Page 26 of Defy the Highlander

He knew what she meant and unhappily so. He hated the thought of Lilia being around men and women who viewed intimacy, among other things, so loosely. More than that, he simply didn’t like the thought of her around other men. The woman didn’t even officially belong to him; he knew that, but they had an understanding. She only had eyes for him, and he for her. Surely she knew how he felt even if he couldn’t exactly tell her yet.

But he would as soon as he could figure it out for himself.

They started to walk away from the loch, hand in hand. He took her basket from her and carried it.

“Yer Lady Currie visits so frequently,” he said. “One would think her husband would realize what she was doing.”

Lilia lifted her skirt as they walked through the wet grass so it wouldn’t drag in the water. “If he does, he doesna stop her. I dunna think he is a very happy man.”

“Ye have tae feel pity for a man whose wife does as she pleases with everyone but him.”

Lilia couldn’t disagree. “We were at The Cal last night,” she said. “There were several fights and the winner of the very last fight of the evening was awarded a very big purse, but there was a laird from Saxony who wanted tae purchase his services. The man who runs the Ludus Caledonia let the warrior pick between serving the Saxony laird or keeping his big winnings. Usually, the men have no choice, but this warrior seemed tae be very popular. I’ve seen him before. They call him The Eagle.”

Brody was mostly stewing on the fact that she seemed to be a fixture at the Ludus Caledonia but something in what she said caught his attention.

“Big winnings?” he said. “How big?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but the purse they gave him was heavy. Many coins, at least.”

That had him thinking. “Men fight for purses?”

“Aye.”

He came to a halt and looked at her. “I can fight,” he said. When she cocked her head curiously, he explained. “I want tae pay off yer debt quickly, but any job I find will be whatever I can get. It could take me years tae save up enough money. But if I can fight for a big purse…”

Now, she knew what he meant and her eyes widened. “But these men beat each other tae a pulp, Brody,” she said. “Ye’d have tae fight for blood.”

“I’ve fought the English,” he said as he resumed walking. “I can fight anyone for blood. But I’ve never been paid for it.”

Lilia was both shocked by what he was considering and curious. “Ye should go tae The Cal before ye contemplate such a thing and see what it is about. ’Tis a place like nothing ye’ve ever seen before.”

He nodded, thinking he was on to a potentially great idea. “I will,” he said. “How do ye get there?”

She shook her head. “I dunna know,” she said. “The driver from Hawkhill goes intae Edinburgh tae a tavern and then a man from the tavern drives the carriage from there. He makes us stay inside with the shades drawn so we canna see where we’re going.”

“What tavern?”

“That I do know. It’s called The Sticky Wick.”

He looked at her in shock. “That place?” he hissed. “I’ve been there a hundred times and I’ve never seen Lady Currie’s carriage.”

“She goes tae the alley behind it.”

Now, Brody understood and of all the good ideas he’d had in his lifetime, this was one of the best. He wanted to go to the mysterious fight guild and find out what he could about joining, or volunteering, or doing whatever it took to fight for money. A few good purses and he could buy Lilia’s freedom.

They could start a new life.

But he didn’t say anything more about it, mostly because she seemed opposed to it, so he didn’t want upset her. But he was confident she wouldn’t be upset when she saw how much money he could earn.

The Highland Protector would make a return.

“Mayhap I will be at The Sticky Wick tonight tae catch a glimpse of ye,” he said as they reached the path that would take them back into Edinburgh. “Any opportunity for a peek at ye and I’m a contented man until the next time we can be together. Will ye come tomorrow?”

She nodded. “If I can,” she said. “I’ll have tae think of another excuse tae leave Hawkhill. I’ll find ye in the same alley.”

“I’ll be there.”

They continued to walk in silence, drawing close to the city walls, until Lilia came to a halt. When he looked at her curiously, she pointed off to a small road that skirted the walls, heading east.