A Nymph Without Mercy
VI

Damn that girl.

While Garrick hadmany talents to aid him in hunting his targets, the little nymph seemed toleave none of them. Leaves that should have been disturbed due to her movementlay as they had freshly fallen, and he could replace no imprint of her feet in anyloose bits of dirt.

If only hisconscience did not prickle so harshly he could take it as proof that she wasnot his responsibility—perhaps she had not truly ever existed. Memories of hisfirst impression of her returned, an angel from heaven that he had struck withhis bow, only now to have returned from whence she came.

But Raghnall had beenreal enough, his neck pliant as his fingers found purchase around his windpipe.

Garrick had neverbeen one for feelings, and he deeplyresented that one brief encounter with a maiden had made him question his ownsensibilities. Raghnall would have been killed simply for having threatenedhim, and he would already be in Monavyn, his task accomplished.

And yet here he wasstanding in the midst of the forest, searching for any signs of a girl thatmost likely did not wish to be found.

When he heard sounds of the stream he led hishorse onward, as although he had not ridden the beast hard, he had not beenwatered since the day before.

His horse lappedgratefully and Garrick considered filling his own flask with water, but decidedagainst it. The spirits might have been mostly used to cleanse the girl’swound, but he was not going to waste what was left by diluting it withquestionably clean water.

He kicked a rock infrustration—though perhaps if he was a more honest man, he could recognise itas petulance—and that was when he saw it. A small, dainty footprint in a bit ofmud by the shore, that most certainly could not be mistaken for anything but afeminine sole.

Garrick could notimagine why evidence of her existence should fill him with such relief.

He looked about thearea more thoroughly but could replace no other sign of her. Knowing she was bythe water meant she would not perish from thirst, but it could also mean shewas wet and cold. The day was pleasant, but not warm, and if she should havefallen in...

He groaned and sankagainst the trunk of a weeping willow, cursing himself and the girl forcomplicating his already disagreeable existence.

Raghnall had said heshould feel her.

As if such a thing wouldmean something to him.

His helm suddenlyfelt heavy and with a sigh he removed it. Already he had become more carelessthan ever before when it came to exposing his face, but he found that he didnot possess the energy to worry about that as well. He pulled at his hair as ifsomehow the action could bring him the knowledge of where he might replace her—if he should indeed replace her.

But of course it didnot and he allowed his uncovered head to rest against the smooth bark of thelarge tree, his body enshrouded by the long green boughs that gently skimmedthe water below.

And he sat.

He closed his eyes.

And he listened.

Birdsong echoedcheerily through the trees, and the soft clomping of his horse as he moved tosweeter grasses met his ears. A light breeze rustled errant leaves, and in thatmoment the forest nearly felt alive.

Such a shame that he should lose her.

Humans can be so foolish.

He is not pretty enough for her.

Some part of him knewthat the whispers he heard were not a danger, and the rational part of himdismissed them as the nattering of an over-tired mind. But still, he listenedmore deeply, and though he almost scoffed himself at the action, he did hisbest to feel.

And feel he did.

He felt a tinge ofhappiness that was not his own, as what did he have to be content about? Hefelt an echoing sadness and a burden that threatened to overwhelm him yet adetermination and resolve to keep such sorrow at bay.

Suddenly, he knew.

Not a specificlocation—that would be far too convenient and helpful.

No, he was merelyleft with an errant thought, a wisp of confidence that if he considered toolong would leave him wandering the forest aimlessly.

His horse did notseem overjoyed at leaving his meal behind, but Garrick felt hurried, thatsomehow if he tarried too long he would lose whatever seemed to prod him on inwhat he hoped—and dare he say, he prayed?— was the proper direction.

So swiftly replacinghis helm, he departed.

To his bemusement hefound himself on the very road he would have travelled if not waylaid by theimpudent man concerned with Mairi’s wellbeing. Even when faced with the choiceof two directions his hesitation was slight, choosing to follow whatever thispull was that prompted him toward the left.

Only to replace himselfstopping at a stone building, a stable boy already hurrying forward with anopen palm to tend the horse.

Finally he enteredthe tavern, with only a moment’s vacillation as he chastised himself forbelieving in whatever force had brought him here.

Except when heentered the smoke filled room his eyes immediately landed on her.

And something that hehad not realised had been taut within his chest loosened, and breathing seemedall the easier.

His earlier worryseemed well founded as her hair still showed evidence of dampness and her dresswas crinkled from where water must have soaked it. She had a cup of what heassumed to be ale that she held firmly between both hands, and her eyes werelowered as she stared into its depths.

His heart clenched insympathy when he noticed the evidence of tears still upon her cheeks.

He stalked forwardpurposefully, displeased by the many eyes that strayed to her corner andwishing that their reunion might have been in private.

“Could you not havefound refuge in a more suitable location?”

Her head rose soquickly he half expected her to next complain of some injury to her neck. “Garrick?You came for me...”

He hummed, taking theseat across from her without waiting for an invitation. He raised the visor sohe could see her clearly, yet it covered enough of his features to keep himsafely concealed from prying eyes. “Were you expecting another? I am afraidthat your lover has come and gone already, though he sends you his warmestregards.”

Mairi’s lip trembledand he felt almost sorry for speaking to her in such a flippant manner, thoughhe chastised himself thoroughly for any such remorse. Even if he felt acertain... protectiveness for the girl before him, he would not become alovesick fool.

He was not nearly sopathetic, and he would not simper and pander to a woman merely because she wasthe first to pay him any attention.

“Raghnall spoke toyou?”

His brow furrowed atthe realisation that she could so easily identify the man from hisunflattering—and arguably uncouth— description.

And he shifteduncomfortably at the sharp stab in his belly at the thought of her withanother.

“He did. He askedthat I be kind to you.”

Her smile was sodesperately sad that some hidden part of himself ached in tandem. “That soundslike him. He only wanted for me to be happy.”

Garrick’s scowldeepened. “Would it make you happy toknow that he surrendered you to my care? That he intends to make no furtherattempts to contact you?”

She nibbled at herlip and he assumed it was to stem yet another bout of tears. “He should nothave done even that. The elders could banish him on principle. I would not wishthis upon him...”

Her vigil over hercup of ale resumed, and Garrick’s indignant response was ceased by the approachof a tavern wench—though her days entertaining customers with her appearancehad long since ended. “What can a getcha, m’laird?”

“Whatever my lady ishaving will be more than sufficient.” Her words had hurt him and he was illprepared to keep the sting of his ire from his own. The wench gave a quick andunpractised curtsey before hurrying off to the kitchens, obviously glad to beaway from his poor temper.

He closed his eyesand took a deep breath, remembering his earlier relief at having found herrelatively unharmed. But before he could offer an apology—or at least, whatlittle of one he would be willing to present—she spoke.

“I was coming to replaceyou. I was not entirely sure how, but I knew that no matter what you said itwas important I remain with you.” Her voice was strong but now it began towaver. “No matter how unkind you choose to be, I still believe that my place isat your side.”

What a prettysacrifice she made.

He could beat her, bedher, and still she would think it wise to remain with him?

Even the thoughtsickened him.

He did not want her to make such a sacrifice. Ifever she chose to remain with him it should be because he was a man worthy ofher—worthy of her beauty and her smiles, not because of some ridiculous senseof obligation.

Which was why he hadabandoned her that morning.

He groaned and wasgrateful for the ale that saved him from making an immediate reply. He couldnot easily drink it with only the visor of his helm lifted, and he was notabout to expose himself by its complete removal. Instead it would be a prop,much as hers was, and he watched her dip a slender fingertip into a bit of foamand move it about the rim.

Garrick swallowedthickly.

“Do you think I wishfor a slave? For a mindless harpy to wander behind me and do my bidding, simplybecause she feels it is my right to demand it of her?”

Her gaze rose sharplyto meet his, and for the first time he saw a flicker of her own indignation. “Ithink that you are my bond-mate. I think that if you would allow yourself amoment to cease your attempt to leave me then we could begin to forge our bondas a properly mated pair! You would not ask anything of me that I would notwillingly give because you would feel mydistress, and I should wish to care for you because I would be able to feelyour satisfaction!”

He stared at her,mesmerised by the rising colour in her cheeks and the way her breath grewshorter as she spoke to him with such ferocity. While he might question hersanity for believing such drivel, he could not in good conscience discredit herauthenticity. She believed that what she spoke was truth, but he could not helpbut remember that she would have pledged herself to any other poor unsuspectingsoul that had touched her unawares.

She did not want him she merely wanted her mate.

“I am not interestedin a wife.”

A lie if ever therewas one.

So many nights he layalone in his bed—or more typically, his bedroll—and wondered what it would belike to feel a warm body pressed against him, sleepy and barely audible sighswhispered against his flesh from a wife who was properly sated. He would remainawake not from the terrible knot of loneliness but because it was his duty tokeep her safe, and perhaps because he wished to experience just a bit more ofher, lying prone and trusting in his arms.

Mairi bit her lip.“Is that what you call your bond-mate? A wife? Would you also be my wife?”

Garrick could nothelp the sharp bark of laughter at her query. “Nay. Should we have spoken vowsthen I would be your husband, and you my wife. But we did not so I am as much astranger to you as any other man in this room.”

She flinched and hergaze settled once more at her untried mug, and he quickly decided he neverwished to see her do so again—not from something he had done.

He sighed deeply andtried to remember all that Raghnall had told him. He would have him believethey were a magical people, and that was something Garrick could not yet permithimself to consider. But it was clear she was from a very different way oflife, and while it would be taxing to explain so much to her, he could at leastattempt to be patient. “Forgive me, I should not laugh. Things are differenthere and much more is involved for a couple to be wed.”

“How did you replaceme?”

Garrick wasunprepared for how her demeanour had shifted. Her quailed appearance was goneand in its place was the prim posture of a lady that would put any truenoblewoman to shame.

It made him sit a bitstraighter in his own seat.

“I fail to see howthat is relevant. But if you must know, I followed your tracks.” He sincerelyhoped she overlooked the way he had spoken just a little too quickly. Garrickwas an excellent liar, but with this girl...

From the small smileon her lips, she had overlooked nothing.

“I do not believeyou, Garrick. Even though I was unable to follow our bond to you, it is clearthat you were able to use it to replace me. That is good.” The last part wasbarely more than a murmur, almost as if she was offering herself reassurance.

He made no reply, butshe did not seem to mind as she pressed on. “Do you not see? Your ways of sealingmight be different than mine, but that does not negate the fact that we are bonded. I did not know that it waspossible to be so with a human, I thought I should perish when you struck me,but instead we are sealed. We should rejoice, not argue at every turn.”

“Pardon me, my lady, but I do not see much toinspire my enthusiasm. I do not have a home to offer you. I travel hither andyon doing the bidding of kings I do not call my own, and many of those tasksinclude killing men I have never met.” His voice was low and barely more than ahiss of air, but he could tell from the way her eyes widened that sheunderstood him perfectly. While he did not fear any of the men in thesurrounding tables as they would prove little match for his abilities, he did notwish to draw undue attention all the same—not when Mairi could be put at risk.“Whether or not I feel something for you is inconsequential.”

Her eyes had widenedat his confessed occupation, and he took a grim satisfaction from it. Good. Hewanted her to have no ridiculous fantasies about his person—that would onlylead to expectations and disappointments on both their parts.

“Is that... common,among men? To kill one another?”

Garrick shrugged. “Itdepends on the kingdom. Some do better than most at keeping men’s proclivitiesfocused in a more productive direction.”

He did not much carefor the intensity of her scrutiny. “Yet you choose to do so. Where is it youcall home?”

That was not a topiche would discuss with anyone, let alone the little nymph before him. “Far, andyou would not know the name, so you needn’t trouble yourself with it. Instead,we should plan on what to do with you as you most certainly cannot remain in mycompany.”

She had the impudenceto smile.

“I beg to differ...husband, was it? A strange word.” Garrick’s heart clenched with a sudden thrillas the word fell from her lips, especially as it was directed at him. “I can assure you that even if youshould leave me to work and toil and live with another, I would still replace myway back to your side—even if I must work to secure our bond on my own. I amcertain with enough practice I should become attuned to it. And perhaps I canassist you with your work,” she offered, though her nose wrinkled in distaste.

But that lone offerwas enough to show him precisely why she must never continue with him. Nomatter his intentions, no matter how honourable they might be, inevitably hewould corrupt some of that feminine innocence that exuded from her soeffortlessly.

And he did not thinkhe could bear that upon his conscience.

“You will do no suchthing.”

She sighed, dippingher finger into the amber liquid before placing it in her mouth and suckling atit gently. Her brow furrowed as she considered the taste, but she must havefound it wanting as she did not take another sip. “I believe we are at animpasse then, Garrick, for I refuse to let you abandon me again.”

The insufferable cheek.

But Raghnall’s nearlytearful plea came unbidden to his mind, and the very fact that he had soughther out confirmed that if he ever intended to move past this dreadful place, hewould need to be constantly aware of her location. If she refused to remainwhere he settled her, then it was only logical that she should accompany him.

Garrick was never onefor companionship.

She must havemistaken his silence for a temporary lapse so as to reinstate his argument forshe pressed on, this time quietly and without her previous force. “I do notknow what a lover means to you and your people, but I think you should knowthat Raghnall has only ever been my friend. Perhaps if things had been...different then he would have petitioned my adar,but...” She sighed and hid behind her hair, and Garrick knew a moment’sdiscomfort at the realisation of all she had lost.

It must be a heavyburden indeed.

And he was thebastard that continued to mock her for her sorrow, never relenting even as shebeckoned him for aid.

But as he alsoconsidered her words he realised with growing shame that he was relieved at herassurance. His unwelcome visitor had been young and fair—though perhaps a bit too fair as he could easily have beenmistaken for a female, if one was not already aware of Mairi’s otherworldlybeauty.

Simply because heagreed to her continued presence did not mean he would be forced to take her asa wife. The knowledge that any man could have been in his position was stilltoo near and left his stomach unsettled. No, but he could offer her protection,something she would desperately need in this world of cruelty and lust.

He might not bewilling to offer his sword and his life to a king, but he was quickly coming tobelieve he would do so for this creature if she but ask it of him.

“Very well, nymph,you may stay with me.”