A sense of dread gripped Arran, but he remained calm outwardly. “We’re wed. There’s nothing he can do.”
“What if he wed me to someone before we wed? Would that invalidate our marriage?” she asked anxiously.
He held her hand tight and brought it to his lips to kiss. “No one will ever take you from me, this I promise you. Your father no doubt went to find a healer in hopes of helping him get well.”
Purity nodded, but silently asked herself, why her father hadn’t gone to Wren?
Arran saw that his words had done nothing to soothe his wife’s worries and they hadn’t tempered his own as well. He hadn’t given such a possibility thought. He’d like to assume it was unlikely, but with the man’s failing health could he have come to the conclusion that he had had no choice?
He wanted to kick himself for not sealing their vows right after they had taken them. He’d waited far too long. It should have been done by now, his seed already taken root.
A thought did strike him that might help. “I’ll send a missive to the monastery to make certain Brother Noble recorded our marriage.”
“Aye, we should see to it right away,” Purity agreed. “But who do we trust to take it? I would say Quiver but he gets too easily lost in the woods.”
“I trust Quiver to take a message to Royden. He’ll send someone that can be trusted. I’ll send Quiver in the morning.”
“And tonight we seal our vows,” she whispered, her arm wrapping around his as if she didn’t intend to let him go. So her question surprised him. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
His response surprised him as well. “You’re all I want.”
Purity heard much more. She heard that he loved her and she responded in kind. “I love you, too.”
Arran once again surprised himself by kissing her instead of telling her that he never said he loved her. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her that, to hurt her that way, or was it because it was true and he didn’t have the courage to believe it?
After food, drink, and much talk, Purity and Arran went for a walk through the village, Princess and King wandering off as soon as they got outside.
Purity made an effort of smiling and stopping to talk with some of the people. How did she expect them to accept her if she continued to allow them to think badly of her? And the one way she could change that was to let them get to know her—get to know the strong woman she had become.
She knew it helped to have Arran by her side, but that was all right. At least it was a start.
They were about to turn back to the keep when Freen approached.
“Sir,” Freen acknowledged Arran with a nod. “If you wish to speak with Wolf, you must come with me now or it will be a week or more before you can speak with him.”
Arran didn’t like leaving his wife when they had only arrived here today.
“Go,” Purity urged with a smile. “I will eagerly await your return.”
“He won’t return until morning, Mistress Purity,” Freen said.
The news had her holding on to her husband’s arm.
“I don’t have to go. It can wait,” Arran said, sensing his wife’s anxiousness and feeling it in the grip she had on his arm.
“No, this is important,” Purity said, shaking her head but not with much vigor. “You will go and find out what you can so you have some idea of what we face. I will be fine.”
Arran didn’t feel comfortable with leaving his wife. He didn’t know why since she should be safe now with having returned home. It was an unease he felt that was unfamiliar to him. He never experienced it before now, so he didn’t understand it.
“Go,” she urged again. “There is plenty here to keep me busy.
She might tell him to go but the way her arm remained clamped around his told a different story. Still, it was wise of him to go and talk with Wolf, to meet him and judge the man for himself, and to speak his piece.
“I’ll return as fast as I can,” he said.
“You’ll return safely to me, husband,” she ordered.
“Always,” he whispered and kissed her gently, not trusting himself beyond an innocent kiss.
Purity couldn’t keep the tug from her heart when her husband took his leave. She had gotten far too used to being with him. She closed her eyes a moment and prayed the hours that separated them would go fast.
It took hours to reach the campsite and though Arran had been hoping there would be some way for him to return home sooner than planned, he realized that wasn’t a possibility.
He patted his mare’s neck. “The first hint of light in the morning and we’re on our way home, Hope.”
The mare snorted as if agreeing.
The campsite was smaller than Arran expected, but the look of the warriors there warned they were far superior to a larger group. Every eye was aware, every weapon near, everyone poised to attack in an instant. These were well-trained warriors, ones who were highly efficient, ones who made no mistakes.
Night had brought the cold with it, though it didn’t seem to bother the Northmen. He had grown accustomed to the cold himself, but unlike the warriors, he wore his wool cloak and was glad for it.
Arran knew who Wolf was without an introduction. He stood out from the rest of the men, tall, broad, a fine body born of endless practice and battles, and a demeanor that spoke of authority in every sense of the word. A dark beard added to his fine features and his stance let all know he feared nothing.
Arran greeted the man with a glare when he stopped in front of him.
“Have you come only to show your disdain for me?” Wolf asked and didn’t give him a chance to respond. “For if you have, you waste your time. I could care less how you feel.”
“That’s obvious by the way you’ve treated my family,” Arran said, his tone more than hostile.
“My family was treated no differently,” Wolf snapped. “But the past will serve neither one of us well. A far greater threat looms.”
“Brynjar,” Arran said, reminding himself why he was there.
“The man does nothing without a reason.”
“And the reason must serve him in some way,” Arran said.
“Which makes one wonder why he is here?” Wolf pointed to a campfire where they could sit.
No sooner as Arran sat, he spoke, “I assume you keep a watch on Brynjar.”
“I have two trackers following him. If he wasn’t on foreign soil I would fear for my men’s safety, but Brynjar and his men don’t know this land so they are at a disadvantage.”
“A place Brynjar doesn’t like to be,” Arran said.
“Which leads me to wonder his purpose for being here. If he plans no attack, no chaos, then why is he here?’ Wolf shook his head as if annoyed he had no answer.
“He has a shrewd mind and a thirst for chaos and destruction.”
“Yet he arrives here with a small troop of men.” Again Wolf shook his head. “It makes no sense.”
“Where have you tracked him so far?”
“Moving in this direction,” Wolf said.
“Could he be here to settle something with you?”
“We have disputes with each other as well as a dislike for each other. We both know it is inevitable that one day we will come to blows… and one of us will die.”
“Could he be here for that, to conquer you on foreign soil?” Arran asked.
“Something that would more than please you and your brother.”
“If it were any other man, I would be pleased, but not Brynjar,” Arran admitted. “He is not a man I would want to be beholden to.”
“A wise decision,” Wolf said with a hint of admiration.
“And what decision have you come to concerning him?” Arran asked.
“I will keep a close eye on him and see what he reveals. That will determine my course of action. I’m sure Freen told you I protect what is mine.”
“MacKinnon land isn’t yours,” Arran challenged.
“No, but Oria is my s
ister and I will protect her when necessary.”
“Macara land isn’t yours either,” Arran reminded.
“No, unfortunately your marriage to Purity caused me to lose that swath of land, but since it borders other land of mine and MacKinnon land, and you and your brother presently don’t have enough warriors to keep your clans safe against invaders, I will see both protected,” Wolf said, making it clear that Arran truly didn’t have a choice.
Arran wished he could have argued otherwise, but Wolf was right and he couldn’t let his own pride get in the way of protecting the Clan Macara or seeing MacKinnon land protected.
Arran almost choked on his response. “Royden and I appreciate your help.”
“No, you don’t, but you’re both wise enough to know it’s necessary, a sign of a good leader,” Wolf said.
“Well at least we’ve established that we’ll tolerate each other,” Arran said.
“We have no choice in the matter,” Wolf agreed. “Now tell me what you’ve learned from being held captive by Brynjar, anything, even the smallest detail. It may help us to make sense of his presence here.”
Wolf was generous with food and drink and Arran ate and drank as they talked. Arran had a slew of questions concerning his capture he had always thought to ask Wolf when he finally met him, but he had no wont to presently do so. That would wait for another time. Brynjar was more important. He wanted to know why the man was here and he wanted to make sure he got his revenge before the man left.
The glow of sunrise was barely breaking on the land when Arran woke. All he could think about was getting home to his wife. He missed her. Lord, did he miss her. He couldn’t wait to take her in his arms and—take her to bed. He felt a smile creep up on him, though it didn’t surface.
He got to his feet, ready to take his leave when he spotted Wolf headed his way and the angry look on the man’s face told him something was terribly wrong.
“What is it?” Arran demanded.
“Brynjar met with someone and now travels with him.”
Arran felt his gut twist. “Who?”
“Galvin of the Clan Macara.”
Chapter 16
No sooner as Purity’s eyes opened then she was out of bed. She couldn’t wait for her husband to come home, she missed him so much and he hadn’t even been gone that long. She hugged herself, though it was no substitute for her husband’s arms, but she could pretend and remember how comforting his strong arms felt around her.
She licked her lips and chuckled at how much she missed his kisses, then she looked to the bed and whispered, “Soon. Very soon.” And decided they wouldn’t wait until tonight to seal their vows. She chuckled again, thinking how she’d drag him to their bedchamber as soon as he arrived home.
She took extra time scrubbing her face fresh and cleansed her breath with mint. She braided her hair with ease, the three fingers on her one hand not hampering her from doing so. She had been left much on her own when young and having no one to help her, she had learned to fend for herself. She was glad she had. It had served her well through the years.
Quick steps took her to the Great Hall, the animals following after her, at least Princess did, King ran ahead.
“King is impatient this morning,” she said to Princess as they followed the cat to the door.
They rushed off once outside and Purity made her way through the village. She headed toward the front where Wolf’s men had camped, hoping she’d spy her husband in the distance. The bell’s sudden clang caused her to jump in fright. The bell wouldn’t announce Arran’s arrival. It was an alert that a troop of warriors was headed this way.
She glanced around at the anxious faces and spotted Quiver. He hurried her way.
“Who arrives?” she asked when he reached her.
“Your father with a troop of warriors.”
He paled and that worried Purity. “What’s wrong, Quiver?”
“Your father arrives with a troop of Northmen.”
Fear prickled her skin. “Wolf’s warriors will stop them from entering the village.”
“They are here to protect against attack. Your father brings this troop home with him. They have no reason to stop him or them.”
“Come and stand beside me to greet my father,” she said and gave a quick look around for King and Princess, but didn’t see them.
“It is better I keep at a distance,” Quiver said.
He was afraid and she couldn’t blame him.
“It will allow me to use my bow and arrow if necessary,” Quiver said. “I can get off several arrows before anyone can stop me and that will give you a chance to run if necessary.”
His thought had been to protect her and she was about to agree when she remembered something. “Weren’t you to take a message to Royden this morning?”
Quiver nodded. “I was about to leave when I found out who approached.”
“You need to go now before my father and the troop arrive. Tell Royden what goes on and that Arran is not here,” she urged.
“Arran wouldn’t want me to leave you,” Quiver argued.
“He would want his brother here in his absence and you can be there and back in no time. I can handle whatever goes on with my father and his guests until you return with Royden. Please, Quiver, do as I say. There is no time to argue.”
“I’ll hurry back,” he said and took off.
Purity went to the keep, King and Princess suddenly rushing toward her. They had sensed something was wrong and hurried back to protect her. She worried more over their safety than she did her own. Her father would not tolerate them and she feared who might be returning home with him.
“You both will stay beside me and if I tell you to go, you will go,” she said, looking to each of them. King turned his head away as if already ignoring her. “When I tell you to go, you will go find Arran.” That had King’s head turning back around. “And you will bring him here.”
King meowed as if understanding and Princess barked.
Purity’s stomach churned waiting for her father to arrive, fearing with every passing minute what it might bring. She told herself Arran would be home soon. She just needed to handle her father until he arrived.
As soon as she caught sight of the man on the horse beside her father, she knew who he was—Brynjar. He could frighten with one look. He was a big hulk of a man, his body as thick as a large tree trunk and looked as solid as one. He had long blond hair severely pulled back away from his face—a face damaged with scars. The dominant scar ran from his scalp line down over his one eye along his cheek to end at his jawline. Another scar slashed across his opposite cheek from the side of his nose to under his earlobe that looked to be missing a piece and his chin bore another scar. His blue eyes were so intense that it made one want to look away. He wore the hides and furs of a Northmen with several weapons dangling off his belt.
Purity turned her attention away from him to her father and she almost gasped. He was half the man she remembered, thin and frail looking, though he rode his horse with his usual superior demeanor.
It was Brynjar’s voice that boomed out when they reached the keep. “Good, my bounty bore fruit. Someone found you and brought you home. Tell me who so that I may reward him.”
It was Brynjar and not her father who had placed a bounty on her. Arran was not going to like hearing that.
Purity made sure to keep her voice strong when she called out, “MY HUSBAND brought me home.”
Shock could be heard in her father’s sputtering response. “Hus—husband?”
“Impossible,” Brynjar bellowed. “I’m your husband.”
Purity’s stomach roiled so badly that if she had eaten breakfast she would have lost it right in front of both men, his announcement frightened her that much. She could see his news had stirred fear in those who had begun to gather, curious as to what was going on. They were only able to come so close, Brynjar’s men, about ten, congregated behind him on their horses.
Purity called on all
the courage she could muster to lift her chin defiantly and with a bellow of her own said, “I already have a husband.”
“Who wed you and when?” her father demanded.
“The man you asked to wed me years ago,” Purity said.
“Arran of the Clan MacKinnon?” her father asked as if not quite believing her.
“Aye, Arran is my husband,” she confirmed.
“You play a game with me?” Brynjar turned to her father with an angry growl. “You gave your daughter to me in marriage when you had asked another to wed her?”
“Arran refused my offer several times. I did not approve this match, but if they are wed there is nothing I can do about it,” her father said. “Unless, of course, the marriage proxy took place before she married him, then she would be your wife.”
“I am Arran’s wife and I will stay Arran’s wife,” Purity said with a tenaciousness that no one could deny.
“That’s not for you to decide,” Brynjar said and dismounted his horse.
Her father did as well, though his steps were measured where Brynjar’s steps were taken with strength and confidence.
King screeched in warning and Princess growled threateningly.
Brynjar went to kick the dog and Purity turned blocking him just as he did and the force of his leg sent her to the ground. “Go get Arran, NOW!” she commanded in a rough whisper to the two animals as she fought against the pain radiating through her leg and was grateful they obeyed her. King jumpedg onto Princess’s back and the dog took off in a run.
A meaty hand grabbed her arm and yanked her up, the pain in her leg worsening when Brynjar landed her on her feet harder than necessary. Nausea hit her and she thought she might pass out, but she fought to keep her wits about her.
“Those animals will make a fine meal for my wolves,” Brynjar said with a laugh.
That fired Purity’s anger. “Touch my animals and I’ll kill you.”
Brynjar laughed. “A woman with some courage. It will be fun beating it out of you.”
Entrusted to a Highlander: Highland Promise Trilogy Book Two Page 15
