Verity wanted nothing more than to take her leave as Hemera did, but the King would see Hemera protected and for that she would let anything be known about her. She stretched her arm out to Anin.
Her touch was soft and the gentle look in her eyes never wavered.
As soon as Anin’s hand slipped off Verity, the King ordered, “Tell me.”
“Verity is kind and trustworthy like Hemera. Her heart belongs to Wrath and always will. It did shortly after she had met him in her visions. She has great power that she has yet to harness and will be of much help to you, but... the Northmen want her badly.”
“Why?” the King asked.
“They believe her skill can help them conquer you and they fear if she remains with you, she will help you conquer them.”
The King nodded. “I wish to speak to your husbands alone. Wait for them in the feasting hall.”
Paine stood and went to lift his wife.
“I can walk. I may limp a bit, but I can walk,” Anin insisted and Paine scowled.
Verity hurried around the table, after giving Wrath’s hand a squeeze. “I will help her.”
The first wince had Paine ready to scoop Anin up, but the look she shot him warned him not to dare touch her.
“Wince again, wife, and I will carry you whether you like it or not,” Paine said.
Verity slipped her shoulder under Anin’s arm as she helped her take the next step and Paine scowled when his wife sent him a smile.
One of the two guards at the door, closed it behind them and when Verity spotted Minn sitting at a table in the feasting hall alone, she headed toward her.
Minn hurried off the bench and went to help Verity with Anin.
Once Anin was seated comfortably, Verity said, “I will go see if Hemera is hungry.” She hurried outside. Darkness had fallen and she was glad for the torches high atop the wooden poles that lit the area. She looked about, and not seeing her sister, grew concerned. She reminded herself that the stronghold gates had been closed and that the wolf was probably still with Hemera. When her sister was hungry, she would join them.
She returned inside to the two women and was soon smiling and laughing with them. Experiences were shared and tales told, food eaten, and drinks enjoyed. Though, she did not know the two women well, she was glad she was getting to know them and looked forward to calling them friends.
“I am starving.”
Verity turned with a smile upon hearing her sister. “Come join us. There is plenty.”
Hemera hurried around the table and sat beside Minn, across from her sister and Anin, and reached for a quail egg and a piece of bread. “I came across a dwelling that would do well for me. It sits removed from other dwellings and would give me the quiet I prefer.”
Anin smiled at her. “The executioner’s dwelling.”
Hemera nodded. “I recalled you telling me how you and Paine would be living there no more and how pleased you were that the Master Builder’s dwelling was closer to other dwellings.”
“That dwelling is for the executioner,” Verity said, thinking it was not a good place for her sister to live.
“I have thought on this,” Hemera said. “It would only be until another executioner is chosen and in the meantime I am sure something else can be found for me. For now, however, it would do.”
“It would be the King’s decision,” Anin said. “I think it would be wise to wait until the morrow to approach the King about this. I will speak to Paine and have him speak to the King on your behalf. But you are welcome to stay at the Master Builder’s dwelling tonight, if you would like.”
Hemera’s face brightened. “Aye, I would very much like that.”
Verity was glad that at least tonight’s sleeping arrangements had been made and she need not worry about her. The dwelling was not that far from Wrath’s place, so Hemera would be close by.
They chatted more, though Hemera mostly listened. And she was the only one who noticed that Tilden hurried into the hall and after speaking with the guards at the door to the High Council Chambers was allowed to enter. It was not long after that he emerged only to rush out of the hall.
After Minn yawned several times, she said, “Time to take my leave and get some sleep.” She stood and turned, the hem of her sleeve snagging on the hilt of her sword. She pulled it off and shoved her sleeve up to keep it from snagging again as she reached for her cloak on the bench.
A hand suddenly coiled tight around her wrist.
“You better have a good reason for grabbing me like that,” Minn warned as she turned her head to look at Hemera.
Hemera released her and pointed to the drawing that circled Minn’s wrist. It was a circle within a continuous circle, connecting to another continuous circle that wrapped completely around her wrist. “Forever connected—the Alpin Tribe.”
“Aye, Alpin Tribe is my original tribe that was decimated during the battles to unify the tribes. I am the last Alpin.”
Hemera smiled and shook her head. “No, you are not. Verity and I are from the Alpin Tribe.”
Minn felt her legs give way and she dropped down on the bench.
Verity stared at her sister. “You remember that? I barely remember anything of our tribe, though Minn’s marking did look familiar.”
“Mum had the exact drawing on her wrist. She would tell me of the Alpin and what a proud and brave tribe they were.”
Minn looked to Hemera and Verity. “I have family again.”
Verity was surprised to see tears form in Minn’s eyes. She did not think Minn ever cried and it touched her heart. She reached her hand out across the table and Minn grabbed hold of it.
Hemera laid her hand on top of theirs. “Mum would be happy to know that we have truly returned home to our tribe.”
“We are forever connected as the drawing shows. I will protect you with my life,” Minn pledged as if sealing a pact.
Verity and Hemera repeated the same and a tear fell from Minn’s one eye.
“You must have your wrists marked so all will see that the Alpin Tribe survives,” Minn said.
Verity nodded along with her sister. She was shocked and thrilled to discover not only her past but to find someone that was still connected with it. She had to ask, “Do you recall the Northmen attack on the Alpin Tribe?”
Minn shook her head. “The Northmen never attacked the Alpin Tribe.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Verity had no time to question Minn. A summons came for her to join the meeting with the King. Verity and Anin were instructed to go to their dwellings that their husbands would be longer than expected.
As Verity and Hemera helped Anin to her feet, Broc and Gelhard entered the feasting hall and the doors to the High Council Chambers were immediately opened for them. Two more men hurried into the hall, along with Tilden, and were also let into the room.
“The King has convened a High Council meeting. Something is amiss,” Anin said.
It was a slow trek to Anin’s dwelling, Bog joining them along the way and keeping close to Anin. Hemera saw to settling her on her sleeping pallet and Verity tended the fire pit. After making sure all was good with her, the sisters took their leave.
Verity took Hemera’s arm and they walked in silence at first.
“It is good to be together again,” Verity said, hugging her sister’s arm. “I have missed you so much.”
“You should not have worried so much. Your visions showed we would get the help we needed,” Hemera said, leaning her head to rest briefly against her sister’s. “I am glad Wrath is the good man you saw him to be. Perhaps now you will trust your visions.”
“I am learning to.”
“I am truly happy for you,” Hemera said, her wide smile proving it so.
“One day you will find someone to care for you and be as happy as I am.”
“I am happy now, for being free of the Northmen brings me more joy than any man could.”
“Aye, I feel the same joy at finally being free,” Ve
rity agreed. “It was odd that Minn should say that the Northmen never attacked our tribe.”
“We are here,” Hemera announced, stopping and paying no heed to her sister’s remark.
Verity looked to see that they were standing in front of a dwelling that was impressive in size. Though, she had passed it often enough she had paid little attention to it. Seeing it now, she thought it a good dwelling for Paine and Anin, especially with his recent status of being made Master Builder.
“I will stay here until Paine and Anin move and then I shall reside in their old dwelling,” Hemera said as if it was the most joyous news.
Verity did not like that Hemera planned to live in the executioner’s dwelling, and she hoped to speak with Wrath and find her another place before that happened.
They entered and Verity was surprised that there were two rooms. One held a table and two benches that could easily seat four people and a narrow sleeping pallet that barely looked big enough for one. The other room held a sleeping pallet large enough for more than two people.
Verity was glad that Hemera wanted her to stay and talk. Sometimes her sister preferred being alone than to being with others, but it had been too long since they had been apart and there was much for them to discuss. They talked and talked and talked, thinking of nothing but this time together and the future. They let their time with the Northmen remain in the past. When they both yawned at the same time, they laughed and decided it was time to sleep.
After giving her sister a tight hug, Verity took her leave and was glad when she finally disrobed and crawled into her own sleeping pallet. As much as she would have liked to wait for her husband to return, she could not keep her eyes open and she fell asleep shortly after pulling the blanket over her.
Repeated shouts woke Verity and she shook the sleep off her and hurried into her garments. Her husband’s scent was not on her. He had not returned to their dwelling last night and she feared what might have kept him. Once outside, she did not have to ask what was amiss.
“The Northmen approach! The Northmen approach!”
Verity quickly went in search of Hemera, but she was not where Verity had left her last night. She was about to search for her when she heard her husband shout her name. She turned and he held his arms out to her and hurried toward him.
“There is nothing to fear,” he said as he caught her in a solid embrace. “Ulric approaches with a small troop and we are well prepared for him. The King will receive him and two of his warriors. Once it is done, Ulric will be escorted to our northern shore and sent on his way.”
It seemed simple enough, but knowing Ulric she did not think it would be as simple as Wrath made it seem.
“Hemera is not where I left her,” she said.
“She is safe in the stronghold. The gates have not opened yet. She is probably with Bog somewhere. A good thing since he will keep her well protected.” Wrath kept his arm around her as he turned her to walk alongside him. “We go fetch your cloak before we go to the feasting hall and wait for Ulric’s arrival.”
Verity had been so concerned with getting to Hemera that she had not realized she had forgotten her cloak.
Once inside their dwelling, Wrath grabbed her cloak from the peg and draped it around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him to kiss her lips gently. “There is something I have been meaning to say to you, and I do not want to wait any longer to say it.” His voice dropped to a whisper as he brought his lips close to hers. “Tuahna, wife, tuahna. Never have I felt for anyone as deeply as I feel for you. You are part of me and I am part of you. Nothing and no one can ever change that. We are bound together forever and I will have it no other way. Tuahna,” he whispered again and kissed her, not gently this time.
His kiss stole her breath and his words her heart, and when it ended, she labored to say, “Tuahna, husband, tuahna.”
He rested his brow to hers. “I will let no one harm you. No one.”
Verity cupped his face in her hands. “I am most grateful to have found you.”
His smile teased. “How grateful?”
Her smile matched his. “I will show you later.”
“I will make sure to dispatch Ulric with haste.”
A rap sounded at the door before it flew open.
Paine stood there, Anin beside him and Bog beside her. “The gate opens.”
Wrath took his wife’s hand and they followed alongside Paine after he scooped his wife up in his arms.
“I can walk,” Anin said.
“You are safer in my arms,” Paine said, “and that is the end of it.”
Anin did not argue.
“Have you seen Hemera?” Verity asked more concerned now, since seeing Bog with them.
“No,” Anin and Paine said together.
“I cannot find her.” Verity eyes darted wildly around her, hoping to spot her sister.
Wrath snapped his hand and Tilden was suddenly walking beside them. “Tell the men to watch for Hemera and when you see her bring her to me.”
Tilden nodded and hurried off.
Verity thanked her husband with a generous smile and stepped closer to him when they entered the feasting hall, never having seen it so crowded. Warriors stood shoulder to shoulder along the walls of the hall and the High Council stood off to the sides of the King who stood directly in front of the long table at the far end of the room.
It was easy to see why he was King. His stance was regal, his chin tilted up just enough to demonstrate his authority. He wore a near ankle-length tunic of fine cloth, the color of the rich dark earth and it was belted at the waist. His long dark hair was pulled back and tied tight with a strip of leather. It made the markings on the side of his face more prominent and the King appear more imposing than he already was, if that was possible.
The King summoned them with his hand, directing Paine to seat Anin, then stand to his one side. Wrath and Verity were instructed to stand to his other side. And there they stood, waiting.
Verity kept waiting for the door to open and Hemera to be escorted in by one of the King’s warriors, but it was not Hemera who entered when the door opened... it was Ulric.
She could not help but shiver as his mighty steps brought him closer and closer.
He was not as tall as Wrath, though he did not lack height and though slim, he was strong. She had seen him squeeze the life out of a man with no more than his hand. His long hair was similar to hers in color and his beard a slightly darker color with small braids running through it. His eyes were deep blue and while his features were not as fine as Wrath’s there was something about them that drew one’s attention and held it.
“King Talon,” Ulric addressed the King when he stopped in front of him.
The King’s acknowledgement was curt. “Ulric.”
“I have—”
“Why do Northmen walk Pict land without permission?” the King demanded.
“I requested—”
“I will tolerate no lies,” the King ordered, anger sparking his tone. “Northmen, other than the warriors with you, have been spotted on Pict soil.”
“I do not—”
“The Northmen intruders have been killed.” The King took a quick step forward. “Do you still wish to lie to me?”
Ulric glared at King Talon, his eyes narrowing in anger. “A band of rogue warriors who believe this land belong to the Northmen. Much like the rogue warriors who fight to dethrone you, a King—they feel—unworthy to rule.”
“Lars feels you so unworthy, he turns against you?”
Ulric clenched his one hand at his side. “Lars will suffer far worse than the others if I find this is so.”
“For once you speak the truth. When Lars is found, I will turn him over to the executioner.”
“I will search the land, find him, and see him punished,” Ulric ordered as if he was King.
“You will leave Pict soil, under escort, and not set foot here again. Your warriors will be found and executed, punishment befitting traitors.”
Anger was creeping up Ulric’s neck, scorching it red and spreading to his cheeks.
“And if you think to battle me over this, know that Girthrig and Lammok warriors surround your men outside and the Drust surround your camp not far from their shores. They have since the day you landed.”
Verity did not show her surprise at the King’s remark, though it had surprised her. It meant that the King had to have planned this as soon as he had received word of the Northmen’s arrival on Pict soil.
“I have no wont to battle you. I will collect what I came for—what is mine—and take my leave,” Ulric said.
“Your rogue warriors will be dealt with and harshly. There is nothing for you to collect.”
“You have something else that belongs to me.”
“What is it that you believe I have that belongs to you?” the King demanded.
“My wife.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Ulric pointed to Verity. “She is my wife. I will take her and be on my way.” He stepped to the side of the King to approach Verity.
Wrath stepped forward as he pushed Verity behind him, shielding her and as he did he heard her whisper, “He lies.”
“Take another step toward my wife and I will kill you.” Not for a moment did Wrath believe Ulric, and while Verity need not have confirmed it, it pleased him that she did.
Ulric turned angry eyes on Wrath, then looked to King Talon. “Verity cannot be his wife. She is wed to me and I will have her returned to me. She fills your head with lies. No doubt she has claimed she is Pict.” He pointed at her. “She is no more Pict than I am. Do you see any markings on her?”
“I see a mark left from a rope being kept around her neck like a slave,” King Talon responded sharply.
Ulric’s retort was just as sharp. “A fitting punishment for a wife who disobeys her husband.”
“If she is such a troublesome wife, why do you wish her returned to you?” King Talon demanded.
“Like you, I keep what is mine and Verity is mine.” He turned a grin on Wrath. “Besides she pleases me in many different ways.”
Wrath wanted to pound Ulric until there was nothing left of him, and it took all his strength to stop himself from doing so. Instead, he leaned close to the King and whispered in his ear, “I took her maidenhead.” How to prove it, he did not know, but at least the King would know for sure that Ulric spoke falsely.
The King's Warrior (Pict King Series Book 2) Page 28