Page 19 of Bride of Fire
First, however, he had to take a few precautions.
“Colban,” he said, “search her for weapons.”
“Nay!” Hallidis said sharply, vexing Morgan. But before he could rebuke the lass, she volunteered, “Please. Allow me.”
Morgan glanced at Colban. By his worried expression, Colban likewise found the task of searching a woman at the point of a dagger distasteful. No matter that the woman had meant to slay him.
Then Morgan narrowed his eyes at the blonde, gauging her intent. She seemed sincere. He blew out a long breath. Hoping to God he wasn’t being gulled by her forthright gaze, he gave her a slight nod.
“Feiyan,” she bade the dark-haired lass. “I command you to surrender your arms.” Then, as if she suspected her cousin’s devious nature, she added, “All of them.”
Feiyan’s lips formed a disappointed pout. “Fine.”
Colban cautiously removed the dagger from her throat and loosened his grip on her. He stepped backed, keeping his weapon at the ready.
While Morgan watched, she reached into her bodice with her finger and thumb, withdrawing another steel star, which she released onto the sod. Then she crossed her arms and drew two narrow-bladed knives from the waist of her surcoat. With a sharp flick of her wrists, she flipped the blades, driving them point-first into the ground.
From hidden pockets in her skirt, she pulled two small cylinders of wood. They were attached to the ends of the girdle of silver links circling her hips. Releasing one cylinder, she whipped the chain through the air in a whistling spiral. The force was lethal enough to knock a man cold. Instead, she caught the cylinder easily in her other hand and dropped the weapon harmlessly onto the grass.
It was the most curious assortment of arms he’d ever seen.
With a stubborn jut of her chin, Feiyan crossed her arms over her chest.
“And the rest?” Hallie said in a warning tone.
The rest? There were more?
Feiyan snorted in disgust. Then she lifted one corner of her skirt to pull something out of her boot. It looked like a folded silk fan. But when she snapped it open, the moon reflected off spines of metal embedded in the silk.
Finally, with a heavy exhale of regret, she swirled back her skirts to reveal a long leather sheath hidden on a belt between her surcoat and black linen kirtle.
When she unsheathed the weapon, Colban audibly gasped. The sword was unlike anything either of them had seen before. Long, narrow, curved, and impossibly sharp.
Feiyan gave Colban a smug smirk as she drew the dull side of the blade slowly against her upraised palm. Then she placed the sword with reverence on the ground before her.
“Feiyan,” Hallie said, nodding her chin upward.
Feiyan’s brow puckered for an instant. Then she remembered her last weapon. It was a wicked pair of long pearl-topped pins stuck into the nest of braids atop her head.
Now that Feiyan was disarmed, all eyes went to the naked lass Morgan held captive against his hip.
“Well, don’t look at me,” she snapped. “Where would I be hiding a bloody weapon?”
Chapter 11
Unlike her cousins, Jenefer had no intention of going quietly into captivity. She planned to force the Highlander to carry her, kicking and screaming, all the way.
He had other plans.
“Ye can wear my leine,” he said.
His offer surprised her. She expected no mercy from him. But it was tempting to take him up on it. The sweat of battle was upon her, making the cold wind even more chilling.
Still, that would be surrendering. She didn’t want to give him the pleasure.
“I don’t want your filthy leine,” she said stubbornly, half hoping his entire clan would witness the travesty of their laird forcing a helpless, naked lass into captivity against her will.
“I’m not givin’ ye a choice,” he said.
