Once a Warrior Read Online Free PDF

hard. “Now we are dangerously vulnerable. Until we find another laird with an army, we must learn to defend ourselves. We cannot do that without an experienced warrior. You owe it to my people to help us, MacFane.”
    “If you are trying to appeal to my innate sense of honor, don’t bother,” he drawled. “As for guilt, I have so much already, I barely notice when more is added to the flames. Gavin,” he growled, “it is time we left.” He moved toward his horse.
    She was losing him. She cast Duncan a desperate look.
    “We will pay you,” he swiftly offered.
    Malcolm hesitated.
    “Handsomely,” added Andrew, realizing they had captured his attention. “In gold.”
    His expression hovered tenuously between rejection and intrigue. “How much?”
    Ariella opened her mouth to speak, but Duncan lifted his hand, throwing her a warning look.
    “Your fee would depend,” he began, “on how long you stayed with us, and how satisfactory a job you did. I would think to help us with our fortifications and train our men would require a commitment of no less than six months.” He flashed a covert glance at Ariella.
    She imperceptibly tilted her head in agreement.
    “Too long,” replied Malcolm flatly. “I could not possibly stay more than two months. If the MacKendricks manage to learn something in that time, fine. If not, I get paid anyway.”
    Ariella lifted four fingers and began to casually scratch her face.
    “Four months,” countered Duncan, “and you get paid according to the performance of the men.”
    “Three months,” returned Malcolm, “and I get paid one hundred gold coins, regardless of their performance. And Gavin gets paid a fee as well,” he added. “Equal to mine.”
    Duncan glanced at Ariella, who barely nodded. “Done.”
    Malcolm scowled, suddenly irritated that he had permitted himself to be hired. “You,” he snapped, pointing to Andrew. “You will begin your training tonight by taking the first watch. If anything moves, shoot it, then come and tell me. Is that clear?”
    Andrew nodded blankly and went to retrieve his bow and arrow.
    Malcolm eased himself down by the fire, resting his injured arm in his lap as he stared moodily into the flames. “Gavin,” he called brusquely, “for Christ’s sake, bring me a drink.”
    Ariella moved to the opposite side of the fire, putting distance between herself and her hired warrior. She arranged her blanket around her shoulders and lay down. After a while Gavin and Duncan also settled on the ground. MacFane remained upright, drinking and contemplating the dying fire as it hissed in greedy protest at the shrinking black embers. For the next hour Ariella watched him sink deeper into drunkenness. Finally he collapsed with a groan and began to snore. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the uncertainty of what she had just done plagued her mind.
    She had found the Black Wolf. He looked and acted like a savage, he was badly disabled, he had no army, and he was an appalling drunk. To crown it all, he was not coming out of any desire to help, but only for the greedy desire for gold.
    How she would get her people to accept him as their leader, even for a short while, she had no idea.

C HAPTER 2

    Pain again.
    The fog in his brain had cleared enough for him to realize he should try to remain still and keep his breathing shallow. There. That seemed to help. But the pain in his leg…He groaned and shifted his weight. Pain surged over his arm as it touched the ground, and a small sound escaped his throat, part curse and part sob.
    “Get up, Malcolm. It’s time to go.”
    He opened his eyes. “Go where?” he mumbled thickly.
    He followed Gavin’s gaze. The MacKendricks were mounted on their horses, regarding him with impatience.
    “Jesus Christ,” he groaned, closing his eyes once more.
    “It won’t seem so bad once we’re on our way,” Gavin assured him. “But they’ve been up since sunrise, and by the looks on their faces I’d say