In Love With A Warrior (Gunn Guardsman (Book 4)) by Kara Griffin Page B
Authors: Kara Griffin
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hushed tone.
But James was enraptured and watched the bonny faerie vanish within the shadows of the trees. He kept his eyes fastened on the tree she disappeared behind, hoping she would reappear.
When they’d come upon the lassies, he, Sean, Kenneth, Duff, and Colm, hung back lest they frighten them. James could’ve laughed at their discussion and never reasoned women spoke so openly about men.
He retreated to camp and set his bedroll, knowing this night he’d get little sleep. For his imagination was going to be busy. A frown came, because he realized how unchivalrous he’d been. He wasn’t one to stare so openly at an unclothed woman without her knowing. Such ill-manners unsettled him, and yet a grin came. For at least, he’d be able to dream about her.
Night came and the six-hundred men they’d brought would have to camp outside the walls. Grey left as soon as they’d arrived, and had gone to inform the Iorwerth laird of their arrival. He remarked Iorwerth would know they rallied outside his keep. It was difficult to keep six-hundred men quiet.
James became concerned when his laird insisted on only taking Duff with him to meet with the chieftain. That was well and good for Duff was the most formidable of Grey’s guardsmen. Still, James didn’t know if they’d be well received or if Llywelyn would take offense. They only had their king’s directive and didn’t trust the Wales chieftain would accept their aid. None of the guardsmen who swore to protect their laird were pleased by his orders to await him.
When they returned to camp, their laird still had not returned. James pulled a piece of wood he’d started whittling the day before and set to finish it. By the time the bark was smooth and the form had taken shape, Grey returned.
“We’re to await morning and then will be shown inside. Llywelyn is out of the keep and should be back by then. We might as well get rest.”
Several leaders went to relay the message to the troops awaiting Grey’s orders.
James thought the men would cheer, for Grey had ridden them hard on the journey. They’d taken infrequent rests along the way because he wanted to arrive and be done with their duty as quickly as possible.
James stared up at the night sky, content to lie outside the tent. The stars shown above and the moon was just coming over the tree line. Had they arrived a few days later, they wouldn’t have had the night brightness to afford travel. And he wouldn’t have seen the red-haired faerie.
His dreams throughout the night indeed were that of the faerie. She affected him, more than he imagined she would. He awoke with a stiffness between his legs and a sheen of sweat covering his body.
When morning came, James hastened back to the waterfall. He hoped to glimpse the water sprite again. But alas, he was disappointed. He shed his garments and jumped into the water, hoping to abate the longing that coursed through him. Before long, many of his comrades joined him.
If the lassies could have seen their loch now, they’d know for what they spoke as truth. Many of the men ceased shaving and cared not that they were unkempt on a war mission for most would be covered with blood as soon as the battle began.
That got James to thinking. He jumped from the water, slipped on his braises, and trotted toward camp. There, he found Sean sitting on his tartan next to a small fire outside their tent. He was preparing the morning meal for their close group and grinned at him.
“Where’s your garments?”
James turned and looked back at the loch. “Oh, I left them behind. I need to borrow your blade, for I haven’t one small enough. And mine are still in my satchel.”
“Small enough for what?” Sean reached inside his tunic and pulled out two. One was about three or four inches in length, the other at least eight. James took the smaller one.
“I need to remove my whiskers.” He found a smooth stone with which to sharpen it. After the blade was sharp enough, he
But James was enraptured and watched the bonny faerie vanish within the shadows of the trees. He kept his eyes fastened on the tree she disappeared behind, hoping she would reappear.
When they’d come upon the lassies, he, Sean, Kenneth, Duff, and Colm, hung back lest they frighten them. James could’ve laughed at their discussion and never reasoned women spoke so openly about men.
He retreated to camp and set his bedroll, knowing this night he’d get little sleep. For his imagination was going to be busy. A frown came, because he realized how unchivalrous he’d been. He wasn’t one to stare so openly at an unclothed woman without her knowing. Such ill-manners unsettled him, and yet a grin came. For at least, he’d be able to dream about her.
Night came and the six-hundred men they’d brought would have to camp outside the walls. Grey left as soon as they’d arrived, and had gone to inform the Iorwerth laird of their arrival. He remarked Iorwerth would know they rallied outside his keep. It was difficult to keep six-hundred men quiet.
James became concerned when his laird insisted on only taking Duff with him to meet with the chieftain. That was well and good for Duff was the most formidable of Grey’s guardsmen. Still, James didn’t know if they’d be well received or if Llywelyn would take offense. They only had their king’s directive and didn’t trust the Wales chieftain would accept their aid. None of the guardsmen who swore to protect their laird were pleased by his orders to await him.
When they returned to camp, their laird still had not returned. James pulled a piece of wood he’d started whittling the day before and set to finish it. By the time the bark was smooth and the form had taken shape, Grey returned.
“We’re to await morning and then will be shown inside. Llywelyn is out of the keep and should be back by then. We might as well get rest.”
Several leaders went to relay the message to the troops awaiting Grey’s orders.
James thought the men would cheer, for Grey had ridden them hard on the journey. They’d taken infrequent rests along the way because he wanted to arrive and be done with their duty as quickly as possible.
James stared up at the night sky, content to lie outside the tent. The stars shown above and the moon was just coming over the tree line. Had they arrived a few days later, they wouldn’t have had the night brightness to afford travel. And he wouldn’t have seen the red-haired faerie.
His dreams throughout the night indeed were that of the faerie. She affected him, more than he imagined she would. He awoke with a stiffness between his legs and a sheen of sweat covering his body.
When morning came, James hastened back to the waterfall. He hoped to glimpse the water sprite again. But alas, he was disappointed. He shed his garments and jumped into the water, hoping to abate the longing that coursed through him. Before long, many of his comrades joined him.
If the lassies could have seen their loch now, they’d know for what they spoke as truth. Many of the men ceased shaving and cared not that they were unkempt on a war mission for most would be covered with blood as soon as the battle began.
That got James to thinking. He jumped from the water, slipped on his braises, and trotted toward camp. There, he found Sean sitting on his tartan next to a small fire outside their tent. He was preparing the morning meal for their close group and grinned at him.
“Where’s your garments?”
James turned and looked back at the loch. “Oh, I left them behind. I need to borrow your blade, for I haven’t one small enough. And mine are still in my satchel.”
“Small enough for what?” Sean reached inside his tunic and pulled out two. One was about three or four inches in length, the other at least eight. James took the smaller one.
“I need to remove my whiskers.” He found a smooth stone with which to sharpen it. After the blade was sharp enough, he
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