Dream of Me/Believe in Me

girl anymore. Still, it remained to be seen if she was truly a happy wife or simply trying to convince him of that to avoid bloodshed. Not for a moment did he doubt that Cymbra would willingly sacrifice herself to save others. As her brother
and
her lord, the latter still very much in force while he considered whether to accept her marriage, it was up to Hawk to protect her even from herself. With such thought in his mind, he took due note of the high walls surrounding the hill fort, the watch-towers and the men stationed in them.
    His keen interest did not elude Wolf, who said dryly, “Perhaps you would like a tour of the defenses?”
    Cymbra held her breath, fearing her brother would take that as sarcasm. But instead he nodded assessingly “Perhaps I would. It was brought to my attention recently that my own defenses were lacking.”
    Wolf nodded with some sympathy. “I made a study of fortifications some years back. It convinced me that the highest walls are only as good as the men standing on them.”
    “Something I thought I knew,” Hawk said. His face was grim as he added, “Unfortunately, the man I trusted to lead those men turned out to be an incompetent clod-head.”
    The look in his eyes as he said that was so chilling that Cymbra could hardly bring herself to speak. Yet did she have to know. “What happened to Sir Derward? Did you hold him responsible? I mean … did you …”
    “He hanged himself,” her brother said curtly. At her look of shock, he added, “It was the more merciful end for him.”
    “More merciful? But suicide … he doomed his soul—”
    “There's no reason to dwell on this,” Wolf said quickly. He cast a warning glance at his brother-in-law. “Obviously, Rooster Brain's … uh, Sir Derward's life was forfeit. The details don't matter.”
    “Rooster Brain?” Hawk repeated. He shook his head wryly. “That's a perfect description.”
    How nice that they were in such accord, Cymbra thought tartly, but she had other concerns. “What about the other men? Wolf said he left them tied up. You didn't … ?”
    “They're fine,” Hawk assured her. “There was only one man guilty of failing in his duty and he paid for it.” He turned his attention to his host. “And since we're on the subject, I'd like to know why all this happened. Why you came to Holyhood, why you saw fit to remove my sister from there, why you brought her here. I want answers to all that and more.”
    “And you shall have them,” Cymbra said before Wolf could respond. “But in due time. First, you must be shown to your quarters and your men also made comfortable. I'm sure you'd like to bathe, and while you're doing that, I must see to a proper welcoming feast. We've just had quite a few guests but they've departed.” The relative calm of the hill fort compared to recent days had not escaped her notice. “How nice that we can just be together as family.”
    The two men looked at her with twin gazes of such incredulity that she was tempted to burst out laughing. Only the extreme seriousness of the situation—with life and death hanging in the balance—stopped her.
    “Family,” she repeated firmly just in case either ofthem had not gotten her point. “And speaking of that, here's Dragon.”
    She smiled warmly at him. “My brother has arrived. Isn't that wonderful?”
    “Wonderful,” Dragon repeated dutifully, his keen eyes surveying Hawk. Abruptly, he shifted his gaze to his brother. “Is it wonderful?”
    “So far,” Wolf said carefully. The three huge, fierce warriors stood in a semicircle around Cymbra, seeming to dwarf her. She wondered for just a moment if they could possibly be aware how similar they were not merely in size but in stance—hands resting on the hilts of their swords, feet planted firmly apart, gazes alert—and in manner as well. Each was a warrior and a leader to the very marrow of his bones, accustomed to danger and death. Yet was each also a protector, caring and compassionate to those who were weaker or in need. She was convinced that given the right circumstances, they could be the best of friends. Resolve like finely honed steel swept through her. They damn well would be before she was through.
    Deciding this was not the moment to mention that, she laid her hand lightly on Hawk's arm. “If you will come with me, I will show you to your quarters.”
    He was about to agree, eager to get her alone so that he might question her without hindrance, when Wolf stepped