- I have to confess... Alec had a laugh. - You've gotten a lot better, Oliver. I almost thought I'd give up tiring him.
- Arghh! Oliver grunted.
- Like I once said, if you remember... Alec pulled the sword. - It was because of this arrogance of yours that you lost this fight. Now, tell me where your friend is and maybe I'll spare your life.
- Go to hell! - Oliver growled.
- You first! - Alec said before she cut his head off.
Oliver fell at his feet and his head rolled to a farther point. Alec whistled again. All the men who were with him came out from behind the bushes. I was surprised to find there were over 20 with him. Oliver wouldn't have a chance against Alec and he knew it. Still, he played cool with his opponent. I never imagined Alec would be able to be cruel the way he acted. It was implicit that he would kill Oliver with or without the answer Alec was looking for. None of that mattered to me at the time. The question that kept spinning in my head was: who was Morvan?
- Are you all right? Keilan asked if you'd like to get closer.
- Yes, thank you! - I smiled as I crossed my gaze with his and hugged him as soon as he let go of my hands.
- What's going on? How did you get caught?
- I don't know, but somebody came behind my back and hit my head. - he said, making a face. - Someone was protecting the loser.
- Loyalty among bandits has always been something that disgusted me. - Alec snorted.
I approached him and hit a strong punch in his face.
- Why'd you do that? - he asked by putting his hand on his chin. - I just saved your life and that's how you thank me?
- Next time I use my life as a bargaining chip in a bargain, I'll kill him. - ...I've stirred up. - What's this about a mercenary? He's always been a cheap seducer.
Alec laughed and sighed and looked around.
- Can we talk about this in a more private place? - he asked by pointing the horse. - I promise I'll tell you everything when we get to camp.
- All right! All right! No jokes, or I'll cut off your nose. - ...I shot him riding the saddle. Alec laughed and rode behind me.
- I almost forgot how angry the bride I'm about to marry is.
I turned my eyes and took a deep breath. We went back to the camp and headed for my tent. Keilan and Alec went to account for the casualties. I took the opportunity to go to the lake and bathe. It was bloody and my head was throbbing. While I was bathing, I kept thinking about what I heard from Oliver. I still couldn't believe Alec was a mercenary. I couldn't imagine Alec as a mercenary, I mean, those men kill for money. Alec doesn't make the guy greedy. I got scared when I walked into the tent and saw Alec sitting on a stool eating an apple. He looked at me with his intense blue eyes.
- Sorry to scare you! - he said by biting the apple. - How are you feeling?
- My head hurts, but I feel good. - I answered with a sigh and grabbed a towel to dry my hair.
Alec stared at me with his serious eye.
- May I? - he said standing up and taking the towel out of my hand. - I used to dry Cora's hair and braid it the way she liked it. If I may, I'd like to do that with yours.
Breathing deeply, I nodded.
- All right! All right! - said by going to the chair he'd been sitting in. - Actually, I've never been very good at doing that. Aileen was the one who took care of my hair. I had to cut them when Keilan rescued me, but they grew too big again.
Alec smiled by passing her fingers between the wires. My hair was much bigger than when Keilan rescued me. I was afraid I'd be recognized somehow, and I cut them off at shoulder level. Now they were at the waist.
- I owe you an explanation. - he started it. - You were very brave to tell me about your past, I think it's my turn now. Even because we'll soon be married.
- I agree! - said settling down.
Alec sighed as he passed the fabric over a lock.
- I had no choice, you know. It was the only way.
- Of what?
- To find my sister's killers. - Alec hesitated a little. - After Cora's death, a month has passed since my recovery. I was hit by an arrow. Alistair lived in anger and hated himself for not arriving in time. Bruce went into a catatonic state because he was in love with my sister. I always knew that, but I never blamed him. Anyone would fall in love with her easily. Cora was a free spirit, a nymph of the winds. He was a real angel.
He paused, grabbed another lock and spoke again.
- My father blamed me for disobeying the order not to leave the castle. He said that I was too young
