A SURPRISE IN THE COURTYARD
Conn shook his head, walking down the colonnade. That encounter had scared him. He would have to try and keep Glenna out of sight of Alexander.
If he touches her to get even with me, I won't be responsible for my actions.
The thought of it made his hands clench into fists. He was focusing on his worries and didn't notice the person at the end of the hallway until they spoke.
“Conn!”
Whoever it was stood on the marked-out region just before the colonnade, on the steps of the great hall. Conn sighed.
“Yes, Sir Alexander?” he called back as his eyes made out the long wheaten hair, the tall, solid body.
“You called me out earlier. I don't take slurs.”
“No slur was intended,” Conn said thinly. In his heart, he added, My insult was mild. Compared to what I think of you, I said but half of it.
Alexander chuckled. “I don't care what you intended, boy.”
Conn sighed. “Sir Alexander, if you want to challenge me to a fight, by all means do so. I will not stop you from fighting me.”
A direct fight between them had been brewing for months. It would, in some ways, bring relief to get it over with finally. Conn had been hated by Alexander since shortly after he arrived, after an event similar to this one – when Conn had intervened on behalf of one of Alexander's targets. Since then, it had never died down.
Conn remembered that day, months ago. He had pushed aside a man Alexander was fighting, standing between them while he faced him down. He recalled what he had said. You can call yourself a knight, Alexander. You'll never convince me that you're not just a bully and a dressed-up felon. He had known the instant it was out of his mouth that he'd made a lethal enemy. Nevertheless, what could he have done? It would not have been like him to stand back and watch another man be harmed.
Now, Alexander laughed harshly. “You won't stop me fighting you, eh?” He smiled. “You won't stop me from winning, either.”
“No,” Conn said wearily. “I probably won't.”
“Aye,” he said. “You're right. Well, then.” He drew off his cloak and dropped it carelessly onto a bench inside the colonnade. “Let's engage.”
Conn sighed. However, when Alexander handed him a staff, he didn't refuse it. He joined him in the ring.
Conn watched as Alexander went through the same motions of testing the staff as he had before, and he himself lifted it a little, checking its weight. It was light, the wood coarse and likely inclined to splinter. He tightened his fist to prevent any slipping. Then he took his stance.
Whack!
The staff came down against his, shuddering down his arms like a wave. He gritted his teeth and held the end, driving up against the blow that came down, aiming for his head.
He was groaning and struggling as he pushed the man backward. Alexander might have the personality of a nest of wasps, but he had the strength of a bear. In addition, he was taller than Conn by a hand's breadth.
Conn twisted the staff and struck sideways, then danced back. He would rely on speed in a fight where it was his main advantage.
Alexander huffed a laugh and lifted the staff again. He feinted down and then went left and Conn had to move desperately fast to block the strike that came in from the left. His heart was pounding now from the exertion and he moved back and feinted left, and then struck down.
He had the satisfaction of seeing that grave gray gaze widen and then narrow. Good. I surprised him.
He danced back and then watched as the staff rose and came down again in one of those cracking arcs that made him groan in desperation as he blocked it from his head, the impact cascading down through his elbows and making his wrists burn. Then he was twisting his practice-blade again and jumping back before driving forward, raining a blow left, then right, then left.
He felt his legs growing tired and saw Alexander's eyes narrow again. Then his opponent was rushing in.
He held his breath as the staff rose and came down, singing for his head in an arc that he was too slow to block, an arc that would cleave his skull if he didn't block it, or if he didn't move back, scrabbling out if its range...
“Sir!”
A voice broke the concentration. Conn whipped round, taking his eye off Alexander for a moment. When he looked back, it was to see the man's flat gray eyes wide with surprise, and then narrow with bullish anger.
“What?” he spat balefully.
“Your presence is urgently needed in the great hall, Sir Alexander. Yours too, Sir Conn.” The knight, Sir Adair, looked from one to the other in bemusement. Conn let his staff hang loosely by his side, trying for nonchalance.
He knows that was likely more than just a practice bout. No point in letting everyone know that, though. Sparring among the guards was one thing, bloodthirsty wrangles another.
“I'm coming, Sir Adair,” Conn said quietly. He glared at Alexander.
The man glared at him bleakly across the courtyard. The place was silent as their eyes met, the wind that ruffled Conn's hair barely noticed in the weight of that stare. It was not finished.
Alexander moved the staff downward, a crisp motion that was extremely threatening. Conn blinked.
Threaten me as much as you like, Alexander, he thought. I don't mind.
He just stared at the man until, laughing, his immediate superior shrugged and walked away.
Conn shook himself. Sir Adair was looking at him thoughtfully. He dropped the staff onto the pile with the remainder and headed up the stairs behind the older knight.
In the hallway, he was not alone for long. Alexander was still there and, when Sir Adair had walked ahead of them, he caught up with him.
“I'd keep an eye on that lass, if I was you,” he said.
Conn's head shot up. “What?”
“Nice juicy bit of stuff,” he commented. “I wouldn't let her wander about if I was you.”
Conn felt his skin crawl. “Alexander,” he said tightly. “What you suggest is abhorrent whether I cared for her or not. If you harm her, the queen herself will know.”
Alexander chuckled. “Hiding behind her, too, eh?” he raised a brow. “Might be lady of the land, but he's still hiding behind a lady. Is that the way it is, eh? Big boy,” he added with a nasty grin.
Conn refused to let himself get drawn. “No man hides behind the law,” he said. “Some hide from it.”
Alexander just shook his head and walked off, chuckling to himself.
When he had gone, Conn stopped. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. His hands clenched into fists. “Damn him,” he whispered under his breath. How dare he threaten Glenna? The thought made his skin crawl.
Conn sighed. He had only just met her, but already she was important to him. Moreover, yes, he had to confess that he wanted her. With those full lips, big dark eyes and masses of brown hair, her graceful body, she was beautiful in ways he'd never dreamed possible.
My body aches for her.
He sighed and joined the others in the hall. While he listened, detached, to the news from their commanding officer – mostly announcing new members of the Guard who had just arrived at the port in Queensferry – he let himself dwell on memories of her.
He recalled the sweetness of her lips pressed to his. He felt his loins twitch remembering that sweet warmth. He tensed, almost amused by the rapidly rising need.
It wasn't just the sweetness of her figure, though, even with those rounded hips and that high, sweet bust, her full buttocks. It was the quick smile, the funny banter.
Yes, I am falling for her.
He had to admit it to himself.
He heard Sir Ivan, their commanding officer, saying something and blinked, remembering where he was. He was in the great hall, sitting on a bench, surrounded by colleagues.
As he looked around, his eyes fell on Alexander, who was sitting on a bench a little ahead of him. He shivered, catching his eye on him.
That man is trouble.
He had always known that – Alexander had made himself a nuisance from the day Conn had arrived and was placed under his immediate command. Now, the trouble was more sinister.
He can be as difficult as he likes. He must leave Glenna alone. I will do anything to protect her.
As he thought it, their commander cleared his throat. Whatever he was going to say next, it must be something important, because the whole room leaned in closer to listen.