Maddie smiled. “Our laird is cunning! He wagered three months’ stock of food. If the McCabes win, we’ll collect meat and spices from the McDonald stores.”
Mairin’s mouth gaped open. “But we don’t have three months’ stock of food!”
Bertha nodded sagely. “Exactly. He wagered the thing we need the most. ’Twas brilliant and well thought out of him.”
“But what if we lose? We can’t possibly afford to part with such riches. We don’t even have it to lose.”
One of the older women tsked under her breath. “Our warriors won’t lose. ’Tis disloyal to think they would.”
Mairin scowled. “I’m not being disloyal. I just thought it was odd the laird would wager what we don’t have.”
“Since we won’t lose, it really isn’t an issue,” Maddie said, patting Mairin’s arm.
“Oh, look, Gannon’s won his bout and now ’tis Cormac’s turn!” Christina exclaimed. “He’s ever so handsome, isn’t he?”
The women around Christina smiled indulgently. Maddie leaned forward and whispered conspiratori>The “Our Christina has eyes for Cormac.”
Mairin observed the way Christina’s cheeks went pink as soon as Cormac strode into the circle. His shirt was off and the muscles bulged and rippled in his arms. He did make a fine sight. Not as fine a sight as Ewan, but still not bad at all.
Christina gasped when Cormac took a particularly hard blow and fell back. She covered her mouth with her hand and stared as the warrior picked himself up and lunged forward again. The sounds of clanging metal pierced the air as Cormac fought with renewed vengeance.
It was over seconds later, when Cormac’s opponent’s sword went flying through the air. Cormac raised his sword over his head and then slashed downward until the point rested under the other man’s chin.
The man held up his hands in surrender and Cormac extended a hand to help him to his feet.
“Our men are making short work of the McDonald warriors,” Bertha said smugly.
Indeed the McCabe soldiers quickly dispatched the next two. The match was over, given that four of the McDonald warriors had already fallen, but the fifth stalked into the ring fully adorned with protective armor and helmet.
“He’s a small one!” Maddie exclaimed. “Why, he can’t be more than a lad.”
Evidently, Diormid, who’d been chosen to go last, agreed, because he stood to the side, a perplexed look on his face. When the smaller warrior raised his sword, Diormid shook his head and strode forward.
Though he was a great deal smaller than Diormid, he proved to be extremely nimble and agile. He deftly avoided blows that would likely have knocked him from his feet.
The McDonald warriors, inspired by the best performance thus far, surged forward, shouting encouragement to the lad. He was quick to parry and he had Diormid fighting to remain on his feet.
Mairin found herself holding her breath, impressed by the smaller man’s courage. She leaned forward as Diormid dodged a barrage of thrusts and she held her breath when the lad jumped to avoid Diormid’s sweeping kick.
“ ’Tis so exciting,” Gretchen whispered beside her.
Mairin smiled at the little girl who was so enraptured by the spectacle in front of them.
“Aye, it is. It looks like Diormid has his hands full with the lad.”
The fight wore on and it was apparent that Diormid was frustrated by his inability to make the much smaller man yield. Diormid’s movements became more desperate and wild. It was clear he wanted to end the fight and just as clear the lad was having none of it.
Then an amazing thing happened. Diormid lunged and the lad’s leg shot out, tripping Diormid. In an instant, the lad leaped on top of Diormid with a yell worthy of the most seasoned warrior. Sword held high, he slashed downward until the point rested against the vulnerable flesh of Diormid’s neck.
Diormid glared up at the youth but finally dropped his sword in concession.
“The lad has bested our Diormid,” Maddie whispered.
Slowly the lad rose and extended his hand down to Diormid. He pulled himself up, nearly knocking the lad off his feet as he struggled with the weight of the much larger warrior.
The McDonald man staggered back then sheathed his sword. Then he yanked his helmet from his head and a mass of golden hair spilled from the confines.
Rionna McDonald stood in front of the assembled men, her hair flashing in the sun. The women next to Mairin gasped in astonishment.
“ ’Tis a lass!” Gretchen exclaimed in delight. She rounded on Robbie, her eyes gleaming with unholy light. “See? I told you that women could be warriors!”
Crispen and Robbie were both staring at Rionna with a mixture of awe and grudging admiration.
Rionna’s father was apoplectic. He shoved through the crowd of men, his face mottled in rage. He waved his arms and shouted at Rionna, and Mairin strained to hear his words.
Rionna bowed her head, but not before Mairin saw the flash of anger cross her face. Rionna’s free hand curled into a fist at her side and she took a step back from her ranting father.
Mairin was on her feet, her heart going out to the woman despite the fact that she’d donned man’s garb and humiliated a McCabe warrior. Indeed, Diormid was furious, his face as dark as a storm cloud.
Still, Mairin found herself hurrying toward the courtyard, intent on rescuing the lass from a horde of angry men. Murmuring pardons, she elbowed through the men, ignoring their irritated murmurs when she shoved them aside.
Getting through the last line was difficult because the warriors were all shoulder to shoulder. She poked and prodded without success and finally she kicked one in the back of the knee, causing it to buckle.
He turned with a snarl until he saw who was behind him. His expression turned to one of shock and he hastily stepped aside to let Mairin through.
Relieved that she’d made it into the ring, she realized she didn’t have a plan beyond getting there. Ewan didn’t take her presence well and he stared holes in her from across the ring of warriors.
Mairin tucked Rionna’s hand into hers, ignoring Rionna’s look of surprise.
“Curtsy,” Mairin whispered.
“What?”
“Curtsy then back away with me. And smile. Really big smile.”
“Begging your pardons, Lairds. We’ll be going now. The children of the keep need our attention, and we must see to the evening meal,” Mairin said. She offered them a dazzling smil and dipped into a curtsy.
Rionna flashed a smile, and Mairin marveled at how stunning the lass was. Her mouth spread into a wide smile, showing perfectly straight, white teeth and a dimple in the smooth skin of her cheek. Rionna also dipped low in a curtsy and then allowed Mairin to drag her toward the perimeter.
The men tripped over themselves to move as Mairin gifted them with another sweet smile. She dragged Rionna off, fully expecting Ewan’s roar at any moment. When she managed to exit the courtyard, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Where are we going?” Rionna asked.
“There is a little girl who would dearly love to meet you,” Mairin said cheerfully. “She was most impressed with your performance.”
Rionna shot her a puzzled look but allowed Mairin to take her all the way up the hill where the others sat watching with avid interest.
Gretchen could contain herself no longer. As soon as Mairin and Rionna drew near, Gretchen jumped to her feet and fairly danced over to Rionna.
She curtsied but bubbled over with excitement and proceeded to bombard Rionna with a dozen questions in succession.
Seeing Rionna’s complete befuddlement, Mairin took pity on her and laid a hand on Gretchen’s shoulder to staunch the flood of chatter.
“Gretchen wants to be a warrior,” Mairin explained. “It was explained to her that women couldn’t be warriors, and now she’s decided that ’tis obviously an untruth since you defeated Diormid in swordplay.”