Page 8 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

“I hae half a mind tae show him the power of an arrow,” Beitris said, her grip tightening around her bow. “Ye are his friend?”

“Aye, his only one, which I’m sure is nae difficult for ye tae believe. He hae never been inclined tae endear himself tae people.”

“Grim by name, grim by nature.”

“Something like that. But it’s the world that’s made him that way. We’re both orphans trying tae find our way in the world. All we want tae dae is fight against those who hae caused sae much pain. Join me for a drink, my lady. I will make up for Logan’s behavior,” Brody said.

Beitris stared at him, unconvinced by his cheery personality and the smile that was a little too eager.

“I shall pass. I am needed elsewhere.”

“I am at yer disposal should ye ever need me,” Brody cried, but Beitris wasn’t listening.

She looked across the training field at Grimhand—or Logan, who was back to sparring with other soldiers. Beitris then looked at her bow. It would have been the easiest thing in the world to shoot him, but it wouldn’t have been right.

Hopefully he would be sent away on a mission soon enough and she wouldn’t have to deal with him any longer.

It was just a shame he looked the way he did.

He was like a ripe, bright apple that one only discovered was rotten by biting into it, when the blackened flesh and maggots revealed themselves.

3

It was another day.

Logan had spent the night watching the Keep carefully.

He noted the movements of the servants, the guards, and even the rats. Now that he was so close it was hard to resist the temptation of storming into Knox’s chambers and plunging a sword through his heart. Abigail deserved more than that.

Logan strode across the training field. He was the first person to set his feet upon the grass and began by practicing his movements. As he did so, he thought about the Knox lass.

The first moment he laid his eyes on her he had been struck by her wild beauty. Thick curls rolled around her face. Freckles dotted her nose. Her blue eyes were bright and fierce, her skin pale, but she was a Knox and her name alone made her ugly to him.

At least that’s what he told himself.

Other guards arrived and stared at him. He beckoned to them, but they all looked away, none of them daring to begin their days with a drill from Logan. Brody appeared shortly afterwards and spent some time with the other guards before sauntering to Logan.

“We are nae here tae make friends,” he grumbled.

“Perhaps that’s true for ye, but friends are better tae hae than enemies. Friends offer help, after all, but since ye seem determined tae intimidate everyone I suppose I’ll hae tae duel with ye,” Brody said, bringing his sword to bear.

Logan mirrored the movement and the two men began training.

“Ye ken, I think ye made a mistake with the Knox lass,” Brody said.

Logan furrowed his brow. Irritation flashed through his mind.

“What dae ye mean?”

“Ye should try tae befriend her. Get in with her and ye will hae a clear path tae her Da,” Brody replied.

It was the kind of plan that Logan wouldn’t have considered. His strength had never been in seeing the ways people could act as stepping stones. It was one of the reasons why Brody had been such a valuable friend. However, the thought was unpalatable to him.

“Befriend her? She is a fool. She thinks she kens war and pain, but how can she?”

He glanced up at the Keep, thinking about how Beitris must have spent her life in safety, in luxury, with a huge family around her. He just about caught Brody’s darting sword out of the corner of his vision before he swept it away.

Brody laughed. “Almost hae ye there,” he taunted.