Page 131 of Laird of Smoke
Eve began trembling then.Whether it was from hurt or fear or fury, she wasn’t sure.
Adam still wouldn’t look at her.She knew why now.Guilt had made a coward of him.He meant to abandon her and couldn’t look her in the eye to do it.
“We’ll keep her safe,” the king said, “if she’ll put away her weapon.”
Eve had forgotten she was gripping the eating knife in her fist.At the moment, she wanted to hurl it at Adam.But that would gain nothing.
Instead, she dropped it to the ground.
“Take her to the physician’s pavilion,” the king commanded.
“She’s a wily wench,” Adam warned.“Your Grace would be wise to put her in chains.”
Eve’s trembling was definitely rage now.Chains?
“Do so,” the king ordered.
The guards sheathed their swords and grabbed her by the arms.
“Wait,” Adam said.“I’ll need proof for Fergus.”
He picked up her dropped knife, seized a lock of her hair, and cut it off.
Then, before she could glare and spit out an epithet at the man who had condemned her to imprisonment for the next fortnight, they marched her roughly out of the pavilion.
Thank God she was too furious to feel the pain of her broken heart.
Chapter 21
Adam rubbed his fingers again over the silky lock of hair he’d tucked into the top of his hauberk, against his heart.
He was miserable.
He trudged toward the Fergus stronghold, wondering if he’d done the right thing.
He may have ruined his chances to live happily ever after with the woman of his dreams.
She might never forgive him for betraying her.
Yet what other choice did he have?
What Eve didn’t understand, what her innocence wouldn’t allow her to believe, was that reporting the bad behavior of the royal soldiers would have fallen on deaf ears.Men-at-arms always committed horrific acts—rape, murder, destruction—in the course of war.And kings always looked the other way.Even kings like Malcolm who prided themselves on chivalry.
That was the real reason Adam devoted his life to keeping his warrior clan out of as many wars as he could.
The warriors of Rivenloch had always behaved honorably.To do otherwise would have earned them expulsion from the clan.That legacy had been passed down through generations.
But kings came and went.They varied in their sense of gallantry and were likely to waver once they sat on the throne and grew drunk with power.As for mercenaries and simple soldiers, they weren’t expected to possess a moral compass.Most presumed that waging war included taking spoils.
In truth, it impressed Adam that an outlaw like Eve possessed such a strong sense of justice.She was intent on seeking fair recompense for the alewife.He admired her for that.If it were possible, he would have fought for atonement as well.
But in this instance, in wartime, it wasn’t possible.Such actions would be perceived as giving aid to the enemy.Eve would be branded a traitor.
Still, he knew the lass couldn’t be convinced to let go of that expectation of justice.So he’d initially decided, if he wanted her to be safe from the fighting, he’d have to drag her, by force if necessary, to Darragh.
Of course, that was an ugly proposition and not a good way to start a marriage.If he brought his bride-to-be kicking and screaming to his sister’s castle, he’d never hear the end of it from his clan.And that was only if she didn’t manage to trick her wayoutof the keep.He could easily imagine her manipulating Feiyan’s men with her winsome ways and catapulting herself back into the midst of danger.
Which would draghimback to a place of turmoil as well.Worried about Eve’s safety.Concerned she would try to confront the king.Afraid that, left to fend for herself, the same fate that had befallen the alewife might await his precious bride.
