Hiding Katherine by GG Shalton (most difficult books to read txt) 📕

are like his slaves. You are an earl, and this is ridiculous to be treated like this.”

“Shh… cousin. Don’t let him hear you. He is going to save my mother and for that, I would lick his boots if he asked me to.”

James shook his head. “I hope you are right. What do you think he will do with us once we come back into Scotland? You are on different sides of the rebellion.”

Daniel shrugged. “There are things more important than alliances.”

“What is more important? Your loyalty is to your country.”

“Some say that family is more important.”

“I don’t understand.”

Daniel patted him on the shoulder. “I know. But I can’t explain it right now. Why don’t you try to get some rest and I will wake you up in a few hours?”

James agreed and went to get his fur off his horse. Daniel kept walking the perimeter guarding the night. After a few hours, James got up to relieve him.

The next day the men rode until midafternoon, they were close to the border and Ian wanted to rest the horses. They would enter England the next day. He took the opportunity to work with wooden logs on his agility skills. Daniel watched him with fascination—he had never been trained with such an exercise. After a while, Ian noticed his watch and called him over. He took Daniel’s arms and showed him how to balance the heavy logs and move his body to avoid a sword. It reminded Daniel a bit like dancing with a sword. But the logs were heavy, and he kept dropping them.

“Let your mind feel the movement then your body will follow.” Ian lowered his stance to demonstrate the exercise.

Determination seized Daniel as he tried again to balance the logs. “It’s impossible!”

Ian did not get frustrated but was patient while showing him tricks to balance. “Daniel, it will build your thigh muscles and hold your legs during combat. The worse way to lose to an opponent is to have your legs buckle.”

Daniel nodded wiping the sweat from his forehead. “I will try again.” They practiced for a few more hours. Daniel was mesmerized by his warrior father and realized his training had been limited at Lord Dunbar’s.

“How did you learn to do this?” Daniel’s youthfulness could not be hidden. He was excited and looked at Ian with admiration. “Did your father teach you?”

“Nay, I fostered at an early age and then went out on my own. I met some foreign warriors who taught me the practice of balance. There are many different exercises. This is just one. I like to use this before a battle and when I can find the logs.”

“I will train in this way too.” He rubbed his arms and laughed. “My arms burn. It seems I am out of shape.”

Ian laughed. “Your arms are too skinny. You have much to grow.” He looked over at Daniel and his smile faded. “You will not fight, Daniel. You are not ready.”

“I am ready. I want to fight for my mother.”

“I will not be questioned. My rules.”

Daniel had to bite his tongue. He would not offend Ian and wanted him to train him. “Yes, sir.”

Ian nodded. “Very well. We reach England tomorrow. I need you to obey all my commands. We will need to keep out of open areas as we enter the village. I will send some scouts ahead of us tonight to see if they can find where your uncle is staying.”

Ian’s men watched their leader’s exchange with the young man. They had never seen him take an interest in teaching anyone his battle skills. For the most part, he trained alone. Like he did most things. Only a few loyal friends were allowed access to his private life. Many admired his strength, but few knew him. He had not visited his family since Katherine rejected him. He felt their loyalties were twisted and the fact his brother tried to marry Katherine so quickly after his death, did not sit well with him. His mother wrote a few times a year, and he did answer her on occasion to let her know he was well. But he cut off most ties from his past and stayed with his men.

Daniel followed Ian across the border, staying close and keeping quiet. Ian’s men maneuvered their horses through the brush with ease and skill. The scouts met them and found out that Katherine’s brothers were now serving the new lord of their old home. Apparently, his uncle Drake married the new lord’s daughter and served him along with Sir William. Darin’s knighthood was taken away due to his questionable behavior and he was stripped of all titles. He served a new lord in London as a soldier. Rumors were that Darin was the one responsible for the kidnapping, but they found no information regarding Katherine’s whereabouts. Daniel was disappointed that Drake participated in the kidnapping as he knew Darin was unbalanced, but Drake was not. But his loyalty was to his mother and he would kill anyone who got in his way.

Ian motioned for Daniel and leaned close to his ear, “They have her hidden. My gut tells me to check the dungeons. If they are rarely used, that is where she will be.”

Daniel nodded. “What is your plan?”

“I will go into the castle tonight with one of my commanders. He is very good at sieging castles. For now, one of my men will pose as a messenger and bring news from you regarding the ransom and ask for a reply before leaving. He will give it to Drake. If he is involved, then we will know. As soon as my messenger leaves, we will follow Drake to see who he speaks with. His trail will give him away and may lead us to Katherine.”

Daniel nodded again taking note of him using his mother’s Christian name. Up to that point, he had only referred to her as “your mother”. He wrote the