"" he finished, biting off a chunk of bread.
My stomach growled.
He glanced at me sideways, reaching for a plate full of food.
I realized it was to be his second helping, and he was kindly giving it to me.
""What's a seer?"" I asked.
The woman, Vala, smirked at me.
""Ye saw me coming.
"" her voice was raspy and fluid at the same time.
Jon glanced warily at me, then back to Vala.
She rolled her eyes.
""In yer dream last night.
Let me see yer hands,"" she nodded to my hand, currently occupied with feeding myself.
I set the hunk of bread down, wiping the crumbs hastily off, before I stretched my hand across the table to her.
She grasped it quickly and firmly, her gray eyes scanning it.
My eyes darted to Jon, his expression stormy.
""Did ye see blood?"" she asked, her eyes flicking to mine.
My blood ran cold.
How did she know?""Y-yes,"" I stammered.
She nodded knowingly, patting my hand and letting go.
""What does that mean?"" Jon's deep voice was hushed.
The woman merely shrugged, leaning back.
""It could mean a few things.
She will be responsible for bloodshed, her bloodline will conquer your people, or she will one day lead, but not without first getting her hands""¦dirty.
"" she smiled wickedly.
Jon burst out laughing, clearly disbelieving her every word.
I still felt the cold chill of premonition tingle up my spine.
""And your dream, Jon?"" she held out her hand, waiting for his.
Her eyes were outlined in thick, black charcoal it seemed.
He rolled his eyes at me and placed his hand in hers.
""Ye will marry, and soon, though ye will not want it at the time.
This marriage will alter the course of the clan.
"" he withdrew his hand quickly, a tinge coming to his cheeks.
""How do you know this?"" I asked, fascinated.
""It was a gift from the gods, passed down through my mothers before me.
"" She stood to go, turning to me.
""If ye ever have need of me, and I suppose ye will before long, I live in the cottage across the river.
Jon can show ye before he leaves.
"" And with that, she seemed to float away, leaving me breathless.
""You're leaving?"" my heart sank.
Jon only shrugged.
""I asked to leave as soon as we got here.
Though Thran hasn't released me yet.
I suppose she was just seein' the future,"" he winked.
He pushed my plate towards me, and we resumed eating.
""Who is she really?"" I asked, my appetite lost.
He glanced at me, his mouth full of stew and bread.
He thought a moment and swallowed.
""No one really knows.
Her family has been linked to our clan for centuries.
They write about these women in our books and histories, ye see.
They are highly regarded,"" a few people skirted past our table, Jon lowering his voice.
""Thran believes every word that old witch says.
"" I could hear the contempt in his voice.
""And you don't?"" He shook his head, sitting up a little straighter.
""I suppose I've seen more of the world.
Everyone has different beliefs, so who is really right?"" he reached for his cup.
I still couldn't shake the eeriness she had cast over me.
A few men entered, clearly burdened with purpose.
They paused in front of us.
""Thran wishes to speak with ye.
"" One man had a thick, brown beard and large belly.
The other was small and shifty eyed.
Jon stood, sighing heavily.
""Both o' ye.
"" I swallowed the hot stew too quickly, nearly choking.
What more could Thran want with me? I stood obediently, following Jon.
We wound our way to Thran's meeting room, three levels above.
The men opened the door to the stuffy room, and we entered.
Thran sat at his desk, scratching out a letter.
The door closed behind us four, a heaviness settling in the air.
Thran didn't bother to look up as he spoke.
""I'm sending you and a hunting party after Meleryn.
"" Clearly, he meant Jon, who crossed his arms defiantly.
""No.
"" he answered curtly.
Thran glanced up, his eyes angry.
""You will do as I say, or I will not permit you to come and go as you please anymore.
"" Jon's back went rigid.
""How do I even know where she went?"" it was an astute question, but Thran wasn't easily swayed.
""I'll give you one guess.
Best pack and be off, before she crosses the border.
If she does that, war will reign down on us.
"" Thran set his jaw.
Jon uncrossed his arms.
I gathered Meleryn would be headed to Mount Tier.
My heart fluttered at the possibility of going home, of seeing my family.
""Fine.
"" he seethed.
He turned to leave grabbing my arm.
Thran cleared his throat, and the two men stepped between us and the door.
""I thought you might assume she'd be going along, but I cannot take that risk.
"" Jon whirled around, pure rage emanating from him.
He shook with it.
""She goes with.
"" he said through clenched teeth.
Thran smirked, pushing back his chair to stand as he rested his palms on his desk, leaning towards us.
""If something goes wrong and they take her, they'll either kill her or have her lead them to us.
I will not risk our clan because of your little crush.
"" I felt myself go hot in embarrassment as Thran stated the obvious.
""She stays.
"" he said with finality.
Jon considered a moment.
""If anything happens to her, if ye use her in any of yer little schemes, I'll kill ye myself.
"" Jon's words made me shudder in fear.
""Careful, now,"" Thran said.
""This is a time of war, and threats, even idle ones, are serious.
"" ""Then I'm glad we're on the same page.
"" Jon turned on his heel, storming out and leaving me to run after him.
I felt sick.
My only real protection was being sent away.
How long would he be gone? How long before his people turned on me?""Jon!"" I called breathlessly, trying to keep pace in the cramped, dark halls.
He turned suddenly, causing me to nearly knock into him.
He seethed in fury, his chest heaving with the exertion from it.
His eyes were charcoal black in the dim light.
I hoped to never see him this angry again.
""He's planning something.
"" he growled.
""What?"" I asked, utterly confused and helpless.
""I'm not sure,"" he breathed in frustration.
""Just""¦lay low while I'm away, alright?"" I nodded quickly.
His eyes flicked between mine.
An unfathomable expression crossed his face.
""Damn it all,"" he muttered, grabbing my arm and pulling me to him.
I inhaled quickly, my eyes fluttering closed, as his lips crashed onto mine.
"
"Chapter 14
""I'm sorry.
"" Jon's last two words to me before he'd left bounced around in my skull.
What exactly was he sorry for? The kiss? Thran's sending him away? Or this mess in its entirety? My rattled mind couldn't handle the questions, so I'd decided to lock them away until he ret
urned.
In the meantime, I'd have to keep myself busy.
And that's exactly what I did.
Jon had left Bear behind, the dog following me everywhere, even sleeping at the foot of my bed.
His presence did offer a bit of comfort.
Sometimes I'd catch myself talking to him, his head cocked to the side as though he understood me.
I busied myself with stitching the holes in my clothes; once those were mended, I offered to stitch other people's clothes for them.
It became a welcome distraction during the long, wintry nights.
It still hadn't snowed, though Miss Meerie believed it would any day.
Every morning, the usual dew was instead crisp frost that crunched underfoot.
I knew I was being watched by Thran's men; every few days there seemed to be someone new.
I listened to Jon's advice and kept to myself, working in the kitchens for long hours, retiring by myself at night.
Though I tried not to count the days, I knew Jon had been gone nearly a month.
He'd only taken Bjorn and a few other men with him.
Bane was forced to stay, as Freyja was due any second it had seemed.
The day she gave birth, Miss Meerie had charged into the kitchens, grabbed me by my apron, and towed me to their respective room in the castle.
Since Bane sat on the council, they could live in constant warmth.
I'd stared wide-eyed at Freyja, wondering if she would die.
Surely, someone in that much pain must die.
Her face had changed shades of red, going darker with every passing minute.
She refused to cry out.
It was then that I had discovered Freyja was a real warrior; she'd been to bloody battles and back.
My respect for her soared.
She had squeezed Bane's hand so tightly he'd yelped.
Eventually, the cries of the newborn babe was heard throughout the castle.
I was stuck in awe for days afterward at the miracle of life.
They'd named their first boy Jon.
More days had passed, and I'd developed an interest in learning about crops.
Miss Meerie promised me the chance to work in the gardens once the big thaw began.
She started to teach me remedies and uses of different plants.
I shared what little knowledge I had with her.
Freyja and I took to walking by the river each afternoon, little Jon clinging to his mother's breast against the cold.
Freyja showed me where Vala lived; a quaint stone cottage surrounded by a currently dead garden.
""She makes potions,"" Freyja had told me, explaining what sorcery and witchcraft meant.
No one seemed too keen to bother Vala.
On our way back up the path, we'd witnessed Thran slinking through the woods to knock on her door.
It finally snowed on a night their people called Winter Solstice.
There was another massive feast, dancing and drinking.
Jon had now been gone almost two months.
""This is the longest night of the year,"" Freyja muttered to me, our eyes watching the dancers in the middle of the mess hall.
I couldn't help the constant ache in my chest anymore, the longing for someone who wasn't mine.
Freyja and Bane seemed to notice, and kept offering me drinks.
Thran continued to watch me through the crowd.
""Why is this night so important?"" I questioned, cradling a sleeping little Jon.
""Weel,"" Bane scratched his beard in thought.
""Since it's the longest night, I think many o' our ancestors died because o' the cold.
So now we stay awake and dance instead to stay warm.
"" he laughed his usual, raspy chuckle.
I doubted that was the real reasoning behind the festivities, but his joke lightened my mood, and I laughed, too.
Rose danced in the middle of the floor with a younger man; she'd been positively distraught after Jon had left, but seemed to be recovering quickly.
Children ran around the tables with boughs from trees, hitting each other, the dogs chasing after them.
Bear lay at my feet, whining quietly.
I could tell he missed Jon, too.
I gently handed little Jon back to Freyja, standing to take my leave.
""Off so soon?"" Freyja's eyes were troubled.
I nodded, faking a yawn.
""I'm just tired from preparing the feast,"" I lied easily.
They glanced at each other, and I waved a small goodbye.
Bear stood and trotted along beside me, into the frigid air.
I clutched my heavy shawl tighter about my shoulders.
My tent stood alone, surrounded by a few tall trees.
It was dark.
I sighed heavily, knowing I'd have to start up my fire.
I'd become quicker at it, but it was still frustrating from time to time.
Nearing the entrance, Bear stopped in his tracks, hackles raised as a low growl emanated from his throat.
I stopped short, my breath leaving me in a puff of white.
Bear continued his threatening growl as I slowly backed away.
The light from the castle barely touched where I stood.
""All alone, eh?"" a voice came from behind me.
I whirled around, but Bear still faced my tent.
There must be more than one person here, I thought quickly.
My heartbeat pulsed heavily through my veins.
""N-no,"" I stuttered, out of cold and fear.
Bear's growl turned to a snarl as someone else approached.
""Shut yer dog up, or we'll do it for you.
"" I could barely make out the shape of the man in front of me, his back illuminated by the dim lights of the castle.
""He's not mine,"" I pleaded, my hands up in surrender.
My mind wildly groped for an escape, or a way to defend myself.
The knife! I thought suddenly.
My hope flittered away as quickly as I'd thought it.
The knife was in a trunk in my tent.
His hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair, yanking me to him.
I gasped, searching for enough air to scream.
""Make a sound and ye die.
"" I felt his dagger against my neck.
Bear began to bark, a deep and booming sound.
I prayed it reached someone's ears.
Another shadow approached, but Bear held his ground.
I began to kick, hoping to connect with some limb, but the steel pressed harder against the soft flesh of my neck.
I whimpered.
The other man laughed.
I didn't recognize either of their voices or builds.
I was suddenly thrown to the ground, a knee pressed into my stomach, the wind knocked out of me.
My eyes watered.
""This is the Mountain bitch we heard of,"" the man holding me down said to his friend.
He grabbed a fistful of my telling, red hair, bringing his knife to it and slicing through a chunk of it.
He shoved my hair hastily in a bag by his side, sheathing his dagger as he pushed my skirts up.
Again? I thought.
What was with men out here? This time, though, I knew I didn't have Jon to save me.
The man bent his head to me, reeking of alcohol and salt.
He began to kiss me sloppily, and I finally mustered the courage to scream.
He struck me across the face, knocking me senseless for a moment, my head turning to the side where Bear was.
He leapt at the other distracted man, catching his knee in his massive jaws.
The man screamed in pain.
Sounds of tearing flesh and clothes met my ears.
My assailant hastily continued, the hatred in his eyes spurring him onward.
I kicked and thrashed, but he easily overpowered me.
I heard thundering, running footsteps then, and he was thrown o
ff me.
Whoever had come to my rescue held torches, lighting up the darkness.
Everything seemed to still for a moment as I gathered my wits.
Bear had the other man on the ground now, ripping at his arms, moving angrily towards his face and neck.
The man screamed in agony, bringing me deep pleasure.
Bane stood above me, holding my assailant with one hand clamped around his throat.
His legs dangled and kicked, a few feet off the ground.
""Don't kill them yet,"" my eyes snapped to Thran, the fury in his eyes clear even in the darkness.
Freyja rushed to my side, pulling my skirts down for me, cradling me.
The man Bane held nearly had his pants off.
I realized how closely I'd reached the brink of rape and death once again.
I began to shake.
The screams behind me quieted.
I turned as Bear trotted up to me, his snout covered in crimson blood.
His tail wagged slowly.
I reached out to him, grabbing a fistful of his fur, pulling him to me as I buried my face in his great neck, crying for the first time since I'd come to this place.
I was beginning to hate Thran's stuffy meeting room.
It seemed I was only ever in there for something bad.
Miss Meerie fussed over me as I sat facing Thran, his hands folded on his desk.
His knuckles were white.
Bane and Freyja stood behind me, Bane gripping my assailant's shoulder tightly.
The other man's chances at life looked bleak.
Bear sat at my feet, licking blood off his paws.
I held a rag to my bloody and swollen lip as Miss Meerie placed her heavy hands on my shoulders.
It was easy to see where Bane received the majority of his features.
Thran's eyes moved between me and my attacker.
""Where are you from?"" he asked curtly.
The man stayed quiet.
I couldn't muster the courage to look at him.
Thran sighed, rubbing the creases in his forehead.
""I'll assume you're from one of the Isles, considering the stench of a sea port on you.
Who sent you?"" Thran seemed to hide his accent; a peculiar trait.
Again, the man stayed silent.
""How did you know she was here?"" Thran asked.
I jumped as the man's voice sounded behind me.
I turned to face him, not so afraid now that Bane was holding a knife to His throat.
""There's a pretty price for her.
I'll split it with ye if ye let me have her,"" he said through rotten teeth.
The knife in Bane's hand pressed tighter to his throat.
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