Page 140 of Laird of Steel
How could she be here?
Hadn’t he bound and gagged her and sent her away in a haycart?
Chapter 24
Gellir’s heart dropped. Clearly, the haycart driver had betrayed him, despite his dire warning.
He looked past Merraid then and saw the impressive band of warriors marching behind her. His mother and father. Feiyan and Brand. Jenefer and Morgan. A contingent of Rivenloch men. And his little brother and sister.
They must have freed Merraid.
But what were they doing here? And why were they so heavily armed? Did they mean to confront the king? Or wage war against the earls? Would they destroy the peace Merraid had orchestrated?
So far, they seemed peaceable enough. Laird Deirdre raised her hand, and the clan paused to respectfully lower their heads toward the king.
All but Merraid. She’d never seen the king up close before. And thrilled by his presence, she rushed excitedly forward. In another moment, she might have broken all protocol. Fallen to her knees at his feet. And seized his hand between her shackled own.
But Gellir quickly threw his arm out to stop her.
She sobered then, realizing her mistake, and bowed her head. “Your Grace.”
“A lass?” Malcolm exclaimed. “No doubt a Rivenloch warrior maid.” He nodded in recognition toward Laird Deirdre. Then he eyed her shackles. “But what’s this? Have the earls taken you prisoner?”
Gellir felt a guilty flush rise in his cheeks.
But Merraid intervened to save his honor. She smiled, brazenly confiding, “They had to shackle me, Your Grace, ere they lost any more warriors.”
Malcolm chuckled at that. “Now that peace has been forged,” he decreed, “we shall have your chains removed.”
How “we” were going to do that, Gellir didn’t know. If there was a key to the shackles, it was in Adam’s satchel, and Adam had disappeared.
Then the king stepped closer to murmur, “Lass, you fought bravely on our behalf against so many. Is there anything you would like as reward?”
She thought for a moment and then said, “Aye, Your Grace.”
Gellir tensed.
She should have said nay.
She should have said that serving her king was reward enough.
That was whathewould have said.
But she wasn’t a noble knight. She was a maidservant who knew nothing of chivalry. Of humility. Of duty to one’s king.
What would she ask for? Coin? Jewels? Land?
Shite. She was venturing into a world she didn’t know. She was going to get herself into trouble. And there was nothing he could do.
Even as he had that thought, he knew deep in his heart, if Merraid needed rescuing, he would defy king and country to come to her aid.
Merraid had been waiting for this moment. She straightened, mustering up her courage. Now was her chance. Now was her opportunity to defend Gellir.
“We await your pleasure,” the king said.
“I would…that is… May I speak with Your Grace in private?”
She felt Gellir stiffen beside her. But that was exactly the reason she wanted aprivateaudience. For what she planned to divulge to the king, she didn’t want Gellir or any other Rivenloch peering over her shoulder, telling her what a maidservant should and should not say.
