Chapter One

England's Border Lands 1489

"Do not think to take it easy on me, Jonas." Kandra narrowed her eyes at the younger man facing her with his sword in hand. He was slightly taller than she was, but Kandra knew he lacked her intense skill with a blade.

"Would the enemy be timid?" Kandra cocked a mocking brow as she taunted him by clanging the end of her sword against his own. "No," she shook her head as she circled him and spoke before he could reply. "They would not be easy with either of us. If they had half a chance, they would split our gullets!"

"Yes, but Kandra," Jonas shook his head, "if I am not careful, I shall hurt you. Then it will be my head, and well you know it."

"Be passive if you wish, but I warn you. I will show you no mercy," she snarled at him. How could she take him into battle if he hesitated to defend himself? Kandra lifted her sword, charging him. He raised his blade and shield to guard himself. Side-stepping, she sliced across his upper arm. Spinning, she swept her leg behind his. He fell with a thud onto his back, clutching his arm.

"Kandra!" He looked at her as shock filled him. "You sliced me!" Jonas stared at the blood
covering his palm. "You truly cut me!" He looked up at her with disbelief.

"I warned you, Jonas, I would show you no mercy." She towered over him with the tip of her sword pressed to his chest. "If I had meant to finish you, I would have cut your leg out from under you." Kandra glared down at him with ice in her blue eyes. "Then, would have run you through before you had a chance to think about it."

"Kandra, I told you to work with him, not maim him!" Raff's gruff voice came from behind her on the other side of the practice field. "Good Lord, girl, you cannot be cuttin' down our own men."

"I was teaching him a lesson," she shot over her shoulder as Raff approached her. Kandra lifted her sword tip from Jonas's chest. "It is no less than you or father taught me."

"Yes, but that was different." Raff scolded, with his brows furrowed as he watched the boy slowly gain his feet once again.

"Why was it so different?" She glared at Raff. "Because I am a girl?" Kandra spoke in defense. "Now this girl can best half, or more, of the men in this castle in a sword fight, and you know as much!" She whirled on him, raising her chin haughtily.

"You are hotheaded and act without thinking. No knight worth his salt would act thus." Raff countered, trying to hold his temper in check. He'd helped raise this stubborn young woman. Her father and Raff, himself, had trained her to fight as well as nearly any man he had ever known. He looked levelly into her blue eyes and could read her pride there.

"Then it is lucky I am not allowed into the Brotherhood of Knights, is it not?" The insult Raff had flung stung, but she wouldn't let it show. Kandra felt justified in her actions. If Jonas pulled back in battle, he'd lose his life for certain. The thought of Jonas dying in battle wasn’t something she cared to think about at all.

"You are finished for the day. Return to the keep." Raff waved her off in an angry gesture. "Jonas, head in and have Hannah patch you up."

"Raff…" Kandra frowned at him, feeling her anger beginning to melt away. She hadn't meant to hurt Jonas seriously. She'd only intended to teach him a lesson.

"Not another word! Go now, before I sorely lose my temper with you, girl." Raff ground out. He watched her flinch at his words. She'd go sulk, then apologize to her brother in the end, and, God knew why, but Jonas would be her best friend again and dismiss the whole incident before the day was over. "I do not wish to see either of you until the evening repast is served. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Kandra bowed her head, turning to leave. Guilt and anger filled her.

"Raff, she didn't mean to hurt me." Jonas frowned at her departing back. He knew her feelings were hurt, and it gnawed at him. Jonas knew he should have practiced harder with her. "I should have been more aggressive."

"That you should have, but she will learn to control her temper, or so help me God, I shall take away her sword!" Raff growled at him. He heard Kandra gasp at his threat. "And I will do it, girl. Do not doubt it!"

Kandra straightened her shoulders and held her chin high as she marched back to the keep.

Once inside, Kandra made her way quickly to her chamber. Closing her door behind her, she began to pace without even bothering to remove her armor. The metal was lightweight and almost a second skin to her. She rarely noticed it and often forgot altogether that it was still on.

She knew hurting Jonas had been wrong, but she would apologize later for her indiscretion. Raff's wrath was bad enough, but if her father had been home, he'd have been furious with her for injuring one of her own. Luckily, her father was in London attending the King and wasn't expected to return home anytime soon.

Sitting upon the edge of the chair nearest the hearth, Kandra began to remove her armor. A soft knock sounded at the door.

"Enter," she called without bothering to look up.

Mary bustled into the room. "I assume you wish to bathe before the evening repast?" She moved about the chamber, setting out a bath sheet and soap for her lady. Mary looked closely at her charge for the first time and tsked. "Just look at you! You look like a lady, not at all!"

Kandra shrugged a shoulder. "You have known me the whole of my life, Mary. A little dirt should not be shocking." She continued to remove the rest of her armor.

"A little dirt?" Mary rolled her eyes. "If you bothered to look at yourself once in a while in
your looking glass, you might be a bit surprised." The older woman wagged a finger at Kandra.

Mary was the closest thing to a mother Kandra had ever known. She was more like family than a servant, and she always spoke her mind, whether to Kandra herself, Jonas, or their father. Pushing up out of her chair, Kandra looked at the other woman. Walking over, she bent, placing a kiss on the older woman's cheek. "Thank you."

"Now, what did you go and do that for?" Mary looked up at her large ward. She loved the girl as if she were her very own child. Though she disliked the idea of her little girl wielding a sword, she'd accepted it long ago because Kandra had always dreamed of being a warrior. Being as tall, if not taller, than some men made her perfect for the warrior title.

"I just wanted you to know how much I love you," Kandra told her with downcast eyes.

"What ‘tis amiss?" Mary peered at her charge through narrowed eyes.

"Naught." Kandra turned away, with her fingertips tracing the silver-backed brush and hand-held looking glass sitting on her dressing table. The set had once belonged to her mother.

"You are upset about something. What 'tis it?" Mary placed her hands upon her ample hips. "You can tell me now, or I shall just pull it out of Jonas later."

"I doubt Jonas wishes to speak of me at this time." Kandra walked over and began picking up her armor, then dropped it into the chair, turning to Mary. "I hurt him, Mary. I took a slice out of him. I am so ashamed." Kandra shook her head as tears pooled in her eyes.

Rarely did Kandra cry, so Mary knew she was truly upset.

"I am sure he will survive, darling. Your brother loves you, no matter what." Mary came to her, patting her back, to console her.

"I let my temper get the best of me." Kandra wiped at the tear that spilled down her cheek. She hated crying. To weep was an aggravating and useless emotion.

"You always have. 'Tis not the first time and shan't be the last." Mary smiled at her. Kandra had a wicked temper, and the entire castle also knew it. But then, she was her father's daughter after all. "You shall have a bath, dress, then go find Jonas and apologize to him."

"Do you think he will forgive me?" Kandra appeared so hopeful that it made her look girlish.

"Depends on how big a chunk you took from him and his pride." Mary smiled. "Men do not like to be shown up, especially by women."

"I suppose I will have to grovel, will I not?" Kandra gave a weary sigh.

"That you will, love," Mary laughed. "Now, we need a bath for you."

∞ ♥ ∞

Bathed then dressed in a clean pair of breeches and plain blue tunic, Kandra made her way to the Great Hall. Jonas would be there, as would the rest of her father's men. She'd have to drag Jonas away and speak to him in private.

She entered the Great Hall and sought out Jonas, where he sat with Griffin and Ryan, two soldiers in her father's army. Swallowing her pride, she crossed the hall. Everyone was waiting for her and her brother to take their seats at the head table so they could begin the evening repast. However, Kandra was determined to deal with what had happened between her and Jonas first.

Striding over to where her brother sat, she frowned down at him. "Jonas, I wish a word with you," Kandra spoke with authority.

"Yes, my lady?" Jonas gave her a cold, hard look. He'd make her grovel for what she had done to him, he thought with mild satisfaction.

"In private, please." She scanned the table where he sat. Kandra didn't want to make a scene here.

"Oh, I think here would be a fine place to speak, do you not?" Jonas waved a hand around while smiling brightly at her.

"No, I do not wish to speak here." She put her temper in check as she bit the inside of her cheek, but it wasn't easy. "It is a private matter," Kandra spoke between her clenched teeth. "Now, Jonas."

"Since it would seem we cannot start the meal before you have had your say, then by all means, lead the way." Jonas stood, waving her before him.

"Thank you." Kandra led the way into their father's study. She was determined to swallow her pride and apologize to her brother.

Opening the door to her father's study, she waved Jonas through it. With an air of arrogance, he sauntered to one of the high-back chairs. Kandra closed the door behind them. Holding her head held high, she walked over to the desk, leaning on the edge as she faced him.

"This is not easy for me, and well, you know it, Jonas." Kandra glared at his smirking look. How she would like to swipe that smug expression off his face. In a sword fight, she reigned superior, but in a contest of strength, she was slightly inferior now, which annoyed her. They had been raised together, played, and fought together.

Never had a day passed that she and Jonas had been apart. She took in his golden looks that mirrored her own, so much that they could have had the same mother. They each looked at the other with blue eyes, but where Jonas had eyes like the deep blue pools of water, Kandra's were like the summer skies. If not for the fact that Jonas was younger than she by a little more than three years, Kandra was sure he would wield a sword better than she.

Though Jonas was her father's bastard son, Kandra never looked upon him as less than her brother or best friend. Her mother died before she was two, and later, her father had turned to a village woman for comfort. When Jonas was three, his mother had become ill
and died. Their father had taken Jonas into their home, but by law, Jonas could neither inherit their father's title nor his lands.

Jonas watched her struggle with her emotions. This was a hard thing for her. Kandra was beautiful with her golden looks, but her size had always bothered her. Being taller than any other woman she had ever met and being the height of most men made her uneasy at times. Men who visited the castle often looked at her strangely, for, unlike most females, she hadn't a delicate bone in her body. However, she had a kind, soft heart that she guarded well.

He could remember once, when she was eleven, and he was eight, the boys from the village had been teasing her about her height because she stood a full head taller than all of them. They had dubbed her with the title 'Lady Goliath.' Jonas had stood to fight the
whole bunch when his sister had punched the ringleader in the nose. When the fight was over, Kandra cried while he held her and tried to comfort her. He was one of the only people ever to see her tears flow freely. She was determined never to allow anyone to see her weaknesses again. "I know you did not mean to hurt me." Jonas stood up and began pacing the room.

"No, I did mean to hurt you…" She held up a staying hand as he began to reply. "I meant to hurt you so you would never let such a thing happen again. The thought of losing you, Jonas, is something I care not to think about at all." Her voice sounded strangled as tears shimmered in her blue eyes. "I love you, Jonas. You are my best friend, and I could not live without you."

Jonas reached her in two steps, pulling her into a tight hug. "Nor could I live without you, dearest sister." He kissed her cheek. "Besides, if I died in battle, who, pray tell, would you argue with?" He touched the tip of her nose with his finger.

"I am sorry." Kandra lay her head on his shoulder, sighing. She took so much comfort in knowing her brother was always there for her. She couldn't imagine life without him.

"I knew that then, just as I know it now. You need not apologize." He squeezed her shoulder once more. "Now, what do you say we go eat, as I am starving."

"All you ever think about is food." She rolled her eyes at him as she stepped away.

"And women, do not forget that." He gave her his most charming smile.

"I do not want to think about you and women!" She shook her head in disgust, walking out the door.

∞ ♥ ∞

Later that evening, the castle was quiet as Kandra and Jonas sat playing a game of chess. Both were intent on winning.

"Why do we not call this a draw for the night?" Jonas yawned, knowing that neither would win for hours yet.

Kandra's blue eyes twinkled, "Are you conceding to a superior mind, brother?" She knew how to goad him into playing a bit longer.

Before he could answer, the warning bells sounded. Blue gaze met like, and the siblings shot to their feet and raced through the castle.

Raff met them in the inner bailey. "The village is under attack, but we have no idea how many invaders." Raff jogged alongside the two as they hurried for the stables.

"Ready the men and send scouts east and west to circle the village." Kandra ordered, "Catch up to us as soon as you are able." She reached her destrier, named Hadwin, and quickly began saddling him.

"Do not be foolish, girl." Raff grabbed her arm, stopping her. "You could be killed if the two of you go alone."

"We could be killed with or without the other men," Kandra jerked her arm away from him. "Ready the men and follow behind, but go, Raff, before more lives are lost."

Raff muttered under his breath, "Foolish damn girl," but he jogged away from them to assemble the men.

Kandra finished saddling her mount at the same time Jonas did. She swung up into her saddle and looked at him. "Ready?"

"Do you not think you should wear your armor?" Jonas raised a blond brow. He hated the thought of her going into battle without it.

"Do you not need yours?" She snapped, then spurred her warhorse out of the stables.

Kandra yelled for the gates to open and raced through them toward the village.

∞ ♥ ∞

The fire loomed in front of them as homes in the village burned. Screams rent the air. Kandra leaned forward and whispered to Hadwin. The horse sped up and left Jonas's mount trailing farther and farther behind them.

Jonas filled the air with curses as he watched his sister and her damnable horse race through the night, hell-bent on reaching the village as fast as possible.

Kandra pulled her sword from its sheath as she reached the edge of the village. On a full-out charge, she met one of the Scottish bandits raiding their village. With her sword, she made short work of him, lopping off his head as she rode by.

She spied one of the bastards in the process of trying to rape a village woman who Kandra had known her entire life. Fury erupted. Sliding from Hadwin's back, she thrust out with her sword and impaled the man's back and through the heart, killing him. Ripping the sword from his body, she pushed him off the crying woman.

"It is over, Lindsay." Kandra pulled the woman to her feet. She hugged the other woman to her. "Run for the castle. You will be safe there." Kandra pulled a dagger from her boot and pressed the hilt into the woman's hand. "Take this with you. Use it if you must."

"Thank you, m’Lady." Lindsay held a tight fist around the tattered ends of her gown's bodice. She gasped as a Scot turned the corner, coming around one of the huts.

Kandra turned to face the man. "Run, Lindsay." She flexed her grip on the hilt of her sword.

"I cannot leave you, m’Lady." Lindsay shook her head as a second Scot joined his friend.

"Run." Kandra glanced over her shoulder at the woman. "Go now," she commanded. She looked back at the leering Scots. Both men were her height but had more brawn. "Leave this village or die, heathens."

The first man threw back his head and laughed, "Yer a bonnie wee thin', lass." He rubbed a hand over the front of his kilt. "I shall enjoy buryin' myself betwixt yer thighs."

"You shall be long dead before that can happen," she ground out the words. "You will die like the dogs you are." Kandra gave them a vicious smile. "And I shall relish cutting you mongrels down to size," she let her sneering gaze drop over the front of their kilts.

The second man growled, "I will show ye how a dog is treated, bitch." He came at her with a claymore in hand. The man had no time for a second thought when Kandra took out his leg from under him and slit his throat.

She looked up at the first man, whipping her long blonde braid behind her. "Are you ready to join your friend?"

He stared at her in disbelief as the blood dripped from her sword. "Bloody hell!" He roared as he charged her. Quickly, he realized his folly as she ran her blade through his middle and twisted. He died with a beautiful angel of death standing over him.

∞ ♥ ∞

Once the bandits had fled from the village, Kandra met with Jonas and Raff. They worked with the villagers, collecting the dead and the wounded. Kandra spent most of her time dealing with the stitching of wounds of women severely beaten and those who had been raped.

Later, after all the fires had been put out and things had settled, Kandra stood in the center of the village with her brother and Raff. "How many dead?"

Raff rubbed the back of his neck. "Twenty-three, including four children." His heart constricted at the thought.

Kandra gasped in outrage. The decision was made without another word being said. "We shall ride out within the hour."

"No, it is too dangerous," Jonas whirled on her with a look of outrage. "You shall not leave the castle."

"Need I remind you that father left the castle and village in my care?" She
hated to pull rank on him, but she wouldn't be coddled as if she were merely a
woman and not a warrior. No other woman she knew could fight with her skill.
For that matter, few men could get the best of her. So long as she had her sword, she'd have the advantage.

"We leave within the hour. Arthur, go with Raff and help him. I want you, Raff, and ten men assembled and have pack supplies for fourteen readied." She turned on her heels and began striding away. "Leave twenty men behind to help the villagers. If needs be, house the villagers within the castle walls until we return." With that command issued, she swung into Hadwin's saddle and raced off through the early-morning light.