Page 38 of Highlanders for the Holidays
“Mon ange,are ye hurt?”
She glanced back and forth between the two men. No?l’s eyes were filled with concern, Caimbeul’s with gleeful pride. “What the devil is goin’ on?” she snapped.
“She’s fine,” Caimbeul assured No?l.
No?l looked doubtful. “’Twas quite a spill she took.”
Caimbeul shrugged. “I’ve seen her take worse.”
No?l shook his head. “How can ye bear to watch your own sister fight?”
“She’s tougher than she looks.”
No?l’s brows raised. “Is that so?”
“Oh, aye. And ‘tisn’t the first time she’s fallen on her arse.”
Ysenda frowned. “That’ll be quite enough, ye two. I’m right here, ye know. I can hear ye.”
She struggled to her feet, batting away their helpful hands.
No?l murmured, “Are ye sure ye’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” she bit out, though her pride was bruised. “Now one o’ ye had better tell me what’s goin’ on.”
“Sir No?l’s teachin’ me to fight,” Caimbeul said.
“Oh, he is, is he?”
Her eyes burned as she turned slowly to face No?l. Then she seized him by the front of his tabard and dragged him out of Caimbeul’s hearing. “Teachin’ him to fight?” she hissed. “Against battle-tested knights? A...a cripple?” She hated to use that word, but there was no other term for it. “Why? Did ye think ‘twould be entertainin’ for my father?”
No?l’s eyes grew dark. He lowered his cool gaze to rest on her fists, still clenched in his tabard. His unspoken message was clear. He wouldn’t allow her to belittle him in front of his men and her clan. And he wasn’t going to reply until she unhanded him.
So she did.
But she still needed an answer.
“How could ye be so cruel?” she whispered. “Can ye not see how the laird mocks him?”
“He’s not mockin’ him now.”
She glanced at her father. No?l was right. The laird wasn’t gloating. He was glowering.
“Your brother is more capable than ye think. He’s more capable than even he believes.”
“Ye don’t understand. He’s…he’s crippled.”
“He’s a wee bit twisted up,” No?l admitted. “But he can still fight. He knockedyeon your arse.” One side of his mouth lifted in a smile.
“Maybe he can trip up his sister. But he can’t fight against seasoned warriors.” A wave of dread washed over her as she considered the consequences. “If ye make him believe he can, ye’ll get him killed.”
“And ifyemake him believe he cannot, ye’ll keep him weak.”
Her shoulders drooped. “I can’t let harm come to him. I made a vow.”
His eyes softened. “Ye were children when ye made that vow. He’s a grown man now. He can take care o’ himself.”
Ysenda bit her lip. Part of her wanted to believe that. But No?l didn’t know Caimbeul like she did. He didn’t see how Caimbeul had been mocked and belittled all his life, how he longed to be normal. He couldn’t understand her brother’s pain.
