As Sister Fallyn and Stefan each descended the ladder, Brigitta watched her sisters crossing a wide plank from the barge to the pier. At the end of the pier, a troop of soldiers waited.
“Your turn.” Rupert helped her over the railing, and she slowly descended to the dinghy.
She settled on a bench next to Sister Fallyn, who took her hand and squeezed it. Stefan sat across from them and caught her bag when Rupert tossed it down.
Rupert joined them in the dinghy and pushed them off from the Golden Star.
A part of Brigitta wanted to jump back on board with Rupert and sail away to live happily ever after. But how could they be happy if they ran away from their destiny?
As Rupert and Stefan rowed them ashore, she turned to face her sisters. They were waving and Maeve was crying. Poor Maeve.
“I won’t be able to hold this form for much longer,” Brody told her. “But I wanted to assure you that no matter how it might look, Leo is on your side.”
“All right.” With tears in her eyes, Brigitta waved at her sisters.
“We have to make it look authentic,” Brody added. “So when—”
“I missed you!” Brigitta called out to her sisters as the dinghy drew close to the pier.
“Brigitta!” her sisters cried out. “Sister Fallyn!”
Luciana’s father tossed a rope to Rupert, and he tied the dinghy off.
Sorcha and Maeve grabbed Brigitta to help her off the small boat, then pulled her into an embrace. Sister Fallyn followed, and soon they were all laughing and hugging.
“I was so afraid for you.” Luciana broke into tears as she held Brigitta close.
“I’m fine. I’m perfectly fine,” Brigitta assured her.
“I know.” Luciana wiped her cheeks. “I swear I cry at the drop of a hat these days. Let me show you the twins.”
Mother Ginessa proudly displayed one with a shock of red hair. “This is Eric.”
“And this is Eviana.” Gwennore showed off a sleeping baby with soft features and even softer black hair on the crown of her head.
“Oh, they’re beautiful.” Brigitta admired them and was so busy talking that she barely noticed Rupert and Stefan meeting Leo. But she stopped in midsentence when the troop of soldiers suddenly came charging down the pier.
Leo pointed at Rupert. “Arrest him!”
“What?” Brigitta gasped and started toward them.
Luciana grabbed her arm. “Don’t.”
“But—” Brigitta watched in horror as the soldiers ran after Rupert.
Stefan tried to stop them, but four of the soldiers jumped on him and pinned him down. At the end of the pier, a soldier caught Rupert by the arm. He planted a fist in the soldier’s face, knocking him out. Five more soldiers grabbed Rupert and wrenched his arms behind his back.
“No!” Brigitta cried.
Sister Fallyn fell to her knees, a hand pressed to her chest.
The troop’s captain marched up to Rupert and punched him in the jaw. “I’ve been trying to capture you for months!”
Rupert glared at him and spit out a mouthful of blood.
“Don’t hurt him,” Brigitta pleaded with tears in her eyes, but Luciana hushed her.
“Rupert, you are charged with piracy,” Leo announced. “The sentence is death.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Why are ye doing this?” Brigitta cried as she watched the troop of soldiers dragging Rupert and Stefan toward the village. “Where are ye taking them?”
“Come with me.” Luciana led her toward the barge.
“No!” Brigitta pulled away so she could follow Rupert.
Luciana grabbed her and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “The arrest was playacting. No one will be hurt.”
“What?” Brigitta asked.
Luciana sighed. “Brody was supposed to warn you.”
Sister Fallyn scrambled to her feet and joined them. “Will Stefan be all right?”
Mother Ginessa frowned at her. “Ye’re concerned for that pirate?”
The nun blushed. “I-I’m thinking about marrying him.”
All of Brigitta’s sisters gasped.
Mother Ginessa’s eyes widened with shock. “We need to talk.”
“Did ye fall in love?” Maeve asked.
“Aye, we want to hear all about it,” Sorcha demanded.
“We’ll leave you here for the moment,” Luciana told them, then led Brigitta onto the barge. “So Rupert is the tall and handsome man I predicted with the Telling Stones?”
“Aye.”
With a thoughtful look, Luciana opened the cabin door and motioned for Brigitta to enter.
Inside, Brigitta was impressed by how comfortable it was. There were deeply padded armchairs and settees, a table with six chairs, and a long sideboard covered with trays of food and pitchers of wine.
“Are you hungry?” Luciana asked as she closed the door. “Help yourself.”
“I want to know what’s happening to Rupert and Stefan. Where are ye taking them?”
“It’s all part of the plan, so don’t worry.” Luciana eased into an armchair. “Nevis and his most trusted soldiers are taking them to a secluded cabin in the woods.”
“Who is Nevis?” Brigitta planted her hands on her hips. “Is he the bastard who punched my Rupert in the face?”
Luciana’s mouth twitched. “I see Brody is right. You’re quite smitten with this Rupert. But there’s no need to be angry with Nevis. He’s a good man. He’s Leo’s best friend and a captain in the army.”
Brigitta snorted, but Luciana ignored it and continued, “At the cabin, one of Nevis’s men will don Rupert’s disguise. Then Nevis will have one of his troops escort the false Rupert to Ebton Palace, where he will be kept in a private room in the dungeon. From there, the story will be that Rupert attempted an escape and was accidentally killed while being recaptured. His disguise will be posted publicly as proof that the infamous pirate Rupert is dead.”
Dead. Brigitta sat across from her sister. She would miss the Rupert she knew.
Luciana sighed. “Brody really should have warned you.”
“I think he did. I just didn’t hear it.” But Rupert must have known. He could have blown those soldiers away and escaped if he’d wanted to. But he had played along. And that was why he had worn the old disguise. So now Rupert would be dead. Brigitta shook her head. “I don’t know what to call him. He’ll always be Rupert to me.”
“You must be careful,” Luciana warned her. “You can never call him by that name in public.”
“Is he coming back here? When will I see him again?”
Luciana hesitated a moment before speaking. “My father is traveling with them. At the cabin, Rupert will change into the clothes of a nobleman. Then my father and Rupert will ride to Ebton Palace together as the Duke of Vindalyn and his vassal, Baron Suffield. That way, my father can introduce Rupert at court. It’s the best way to validate Rupert’s new identity. And it’s very important that the Tourinian ambassador and his spies see him as the baron.”
Brigitta nodded. “I see. So we’re taking the barge back to the palace? I’ll see Rupert there?”
With a sigh, Luciana sat back in her chair. “You won’t see him again until he arrives in Lourdon for the competition.”
“What?” Brigitta jumped to her feet. “But we didn’t get to say good-bye.”
“We can’t risk anyone seeing you with Baron Suffield,” Luciana explained. “You’re not supposed to know him.”
Brigitta frowned. “Do we really have to be that careful? Surely, there’s a private place—”
“You don’t know what’s been going on since Leo and I became king and queen. For the most part, our people seem really happy with us, but unfortunately, there is a faction that wants to kill us and take over the throne.”
Brigitta’s eyes widened. “Are ye in danger?”
“Nevis and his father, General Harden, are doing their best to keep the peace. And Leo’s lightning power keeps us safe. The problem
is the royal order of priests who used to work as spies for the crown. We disbanded them. Our people are delighted that they no longer have to live in fear. But the priests hated losing the power they wielded over everyone. Their leader is Lord Morris, who was chief counsel to the late king. Lord Morris and the disgruntled priests have allied themselves with your brother, King Gunther of Tourin.”
Brigitta sat back down. “I don’t like to think of him as a brother.”
Luciana nodded. “By all accounts, he is a cruel man. He’s been hoarding gold for years while his people starve. And he’s using that gold to pay Lord Morris and his priests to spy on the Eberoni people and cause unrest.”
Brigitta winced. “No wonder ye want rid of him.”
“Gunther has provided the priests with enough gold to pay for information all over Eberon. The end result is there are very few people left whom we can trust.”
“So that’s why you staged that show?”
“Yes. The villagers saw our soldiers capturing the pirate Rupert and dragging him away. The news will spread, and Gunther will hear about it.” Luciana sat forward. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? Gunther is a dangerous man.”
“Brody will be with me. And Sister Fallyn.”
“But I won’t be there.” Luciana winced. “When I picked those Telling Stones eight months ago, I sensed danger. I kept hoping I was wrong. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to spend all those months worrying about it.”
Brigitta gave her a wry smile. “I worried anyway. I didn’t want to be the prize for a contest.”
“You could still back out. You don’t have to do this.”
“I know. Rupert could take the throne by force. When I thought fate was forcing the competition on me without my consent, I was thoroughly opposed to it. But now I realize it is a choice, and it’s the right choice. It will save lives. I can right the wrongs done to Rupert by my family. And I can prove to him that he can trust me.”
Luciana’s eyes glimmered with tears as she rose to her feet. “I’m so proud of you. I know you’ll do well.”
Brigitta jumped up and gave her a hug. “Thank you.”
“I’ve missed you so much.” Luciana wiped away a tear, then motioned to a small trunk next to the sideboard. “I’ve packed a few of my gowns for you to use.”
“Thank you. I missed you, too.”
“Nevis and his second troop will take you to the Tourinian border. Gunther will meet you there.”
Brigitta took a deep breath. “All right. When do I leave?”
“As soon as Nevis returns.” Luciana squeezed her hand. “Today.”
* * *
That evening, they arrived at the appointed meeting place, a bridge that crossed the Norva River at its narrowest point. The Norva began in the mountains of Norveshka, then flowed west toward the ocean, marking the border between Tourin and Eberon.
Brigitta was relieved that the uncomfortable ride in the small carriage was over, for the constant jostling had made her stomach ache. But her relief was short-lived. One look at the Tourinian army camped across the river, and her stomach lurched.
Nevis ordered his men to set up camp, while he ventured onto the bridge. The Tourinian officer in charge met him halfway. Then Nevis returned with the news.
Her brother had not yet arrived. So she and Sister Fallyn retired to their tent to rest. And wait. They ate supper and still waited. Finally, they stretched out on the cots Nevis had provided and tried to sleep. But it was hard to sleep when such an unknown future loomed before them.
The next morning, Sister Fallyn helped Brigitta dress in one of the gowns that Luciana had loaned to her. It was made of lovely turquoise silk with a matching scarf of sheer gauze. Instead of wearing the scarf over her head, Brigitta wrapped it around her shoulders to cover up the low neckline. Since the gown appeared brand-new and was the same color as her eyes, she suspected her dear sister had actually had it made for her.
She missed her sisters already.
Nevis invited them to his tent for breakfast, and Brody was there in human form. They sat around a small portable table.
“One of my men bought these at a local farm,” Nevis explained as he passed Brigitta a bowl of strawberries to go with her oatmeal.
“Thank you.” Brigitta forced herself to eat a few bites. Her appetite was gone, but she knew she needed to keep up her strength. “Do you think my brother will arrive today?”
“The lieutenant across the river thinks so,” Nevis replied as he filled their goblets with apple cider. “He confirmed that Gunther is on his way.”
“He’s making you wait on purpose,” Brody added between bites of oatmeal. “It’s his way of showing you he’s in charge.”
“He’s a royal ass,” Nevis muttered, then gave Brigitta an apologetic look. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Brigitta gave him a wry look. “Although I was upset when you hit Rupert so hard.”
Nevis winced. “Sorry. It was part of the show.”
“A part you thoroughly enjoyed,” Brody added with a smirk.
Nevis scowled at the shifter. “You don’t have to tell her that. Why don’t you go chase a squirrel?”
“There aren’t any,” Brody replied. “They all took one look at you and ran away.”
Nevis scoffed. “So you already checked for them this morning.”
Brigitta smiled to herself. Their bickering reminded her of being with her sisters. But before she could see them again, she would have to survive the ordeal with her brother. “Is there anything you can tell me about King Gunther that might be of help?”
“Ah.” Nevis ate a strawberry while he considered. “He’s a typical bully, so I would advise you not to appear weak in front of him. He will respect you more if you’re strong. At the same time, you mustn’t offend him. I’ve heard he has a terrible temper.” He turned to Brody. “Didn’t you tell me that?”
Brody nodded as he finished his bowl of oatmeal. “After his son and heir died from a fever, he went into a rage and blamed his wife for not taking good enough care of the boy. That night she accidentally fell down a flight of stairs and broke her neck.”
Brigitta gulped. “You mean he killed his wife?”
Brody shrugged. “There are some in the Tourinian court who believe so.”
“Goddesses protect us.” Sister Fallyn made the sign of the moons, then quickly clenched her hands together. “I must remember not to do that anymore.”
“True,” Nevis told her. “And be mindful of your speech. Worshipping the twin goddesses is forbidden in Tourin.”
Sister Fallyn nodded. “We’ll be careful.”
“Rupert told me my brother was unable to father children. Is that true?” Brigitta asked.
“Aye.” Nevis made a sour face as he finished his breakfast. “A few years ago, he had his breeches burned off in a battle with a Norveshki dragon.”
Brody nodded. “According to gossip at the Tourinian court, he’s unable to … perform in bed.”
Nevis shuddered. “I would pity the man if he wasn’t such an ass. No offense.”
“None taken.” Brigitta’s mind raced. Her brother’s misfortune could be considered good news for her. If she was the only way Gunther could have an heir, then he would have to keep her alive and healthy. “How do you know what people in the Tourinian court are saying?” she asked Brody.
Nevis snorted. “He slinks around the royal courts of Aerthlan as a dog.”
Brody arched an eyebrow. “I don’t slink. And I bring back a great deal of valuable information.”
“And a great number of fleas,” Nevis muttered.
Brigitta smiled. “I think he makes a very cute dog.”
Brody shot her an annoyed look. “Cute?”
Nevis laughed. “Watch out. He bites.”
“Only your favorite boots.” Brody smirked.
A sudden blast of horns made Brigitta and Sister Fallyn jump in their seats. Nevis and Brody darted to the tent entra
nce to take a look across the river.
“The royal ass has arrived,” Nevis muttered.
Brigitta’s heart pounded as she rose to her feet.
“Dear godd—” Sister Fallyn stopped herself.
“Go back to your tent and gather your things.” Nevis gave them a worried look. “Don’t trust Gunther or any of his minions. Don’t say anything to each other or Brody that you don’t mind being overheard, for believe me, he will have spies around you.”
Brigitta nodded. “I understand.”
“Do you have a weapon?” Nevis asked.
“I have a knife strapped to my thigh,” Brigitta replied. “Rupert taught me how to use it.”
Brody winced. “If you mention him from now on, you must do it with disdain toward the wretched pirate who kidnapped you.”
Brigitta nodded, her heart thudding in her ears. She knew they were trying to help, but they were making her more nervous. “We’ll meet you at the bridge in a few minutes.”
She and Sister Fallyn hurried back to their tent. The night before, she’d added her bundle from the ship to the small trunk of clothes that Luciana had given them.
Two soldiers carried the trunk as she and Sister Fallyn approached the bridge.
“We can do this,” she whispered, taking the nun’s hand.
Sister Fallyn squeezed her hand. “Aye, we can.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
He looked older than his thirty-one years, Brigitta thought the minute she spotted King Gunther standing on the north bank of the Norva River. He was richly clothed in black leather breeches and a tunic and cape that shimmered like gold in the morning sun. A golden crown set with jewels rested on his head, and another bejeweled, golden necklace made a wide circle around his shoulders. The clasp of his leather sword belt was gold, as well as the ornate scabbard that held his sword.
But in spite of all his finery, he was not a man who could ever look refined. His face was ruddy and bloated from excess drinking, his skin riddled with pockmarks and scars, his mouth thin and cruel.
She suppressed a shudder as his sharp blue eyes narrowed on her.
“Will you be all right?” Nevis whispered as he led her onto the bridge.
“Yes.” Thank the goddesses she didn’t have to face this alone. Sister Fallyn was right behind her, and Brody trotted beside her in dog form.
So I Married a Sorcerer Page 25