William reached out a hand to her. They rode in silence for a long while.
Claire struggled with her uneasy thoughts but decided to just enjoy the good feelings that came from the realization that she would be Will’s wife. ‘Tomorrow is soon enough to tell him,’ she thought.
***
The next day, she gathered her courage and began, “Will, I’ve been thinking. We should probably wait a little while before we get married.”
“Oh?” he said, uneasily.
“I would like to continue my education with Edyth and Jorunn, and that takes up so much of my time.” She looked at him apprehensively.
“Claire, I don’t have a problem with my wife being a scholar.”
Claire looked down at the ground. “Will, thank you for that, but there’s more. There are more monsters, there are more problems.” Tears started running down her cheeks. “I just don’t know if this will work.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Claire, whatever is wrong, we can find a way to make this work. We’ll just take it one step at a time. Now … more monsters … Where are the monsters coming from?”
“Morcar,” Claire determinedly answered. “He already had several packs in Wessex. But Will, that’s not all. The reason Jorunn is with us is because he tracked as many as ten packs from Norway. Both he and Harold think the king of Norway is sending them over here to cause as much havoc as he can before he attacks us. We need to help Harold and Edyth against them.”
“But we can do that if we’re married. I don’t understand … Is there something else going on that you’re not telling me? A real reason why we shouldn’t marry?”
Claire looked at him with tortured eyes. “The day that Waltheof kicked me out of the family, one of the things we fought about was … you.” Claire inhaled shakily. “It’s a little complicated … Waltheof said that, since I was no longer a part of his family, I would probably be considered Harold and Edyth’s ward.
“Will, I don’t know if you are aware of this, but Harold is next in line for the crown of England. Waltheof told me that, if I were to marry a commoner, that could cause problems for Harold. People could object to a king who has a commoner in his family.”
“I see,” William said thoughtfully.
“I pointed out to Waltheof that Harold considers you his adopted son, but he said that would not stand up as an argument for Harold should people question his right to the crown.”
“Harold and Edyth are my mother and father,” William said. “I have no wish to do something that would be damaging to them, but Claire, I think I would die without you by my side. You’re a part of me. You have been since the day I saw you on that bridge. Is there an answer to any of this?”
“I’ve been thinking about this as we rode. Will, if you are willing to wait for me, I want to work with Edyth and Jorunn until they feel I’m ready to go off on my own. And there’s so much that you want to know. It may take a while before the whole story that Edyth has been keeping from you can be revealed. There’s more for me to learn, too. I get the feeling that some of what we learn is about you.”
William looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean? Do you know something about me that I don’t know?”
“Well, no. It’s just a feeling. The way I’ve seen you fight … I don’t know. Like I said, it’s just a feeling.”
They rode on in silence for a while.
“Will,” Claire began tentatively, “would you consider staying with Harold and Edyth until we both get the answers and education we want, then … they could renounce us so that we are no longer a hindrance to Harold politically. We could leave together, and then get married. We could go someplace where you could work with horses, and many towns need a healer.” Claire looked at him uncertainly. “I mean … I know that it is asking a lot, but what do you think?”
William shook his head. “Claire, you are of noble blood. There’s no way I could ask you to go off with me.”
“I asked you!” Claire objected.
“Claire, if Harold should be crowned king, you would be welcome in the royal court. There’s no way I would be. I couldn’t do that to you.”
“I want you to!” she cried.
“You do now, but what about five years from now?” William asked. “If our life is hard, you may regret it. And seeing you living a rough life when you could be a fine lady … Claire, I might not be able to take the guilt.”
“Oh, for goodness sake!” Claire yelled.
Lassiter, who was riding ahead with the string of horses, looked back. He quickly realized it would be best if he just kept riding.
Claire stopped her horse and climbed off. “William! Get down off that horse right this minute!”
William, looking very unsure of himself, dismounted and walked around to stand before Claire.
“Will, don’t cut my heart out of me. It’s been yours since the first time I saw you. If I can’t be yours, then what am I to do? You know I’m of marrying age. If I were to go to someone else, it would kill me. Would you be able to see me go off with someone else?”
William could not look at Claire. “No,” he whispered.
She stood with her hands on her hips for a moment, just looking at him. Finally, she took his hand. Dropping down on one knee, she said, “William Cutworth, will you marry me?”
William looked at her, his mouth dropping open.
“Well?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said weakly.
Claire got to her feet. William stood there in shock.
Luto, who was waiting behind Will, suddenly swung his head, smacking him in the back. William staggered forward into Claire’s arms.
Claire laughed. “At least your horse has some sense,” she said.
“We are riding into so many unknown, Claire. I promise to protect you with my life.”
“I know you will. I love you, William Cutworth.” Then, looking at him with mischief in her eyes, she added, “And I promise to learn to wield a sword well enough so that I can reach Morcar’s neck.”
William looked down at her. Stroking the hair back from her face, he leaned down and gently kissed her. “I want to be married on the bridge where I first saw you,” he said.
“I’d like that,” she whispered and kissed him again.
Volume 2 … Werewolves of Wessex; the Battle of Hastings is the story of one of the most important years in English history. Join Will and Claire in the year 1066 as Kings die, battles are won and lost, and monsters and immortals force our young couple to expand beyond their wildest dreams.
Will their love for one another survive the tests?
Characters That History Recorded
Harold Godwinson: Harold was the powerful Earl of Wessex and first in line to succeed Edward the Confessor as king of England.
Edyth the Fair: was the legitimate spouse of Harold Godwinson. Edith and Harold were married under the Danish more danico or hand-fast marriage custom.
Siward, Earl of Northumbria: was a great warrior who was reported to be a giant of a man. Siward grew to be a powerful figure during the reign of King Canute the Great, a Viking warrior who conquered England in the first decade of the eleventh century.
Waltheof: was the second son of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. When his older brother died, Waltheof became the only heir of Siward’s and in line to become the next Earl of Northumbria.
Edward the Confessor: At the end of 1065 King Edward the Confessor fell into a coma without clarifying his preference for the succession. He died on 5 January 1066.
Harald Hardrada: Harald Sigurdsson, given the epithet Hardrada in the sagas, was King of Norway from 1046 to 1066.
Morcar: The son of Ælfgār and brother of Ēadwine of Mercia. He became the earl of Northumbria from 1065 to 1066.
Maud: Claire’s sister (the one history did not forget) became the countess of Huntingdon.
Glossary
Blood Curse
A million years ago a war destroyed everything and everyone here on Earth, o
r as it was known then—Lantis. In an attempt to save those that they could, the Deminians infused their blood into the survivors. It was a gamble that saved thousands and yet came at such a dear cost it is now known as the blood curse—a curse that has, directly and indirectly, accounted for the loss of millions of lives.
Deminians
Deminians originated from one of the inner levels of creation. These beings have the ability to defy time and space, take on whatever shape they might desire, and mate with humans. God-like in their abilities, they are not gods, devils, demons, or angels. Yet they have played a significant role in everything that has happened on this planet for the past million years.
Drakul
Once human, these poor souls were attacked by Piretians for their blood and then left to die. They did not die. Instead, they were saddled with the curse of the being who attacked them. The curse imprisons their soul, focuses them on all that is evil and gives them an insatiable desire for fresh blood. The tales and myths of vampires originate from the drakul that are walking among us.
Feran
These souls, too, were once human, but now—pure evil—they lust only for the flesh of humans. Attacked by Lantians for their flesh, half eaten, and left for dead, they somehow survived, only to be entirely consumed by the curse of their attacker. The tales and myths of werewolves come from the feran, some of whom have been walking among us for 50,000 years.
History
A simple definition tells us that history is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. As this study is typically conducted by those people ensconced in the winning side of a war, philosophical debate, or any other event involving humans, we already know that most historical accounts are only half of the perspective. Add in the possibility that humanity is not the only sentient species on this planet and we have justification for the veracity of all twelve books in the Lantis collection.
Hunters
Due to the blood curse, thousands of humans were turned into blood-sucking and flesh-eating monsters. As these creatures are immortal, more powerful and cunning than humans, and only exist to kill, soon volunteers were stepping forward to do something about them. For the most part, these volunteers are the offspring of Lantians and Piretians who have mated with humans. (There are very few humans who hunt.) These hunters now dedicate their lives to the eradication of monsters.
Lantians
A million years ago Lantians lived in harmony with the planet. Magicians all, they were tall (six-foot five or more), muscular, and athletic. Theirs was a life of abundance and joy. Their way of being, their planet, Lantis, and their lives all ended when a two-day war with the Piretians wiped out everything. Today, the immortal survivors are not as tall nor are they magicians, but they do consider themselves superior to humanity. Along with the surviving Piretians, Lantians are involved with most everything of importance or note that happens on the planet.
Lascions
The blood curse prevents the Lantians from mating with one another. So, over the past 50,000 years, they have learned to live with and love those of the human race. These unions typically result in tall, athletic, and intelligent offspring who excel in sports, love nature and are, in every way possible, a head and shoulders above their human friends.
Piretians
Saved from a dying planet, the Piretians were transported to Earth when it was known as Lantis. But when their clash with the native Lantians escalated into war, only a small percentage of this scientifically orientated race was able to be saved. Brought to this time-line 50,000 years ago, the now immortal Piretians have formed a precarious peace with the surviving Lantians. The Piretians are thin, pale, intelligence, and somewhat arrogant beings who have always placed science above everything else.
Piscions
Like the Lantians, the blood curse prevents the Piretians from mating with one another. They too have looked for companionship among the human race. The resulting unions typically have resulted in thin, long-muscled beings who are super intelligent, quick afoot, and impressively strong. But most Piscions find the perfect place for them is the academic environment where math and science become their primary focus.
Rhombies
The term rhombie stems from the word Rhombencephalon—the portion of the brain concerned with survival. Rhombies are human beings who are convinced that the world is unfair, random, and never going to favor them. Believing that there is not enough to go around, they are willing to sell their soul for a way to the top.
Trias
A million years ago it was prophesized that there would come a time when a person, a genetic balance of three species—Piretian, Lantian, and human, would lead the world into a time of peace and harmony. The prophecy gave the gods hope, brought the feran and drakul fear, and left the Lantians and Piretians with uncertainty as to what the prediction would bring.
Witches
Though humans have the ability to learn and perform witchcraft and magic, currently the actual witches of this world are the offspring of human beings who have mated with Deminians. Unlike mankind’s myths and stories, these witches are not evil. Instead, they are shamans, alchemists, and equally as proficient in magic as they are witchcraft.
Witch’s Way
Imagine that you are walking into an underground tunnel. Though you cannot see the tunnel’s end—nor can you tell what is illuminating the tunnel—you can see that the tunnel is moving; the walls spinning one way, the ceiling another, and the floor moving in a third direction. Witch’s Ways, created by some of the most powerful witches on the planet, crisscross our world, giving witches, hunters, and their guests, for the cost of a little nausea, the ability to quickly move anywhere about the planet.
For descriptions of unfamiliar terms, behind the scenes stories, and to see sketches of the new characters,
go to jcboyd.com
to get Boyd’s FREE BOOK
Language of Lantis.
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Table of Contents
Map 1066 England
Chapter 1
1065
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Characters History Recorded
Glossary
Blood Curse
Deminians
Drakul
Feran
History
Hunters
Lantians
Lascions
Piretians
Piscions
Rhombies
Trias
Witches
Witch’s Way
J CAMERON BOYD
J CAMERON BOYD
A doctor for thirty plus years, J Cameron Boyd got into the book business somewhat accidentally. It began with a quest to write a health orientated how-to book. His intention was to finish that project and then go back to seeing patients.
After resolving his initial difficulties with typing, grammar, and spelling, he found that writing was a passion. The deliciousness of storytelling opened him
to a whole new world of imagination. It was a world that expanded his awareness in ways he never thought possible. It was also a world he realized he wanted to share.
Boyd’s revelation kept leading him back to the computer. Several books later and with many more demanding to be typed, he figured it was about time he shared what he had written with the rest of the world.
The Legacy of Lantis series is the first of his many tales to be released. As it is with the first in that series, Secrets, they will all be fun, exciting, and thought-provoking, and almost always, an entirely new take on many of life’s seemingly unanswerable questions.
Watch for Boyd’s new releases at jcboyd.com
To our daughter, Catherine,
for your inspiration, and your stories
that make us laugh.
Werewolves of Wessex Page 19