Page 42 of Bride of Ice
Time stood still as Colban watched the blade, winking in the dawn’s light as it lunged toward Hallie’s defenseless body.
His heart stood still as well.
Chapter 13
Hallie’s ability to outguess opponents was her secret weapon. She was always one step ahead in any skirmish. It was how she knew Gellir would come after her while she was entangled with Brand. And how she managed to anticipate the dagger’s path toward her back.
If she hadn’t, that cursed Highlander’s sudden outburst might have thrown off her timing and caused considerable damage.
But she was already in motion. Wheeling reflexively, she swept her sword down to block the dagger, colliding with the blade at exactly the right spot.
Gellir dropped the weapon, shaking his hand from the impact, and glared at the Highlander.
Brand, still clutching his shoulder where Hallie had poked him, gaped up at Colban.
And Hallie turned a frosty glower on the man at the window. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Colban seemed taken aback. “What amIdoin’? What areyedoin’? Tryin’ to get yourself killed?”
Even her brothers scoffed at that. The notion was ridiculous. Hallie had defeated half the knights of Rivenloch. She could certainly handle Brand and Gellir.
She narrowed her eyes. “Maybeyou’retrying to get me killed.”
“What?”
“By distracting me.”
“Distractin’?”
“I don’t know how they spar in the Highlands,” she said. “But at Rivenloch, coming between two fighters is a sure way to get someone killed.”
“I wasn’t tryin’ to get ye killed. Bloody hell, I was tryin’ to save ye.”
Save her? For an instant, Hallie hesitated, struck by the impossible possibility that Colban the Champion was trying to beherchampion.
Unfortunately, it was enough of a hesitation to allow her meddlesome sister to burst onto the scene, trailed by her retinue of young lasses, at the worst possible moment. Where Isabel had come from, Hallie couldn’t guess. The maid seemed to have a nose for intrigue and ears everywhere.
“Oh, Hallie!” Isabel gushed as she rushed into the courtyard. “Did you hear that?” She turned aside to explain excitedly to her companions, “Sir Colban was trying to save Hallie.” At her prompting, the lasses waved shyly up at Colban. “What a noble gesture,” she added dreamily, clasping her hands beneath her chin. “So chivalrous and romantic.”
“Stay out of this, Isabel,” Hallie warned.
“But Hallie, he just admitted he was acting to save your life.” She smiled at her companions. “No wonder they call him The Champion.” They sighed in agreement.
That was nonsense, wasn’t it? After all, he was a bloody Highlander. A usurper. Her enemy.
Yet what other reason could there be?
“You addlepates,” Gellir growled at the lasses. “Ofcoursehe wants to save Hallie’s life. He knows if something should happen toher,he’d have to deal withme!”
“And me!” Brand chimed in.
“You two?” Isabel laughed. “Don’t be tomfools.”
Gellir sneered, “Who are you calling a tomfool?”
“You, if you think a Highlander is afraid of two half-grown—”
“Half-grown? I’m not half-grown, you fluff-headed flea-brain!”
