their community possessed a strong camaraderie and she knew it was because of Branan. She briefly wondered what life in his clan would be like. It would not be surprising if it was akin to this.

Catriona also found herself dreading the day of her wedding which seemed to loom [emegn="justifbefore her all too quickly. She had only another sennight of freedom.

And freedom was the only way she could describe living at Thistlewood.

She loved this place and more importantly
,
she was needed here. But after
Catriona
married Richard, she would no doubt be locked in the solar. She would go mad with worry, not knowing what was happening or how Branan fared. Would he be able to visit her on occasion or would Richard hide her away like a leper?

She sighed and forced her attention back to her work. Thinking about her fate only made her weary and sad.

Until Death Do Us Part

The sennight passed. Branan's knees ached
,
but he remained in the small chapel, where he had been praying all night. The chapel near the tower was crude by most standards
,
made of rough-hewn wood. Recently
,
Brother Gregory joined them as their priest. The cross Branan had made for his foster-parents
’
memorial adorned the basic altar. Unfortunately
,
the quiet solitude of the tiny place gave
Branan
no solace.

The dawn brought with it Catriona's wedding day.

Branan
had been on his knees all night
,
begging God not to awaken the sun. With the earnestness of Christ in the Gard
en,
he prayed for a miracle -
that Catriona would somehow avoid this fate, that he would not lose her to another man.

But the Almighty remained silent
,
and as dawn grew in strength, Branan felt the approach of destruction as clearly as Christ knew when the soldiers came for him...and when he suffered Judas' betrayal.

John de Reigny had betrayed Branan by sealing his daughter's fate in favor of his foster-son's future.

^panfoe quiet soBranan heard the first stirrings of life outside and slowly rose, his muscles and joints throbbing. But nothing ma
tched the agony in his heart. Branan
had vowed to escort Catriona to her wedding today and although it would mean the devastation of his spirit, he would uphold that oath. He would not abandon Catriona and he would not pass on his last chance to spend time with her, before she became another man's wife.

Branan trudged out of the chapel and returned to the tower solar where
he
cleaned himself up
and changed into his finest garb
. He, Gavin, Duguald and the Scotsmen who accompanied him, would escort Catriona to the chapel at Brackenburgh. Although
,
he dreaded this day, he vowed it would be perfect for Catriona.

An hour later, Branan critically reviewed the entourage. Horses and armor gleamed in the pale sunlight. He had found a small palfrey for Catriona which was so gray it was white, without a dark hair on it. The ladies had woven flowers in its mane
,
but right now it strained against the page holding it, trying to nibble on a tender shoot of grass. The Scotsmen flanked the palfrey
.
A
few paces behind
,
stood the horses for Catriona's ladies in waiting.

Branan tore his gaze away and looked up at the sun. The morning aged and Catriona had not yet emerged from the tower. Did she find it as necessary to delay as much as he did?

The members of Thistlewood gathered, waiting expectantly. Finally
,
Branan spotted movement at the door of the tower as Catriona and her maids emerged.

She was so beautiful
,
she brought tears to his eyes.

Her under-dress was made of a fine white linen which Courcy had acquired in his business dealings. The quality was greater than anything Branan had ever seen. An expensive blue brocade, also from Courcy, made her over-dress. It was belted with a gold beaded girdle. A small gold coronet woven with tiny white flowers adorned her hair which flowed freely down her back. Long trails of flowers descended with the red-gold locks. She moved with grace and beauty.

Catriona approached and her gaze locked on his. Her blue eyes, reflecting the deep color of her brocade, appeared as intense as a summer sky. But as she stared at him, he saw them mist with tears. Branan had to force himself to look away, lest the sorrow in her eyes shred his heart and force him into an action which would destroy them both.

All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and ride away, never to be seen again.

Somehow
,
Branan
managed to curb the insane desire
,
which increased in power with every heartbeat. Summoning his courage, he strode to her.

“
My lady,
”
he said, his voice thick as he bowed.
“
Ye are radiant this day.
”

Catriona
offered a hesitant smile
,
then her teeth nibbled at her lower lip.

Branan reined in his emotions as violently as he would a wild stallion with the bit in his teeth. From his pouch
,
he pulled a small item wrapped in a cloth, a cloth which was the same weave as his plaid.

“
This is for ye, lass,
”
Branan
whispered, stepping closer
,
even though he demanded that his feet remain in place.
“
Carry it with ye and ken that ye carry my heart.
”

She blinked in surprise
,
then took the bundle and slowly opened it. Nestled in her palm was the tiny cross he had given her for her birthday, the one he had found in the ashes of her home.

“
Oh,
”
Catriona
breathed, her free hand traveling to her lips. She looked up at him, a single tear finally escaping
“
My cross. Where did you find it, Branan?
”

“
It matters not,
”
he said, brushing the tear from her cheek.
“
Doona cry lass, 'tis your wedding day.
”

Suddenly
,
she looked as if she would lose control completely.

Br c"Gatled in hanan wanted to scream his frustration to the heavens. All of their discussions, all of the arguments of why not to go through with this, stampeded through his mind like a wild herd. Yet
,
he kept his jaw clamped shut. They had already said all they needed to say and he would not add more weight to her shoulders.

Instead, Branan
took a deep breath.
“
Allow me to assist ye, lass.
”

She nodded, fisting her hand around his gift. He gently gripped her slight waist and helped her mount.

Catriona settled herself in the saddle and Branan backed away as her maids arranged her skirts. He watched her
,
but she refused to look at him again, holding the necklace so tightly her knuckles turned white. Slowly, he turned and walked to his destrier.

Branan mounted and glanced over his shoulder. Gavin approached his sister and gently gripped her hand. He spoke to her
,
but Branan could not hear what he said. Yet
,
he saw Catriona’s face pale
even more and
she gave Gavin a
slight
,
but firm shake of her head. Branan scowled. What words had Gavin spoken?

Her brother squeezed her fingers, speaking a bit more, Catriona's expression eased and Gavin walked to his horse. All too quickly, Branan led the party from Thistlewood on the path to Brackenburgh.

He purposefully kept a slow pace, his fool war horse chafing against the bit. The animal arched his neck and lifted his hooves in an exaggerated prance. Too quickly
,
Brackenburgh came into view. Branan glanced over his shoulder at the entourage
,
still in fine form
,
then looked down at his mount acting as if he led the queen's royal party.

Branan lifted his chin and squared his shoulders. No doubt they all made an impressive sight. He only wished the circumstances were as such that he could truly enjoy it.

They entered the gates of Brackenburgh and Branan immediately spotted Courcy waiting with his own entourage at the door of the keep. Branan felt a fierce stab of pride as Courcy's eyes widened upon seeing them.

Branan's emotion quickly melted into primal jealousy. He suddenly wished he had ordered Catriona dressed in sack-cloth with straw in her hair and had given her a surly mule to ride. He chastised himself, even presented thusly Catriona would still be coul The a beautiful. This day deserved to be hers alone. Everything would be perfect, even if he had to brain a few people to make it happen.

His gaze locked on Courcy whose expression had changed from impressed to gloating. Branan suddenly knew on which skull he had to start.

They stopped in the bailey and Branan dismounted, moving to Catriona to help her from her horse. He wrapped his arm about hers and Gavin stepped forward, taking her other arm. Branan felt her shaking so hard he feared she might collapse. They stepped away from the horses, her maidens following.

Courcy approached and bowed.

Gavin spoke, his voice low and strained.
“
I present to you my beloved sister, Lady Catriona de Reigny for marriage as agreed in the betrothal contract signed by my father.
”

Courcy bowed again and extended his arm.
“
Well met, and thank you for coming.
”

Branan willed himself to step back and release Catriona's arm
,
but he couldn't. Courcy blinked at him in confusion and
somehow
Branan compelled his body to move.

Courcy usurped Branan's place
,
but surprisingly
,
Gavin delayed even longer than Branan. He stared down at Catriona and for the first time, Branan saw concern and worry in his eyes. He offered a smile
,
but it was halfhearted. Dear Lord, Gavin's hesitation would make things even harder on Catriona.