Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)
Reena quickly joined Brigid at the table, cupping the full tankard to warm her hands. “Justin favors Maura, the young cook at the keep. He requested my help in meeting her, so yesterday I introduced them.”
“It went well?” Brigid’s excitement grew.
“Aye,” Reena said with a huge smile. “Very well, I would guess, since he was on his way to the kitchen.”
“Good, it is about time he found someone to love. And what of you? When do you plan to find a love?”
“We are not discussing me. I am too busy mapping.” Reena sounded much too defensive to her own ears. “I have no time for love.”
Brigid laid a gentle hand on Reena’s arm. “Love finds everyone.”
Her response was curt and defensive. “That is nonsense, and I do not wish to discuss me. I want to know what you think of Magnus.” She had not intended to be blunt, but now that the words were out, she was relieved.
Brigid took no offense; she knew Reena too well. “What about Magnus?”
“Do you find him appealing?”
Brigid stood and went to the hearth to check the biscuits. “What woman would not? He is a handsome one.” With a thick cloth in her hand, she moved the pan of biscuits from the hearth to a wooden board on the table.
“He needs to love—”
Brigid interrupted with a sense of excitement. “Aye, he needs a special woman.”
“I thought the same myself.” Reena was pleased her friend agreed. “A woman that will understand him—”
“And who he is, for he is no ordinary man himself—he is the Legend.”
“Aye, and much is expected of him.”
Brigid separated the biscuits with a knife and moved them to a wooden platter. “She would need to have patience and strength.”
“Two good traits not every woman possesses, though you do.”
Brigid was quick to disagree. “Nonsense, it is you who has the strength, and patience when necessary.”
Reena laughed and reached for a biscuit. “Patience is a skill I must learn.”
“You have patience. How can you possibly map without patience? The work is tedious at times, and yet I see you sit hour after hour hunched over, quill in hand, finely detailing land, buildings, faces.”
“That is different. I love my work and therefore—”
“You are patient and you take your time, no matter how tedious, and it is all because you love your work,” Brigid finished.
“Of course.”
“Then if you love someone, will you not be patient with him?”
“You understand love because you loved,” Reena said.
Brigid sighed, and the hint of a smile she wore faded. “Aye, I loved strongly and doubt I will ever find such a love again.”
“Do you not want to?”
Tears glistened in Brigid’s eyes.
Reena grabbed her friend’s hand and gave a comforting squeeze. “I am foolish for asking such a question.”
“Nay,” Brigid said, letting a tear fall. “You are a good friend, and I cry, for I miss John very much, and I cry because I miss loving him and being loved. And I cry because part of me wishes to love again and part of me is fearful of loving again.” She shook her head. “I make no sense.”
Reena squeezed her hand again. “You make good sense, and I am glad to hear that you want to love again. You will meet someone special. John would want you to.”
“Aye, he was a good man and so unselfish,” Brigid said. “I will never find another man like him.”
“Nay, you will not, but you will find a good man, and that is what matters.” Reena had felt her friend’s pain when she had lost her husband, and she felt it now, and it saddened her to know that Brigid continued to hurt. She needed to fill her life with love again; it was the only cure for her empty heart.
“We both need to find good men,” Brigid said, wiping away the stubborn tears that continued to fall. “It is time we both love.”
Reena swiped at the last of her own tears.
A knock sounded at the door followed by, “It is me, Thomas.”
Brigid called out, “Come in.”
The large man had to bow his head and shift his body to fit through the door. His face took on a look of alarm when he glanced at Brigid, and he hurried to her side.
“You shed tears, why?”
“It is nothing. Sit and have apple biscuits with us.” She filled a tankard with cider for him.
Thomas turned to Reena, hoping she would offer an explanation. “You shed tears too. What is wrong?”
“Foolishness,” Reena said on a laugh.
Brigid laughed as well. “Sit, Thomas, everything is fine, we promise. It is woman nonsense.”
Reena saw to changing the subject. “The snowfall was not heavy.”
Thomas shook his head. “Your tears made me forget the reason I am here.” He turned to Reena. “Magnus looks for you; he waits in the great hall.”
Reena grabbed the last of her apple biscuit and stood. “Thank you for this.” She held up the half-eaten biscuit. “And for the discussion we both needed. I will see you later.”