Page 53 of Defy the Highlander

She had another destination in mind.

“M’lady?” she said before Lady Currie could become too involved in her inspection. “Do ye require me? I can wait for ye elsewhere if ye wish.”

Lady Currie waved an impatient hand at her. “Go back to the carriage,” she said. “Find Amy and the two of you can wait for me. I do not know how long I shall be, so do not ask.”

Lilia simply nodded, eager to be gone. In little time, she was out the door and back through the iron gate. The warrior village was to the south and she stood there a moment, remembering what Brody had told her.

I have a cottage at the end of the warrior’s village. Come find me when this is over.

She intended to.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The warrior village was surprisingly unguarded.

Since tonight was a game night, people were wandering in and out of the warrior village even though there were at least four guards that Lilia could see. But the guards were gathered in a bunch in conversation, and they completely ignored the people going in and out of the warrior village.

Lilia used that to her advantage.

Brody had said he was at the end of the warrior village, which she took to mean the opposite end. She scurried down the narrow avenue that ran between the neat cottage rows, trying not to slide in the slush that had developed from the snowfall. As she neared the end of the row, she saw the big Saxon emerge from one of the cottages.

Quickly, she hid against another cottage, saying out of sight but hearing the Saxon speak to someone, telling him to remain still and do what the physic demanded. She sank back against the wall as the Saxon walked past her, heading back to the arena, but something told her that he was speaking to Brody.

It was just a feeling she had.

Quickly, Lilia made her way to the cottage, hiding in the shadows and waiting for the physic to depart. Because of the stone, she couldn’t hear what was going on inside and the wait became an impatient one. She was worried about Lady Currie, wondering if the woman had indeed found a young warrior to spend her time with or if she’d given up and had gone back to the arena. That being the case, she was probably looking for Lilia.

That concerned her.

Still, she didn’t want to leave before finding out if Brody was okay.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait too much longer. The door to the cottage opened again and slammed back against the hinges. She could hear footsteps crunching on the slushy ground before peering around the corner and seeing a man walking away.

Carefully, she made her way up to the cottage door.

Lilia stood there a moment, putting her ear against it and hearing nothing. Whoever was inside was alone because she didn’t hear any movement whatsoever. Very quietly, she knocked on the door.

“Brody?” she whispered loudly. “Brody?”

It took a moment, but she finally heard an answer. “Lilia? Is that ye?”

She shoved the door open, coming face-to-face with a pale Brody as he struggled to sit up in bed. His wound hadn’t needed stitches, but his entire torso was tightly wrapped and she slammed the door, rushing to him and pushing him back on the bed.

“Nay,” she said. “Dunna strain yerself. Lay down.”

Brody did, but it was clear that he was surprised to see her. His hands went up, grasping her by the arms even as she lay him back on the bed.

“Ye found me,” he said, a smile on his lips. “Did ye see the fight?”

“Of course I did. Did ye not see me right in the front row with Lady Currie?”

He sighed faintly as she checked his bandages. “I looked for ye but the fight started so quickly that I dinna have a chance,” he said. “I’m sorry I lost. I would never intentionally shame ye.”

She stopped fussing and looked at him. “Is that what ye think? That ye shamed me?”

He closed his eyes, feeling the drag of the pain potion the physic had given him. “I’m ashamed of myself,” he said softly. “I dunna blame ye if ye are.”

Lilia stared at him for a moment. “I’m not sure how ye can even say that,” she said softly. “Brody, ye came here tae make money tae pay off my father’s debt. It was a great and noble gesture. Do ye really think I would be ashamed of anything ye did? If ye do, then ye dunna know me very well. I’m never ashamed of a man who gives an honest effort, in anything he does.”