The Viking's Highland Lass Read Free

horse in the stables and riding her onto the battlefield to see to her da. But she couldn’t find it as if the door had just…vanished.
    â€œMy lady,” one of the cooks said, and Brina stared at the stout woman, wondering how she’d gotten from her bedchamber all the way to the kitchen without ever realizing it, while lost in the vision. “Are you all right?”
    â€œAye.”
    â€œWe are getting ready to feed the men going into battle,” Salora said, directing the kitchen staff to serve the porridge and bannocks.
    Brina’s skin still prickling with concern over the vision of her da, she reminded herself she had not seen him dead. Only knocked from his horse. Brina took a deep breath and let it out, then as she usually did, she carried some of the porridge to the waiting men where they were already drinking ale and eating bannocks, serving her da and his second-in command.
    â€œMay I have a word with you?” she asked her da as she placed his porridge on the trestle table, hoping to warn him of what would befall him on the battlefield and to be prepared.
    His nearly black beard was streaked with gray, the same with his long hair, now tied back. His brown eyes studied her for a moment, then he said, “You are late in coming to the hall. Salora had to serve my bannocks this morn. You sleep in when others are busy preparing for battle?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œDo you want to wish me well then?” He asked the question with a sneer, as if he knew she wouldn’t care if he lived or died.
    Which wasn’t true. She did care. Just because he didn’t seem to have any feelings for her, didn’t mean she felt the same way about him.
    The problem was she had never told anyone of her visions. Not her da or anyone. Would he think her mad? But she had to tell him. She would never forgive herself if she did not warn him when maybe her words could help him in seeing the danger before the man struck him from his horse.
    â€œI worry about you on the battlefield. You must be extra vigilant this day.”
    Her da smiled in a mean-hearted way. “You have never worried about me before. I am always vigilant. How do you think I have managed to live so long? Be off with you so I might visit with my men before the battle.”
    She couldn’t tell her da exactly what was on her mind. He would think she was cursed, a witch, maybe dangerous to him and his people. “Just…be careful.”
    â€œAnd me?” Seamus asked, his golden hair hanging about his shoulders, his brown eyes challenging her. “Should I be careful too, Brina?”
    â€œYou will be fine.” Unfortunately . She set Seamus’s porridge in front of him, then hurried off. She had tried to warn her da, but she was afraid to do much more than that. She caught Lynette’s eye. The woman was about four years older than her and served as her companion. She knew nothing of Lynette’s family, but the woman was mindful of her position as Brina’s personal companion, and nothing more. It bothered Brina that they couldn’t have been equals and truly friends, even sisters. But every time she’d pushed for more, Lynette had stepped back as if not wanting the friendship, or afraid of having it.
    They had practically grown up together, her uncle and aunt, who had had also died, raising Lynette at the shieling not far from her own. And when her da hadn’t been around, Brina and Lynette had played like sisters. But that had all changed when Brina’s mother died. Her da had forbidden Brina see Lynette, but wouldn’t give a reason. That was until he became chief, Brina became a lady, and Brina’s uncle and aunt died of a sickness. Their son, Christophe, had joined the guards in service, and Brina’s da allowed Lynnete to be her companion.
    Brina was delighted, hoping they could become fast friends now, but it hadn’t happened.
    Lynette never seemed to find any