Highlander's Trials of Fire

“Did ye sleep well, Jonet?” came another voice. Jonet looked up at Jonathan, who was seated next to Dougal.

She nodded pleasantly, grateful for whatever distraction Jonathan would serve from Matthew’s presence, though it was not much. “Aye, I did. Like the dead, I’ll say.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose ye wouldnae be interested in watchin’ me spar with me uncle, would ye? I’m thinkin’ I will be needin’ the support.”

Jonet lifted her brows in question. “Ye arenae nervous, are ye?”

“Ah, now ye’re makin’ me feel weird about it.”

Jonet chuckled just as Dougal patted Jonathan heavily on the shoulder.

“There isnae anythin’ for ye to be worried about,” Dougal said. “Ye’ve come a long way.”

“And Dougal is getting’ old,” the Laird cut in.

Dougal glared at him amidst the laughter. “Ye’re one to talk, Me Laird. If we were to battle right now, I would be the one to win.”

“I’d take a wager on that,” Matthew spoke up. His voice was rather calm, not booming like the two brothers sitting at the head of the table. Both the Laird and Dougal looked at him.

“A wager, ye say?” Dougal asked, his voice rather amused. “Ye think I cannae take the Laird?”

Matthew shook his head. Jonet took this as her chance to look at him, to stare. His side profile was wonderful, carved magnificently as if God had taken his time when making him. “On the contrary,” he was saying. “I think ye two willnae be able to best either one of ye.”

The Laird chuckled deeply. “Ye think it will come to a tie?”

“Very much so.”

“I’d place a wager on that!” Dougal bellowed, smacking the table heavily. “Right after me spar with Jon, then it’s ye and me, Alexander. Just like the old times.”

Jonathan sighed, lifting his eyes back to Jonet. “I take it ye will come give me some support now that he’s all fired up?”

Jonet opened her mouth to respond, but she did not get to say anything. Matthew cut in before she could. “I’m afraid she willnae be able to. We plan to go somewhere.”

She widened her eyes at him. “We do?”

He looked at her. The impish gleam in his eyes stole her breath away. “Aye, we do.” He turned his attention back to Jonathan. “So, I daenae think she’ll be able to catch yer duel.”

“Ah, well, I suppose that’s fine.”

“Looks like we’ll have to put off our spar for another time too then, Dougal,” said the Laird. “I would hate for me own daughter nae to witness her faither’s victory.”

“Her Faither’s failure, ye mean? See, his mind is going.”

The room descended into hearty laughter once again that echoed off the walls. Jonet’s laugh was half-hearted, her mind still lingering on Matthew’s words.

Where does he plan to take me?

She looked at him, but he was eating, his attention on the conversation continuing on without her. Slowly, Jonet looked away, hating how hot the sight of him made her, her mind slowly turned into a sloppy mess. She should have declined, should have turned him away. Yet, she only sat there and let him do all the talking.

Well… I suppose it wouldnae hurt to see what he’s goin’ on about.

Jonet nodded decidedly to herself. She would see what he was talking of and if she did not like it, she could leave. It was that simple. Satisfied by that, she continued eating, trying her hardest not to look at Matthew too much. She hated that it was more difficult than it should have been.

Chapter 10

“Come, we must move quickly.”

Jonet frowned deeply at Matthew. He tilted his head at her, trying his best to hold back his amusement at how bemused she was. “Excuse me?” she murmured.