Read Online The Witch and The Warrior by Karyn Monk - Free Book Online Page A

infinitely gentle as he wrapped his arms around her and helped her to her feet.
    â€œYou must walk a little, to get the blood moving in your legs,” he instructed, leading her across the grass. “Better?”
    â€œY-yes,” she stammered, unsettled by the feel of his hard body supporting her. “I’m fine now, MacDunn.” She broke free from him to walk on her own.
    He watched her a moment, as if to be sure. Then he turned and led his horse to the stream. Cameron and Ned followed with the other horses.
    â€œHas he always been this preoccupied with illness?” Gwendolyn asked, moving to where Brodick was laying out some food.
    â€œNo,” he admitted. “But that was before he learned how formidable an enemy illness can be.”
    â€œWas he sick?” Gwendolyn was unable to imagine MacDunn weak from disease.
    Brodick shook his head. “MacDunn has always enjoyed excellent health.”
    â€œThen who was sick?”
    â€œIt is not my place to tell you about MacDunn, Gwendolyn. Whatever he wants you to know, he will tell you.”
    She didn’t care, she reminded herself. MacDunn’s problems were of no interest to her. Her only concern was escaping. And with MacDunn, Cameron, and Ned down by the stream, this was probably her best opportunity. They had stopped at the edge of a thick forest. If she could lose herself in there, she would be able to find someplace to hide. She raised her arms in a casual stretch, sighed, then began to wander nonchalantly toward the woods.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Brodick demanded.
    â€œI require a few minutes of privacy,” Gwendolyn called over her shoulder.
    â€œYou must wait until MacDunn returns. He would not want you going off on your own.”
    â€œUnfortunately, I cannot wait,” replied Gwendolyn, still walking. “Don’t worry, Brodick, I won’t go far.” With that she slipped into the woods and quickly disappeared behind a tree.
    She glanced back to see if Brodick would follow her. He stared in her direction a moment, as if debating whether or not to go after her. Then he lowered his head and continued to unpack food from his saddlebag.
    Every second was precious. Gwendolyn gathered her skirts in her hands and began to swiftly thread her way deep into the woods. She tried to step lightly over the carpet of pine needles and twigs, conscious of each snap and rustle as she raced from her captors. It would be only moments before Brodick decided she had been gone too long. She needed to cover as much distance as possible before the warriors came after her. Her heart pounded and her breath was reduced to shallow, desperate gasps. Still she ran, heedless of the branches clawing at her face, farther and farther into the quiet green sanctuary of the woods. She was well ahead of them now. The forest was so dense and dark, surely they would not be able to find her here.
    â€œGwendolyn! Where are you?” Brodick called, not sounding nearly as far away as she would have liked.
    She did not pause, though her chest felt as if it were being squeezed of air.
    â€œGwendolyn!” called MacDunn, his voice harsh, “come out here at once!”
    Exhaustion forced her to pause a moment and lean against a tree, greedily gasping for breath. They would never find her now, for the woods were far too large, and they could not possibly know which direction she had taken. Still, there were four of them, which meant they could cover virtually every direction. The sound of branches breaking and twigs snapping told her they had begun their search. She glanced around wildly, looking for a place to hide. There was nothing but the endless, narrow columns of trees. She debated trying to climb one of them, but feared she lacked the strength and agility to get sufficiently high, and might only reveal her whereabouts in the process.
    â€œCome, now, m’lady,” called Cameron, affecting a reasonable tone. “You