Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

Reena refused her offer with a shake of her head and reached out to take the tray. “That is not necessary. Stay and enjoy your time alone, I assume you both get little of it.”

Justin grinned. “Reena always sees what others did not—that is why her maps and drawings are so detailed and accurate.”

“I will take my leave now before my head swells with compliments. Enjoy the evening.” With that, Reena took her tray and left the couple cuddled together on the bench as they ate their meal.

Reena climbed the wooden stairs to her chambers. She wondered what was occupying Magnus this eve. They had become close in the last few weeks, working together in mapping the keep. She had come to know him as Magnus, separate from the Legend. He had a caring heart, and yet when necessary, he hardened his heart.

Had she done that when she had decided to seek help from the Legend? Had she put her fears aside and done what was good for the whole? Is that what a great leader did? But she was no great leader. She was a simple peasant lass with no great dreams or aspirations.

She simply wished to map and draw.

But did she not wish to love?

Seeing Justin and Maura, thinking of her father and mother, even seeing Thomas and how he looked at Brigid with such love and concern in his eyes, did she not want someone to care for her?

Magnus.

She shook her head. He was her lord, she in his service, but did they not share interests? Did they not enjoy mapping the keep together? Had they not shared interesting conversation? Had he not kissed her? And had she not wanted him to?

She shook her head again.

She was confused and concerned. Her mapping had occupied a good portion of her time and thoughts, and thoughts of loving Magnus continued to invade her mind. They were hard to ignore, try as she might. And the endless question—Could she be falling in love, and was falling in love with Lord Magnus a wise choice?—haunted her.

A few more steps and she would be in her chamber, where she could lock herself away from the world and think—nay, map. Her thoughts then would be heavily occupied and she would think no more on love and men and all such nonsense.

She opened the door to her bedchamber with a sigh of relief and stopped abruptly.

Magnus sat at a table laden with food. “Where have you been? I have waited for you.”Chapter 18Reena stood speechless at the open door. Magnus walked over to her, took the tray from her hand, and closed the door behind her.

“Where have you been?” he asked again.

“I thought to visit with Brigid, but she and Thomas are busy baking bread.”

He placed the tray on the table with the other foods. “Thomas bakes bread, does he?”

Reena was quick to defend the large man. “He keeps Brigid occupied so she does not overly worry about Kilkern. He is good to her and I see that he cares for her.”

He held a chair out for her to take a seat. “I think Brigid cares more than she realizes.”

Reena hung her cloak on the peg by the door and sat. “Her heart still hurts.”

“Thomas heals her heart and she will realize this soon enough. It took you time to see that your friend needed a strong yet gentle man like Thomas. He suits her well, unlike me.”

Reena was ready to disagree, but he prevented a reply.

“I have not an ounce of gentleness in me.”

Reena thought otherwise and with a hasty tongue let him know her thoughts. “That is not so—”

He would not allow her to finish, and this time his words chilled. “A man who can order the torture of others possesses no gentleness.”

Remembering the cold, dark belly of the keep, with its prison cells and torture chamber, gave her reason to pause and consider his words. She could not think of Magnus issuing such horrendous orders, but the Legend could, and the thought set her legs to trembling.

She chose to move away from the subject, giving herself time to reconcile the two men into one, if she ever could. “Your friend took his leave?”

“Aye, and I appreciate your discretion in the matter. Are you hungry?”

His hasty change of topic warned her he did not wish to discuss the Dark One. “I am hungry enough to eat all of this.”

He piled her plate high with an assortment of food. “I was thinking that the mapping of the keep is near done. Spring is but a mere three or four weeks away. As soon as the weather clears we should map my property. It may take a few days, but it is important that I am familiar with my land and the land that surrounds me.”