Page 12 of Defy the Highlander

Lilia almost laughed. Colly was as tough as a horse. Lilia knew it wouldn’t be the last time she and Colly had a go-around, because it certainly wasn’t the first.

“If she willna strike me, I willna fight back, m’lady,” she said, but before Lady Currie could reply, she quickly changed the subject. “May I fetch yer riding clothes? ’Tis a good morning tae ride in the hills.”

Lady Currie sat down at her dressing table and a maid resumed dressing her pale red hair. “I think not,” she said, pouring herself more wine from a fine crystal decanter. Wine was her constant companion. “And I want you to dress well today, Lilia. We are going to the Ludus Caledonia again tonight. It seems that they have new novice warriors to look over. I am eager to see their stock.”

The Ludus Caledonia. That was a name spoken frequently at Hawkhill and mostly by Lady Currie. It wasn’t a place for singing or for a fanciful dinner, nor was it a merchant who sold exotic things from across the sea. It was a secretive place where the wealthy of England and Scotland gathered for gladiatorial games of the most brutal and entertaining nature.

The Ludus Caledonia, simply put, was a fight guild.

It was also a place where Lady Currie found men to do things to her that her old husband no longer had the energy or wherewithal to do. Lilia had been introduced to the place the very first week she had come to Hawkhill when Lady Currie took her along to the mysterious arena hidden in the hills south of Edinburgh. There, she sat with Lady Currie in the lists, watching men beat each other bloody while bets were placed on the winner.

The Ludus Caledonia was not only a fight guild, it was also a school where men were trained to fight in the ancient ways. The candidates were chosen well, and treated well, and expected to fight for money, or honor, or both.

On Lilia’s very first visit, Lady Currie had paid for the company of a gladiator who had won one of the many battles that night and she had waited outside the warrior’s cottage as Lady Currie went inside to visit him. She stood there, listening to Lady Currie’s gasps of passion, as the man pleasured her.

That was Lilia’s experience with the Ludus Caledonia. She had no use for it, to be truthful, but Lady Currie was fond of the place and Lilia could look forward to another cold, late night of bloody fights, screaming crowds, and a mistress who drowned herself in wine before she sought the companionship of a champion warrior.

“Of course, m’lady,” she said, feigning interest. “What will ye have me wear?”

Lady Currie was looking at herself in the mirror, turning her head slightly as her maid put pins into an elaborate hair style. “The gown of blue satin that I gave to you. Wait… not that one. I do not want you to outshine me. Wear the gown the color of amber.”

“Aye, m’lady.”

“You may go now. Make sure the horses are prepared to take us to The Cal. I should like to leave an hour before sunset.”

“Aye, m’lady.”

With that, Lilia fled the manse, making her way out into the kitchen yard and then into the stable yard beyond. She considered herself fortunate that she hadn’t been punished for the sausages, at least not truly punished. It could have been so much worse.

Thank God it wasn’t.

On her way back to Brody’s cottage, she paused to tell the old stablemaster about Lady Currie’s plans, to which the old man simply shook his head reproachfully. Lady Currie’s activities at the Ludus Caledonia were an open secret to all at Hawkhill but her husband. The older servants in particular, like the old stablemaster, resented her for it. She was off to fornicate while her husband sat with his books.

It was a sad state, indeed.

But thoughts of Lady Currie faded as Lilia reached Brody’s cottage. Her heart was racing just a little, realizing she was eager to see him. He was something new, and God only knew, there was never anything new or exciting at Hawkhill. Remembering what happened the last time she entered without knocking, however, she rapped softly on the door.

Or perhaps I should have just opened it…

“Brody?” she called, realizing she’d ruined her chance for another glimpse of naked buttocks. “May I come in?”

The panel flew open and Tynan was standing there, his eyes wide. “Brody needs a razor!” he said, bolting past her. “I’ll find him one!”

Lilia watched the boy dart across the stable yard. “Has he been in here since I left ye?” she asked.

Brody came to stand next to her, watching the child run off. “The entire time,” he said. “He likes tae talk.”

Lilia smiled faintly, knowing that to be true. “He’s a good lad,” she said. “He is a hard worker.”

“He’s a bit young for such hard work. His hands tell the tale.”

Lilia turned to reply to him, but the words caught in her throat. Brody was dressed in the smithy’s tunic and breeches, in clean clothes for the first time since they met. The breeches were a little snug, and the tunic a little roomy, but he looked clean and handsome.

Quite handsome.

She nodded her head in approval.

“It would seem that a bath and clean clothes have done wonders for ye,” she said.