Knight's Legacy by Trenae Sumter

spit fury at Gavin when she spoke. “Try to beat Kenneth again, and I’ll do more than scratch your face! I’ll run ye through, laddie!”
    Roderic’s gaze flew to Gavin’s face and at once saw the scratches that left a trail of blood on his cheek.
    â€œYou beat the boy?” Roderic said.
    â€œThe old woman bid me do so!” Gavin burst.
    Cat whirled to face Edna. “What? Why would you do such a thing?”
    â€œI always beat him when he runs away.” Edna spoke softly to the younger woman, then turned to Roderic.
    â€œHe has run off since he was a wee lad, going to the woods, and I feared he would get lost. This time he took a horse, something he has never done. I beat him in the past, but it was my hope that Gavin could beat him hard enough he would never leave again. I fear for him. Kenneth has no sense of bearing. It was just a mercy he followed Brianna, and she found him. Dinnae blame her for this. She be protective of Kenneth.”
    Roderic immediately considered the rumors and accusations. Could Brianna be like the boy in her disregard of caution?
    Edna turned to Cat. The girl’s eyes were angry still.
    â€œI don’t care! You had no right to treat him so! Look what it’s done to him!”
    Roderic, too, frowned at the boy’s blank expression.
    â€œIt’s just his way. Kenneth goes oft to the world inside his head,” said Edna.
    Cat walked to the boy and put her arms around him, stroking his hair softly.
    Roderic spoke in a low tone. “Kenneth?”
    â€œHe won’t answer or look at anyone, and I know he hears us,” Cat said. She turned to speak to Gavin.
    â€œIt appears this wasn’t your doing. I’m sorry about your face.”
    She gave Kenneth a gentle pat on the shoulder and bent down to pick up the leather strap. “I went a bit mad when I saw you hitting him with this thing. If you want to hit someone, hit me. At least I can fight back!”
    Gavin let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “All too well, lass.”
    Roderic stepped forward and took the sword from her. He spoke to Gavin while he held her gaze. “Would you tell me how she managed to take this from you?”
    â€œI had one arm on the boy, and the other on the strap. She let out an angry scream coming at me from behind, and pulled it from my waist before she took her nails to my face.”
    â€œI should have told ye. ’Tis for his own good in the coming,” said Edna. She addressed Cat.
    â€œI don’t agree,” she replied, her voice cold.
    â€œDon’t you?” Roderic said. “ ‘If you want to hit someone, hit me.’ You say this because you know what you did was wrong! Yet, I, too, was at fault for trusting you.”
    Roderic gave the sword to Gavin and took Brianna’s hand, then bent down and hauled her over his shoulder. Gavin continued to laugh as he handed him the strap.
    â€œYou will need this.”
    Roderic had taken her by surprise, and she squirmed because of her indelicate position, but she did not fight him. He walked up the steps to their chamber and set her down on her feet. Turning, he shut the door, then faced her.
    â€œI am asking you to give me a reason for your leaving. Were you trying to reach Mackay?” His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
    â€œNo! It’s not what you think! I wouldn’t betray you, Roderic. You can believe I was foolish in deciding to trust Maitland, but I am not sorry I helped Helen and her baby.”
    â€œBrianna …” He heaved a heavy sigh. “I am English by blood, but I lead five hundred of the King’s warrior’s. They began as misfits from many clans, and were outcasts so they accepted the King’s effort to join them.
    â€œThese men wear the kilt. I do not. I dress as an Englishman, for Alexander taught me not to fall into the trap of pretending to be what I am not. I risked their lives for you today; they have a right to