Mist Warrior by Kathryn Loch Read Free Book Online

give Branan a clue. He had a wickedly mischievous nature , but rarely gave it free rein. His silent brooding overshadowed it most of the time.
    Yet she understood why. He was a young man who had no idea of his past except for heartbreak. What he thought was truth had been a lie. Branan needed to find himself.
    Catriona had not helped matters much with her childish jests. She smiled as she thought of his words earlier. One chilly morning, she had caught young Branan swimming and hid his clothes. By the time he begged them from her, his lips were indeed turning blue. Then when he accompanied her father and Gavin on a short journey she had left a gift of a dead rat in his pack. How long had it taken him to find it? Mayhap it had grown quite ripe. Those were only two of the many pranks with which she had tormented him.
    Seeing him today, how much he had grown and matured, had given her a sense that he had found a part of himself –to a certain extent. She wondered what the past ten years had brought to him in life. What were his joys and passions? What did he like or even hate? Was his favorite food still the honey cakes like her mother made for him? Did he still dislike sweet meats from when he ate too many and became terribly sick?
    Did he have a lady waiting for him to return?
    Them Garamonat thought knotted her stomach and she forced it away.
    Branan was no longer the boy she had known , but now a man who was almost a stranger to her. Although Catriona kept trying to ignore it, she had thought him drawn to her...if she hadn’t ruined that with her childish games. Of course, it didn’t matter anymore. He had left and she was now promised to another. Still, what would it hurt renewing her friendship with him? It could go no further than that , but at least she could get to know him again. She could discover the man he had become.
    Richard would probably try to keep her locked away in this fool solar. But the wedding wasn’t for another four months. Perhaps she could use Branan’s status as her foster-brother to her advantage. I haven’t seen him in ten years, she could tell Richard. Do you mean to prohibit me from the only family I have left? Aye, that was a good argument.
    Sudden tears burned her eyes. It was a good argument since it was absolutely true.
    ****
    Branan and the others rose at dawn, breaking their fast in the great hall with Courcy. He was disappointed not to see Catriona.
    “ MacTavish, ” Courcy said pleasantly. “ When we have quit our meal, I would like to show you around. I think you will be impressed with some of the projects. Then, if you do not mind a short ride, I will show you a new project I just started. ”
    Branan nodded. “ This sounds interesting. ”
    “ Am I forbidden to enter the great hall? ” a distinct female voice shouted from above-stairs.
    Those at the table fell into a shocked silence. Courcy scowled at the stairs.
    “ Nay, m’lady, ” the plaintive voice of a chambermaid replied. “ But ye have been through a dreadful time. Ye will be much more comfortable breaking yer fast in the solar. spafont> ”
    “ I will break my fast with my betrothed and my brothers. ” An instant later, Catriona swept down the stairs, with only a hint of a limp from her battered ankle. She looked regal in her soft blue dress...regal and infuriated.
    Branan couldn’t help the grin that escaped him.
    Her gaze locked on his for a brief instant. Her anger faded and her lips twitched as if to smile , but she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, moving purposefully for the empty chair next to Courcy.
    “ M’lady, ” the maid said, hurrying after her. “ Please — ”
    “ Leave me be, ” Catriona snapped.
    The men rose from their chairs as Catriona approached. The maid shot a pleading and somewhat fearful glance at Courcy.
    Courcy’s expression darkened slightly , but he bowed to Catriona. “ My lady, I appreciate that you wish to eat with us, but are y ou certain — ”
    Catriona