questions on his mind. It was clear she wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t blame her. They treated her as an enemy rather than an ally. What is Da about? He saw how she rescued Nessa.
Even dressed like a man, he found her stunning, though the church would call her choice of clothing a sin. Try as he might, Duncan couldn’t tear his eyes from her. Her feminine curves weren’t completely hidden beneath the leather armor she wore. A matching black tunic and trews covered the rest. Leather bracers along with the cuirass were well fitted and spoke of wealth, as did her horse. It makes no sense. Why would anyone of means allow a daughter as beautiful as she to dress and behave as a man and travel alone? A mystery indeed.
He remembered the challenge and his mood shifted. He struggled with a strong need to do something to intervene. He ran a hand over his face in frustration. He could not. Clan law bound him as tightly as his father. He could not even offer to stand in her place.
Stand in her place? St. Filan’s teeth! What am I thinking? Go against a clansman for a strange lass? What was wrong with him?
Why did he feel a powerful urge to protect her when she clearly didn’t want his protection? It must be gratitude for saving Nessa and her maid. A curiosity. A riddle to solve, no more. One of his men handed him a bowl of stew, causing him to push such thoughts away with another curse.
Finishing the fish, Anna produced one of the few remaining apples in her pack. With a pout, she inhaled its sweet fragrance before biting into the succulent flesh. Better to savor this, as there would likely be no such luxuries where they were headed. From the smell of the stew they passed around, she could assume her rations as a prisoner would be similar or worse. Her gut tightened as MacGregor approached, the same dark, brooding expression on his face.
“Come. Did ye hear the request for challenge when we arrived at camp?”
Of course she had. Did he think her daft? She rose without acknowledging the question.
“The rules are simple. The challenger chooses the type of weapon. Ye will have yer pick from several. The winner can allow quarter if he chooses or not. Any grievances are considered fulfilled by the match.”
Anna snapped her head around in response. “Is that not convenient for clan MacGregor? No such right to my kinsmen if someone were to wish to avenge my death,” she spat, no longer trying to contain the anger she’d held back all afternoon. Every muscle in her body tensed as she struggled against the urge to knock the man next to her on his arse.
“And what clan should I expect to come calling if ye were to lose this eve?”
His tone sounded calm and even, infuriating her more. Stiff with anger, Anna faced the men gathered without answering and strode toward the ring of expectant faces. She could play the game of ignoring questions as well as he.
“Good luck.”
“Go to the devil, sir,” she shot back with enough force to injure.
Laird MacGregor entered the circle and commanded attention. “Shamus has claimed his right to challenge. It should be said that Alasdair was injured disobeying my order. But he is a kinsman. Under the laws of our clan, ’tis his right and I grant it. I demand quarter be offered because the challenged is a woman, and because she killed the MacNairn filth who stole my Nessa.” He turned to Anna, nodded slightly and left the circle.
A square of plaide sat between them on the ground, blades scattered on its surface. The knives were of various lengths, none longer than her forearm plus handle. Shamus walked to the cloth, promptly selected a dagger and snarled at her. Looking at the pile, she noticed wooden batons as long as the longest dirks.
She claimed one in each hand and peered at Duncan. “Am I allowed two?”
He turned to Shamus for the answer. His laughter joined that of the rest of the men as he replied, “Only a Sassenach would bring a stick to a knife fight.”
Allowing the insult to pass, Anna quickly slipped into the mental space her mentor had taught her. Give no thought to killing or being killed. Give no thought to your enemy. Clear your mind. Take only what is given.