Mist Warrior Read Free Page A

mother’s revelation on the eve of her death. Even now, he could barely wrap his thoughts around the whole thing , let alone understand it.
    For two short years he ’d found blessed solace with the de Reigny s , u ntil Uncle Duguald arrived and John de Reigny had told young Branan it was time to leave , T hey ’d feared Strickland would find him if he remained .
    In the black of night, Duguald had spirited Branan away to his father’s clan in Scotland. But it did not end there. Duguald had feared Strickland would discover Branan and hire an assassin. He’d moved Branan from family to family, telling no one he was the son of their murdered laird.
    Duguald trained him in the ways of the knight but it was not until he reached the age of majority did Duguald speak the truth and allow Branan to claim his heritage is laird of Clan MacTavish.
    The black rage within Branan continued to grow in strength. Because of his youth, he had remained a pawn in a game others had devised for him. But no longer. Now Gavin was here and it was time to seize control of his own destiny. No one would lead him like a bull with a ring in his nose. No one would withholmonond">wid his legacy from him any longer. But was he ready for this day?
    Although he fought to deny it, the fact that it was time for him to act filled him with dread . He had finally found a stable home as laird of the clan. He worked hard , but there was a peace in his life–as long as he didn’t think about his past waiting for him in Inglewood.
    But the gallant knight knew the strength of his own fear. His mother’s voice seemed to echo through the thick mist. Branan shivered and pulled his plaid tighter around himself.
    He acknowledged his fear, he faced it, and he defeated it.
    Branan remembered scoffing at his mother as she ’d told him the story. He could not have been afraid. He was brave and strong.
    He was also human, Branan, every man has his own demons to defeat. That is the sign of true courage - when a man can face his deepest fears and defeat them.
    Suddenly exhausted, Branan sat heavily on a rocky outcropping, his head bowed and his eyes squeezed shut. Aside from the turmoil within him, another question plagued his heart. Why did the news of Catriona’s betrothal rend his soul?
    “ Branan, ” Gavin said softly.
    Branan looked up , startled , as Gavin trudged up the hill. “ How in the hell did ye find me? ”
    Gavin flashed him a bright grin as he sat beside him. “ My sister isn’t the only one who can track , and you were moving with a purpose. ”
    Branan managed a half-hearted smile and returned his gaze to his boots.
    “ I’m sorry, Branan, I knew the news of Catriona’s betrothal would hit you hard. ”
    “ How could ye ken when even I dinna? ”
    “ We may have been brothers for only two years , but I grew to know you well. ”
    Branan gazed at him steadily. “ We are still brothers, Gavin. That willna change…ever. ”
    Gavin clapped him on the shoulder. “ ’Tis sooth. ”
    Once again, Branan’s gaze slid back to his boots. “ Who? ” he asked softly.
    “ Richard de Courcy. H e is of the gentry , and very rich. ”
    Branan nodded.
    “ It seems, ” Gavin continued, “ Courcy made my father an offer he couldn’t refuse , even though Catriona protested. Loudly, mind you. ”
    Branan felt his lips tug upward. Catriona never did anything meekly, especially not protesting. “ When? ”
    “ A date has not yet been set. ” He paused for a long moment. “ My father might be convinced to change his mind. ”
    Branan scowled. That possibility seemed just as distant as regaining his heritage from Strickland. Yet something deep in his soul nagged at him.
    “ I aspaaramondm finding it harder to leave than I thought, Gavin. ”
    “ Aye, ” Gavin replied. He looked around and inhaled deeply. “ I would find it very difficult to leave this. You have a good home here. You are laird. The choice is yours, Branan. But if you choose to act, the