Wed to a Highland Warrior

by Donna Fletcher

  Tara spoke up. “That means that Reeve is not the future king since I am no Pict.”

  “Is that relief I hear?” Reeve asked as he hugged her.

  “Yes,” she said, cuddling closer to him. “You’re a handful now. I could not imagine how you would be if you were king.”

  Everyone laughed, the brothers’ teasing remarks agreeing with her.

  Charlotte was quick to point out. “That would omit Bryce and me since I am no Pict, and Mara is no Pict so that eliminates Trey, leaving Duncan to be the true king.”

  Dolca stepped forward. “I am the king’s grandmother, and Mercy is his half sister.”

  There were several audible gasps from the women.

  Charlotte took several steps away from Bryce. “It’s you. You’re the true king?” She shook her head. “I’m not a Pict. You knew this all along. You knew you could never wed me.”

  Bryce squared his shoulders and stepped forward, his head high, his muscles taut. “I am the rightful king, and you will be my queen.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “No, I will not. My da told me how important the true king was to Scotland. The good he would do, and how his queen would help him and bear him many children, one of whom would be king.” She shook her head again. “I will not see you sacrifice that for me. It is not right.”

  “You will be my queen,” he repeated, and stepped toward her, but she scooted back away from him. Odin made his way to her side, taking a protective stance next to her.

  “Your queen waits for you amongst the Picts,” Charlotte said. “And why don’t you seem surprised to know you have a sister?”

  Mara answered. “Bryce has known for some time that Mercy is his sister, and so have his brothers.”

  Bryce looked to Mercy. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you and sorry that Duncan was forced to keep it from you, but it was a matter of protection for us both.”

  Mercy nodded. “I understand. It’s just that all that time I thought my mum was trying to find you to make me your mistress when she was—”

  “Seeing to your protection,” Bryce said, “seeing you safely reunited with your brother, the king. She gave her life for both of us.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t understand any of it.”

  “Let me explain,” Dolca offered, looking to Bryce for permission.

  He nodded, and she continued.

  “After Bryce’s da was killed in battle, my daughter, Kate, knew that she had to do everything possible to protect the future king, and so a plan was set in motion. She had yet to receive her Pict markings, and so she decided that the best way to protect her son was to get close to his enemy. She had told Bryce time and again that if anything were to happen to her or his da, he was to go to Mara, her best friend, and she would take care of him. Once Kate was certain that Bryce had arrived at Mara’s safely, she left, and it took her a little time, but she made herself known to King Kenneth. Since she was a beautiful woman, he could not resist her; and so she became his mistress.”

  Dolca looked to Mercy. “She had no plans to give birth to the king’s child, but the herbs she took to prevent it from happening failed once, and so she gave birth to Mercy. She loved her dearly and knew that if the king ever found out that his daughter was half sister to the true king, he would surely kill her.

  “Kate spied on the king for years, supplying the MacAlpins with information they could never have learned any other way. She would pass the information to me, and I would pass it to Mara. Not many men pay attention to gossiping women. When she learned that the king knew of her deception she—” Dolca choked back tears.

  Mara continued. “She contacted her son and asked to meet with him so that she could be the one to tell him the truth. She also requested that he bring the piece of hide with him. It needed to be destroyed. No one could get it and learn the truth.”

  “What truth?” Charlotte asked.

  “That his queen was not living among the Picts,” Mara answered. “Bliss’s grandmum predicted the birth of the queen and how important it was to keep her safe, and so when she was born, her mum and da, Picts, left Pict territory and set out on a journey to do just that and to teach her all she would need to know to be a great queen.”

  Idris stepped forward. “Forgive me, dear daughter, for not telling you the truth, but it was imperative that you be kept safe for the king.”

  Charlotte shook her head, as if trying to comprehend it all. “I’m a Pict,” she said, as if saying it helped it to make sense. “What if I hadn’t fallen in love with the king?”

  Trey laughed. “Fate had decreed it. You and Bryce were always meant to be.”

  “You knew?” Charlotte asked.

  Trey shook his head. “None of us knew about you. That was for the king alone to know, and we all believed that was why mum was not too happy when you showed up with Bryce. You were no Pict as far as we knew.”

  “I wasn’t sure either since I was kept from knowing the queen’s identity,” Mara said. “It was only until later, when I spoke with Dolca, then with Idris, that I was told the truth.”

  “Again, I am sorry, Charlotte,” her da said. “I did what had to be done. What I knew would make you happy, and I was so very happy when you introduced me to Bryce. I knew when I saw how much you loved him that your mum and I had made the right choice those many years ago.”

  Charlotte turned sharply to glare at Bryce. “When did you know I was to be your queen?”

  “I knew nothing until after I fell in love with you and decided I would wed you whether you were a Pict or not,” he said.

  “That was a foolish and selfish thing to do,” she scolded walking over to him, then smiled. “But I am glad to hear it.”

  He took her in his arms. “It is also why I have waited to wed you. We will have a wedding ceremony and huge celebration once I am crowned king. And then I will crown you my queen.”

  There were many misty-eyed women and grinning men as the king kissed his future queen.

  Bliss leaned back against her husband, and it was a good thing she did. The vision hit fast, and she felt her body go limp and Trey’s arms close around her.

  Charlotte and she ran from the keep into the woods, snow covered the ground, and the skies were gray. She couldn’t sense if anyone followed, and yet she knew danger was near. She urged Charlotte to go faster, then, suddenly, they both stood on the edge of an open field, and she felt it heavy around her . . . death.

  She woke with a gasp and was grateful to find herself cradled in Trey’s arms, where he knelt on the floor. He held her close and looked relieved to see that the vision had ended.

  Everyone else stood in a circle around them, each looking more concerned than the other and for different reasons.

  Bryce asked the obvious question. “What did you see?”

  “Charlotte and I running from the keep and into the woods, snow on the ground, a cloudy sky, then an open meadow—” She grabbed her throat and coughed, unable to bring herself to finish.

  Trey stared at her, letting her know that he knew she had not told them everything. She turned, pressing her face against his chest, silently imploring him to leave it be for now. Thankfully, he did, though she knew it was only a temporary reprieve. He would want answers, and she would have to tell him.

  “It is time for this to end. I will not see any more of my people suffer,” Bryce said. “The seer predicted that when I meet death on my own, that is when I claim the throne. It is time for me to face King Kenneth. It is for him and me alone to join into battle and settle this once and for all.”

  Bliss sensed that his words rang true. The true king would bring an end to this, and peace would reign, but who would live to see it?

  It was a long evening, with so much to discuss. Dolca went into detail about Mercy and Bryce’s mum, and caused many a tear to fall. There were so many questions th
at could finally be answered and so many secrets allowed to be revealed.

  It seemed like yesterday that he and his brothers had been young and been told about the true king. They had all known it had been Bryce but since his mum never treated any of them differently, and Bryce had never tried to rule over them, they had grown up equals. That didn’t mean they would not give the king his due and show him respect, but Trey knew that to them and to Bryce, he would always be their brother first and king second.

  As the evening wore on, Bliss wore out quickly. With all that had happened since their return to the MacAlpin home, she hadn’t gotten much sleep. And as anxious as he was to ask her about her vision, he was more eager for her to rest. When they reached his bedchamber, she immediately climbed into bed and fell asleep in seconds. He thought to undress her, but he didn’t wish to disturb her, and so he lay down beside her and slept.

  He woke just as dawn was breaking, as he always did, and was surprised to find the spot beside him empty. He sat up and didn’t need to look far to find her.

  She was pacing the floor in front of the glowing hearth, her expression troubled.

  He got out of bed and approached her though he kept a distance from her. He wanted to reach out and take hold of her but wasn’t sure if he should, at least not just yet. “You are upset. Has it anything to do with your vision?”

  She shook her head, stopped pacing, then nodded and started walking again, only to shake her head once more.

  Trey thought he’d see if he could sense what agitated her, but after several minutes of feeling nothing, he had had enough. He stepped in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong. We will handle this together.”

  “Fate—”

  “Has sent me to help you,” he finished. “Now tell me so that I may do what fate intended.”

  She spoke fast, as if she feared she wouldn’t have the courage to finish. “Death hangs heavy in the air, and I know not whom it will strike.”

  Trey went cold inside, and every muscle in his body tightened in fear. “I will not let it take you.”

  “It is not your choice.”

  He knew he could not stop death, and yet he would battle death itself to keep her safe. A shiver raked her body, whether out of fear or chill, he did not know. “You are cold, come and let us talk in bed—”

  “No,” she snapped, and wrenched out of his arms. “I will not lie in that bed.”

  It took Trey a moment to make sense of her hostility, and when he realized the cause, he went to her side, slipped his arm around her, and hurried her out of the room.

  “I’m sorry,” he said once in the hall. “I should have never brought you here. Leora’s feelings linger, don’t they? How long have you been awake?”

  “Hours.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have moved us out of here.”

  “I was going to at first, then her feelings took hold, and I had to explore them.” Bliss shook her head. “She is not a happy woman.”

  “She has been through much.”

  “Perhaps, but she is free now to be with her family, and yet I sensed that she is more unhappy than ever.”

  Her words got Trey thinking as he directed her down the hall. What if Leora still lied to them? What if she still spied on them?

  Bryce and Mercy were in the great hall at the table when they entered.

  Trey and Bliss were reluctant to approach, knowing the two had much to discuss. Bryce waved them forward, and they joined the half siblings.

  “We’ve been talking for hours,” Mercy said. “Neither of us could sleep and found the other one down here, so it gave us time alone to talk.”

  “She’s told me so much about my mother that I never got a chance to know,” Bryce said.

  “And it has made me see her differently,” Mercy said, “and love and admire her more than I thought I ever could.” She grinned. “And to think it is my brother who will be king. I am so proud.”

  Bliss tensed suddenly, grabbing Trey’s arm. “Soldiers approach.”

  Bryce bolted off the bench just as the bell tolled, signaling the same.

  Bryce turned to Bliss. “Keep Charlotte safe.”

  “And yourself,” Trey added, before he and his brother ran out the door.

  Reeve and Duncan flew off the stairs and raced past them.

  “You women stay together,” Duncan ordered, before they disappeared out the door.

  Carmag and Mara followed, scurrying into the hall, Carmag taking after his sons and Mara turning to the women.

  “Get Tara, Charlotte, and the babies and bring them here,” Mara ordered.

  Mercy flew up the stairs, Bliss not far behind. “Duncan left the babes alone.”

  But once they reached the bedchamber, they found that Tara was already there with them. She scooped one up, and Mercy grabbed the other.

  “Go to Mara,” Bliss ordered. “I’ll get Charlotte.

  The women didn’t argue; they fled down the stairs while Bliss went up.

  Charlotte was hurrying out of the room as Bliss approached.

  “What’s happening?”

  Bliss was about to explain when she suddenly grabbed Charlotte by the arm and propelled her forward. “We have to get out of here.”

  Fear ran through Bliss, for she knew that her vision was soon to come true.

  Chapter 34

  Bryce and Trey sat atop their horses, watching as a troop of soldiers approached the edge of the village. Duncan and Reeve were quick to catch up with them, while a line of mighty warriors stood at the ready behind them.

  “The women are safe?” Trey asked.

  “They gather in the hall with Mum,” Reeve said.

  Trey felt relief wash over him and was ready to battle alongside his brothers though for some reason he did not think the soldiers were here to fight. Something was wrong, and he didn’t like it.

  One soldier approached. “It is time for the MacAlpin clan to pay allegiance to King Kenneth, the true king of Scotland.”

  Trey felt uneasy, and it rippled through his mare. She became skittish, hard to control, and he fought to keep a rein on her.

  Reeve moved his horse forward. “This is MacAlpin land, and the false king is not welcome here.”

  “This is the king’s land, and you will obey—”

  “We obey the true king,” Reeve shouted with fury. “Now get off our land.”

  The soldier laughed. “It is not your land, and you will learn that soon enough.”

  It worried all the brothers that the soldiers left without argument. Something wasn’t right, and as they rode back to the keep, their warriors remaining on the outskirts of the village in case the soldiers returned, the four felt on edge.

  It was as they got closer to the keep that Trey sensed it, and he looked to Bryce. “Bliss and Charlotte are in trouble.”

  The brothers rode hard, leaping off their horses as they reached the keep and rushing inside.

  Carmag was with his wife having remained behind to see to the protection of the keep and to protect the women. Mercy and Tara sat with Dolca, keeping the twins occupied. There was no sight of Bliss and Charlotte.

  “Where is Charlotte?” Bryce demanded, Odin’s head shooting up from where he lay sleeping by the hearth.

  “And Bliss,” Trey said, reaching out to her in his thoughts. Where are you, Bliss? Where are you?

  Bliss heard her husband and let him know that she and Charlotte were hiding just inside the woods, watching six soldiers, led by Leora, entering the secret passageway into the keep. As soon as she was certain no other soldiers followed, Charlotte and she would return to the keep.

  She was anxious to get to her husband and tell him what else she had sensed, that more soldiers than they thought surrounded the place and the sentinels who had guarded the border
s had been killed, while the attention of the other sentinels had been diverted by soldiers’ troop movements as the Picts made ready for an attack.

  The king’s various ploys had worked well. He had made everyone look elsewhere while his spy had snuck his men into the keep.

  Bliss waited impatiently with Charlotte though she wanted to run, ached to run as far as she could, but she knew it was impossible to outrun . . . death.

  Trey drew his sword and ran to the bottom of the stairs. His brothers were quick to follow.

  “Soldiers enter through the secret passageway of the keep, Leora guides them,” Trey said, once they were all gathered there. It angered him that he had once again allowed himself to believe Leora’s lies.

  “Charlotte?” Bryce asked, moving behind Trey.

  “Bliss and Charlotte are making their way back to the keep and should be in the hall once we finish with this lot.”

  Bryce smiled with relief. “Then let’s finish with these intruders.”

  The four brothers crept along the narrow staircase, stopping abruptly when they heard footfalls from above. Trey signaled to his brothers that they would need to strike fast and hard, taking the soldiers and Leora by surprise. It didn’t matter how many there were, the MacAlpin brothers were known for their fierce fighting abilities. Few stood a chance against them when they fought side by side.

  Trey nodded, making certain his brothers were ready, eager grins and nods letting him know they were not only ready but looking forward to the battle.

  The brothers struck so rapidly that the six soldiers were caught off guard, and the altercation took no time at all. Within minutes, the only one left alive was Leora.

  “Why?” Trey asked, his brothers nodding indicating that they wanted to know themselves.