Morgan had been puttering as he went about serving his important guests. Suddenly he glanced up at them sharply and chuckled. His uncharacteristic good humour captured their attention. “What is it?”
Morgan laughed out loud. “You two are aware Glain is a twin also?”
Both men stared at him open-mouthed for long moments, then grinned. They had played a similar ruse on more than one occasion, each one pretending to be the other, and understood in a way. The women had successfully tricked them.
Rhun laughed at the irony, banging his fist on the table. “Now it’s our turn to be toyed with by a set of twins. I suppose it’s only justice. Did you guess we wooed two different women?”
Rhydderch grinned. “No! Though, now I think on it, I’m not sure. But mayhap we can turn the game to our advantage.”
“How so, brother mine? I’m all ears.”
***
Glain came within sight of the village and soon learned the red headed twins had come back. Hope and dread assailed her. Curses that Isolda was in Affetside. She had longed to be with Rhun again and Isolda pined for Rhydderch. But how would the men react to their trickery? Redheads sometimes had terrible tempers. Perhaps she should wait until her sister’s return before she told them? Wouldn’t they be surprised by two Glains! She stole into her cottage, anxious to wash away the dust of the journey.
Someone knocked. “Glain!”
She spun round. Which twin would she face? She opened the door and her throat constricted. The tingling in her breasts said Rhun. She wanted to throw her arms around him, tell him how she regretted the deception. He had a strange smile on his face. He took her hands, leaned forward, and nuzzled her neck. “I’m overjoyed to see you again, Glain. We were delayed by the birth of our niece, but we’ve come at last. It’s a beautiful warm evening. Will you join me for a walk?”
She eyed him hesitantly. Young women of good repute did not enter the woods alone with a man. “Your brother has come also?”
“He has.”
She was not completely sure whether she was speaking to Rhun or Rhydderch, but the warmth seeping into her body from his hands made her hope it was Rhun. “I suppose it can do no harm if we don’t go far. I too am glad you’ve returned.”
He squeezed her hand and winked. “Both of us?”
A warm wetness pooled between her legs, rendering her barely able to whisper, “Yes.”
“Good. We won’t wander far. Remember, I’m a man of honour. My brother and I are both honourable men.”
The alarm should have sounded in her head, but, enamoured with Rhun with whom she hoped she spoke, it did not. They had gone only a few yards into the woods when Rhydderch appeared, linking his arm in the one not joined by Rhun.
The two lifted her and increased their pace.
Fear and excitement warred within her. “My lords!”
They came to a sudden halt. She swayed with relief, her breath coming in gasps as her feet touched the ground. Rhun put his hands on her shoulders. Rhydderch stood behind her and took her by the waist. Rhun frowned as he looked her in the eye. “Rhydderch and I are both in love with you. We’ve pondered the problem and have decided we care too much about each other to fight over you. We intend to share you.”
Heat rushed from her face into her breasts. Her throat dried up. She had to tell them, but couldn’t seem to speak.
“One of us will marry you, and both of us will make passionate love to you. I’ll caress—”
Her knees buckled. She throbbed in intimate places as a bolt of desire shot through her. Wet warmth pooled between her legs. Their grip tightened as they steadied her. “I can’t—we can’t—it’s not seemly—two men can’t—the church won’t—you don’t understand.”
Her mind whirled. Marriage had been proposed to her, but being bedded by two men, albeit two wondrously attractive men, at the same time? She was appalled and dangerously thrilled. If only Isolda would return.
Rhun continued, deepening his voice. “If you can’t accept our decision then either Rhydderch and I fight each other to the death—”
Tears welled. Something stuck in her throat. “No.”
“—or, you chose one of us, and the other withdraws.”
Glain wanted to weep. The game had gone wrong. She and her sister had made rivals of two wonderful men who had been bonded from birth. She knew the power of that unbreakable bond, but she had a life to live, insistent longings to assuage.
Rhun persisted. “Well? Perhaps if both of us kiss you it will make your decision easier?”
She nodded woodenly.
Rhun brushed his lips over hers and teased her with his tongue. She responded and opened to him. Arousal snaked into her belly and hardened her nipples. He withdrew immediately, leaving her bereft and shaking. Rhydderch moved to take his brother’s place and did the same thing. She felt nothing. One would be irrevocably hurt. She couldn’t meet their gaze. “I choose the first kiss.”
Rhun let out a long sigh and tilted her chin. She screwed her eyes tight shut.
“Open your eyes.”
She blinked and stared into his piercing green gaze.
“I’m Rhun, first to kiss Glain. You chose me, and I’m elated by your choice.”
His grin made her knees go weak again and she leaned into him. Dare she steal a glance at Rhydderch? Why did Rhun’s twin yet smile?
“Who will Isolda choose?” Rhydderch asked innocently.
They had been caught at their own game. Her jaw fell open and she laughed, wagging her finger at them. “You’ve played me. You’re as naughty as we are.”
Rhun caught hold of her accusing finger and drew her to him. “I’ll play you every night of our lives, Glain. I hope you’ll be naughty. Where is Isolda?”
“She’s staying with Ewan the Smithy in Affetside. He’s our uncle-by-marriage. It’s only three miles. I’ll send word.”
“No. We’ll all go.”
***
Isolda startled when one of the red-headed twins entered the blacksmith’s cottage. She was alone and this encounter was not seemly. How had he found her? Despite her misgivings, excitement surged—if it was Rhydderch. At the sight of him something clenched in her most private place and warmth tingled her spine.
His voice was serious. “Ah, Glain, here you are. Someone in your village told me you were in Affetside. I couldn’t wait for your return home. We need to speak.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. She felt his heat and her nipples hardened as his deep voice penetrated to her toes.
“My twin and I are both in love with you. We’ve decided we care too much about each other to fight over you. We intend to share. One of us will wed you, and both of us will make passionate love to you. I’ll caress—”
The heat drained from her body and cold chills ran up and down her spine. Her mouth fell open. She shut it abruptly, swallowing hard, afraid she might have drooled. “That can’t be, my lord.”
Is this Rhydderch?
The plot had gone awry. She had strong amorous feelings for this handsome warrior, but two of him at once? Time to tell the truth.
Rhydderch continued. “If you can’t accept our decision then either my brother and I fight each other to the death—”
Isolda gasped. “You’re twins! You cannot kill your brother.”
“—or, you choose one of us, and the other withdraws.”
Isolda struggled not to sob out loud. She and her sister had pitted two loyal men against each other who had been bonded from birth. She knew only too well about that unbreakable bond but had a constant new craving to assuage.
Rhydderch insisted. “Perhaps if both of us kiss you it will make your decision easier?”
Rhun entered the cottage.
“Here is my brother now.”
Isolda gasped. She opened her mouth to explain, but Rhydderch brushed his lips over hers and licked her tongue. A thudding pulse deafened her and the room spun. When he pulled away her knees buckled, and she grasped the edge o
f the table.
Rhun moved to take his brother’s place and kissed her. She felt nothing, though his big, warm hands were planted firmly about her waist.
Her heart filled with dread. She did not want to hurt one of them. She averted her eyes from their stern gazes, barely able to speak. “I choose the first kiss.”
Both men laughed. Not what she expected. She glanced up sharply.
“I’m Rhydderch, the first to kiss Isolda. You chose me, and I’m elated by your choice, but who will Glain actually choose?”
Isolda looked from one twin to the other and then laughed when her sister came into the cottage with a sheepish grin on her face. “These two beautiful men have caught us out, sister. But our bodies have betrayed our true feelings. I chose Rhun. You chose Rhydderch.”
Turning to Rhun, Glain explained, “A crone assisted the midwife at our birth. I was born first and Isolda a few minutes later. Betha had predicted to our mother she would birth twins, and Mammie trusted her, so wasn’t afraid or troubled. Betha brought her peace and confidence. She also predicted we would be skilled in healing, but undisciplined and difficult to control because our hair reflected the colour of the moon. We grew to be what she said we would become.
“Betha died when we were five, but her dying words foretold we would only find our match with another pair of twins. Our mother didn’t tell us of this until she lay dying two years ago. We were stricken with grief and didn’t pay attention. We forgot the prophecy. Our father had died years before, and we were alone then.”
Isolda smiled as she listened to her sister. She took over the story. “When you came to Llanfarran we should have remembered Betha’s words, but the naughty idea of teasing you with our deception filled our heads. We helped bring her forecast to fruition!”
Rhun laughed. “Your ruse had us confused for a while.”
Rhydderch agreed good-naturedly. “Yes, though on occasion I seemed to be repeating things I had said before and assumed you hadn’t listened! My heart and my body kept giving me different messages.”
Glain stopped laughing. “What do we do now? We’re simple healers who live here in this village where we were born, and you are famous warriors, brothers of the Prince of Powwydd, who live in a grand castle.”
Rhun and Rhydderch looked at each other and smiled. Rhun took the hand of the woman he loved. “Glain, I’ve found in you the woman of my heart, and Isolda, my brother wants you.”
Rhydderch drew Isolda to him. “When a man weds a woman, she leaves her home and goes to live with him. Your place will be in the castle with us, though it’s not a grand castle, only a llys.”
He embraced her and pressed the evidence of his desire against her. The heat of his well-muscled body seeped into her.
“Say you’ll wed me, Isolda.”
She glanced at her sister standing beside Rhun. He had a possessive arm around her shoulder. Tacit agreement passed between them.
She smiled. “I will be your wife, Rhydderch.” His sigh spoke of his deep longing as he brushed his lips on hers.
Rhun’s rich voice filled with emotion as he turned to Glain. “You can obviously be a very naughty woman, but I’m sometimes naughty myself! You’re the mate for me. Will you be my wife?”
“Rhun, the fates have brought us together. I will marry you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The impending separation loomed large. Rhun and Rhydderch assured Glain and Isolda they would return to Llanfarran soon. They needed Rhys’s blessing, and permission to hold the ceremony in the llys. The delight of the villagers seemed to signify their approval. Two of their own were to marry the patriot sons of Rhodri ap Owain.
Rhun and Rhydderch undertook to return in a fortnight. This would give the women time to gather their possessions and prepare for their marriage.
On the eve of their departure, Rhun motioned to Glain to climb with him into the cozy loft where the heat rising from the hearth accumulated. Glain had a spare cot there and Rhun dwarfed it as he lay down and pulled her on top of him. He enfolded her in his arms, nuzzling her neck. “I’ll miss you. I can’t sleep at night, dreaming of our bodies joining. I’m greedy for you.”
He thrust his hips against her and a warm, throbbing ache swelled deep inside as she felt the hard evidence of his need. “I’ll be yours, Rhun, but we must wait until we’re married. I intend to come to my bridal bed as a maid, and you want your bride to be a virgin on your wedding night.”
Her forthright words seemed to inflame him more. Should she perhaps stop twirling her fingers in his hair? He kissed her softly on the lips, and hugged her more tightly to his body. An involuntary moan emerged from deep in her throat.
Someone giggled. “Shh! Glain.” Her sister’s voice! Startled, Glain peered into the shadows. Isolda and Rhydderch snuggled together in a corner at the other end of the loft.
Rhun rolled his eyes. “So much for a private tryst.”
Both women tittered, their faces reddening. Rhun and Rhydderch came to their feet and each tried to shove the other off the ladder as they descended.
They called out their farewells as they left for Morgan’s cottage. Glain and Isolda embraced with a happy sigh and returned to their pallets.
***
The twins looked back often after leaving the village far behind. Their status and fame had made them objects of hero worship. Now they revelled in their first experience of women who behaved as their equals, playful women to boot. They congratulated each other, relieved their blood bond remained strong.
Upon arriving at Powwydd they learned to their frustration that Rhys and Annalise were still at Ellesmere. Impatient to plan for their double wedding at Powwydd, they rode on to Ellesmere to speak with Rhys and see Carys.
Their brother and sister greeted them warmly and expressed their amusement at the tale of the prank played on them.
Carys taunted them. “Serves you right. You’ve tricked too many people yourselves.”
Despite the twins’ insistence on an early wedding at Powwydd, Baudoin remained adamant Carys couldn’t travel yet for some time. Rhys refused to undertake another long journey with his leg still in bindings.
Rhydderch paced in exasperation. “It would be simpler to run off to marry. Isolda and Glain will fear we’re not returning. We won’t make it back within the fortnight.”
Rhun slapped his brother on the back. “Don’t worry, I’ve sent messengers to explain the delay, but I too grow weary of this impasse. My pride won’t allow me to consent to be married here in a Norman stronghold in England.”
Rhydderch banged his fist on the trestle table. “I agree. Glain and Isolda are Welshwomen. They’ll want to be wed in Wales.”
Rhun winked and laughed. “Oes, brother, wedded and bedded!”
A pageboy in Ellesmere livery interrupted their ribald laughter. He bowed and informed them a messenger waited in the bailey. They strolled out, but tensed when they recognized him as one of the men from Powwydd they had sent to Llanfarran. His evident consternation made them wary.
“My lords, we took your message, but the people have closed their village to outsiders. They’ll allow no one to enter.”
Rhydderch braced his legs and put his hands on his hips. “Why not?”
“A plague has been visited upon them.”
CHAPTER SIX
An unusual number of fevered infants were being brought to the healers. Their mothers complained they were sleepless and refused to eat. Others told of drowsiness or sluggishness. Some shielded their eyes against the daylight, even on an overcast day. At first, Glain and Isolda paid little mind, busy as they were preparing to leave. The interruptions annoyed them. The cottage filled with sick children and annoyance turned to deep concern.
Soon, no remedy helped and deaths occurred. They were at a loss. Adults too fell ill. Victims retched, suffered seizures and went into a sleep from which they could not be wakened before they died. Many suffered painful headaches and stiff necks.
Villagers they had k
nown all their lives acted erratically before they succumbed. The elders hurriedly erected barriers on the outskirts to curtail the risk of further diseases entering. Sentries prevented people leaving so the plague would not spread to neighbouring villages.
The villagers stoically accepted their fate as God’s will. No one attempted to leave. With no news from Affetside, Isolda fretted for the people there. An air of doom hung over all. Glain and Isolda despaired of ever seeing Rhun and Rhydderch again. Their efforts to heal their neighbours exhausted them. They were not shunned for their lack of success, but few came for help, seemingly resigned. Without ailments to tend, the sisters earned no income.
Food, never plentiful, became scarce. True to their calling, the twins continued to visit the sick, trying to ease the suffering of victims and console the bereaved. They kept cottages dimly lit and made sure the retching sufferer lay on his side. Watching children die in agony broke their hearts. In a fortnight, Llanfarran had become a place of death and despair.
***
Rapid changes in her sister alarmed Glain. She tried to sound cheerful when Isolda’s skin took on an abnormal pallor. “Keep your spirits up, Isolda. Some people are recovering. Pray this will soon be over. We must survive.”
Isolda huddled closer to the meagre fire. “I’m cold. My hands and feet are freezing. My body aches.”
Filled with dread, Glain wrapped another brychan around her sister and rubbed her ice cold feet. The next day Isolda doubled over with stomach cramps, vomiting uncontrollably. Glain soothed her, but despaired her sister was dying.
A numbing fear gripped her. Life without Isolda? If only Rhun and Rhydderch—but no, at least they lived. She would never see Rhun again. No doubt she too would succumb once Isolda died. The promise of a future filled with love existed no more.
A ghastly rash covered Isolda by the third day of her illness. She struggled for breath. Glain surrendered to the tears she had held inside as the plague raged. She watched her twin sink into the sleep from which few awoke. Hungry, thirsty and exhausted, she dozed off, slumped to the table.
The Winds of the Heavens (Sons of Rhodri Medieval Romance Series) Page 3