***
Dangers on the Road
“SO, ARE ALL THE LASSESin the abbey as pretty as you?” Dermid asked Naomi as they watered the horses by a stream. They had been travelling at a slow pace for the past three hours as Naomi waiting for an opportunity to lose Dermid.
Naomi rolled her eyes, regretting her choice to bring him along. He had been openly flirting with her since they left Henderson Keep and kept flexing his bare arms and giving her heated glances. The only reason he had not seen the sharp end of her quarterstaff was because the man’s ego meant he was easily distracted and that would benefit her, especially when it came time to leaving him behind.
“Aye, there are many fine women in the abbey, but unfortunately they are mostly nuns, and unless you’re a divine creature, they would not be interested,” she replied.
Dermid grinned and then laid back on the grass propped up with one elbow, just watching her before he replied, “Well, some young lasses have compared me to a fallen angel.”
“Tis a sin to think yourself divine when you are a mere mortal,” Naomi replied.
“Well, tis not my fault when women find my skills to be... heavenly.”
Naomi couldn’t help herself. She snorted out loud then.
“You think me a liar? I dare you to kiss me and see for yourself.” Dermid gave her a direct challenge. Then he said, “Unless ye are afraid I might be right?”
“Dermid, I have no interest in kissing your mouth when I know not where it has been. Now cease. We need to keep moving.”
He burst out laughing and grinned. “Och a lass with wit, even better. Come now, Naomi. Where’s the harm in just one quick, wee kiss?” he pleaded, making a sulky face at her.
Naomi shook her head and walked away from Dermid, but paused when she sensed a presence. She turned back and knocked him to the ground.
“What the —”
“Be quiet!” Naomi hissed, as she hit the ground as well. “There’s someone approaching.”
Suddenly Dermid’s entire demeanor changed. His muscles bulged, and he was on high alert as he reached for his dagger. “I scouted the place before and I didna see anyone,” Dermid whispered.
“I believe you were busy staring at your reflection in the stream,” Naomi replied.
Dermid ignored her as they quietly crept through the tall grass. “You’re to stay behind me, lass. Dinnae worry. I’ll keep you safe,” he said. To no one. Because when he turned around, Naomi was gone.
“Lass?” he whispered but received no response. Then he heard a man’s voice cry out, followed by a thud and rustling noise beyond the bushes. Dermid sprinted to the spot where he noted the commotion and stilled when he viewed the sight, because Naomi had the culprit on the ground with the sharp end of her quarterstaff aimed inches above his head.
“Who sent you?” she growled before whacking the man on the chest with it.
“Ouch, stop, please, no one sent me.”
“Liar!” Naomi shouted and hit him again, this time on the leg.
“No one sent me. I was bathing in the loch and heard voices.”
“Then why were you spying on us?”
“Because you were in my usual place. I come here to dry off where the sun is warmest.”
“Ha! I do not believe you. Did the bishop send you?”
“What bishop?” the man cried out in pain when Naomi hit him in the stomach.
Dermid intervened then and said, “Lass, I think he’s telling the truth.”
“How could you possibly know that?” she replied.
“Well, in case you didnae notice, he is very naked, and his hair is wet.”
