In Love With A Warrior (Gunn Guardsman (Book 4)) by Kara Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

afternoon thanks to you. If she scolds me, I’ll make ye eat black-bird pie.” Branwyn laughed, waved, and set off.
    She watched her friend trek off, and smiled. Emlyn picked up the arrows and fixed the quintain, and readied for another round. As she continued to test her skill, she thought about her father, the overlord of all the lands as far as one could see. He doted on her and she took advantage of his spoiling. Really, it was her skill at weaponry that he doted on and not she herself.
    If it wasn’t for her mother’s interceding, Emlyn never would have been betrothed to Bevan. She sighed, thinking of Bevan and how he’d died. He was honorable and verily, a woman couldn’t ask for more in a man.
    Although she no longer needed to worry over her marriage, Emlyn wished her mother would cease all the betrothal talk. Fortunately, her father knew her feelings on the matter and put her mother off. Her mother was sure to raise the issue again which was why she’d tried to stay out of her mother’s sight.
    Emlyn released an arrow and it traveled far enough to reach the quintain, but missed the mark.
    Bevan .
    If only he had lived. The tale of how he’d died in battle was surely exaggerated, and yet she was prideful in knowing he met his death with honor. She’d come to accept him for he allowed her pursuits of warfare and even encouraged her. He didn’t mind her manly garb or unwomanly ways.
    For once, she was accepted and didn’t have to pretend to be what her mother wished of her—a princess, gowned, and primped to beauty and perfection. Marriage to Bevan would have suited for he was brother to her best friend. She’d known him her entire life and even though he was a hardened warrior, he’d always been gentle with her. Although, Emlyn was more attracted to men who were assertive.
    She reached to the ground and noticed the dirt beneath her nails. Would that her mother screech at her if she saw them. After spending a few more minutes testing her skill, she collected her arrows and readied to return to the keep.
    Someone was bound to come to find her for supper was about to be served. She’d be late if she didn’t hurry. If her mother had her way, Emlyn would be working in the kitchens and household akin to her sisters, learning the tasks she’d need to know when she married. She never minded cleaning, but cooking she’d failed at miserably. Even if she didn’t have to perform the tasks firsthand, she had to learn their application. Her mother insisted that each of them be familiar with the running of a household.
    Emlyn stepped into the castle where many went about their tasks and she went unnoticed. She hastened to wash her hands in the bowl by the entrance and made certain no dirt remained under her nails. As soon as she finished, she went to the table and sat at her assigned seat, betwixt her brother, David, and her sister, Suzanna. Her father looked irked about something, so she refrained from speaking a greeting as she’d normally do.
    No one noticed her arrival, for which she was thankful. As she listed to the discussion at hand, she realized why she went unobserved.
    “The Scot king promised aid and I will not take retribution against Marshall until they arrive. They’ll bring the additional men we need.”
    “But father,” David said, “you cannot let Marshall get away with this atrocity. He killed many of our men and took our fief. We need to strike now when he least expects it.”
    Her father pounded his fist on the table. “Enough! Do you deem he doesn’t expect us to march to our keep and take it back? He is always prepared. We need more men and until the Scots arrive, we will remain patient.”
    “You’ll let him get away with attacking our people and fief? How many times must we allow him to walk away? We’ve been more than patient.”
    Her father grew angrier as his eyes glared at David, and Emlyn became concerned for her brother. Their father was not one to question and her brother