Raven was glad Oria knew her brother well.
“I’m frightened for all of us,” Purity said, fear turning her eyes wide.
“We need to stay strong,” Raven said, easy advice to give though not so easy to follow.
Sadness weighed heavily in Purity’s voice. “I’m not strong. My father reminds me of it often enough.”
“And Bayne?” Raven asked.
Purity shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s always been commanding and he never had much time for me. More often than not, I feel in the way all the time. Sometimes I wish I could live alone in the woods like the witch does. But that wouldn’t benefit my father, only a favorable marriage would suit him.”
“Hopefully, Raven and I will be permitted to visit you,” Oria said.
A smile, slight as it was, lit Purity’s face. “I’d like that.”
“I can sneak King in to see you,” Raven said with a nod toward the kitten stretching himself awake.
“That would be wonderful,” Purity said as the kitten scrambled around on her lap in play.
“What we need to remember is that if troubling times come, our friendship will always stay strong,” Oria said.
“What if we’re torn apart?” Purity asked.
Raven was quick to say, “We find a way to reunite, to help the other if necessary.”
“Agreed,” Oria and Purity said in unison.
“Now there are more disgusting things to discuss,” Raven said, pretending to gag.
Oria laughed. “You mean my wedding.”
Raven scrunched her face as if a foul odor had assaulted her, and Purity laughed.
After some talk about the wedding, Oria took her leave insisting she had much to do and reminding Raven that she promised to help when her visit with Purity was done.
“Tomorrow we shall enjoy ourselves,” Raven said.
Purity’s eyes grew moist. “Before we have to say good-bye.”
“Let’s sneak off here before the wedding ceremony begins,” Raven suggested. “I’ll bring King with me so you can spend some time with him.”
“I’d like that,” Purity said, wiping away the few tears that slipped down her cheeks.
Raven threw her arms around Purity and hugged her tight, the lass returning the hug.
They parted and Purity said, “I’m so glad we got to be friends.”
“So am I and tomorrow we’ll make the most of our time together,” Raven said a sudden ache in her stomach letting her know it wasn’t going to be easy saying good-bye to Purity.
They may have only become friends in the last few days, but it seemed like they’d been friends forever. She almost wished Arran would wed Purity, then she’d have two great sisters. But she understood and accepted Arran’s decision, since she was adamant about choosing her husband when the time came.
Raven stepped out of the woods a short time later, King scurrying out of her arms to run off. She would have preferred to remain outdoors, though the encroaching gray clouds didn’t look promising. But she had given her word to Oria to help with whatever was needed and she wouldn’t break her word to her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
Three hours later she swore to herself that she’d never get married with all the work it took to prepare for the special day. Though, she had to admit the Great Hall looked beautiful. The floors had been swept and the planks scrubbed as well as the tables. Fresh candles filled various candelabras throughout the room, all waiting to be lit for the big day tomorrow. The fireplace had been cleaned of ash and fresh logs burned brightly. But it was the delicious scents drifting in from the kitchen that had Raven’s mouth watering.
“Help me make a wreath for my head,” Oria said, pointing to a table where all they needed for the task waited. “Then you’re free to do what you please.”
Raven ran to the table and Oria followed, laughing.
They talked and laughed until the Great Hall’s door burst open and Jamie, her da’s best scout, entered alongside her da, their steps anxious.
“The are many warriors,” Jamie said.
“Hold your tongue,” her da ordered, his eyes darting to Raven and Oria.
Royden and Arran entered the hall only steps behind her da and Jamie, their quick pace set to follow the pair to the solar.
Raven turned to Oria and saw how badly she had paled. “I’m going to listen to see what goes on. You won’t tell on me will you?” She was shocked at Oria’s response.
“I’m coming with you.”
“We have to stay silent and keep to the shadows,” Raven advised as they approached the solar.
Oria did as Raven said and tucked herself into the dark shadows, the solar being off to the right at the end of a hallway where deep shadows lingered. They didn’t have to strain to hear the men talk, all having strong voices that were heard easily.
“It’s a large buildup of warriors,” Jamie said as if he hadn’t believed his own eyes. “They have taken over the Clan Learmonth. They are everywhere on his land.”
“Was there anyone there recognizable to you?” Parlan asked.
“Not a one. I crept close to make sure there was no one there known to me. I heard a group of men talking. They bragged about the abundance of coin they would receive for fighting.”
“Why would the King send so many men and make such promises?” Arran asked.
“He didn’t,” Jamie said.
Royden was quick to ask, “What do you mean?”
“These men don’t fight for the King. They fight for coins,” Jamie said.
“Are you saying the King has nothing to do with this army of warriors?” Arran asked.
“I am,” Jamie said. “From what I heard the King has no part in this. I even heard one say the fool King wouldn’t know what happened until it was too late.”
“Then who?” Royden asked.
“That I couldn’t find out. No name was mentioned and I wondered if the warriors even knew who they fought for,” Jamie explained.
“We need to alert the other clans and join forces to combat this troop,” Parlan said.
“I wish I could wed Oria today,” Royden said.
“The cleric won’t arrive until tomorrow,” Parlan reminded him. “I would suggest you handfast, but it’s not as binding as being joined by a cleric.”
“You might not want to wed her at all,” Jamie said.
Oria’s skin prickled at his words.
“Why do you say that?” Royden asked, ready to strangle Jamie for even suggesting it.
“The warriors talked about their instructions. It seems that when they attack a clan if the daughter of the clan leader is wed, they’re ordered to kill him, making her a widow and free to wed again,” Jamie explained.
“Nothing is going to stop me from marrying Oria tomorrow,” Royden said.
Oria rushed out of the shadows to fling the door open so hard, it banged against the wall as she looked as if she flew into the room. “I will not wed you tomorrow, Royden.”
Chapter 8
Royden got up from where he sat at the table, took Oria by the arm, and guided her a bit forcefully out of the room.
“Get in there, Raven, and tell Da you were listening,” Royden ordered even though he couldn’t see her when he stepped into the hall. “And don’t ever involve Oria in your antics again or you will feel the sting of my hand.”
That had Raven stepping out of the shadows. “Da would never permit it.”
“My wife, my rules,” Royden said.
“Raven didn’t involve me. I chose to listen to what all you men had to say on my own,” Oria said, refusing to let Raven get blamed for something that was not her fault.
“Perhaps, but her influence can have dire effects,” Royden said.
Raven opened her mouth to argue.
“Not a word,” Royden warned. “Get in there and tell Da you’ve been listening to the conversation.”
Raven went to do as her brother said, seeing no other way out, but first, she said, “Oria is right. You two shouldn�
�t wed. It could mean your death.”
“In the room,” Royden ordered tersely and once the door closed behind her, he hurried Oria through the keep, up the stairs, and to his bedchamber.
“I can’t be here,” she said when he shut the door behind them.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’ll be husband and wife tomorrow. In that bed,” —he gave a nod toward the sizeable bed wearing fresh linens— “is where we’ll seal our vows. It is where we will join in love. Where you will birth our children. Where we will face joys and sorrows, and where we’ll grow old together. I want that with you more than anything in this life and I won’t let it be taken from me.”
“If we’re attacked you could die,” she said, her voice quivering with fear. “I couldn’t bear that.”
“And I couldn’t bear death knowing I didn’t make you my wife,” he said. “You will stay here at the keep tonight and before noon tomorrow we will become husband and wife. And we’ll share that bed tomorrow night and for all the years to come.”
His loving words wrapped gently around her heart and she stepped close to lean against him, praying he was right, that they would share the years to come.
His arms drifted around her as they so often did and hugged her tight, and he gave no thought to what he did next. It was sheer instinct.
With strong arms holding her tight, he walked her to the bed and dropped down on it to lie side by side.
“This isn’t pro—”
Royden kissed her silent, her lips too tempting to ignore. His hand inched down slowly to her backside and he eased her against him, nestling his manhood firm between her legs.
It didn’t frighten Oria being here in his bedchamber with him. Royden would never force himself on her. He was an honorable man. However, she wasn’t sure about herself. Her need for him had been growing stronger by the day and lying here so intimately with him, feeling how he swelled hard against her, left her far too vulnerable to temptation.
One night. One night. That’s all that was left and they’d be wed.
“One night,” she said reluctantly, not only reminding herself, but him as well.
“I know, and after all this time one night seems like an eternity. But I wanted to bring you here for you to see our future together and that future starts tomorrow when we join as husband and wife.” He brushed his lips faintly over hers, as if not trusting himself to do more.
The delicate touch of his lips sent her flesh prickling. Good Lord, but she wanted to make love with this man so badly. This man she had loved since as long as she could remember.
“We will sneak away from the celebration early tomorrow,” he said, wondering how he had ever made it this far without coupling with Oria. But then it wasn’t a quick poke he was looking for, it was something far more meaningful.
Oria rested her hand to his cheek. “Please know that no matter what happens, I love you and only you forever. Nothing, absolutely nothing will ever change that.”
“Nothing will ever come between us, Oria. Our love would never allow it,” he said. “I love you more with every moment we spend together and that will never change. So tell me now that you will wed me tomorrow, for I will not have you wed me against your will. You come to me freely, of your own accord, your own choice, or not at all.”
His words melted her heart and nothing could stop her from saying, “I will proudly marry you tomorrow, Royden.”
“Good and no more sneaking around with my sister,” he said.
“Would you have told me what was discussed?”
“You need not worry about such things,” he assured her.
“I need to be as prepared as you to protect my home and those I love. Don’t treat me like a child as you do your sister. I am to be your wife and I want to share everything with you; the good, the bad, the worry, the joy. All of it.”
“It’s a brave woman I wed,” Royden said with pride.
“Then tell me. Is battle imminent?” she asked, fear roiling her stomach.
“It would appear that way. My da will send messages out to the clans to unite and prepare for attack. If we join forces, we should have no problem conquering them, since it appears that the troop consists of men who work for coin. They’re not a faithful lot. They will run if they see that the battle isn’t going their way.”
“When do you think they’ll attack?”
“That’s difficult to say. It’s also difficult to say which clan will be next, but if we’re prepared and have runners ready to alert the other clans when an attack occurs, then there is a very good chance of defeat. Once we capture some of the warriors we can find out who is behind this and stop him.” He kissed her cheek. “Worry not. It will be over before it starts.”
Oria was about to mention what Raven had said about the witch and ask him if he intended to tell her about it, but stopped. There had been enough worry for one day. There was time to discuss that with him after the wedding. And right now that was all she wanted to think about—she and Royden exchanging vows and becoming husband and wife.
Tomorrow would be their day. They would join as one and together they would face whatever fate sent their way.
Raven was left facing her da and Arran. She stood, her da not offering her a seat. He tapped the table with one finger as he stared at her, a sign of his frustration. Arran glared at her, something she was used to, though there was a smugness to it that irritated her. How he could be so loving and caring one time and such an arse the next, she couldn’t understand. However, that didn’t change the fact that she loved him.
Instead of waiting for her da to speak, she spoke up. “Do you intend to send me to the convent?”
Her da stopped tapping the table, but it was Arran who spoke.
“It would be the best thing for you.”
She shot him a quick scowl of her own. “It isn’t your choice.”
“No, but Arran does make a good point,” her da said.
“I won’t go and if you send me, I’ll escape and make my way back home,” she said defiantly.
Her da leaned his elbow on the table and rubbed his brow.
It took that picture of him to make her realize how much she had upset him and that bothered her. He was a good, fair, and loving da, and she didn’t want to cause him worry, especially now with battle looming so close.
“I’m sorry, Da, I truly am. I’m worried, more so since the witch spoke to me, and I needed to know what goes on. I need to know how to help.”
“You know what to do if we’re attacked. You remain in the keep with the women and children where you’ll be safe,” Arran said.
Raven didn’t want to hide away. She wanted to defend her clan, her family, her home. She wisely held her tongue, knowing her words, her plea would make no difference.
“It is important your brothers and I know you’re safe while we fight. These men we will fight are not men of honor. They don’t fight for a cause. They fight for coin and what they can get, what they’ve been promised. While the convent might be the best place for you right now, I feel you’d be safer here with us.” Her da turned his eyes on Arran. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“As much as I think my sister would benefit from some time at the convent, I do agree. She’d be safer here.”
Raven silently blessed her brother.
“Arran will continue to train you in defending yourself, but when the time comes, I’ll have your word you will do as you’ve been told and seek the safety of the keep,” her da said with a stern glare.
Raven wasn’t happy about hiding out while her brothers and father fought, but she also wasn’t so foolish to think she had the skill to fight seasoned warriors. She only hoped that there would be enough time for her to learn more skills in case she would need them.
“I’ll do as you say, Da,” Raven said.
His stern glare remained when he said, “I’ll have your word, daughter.”
That was difficult for her to commit to and she explained why. “Please, Da, listen t
o why I can’t do that.” She was relieved when he nodded, granting her permission to continue. “No one knows what a battle may bring. What if it was necessary to leave the keep to protect those within it? I can’t give my word when I don’t know what the circumstances may force upon me.”
“I see your point,” her da said, “but under no circumstance are you to join the fray. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, Da,” she said with a nod.
Her da stood and went to her. “There is one thing that I will have your word on, Raven.”
Fear clenched Raven’s stomach when she saw her da’s eyes grow moist.
“If for some reason you are separated from me and your brothers, you will survive until we reach you. No matter what, you are to survive. On that, I’ll have your word.”
She’d never heard her da sound so adamant and it sent gooseflesh running over her, though she did as her da asked. “You have my word, Da.”
He hugged her tight, tighter than he’d ever hugged her, almost as if somehow his hug could keep her safe. What frightened her even more was that she worried it would be the last time he ever hugged her, and she clung to him afraid to let go.
“There is nothing to worry about. Today we wed,” Royden said, reaching out to take Oria in his arms and stop her pacing in front of one of the many trestle tables in the Great Hall. “The troop sent to escort the cleric should be here within the hour and shortly after that we’ll be wed.”
“There’s still time to run, Oria,” Arran said with a laugh as he approached the couple.
“Never,” Oria said, smiling.
“A fearless woman, if only I could find one,” Arran said with another laugh.
“You’re off to see how the sentinels do?” Royden asked as if his brother needed reminding.
Arran turned serious. “All looked good only a short time ago. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about today. You’ll be husband and wife soon enough. And I expect to be made an uncle not long after.”
Oria’s cheeks blushed.
Not so Royden, he grinned. “We’ll get right to work on that.”
Oria’s slight blush flamed, turning her cheeks bright red.
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