Read Online In Love With A Warrior (Gunn Guardsman (Book 4)) by Kara Griffin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kara Griffin
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wanted to go after her and introduce himself, and to ask her name, but alas, he could not do so.
The meeting was called to order by the fearless king. He took a seat and motioned for all else to do so.
Grey sat nearest to him, James next to him, and the others filed in along the row of chairs at the table stretched before them. There were enough chairs to fit their entire company and more.
“I’m gladdened you have arrived, Gunn. I received a missive from Alexander that you would be coming. How many men do ye bring?”
“Six-hundred, Lord Iorwerth.”
Llywelyn’s lips twitched. “Aye, a good number, it will add to ours and I vow will be enough to handle Marshall’s paltry attacks. I bid ye to call me Llywelyn.”
“Likewise, call me Grey. I wanted to bring Marshall’s pact. He bid me to set a proposal before you and awaits your response.”
The old lord laughed mockingly. “Ah, so he wants to parlay, does he? I am not in the mood to placate him, but I will hear his offer.”
“I met with him and he was quite serious in his proposal. He deems he will cease all nefarious activity against you and yours if you betroth your daughter to him.”
Llywelyn sat forward. A maniacal grin came to his lips. “Aye? So he covets what he cannot have. Did he name a particular daughter? For I’ve a handful of them, each of marriageable age.”
Grey kept his expression fixed on the lord and said, “The one named Emlyn.”
A flicker of resentment crossed the lord’s eyes. “Emlyn. Of course he would want her. Of all my daughters, she would be most challenging for him. I needs to consider this, Grey. For I know the reason he would name her and I am not sure I’m willing to sacrifice such a prize to that berserker.”
“If you agree, we’re to take her to him as soon as can be arranged. He awaits us at Schrosberie, where we will hand over the lass.”
Llywelyn guffawed in disbelief. “So he offends me by having me send my daughter to a keep I possessed, which he has taken? If I do agree, I will send her when and where I deem to do so.” The man looked at each of them, as if assessing their skill as a warrior. A small grin came to his lips. “In the meantime, we will prepare for war. Lest you know, I trust him not. Even if I did send my daughter, he would continue to thwart me and try to take my lands. I am familiar with his kind.”
“I have his word, my lord,” Grey said.
“His word is shit. I will discuss this with you further, Grey, and would invite you and your men to a welcome celebration. We’ll have it on the morrow in the evening and I’ll have an answer for you. That will give my servants time to prepare. This day, your men will join mine and we’ll see how they fare against my Welsh soldiers.”
Grey smiled with bemusement. “Aye, my lord, I know they’ll fare well.”
“Such admiration in one’s own army is renowned, young Gunn. I like that, indeed I do.”
Chapter Six
Emlyn wasn’t usually fearful of soldiers, for she trained with them daily. But the Scottish warriors who stood in the hall were far brawnier than she would have thought. Try as she might to keep her eyes on her father’s back as instructed by her mother, she couldn’t and peeked at each of the men.
Their leader looked as fierce as her father. Next to him stood a tall, muscular warrior and his face held such appeal. She hadn’t meant to look so long, but couldn’t resist, for his face had a strong jaw line, clear of whiskers, and verily had to be hard to the touch. A rich shade of brown hair reached his shoulders and likely hadn’t been cut in sometime. His nose was long and straight and appeared unbroken from any previous brawl. It was his eyes that held her. For she looked straight at him, and his brown eyes stared back.
Never one to back down from a challenge, she had no choice but to concede. For if her mother caught her looking at the man, she’d scold her for a week. That was the last thing
The meeting was called to order by the fearless king. He took a seat and motioned for all else to do so.
Grey sat nearest to him, James next to him, and the others filed in along the row of chairs at the table stretched before them. There were enough chairs to fit their entire company and more.
“I’m gladdened you have arrived, Gunn. I received a missive from Alexander that you would be coming. How many men do ye bring?”
“Six-hundred, Lord Iorwerth.”
Llywelyn’s lips twitched. “Aye, a good number, it will add to ours and I vow will be enough to handle Marshall’s paltry attacks. I bid ye to call me Llywelyn.”
“Likewise, call me Grey. I wanted to bring Marshall’s pact. He bid me to set a proposal before you and awaits your response.”
The old lord laughed mockingly. “Ah, so he wants to parlay, does he? I am not in the mood to placate him, but I will hear his offer.”
“I met with him and he was quite serious in his proposal. He deems he will cease all nefarious activity against you and yours if you betroth your daughter to him.”
Llywelyn sat forward. A maniacal grin came to his lips. “Aye? So he covets what he cannot have. Did he name a particular daughter? For I’ve a handful of them, each of marriageable age.”
Grey kept his expression fixed on the lord and said, “The one named Emlyn.”
A flicker of resentment crossed the lord’s eyes. “Emlyn. Of course he would want her. Of all my daughters, she would be most challenging for him. I needs to consider this, Grey. For I know the reason he would name her and I am not sure I’m willing to sacrifice such a prize to that berserker.”
“If you agree, we’re to take her to him as soon as can be arranged. He awaits us at Schrosberie, where we will hand over the lass.”
Llywelyn guffawed in disbelief. “So he offends me by having me send my daughter to a keep I possessed, which he has taken? If I do agree, I will send her when and where I deem to do so.” The man looked at each of them, as if assessing their skill as a warrior. A small grin came to his lips. “In the meantime, we will prepare for war. Lest you know, I trust him not. Even if I did send my daughter, he would continue to thwart me and try to take my lands. I am familiar with his kind.”
“I have his word, my lord,” Grey said.
“His word is shit. I will discuss this with you further, Grey, and would invite you and your men to a welcome celebration. We’ll have it on the morrow in the evening and I’ll have an answer for you. That will give my servants time to prepare. This day, your men will join mine and we’ll see how they fare against my Welsh soldiers.”
Grey smiled with bemusement. “Aye, my lord, I know they’ll fare well.”
“Such admiration in one’s own army is renowned, young Gunn. I like that, indeed I do.”
Chapter Six
Emlyn wasn’t usually fearful of soldiers, for she trained with them daily. But the Scottish warriors who stood in the hall were far brawnier than she would have thought. Try as she might to keep her eyes on her father’s back as instructed by her mother, she couldn’t and peeked at each of the men.
Their leader looked as fierce as her father. Next to him stood a tall, muscular warrior and his face held such appeal. She hadn’t meant to look so long, but couldn’t resist, for his face had a strong jaw line, clear of whiskers, and verily had to be hard to the touch. A rich shade of brown hair reached his shoulders and likely hadn’t been cut in sometime. His nose was long and straight and appeared unbroken from any previous brawl. It was his eyes that held her. For she looked straight at him, and his brown eyes stared back.
Never one to back down from a challenge, she had no choice but to concede. For if her mother caught her looking at the man, she’d scold her for a week. That was the last thing
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