Seduced (Thrice Blessed Book 3)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Christiana nodded. “He started tossing and turning with his pain about an hour ago.”

  “You should have woken me, sister!”

  “What good would it do him if you were too tired to heal him?” Christiana rubbed the back of her neck. “Are you ready?”

  Marina frowned. “I’d like for you to eat a hearty breakfast before we heal him. I want you to be as close to full health as possible.”

  “I just finished eating. I’ve told Joan to be in your old bedchamber with broth in an hour. Charles will have to carry me in.”

  Marina nodded. “I’ve told him the same. He’s guarding us today, because Hugh is taking care of Eva.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I hate taking your power when you’re with child.”

  “You don’t have a choice, Marina. We have to do everything we can to save Roland. He’s pivotal in our battle. I know he is.”

  “All right. Let’s do this.” Marina put her hand on her brother-in-law’s side and let her sister’s power flow through her. She poured all of the power she received straight into the man on the bed, envisioning his kidney healing as she did.

  When Christiana’s power waned, she spun around, wrapping her arms around her sister while calling for her husband.

  Charles came running, lifting Christiana easily. “Put her in my old room,” Marina told him. “Joan will sit with her while I spend the day at Roland’s side.” She didn’t say she was going to heal him in little bursts as much as she could all day. As far as she was concerned that was something he would just understand. He knew how her powers worked and how she felt about using them to heal others.

  She walked with Charles to her old room, putting a pillow behind her sister’s head. Once she was comfortable, Marina held her hand over Christiana’s belly. “Surprisingly, I don’t think the healing hurt the babe at all. He seems stronger than ever.” Marina didn’t understand, but she wasn’t going to waste time pondering it. She had a brother-in-law to see to.

  Once she was back beside Roland, she checked him. His kidney was better, and the magic wound seemed to have shrunk. Hopefully Eva would be strong enough to give her all her power again that night. If not, first thing in the morning. Marina felt that they were close to getting him healed. Finally.

  Eva woke shortly before the evening meal, which she shared with her sister, Marina, and their husbands in Roland’s room. Roland was awake after all the short healing bursts she’d given him throughout the day. “I want to work tomorrow.”

  Marina shook her head at him. “I will not even listen to you talk about it. Your wife is unconscious from the amount of power she had to give me to heal you, and Eva has just woken up. She’ll pour everything into healing you again after supper. The two of them are taking turns exhausting themselves to try to keep you alive, and you are not going to ruin our good work!”

  “I don’t know why you think you’re in charge of me now, little sister, but I assure you, I’m still the master around here.”

  “I have no desire to be in charge of anything, except your health. So you will listen when I tell you to do something, because I’m trying to keep you alive.” Marina put her hands on her hips and glared at him. He had to listen to her.

  Charles walked up behind Marina, putting his hands on her shoulders. “My wife is right. If she’s going to heal you over and over, putting her sisters through the exhaustion we all know comes with the healings, you will at least listen and not cause yourself more damage.”

  Roland sighed. “I feel like everyone around me feels like they have the right to tell me what to do while I’m injured.”

  “Not me,” Eva called from the table where she was eating as much as she could. She knew she needed the food to keep her power up for the next healing, which she was about to give all her power.

  “Nor me,” Hugh responded, a grin on his face.

  “I’m going to have one of the servants sit with you through the night,” Marina told Roland. “Christiana is still recovering from the healing this morning.”

  Roland frowned. “I don’t remember the two of you healing me this morning.”

  “Which is a good reason for you to stay in your bed. You’ve been so sick that you didn’t know what was going on around you!”

  Eva finished eating and pushed away from the table. “I’m ready.”

  Hugh groaned. “I’m not!”

  Marina laughed. “I have a servant ready to sit with her through the night as well. Sleep in her old chamber.”

  Hugh shook his head. “I can’t leave her when she’s weakened that way.”

  “Yes, you can, or you’ll get sick and I’ll have to waste power healing you. I need everyone to just do what they can to take care of themselves while we get through all this healing.” Marina looked over her shoulder at Eva, who immediately put her hand on Marina’s back, pushing her power into her. Marina had become good at being a vessel for her sisters’ powers, and this time was no different. She channeled Eva’s power into Roland, allowing the power to flow through her and into her sister’s husband.

  After a short while, she heard Roland sigh just as Eva’s powers disappeared from her. Hugh scooped his wife into his arms and carried her off.

  Marina checked on Roland again, her hand over his kidney. “It feels like it’s almost totally healed. Maybe one more big heal with Christiana’s powers in the morning, and you’ll be able to mend on your own after that.” Marina was relieved that Christiana’s plan was working. She didn’t know what she’d do otherwise. “Now I’m going to go check on your wife.”

  “Why are you checking on her? She’s just exhausted from healing, right?” Roland asked.

  Marina frowned. Didn’t Roland know about the babe his wife carried? “Of course. I’m just going to be sure the servant has enough broth. I’ll send someone in to watch you in a moment.”

  Charles followed her into the hall. “Why didn’t you tell him about the babe?”

  “Because it’s not my information to give. Christiana has the right to tell her husband he will be a father soon. It is nothing to do with me.” She hurried down the hall to her old bedchamber, going to her sister’s bedside and checking on the babe. “He’s strong. Very strong. I’m surprised her exhausting herself that way didn’t hurt him, but it didn’t.”

  “You keep saying he. Is that something you know?”

  Marina shook her head. “Just a feeling. I hope I’m wrong.”

  Charles took her arm and led her to their bedchamber, frowning at her. “Why do you hope you’re wrong?”

  She sighed. “Our family doesn’t have boys. Only girls. And usually only one girl per generation. It was strange that our mother had three daughters, but that’s how we knew she was fulfilling the prophecy.”

  “What happens when there’s a boy?”

  “That’s how our mother died. She was giving birth to a boy, and they both died. I don’t want to lose my sister.”

  Charles pulled her into his arms and held her close. She would feel responsible if Christiana died. She already felt responsible for her mother’s death. He prayed the babe her sister carried was a girl.

  Walter looked at the man in front of him, happy to see he was quivering with fear. He liked being given the fear he was due. “What have you learned?”

  Thomas bowed low before his master. “You were correct about what happened to Jarrett. He was found out and asked to leave. He used the magic sword you gave him on the Norman pig first.”

  “And did the Norman die?”

  Thomas shook his head. “No, but rumor has it he is very ill. Even the youngest sister has not yet been able to help him, though she keeps trying.”

  “And what happened to Jarrett after he used the sword?”

  “The Norman slayed him. He is dead.”

  “And what of Henry? I sent him to find out what happened to Jarrett.” Walter stroked his short beard as he waited for information.

  “Henry ran into a man in the woods beside the manor. He talked freely
to the man who found him.” Thomas took a deep breath as if afraid to tell his master the next piece of information. “The man he spoke to was the brother of the Norman pig and the husband of the youngest sister. She has married, master.”

  “Married? The youngest? Surely your information in wrong. She wouldn’t marry! She is to marry me.”

  “Henry also told the man of your plans. He told him he was there to kidnap Marina and bring her to you. My informant said the Normans were very angry.”

  Walter balled up his fist and punched Thomas in the face, knocking him to the ground. “Why didn’t you bring her to me?”

  Thomas rubbed his chin as he sat up, being careful not to be too close to the master’s boot. “I couldn’t, master. She was out of my reach.”

  Walter paced for a moment. “Go back there and get a position with the Norman pig’s army. You will move in and get her out of there. I need the youngest sister before her powers grow stronger.”

  “Yes, master. I will go now.”

  Walter watched as the man got to his feet and started his journey back to the manor that should have belonged to him along with the powers of the three sisters. The Norman pig had much to answer for.

  Chapter Seven

  By the following evening, Roland had made a clear improvement. He was even able to go down the stairs to eat the evening meal with his family. He moved slowly, and Marina followed closely behind him ready to heal him, but he was mending the way he should, thanks to the sacrifices made by her sisters. He would need to remain mostly sedentary for another fortnight or so, but Marina didn’t feel the need for her sisters to give all their power for his healing again, unless he got worse.

  While they ate, Charles told Roland about meeting a stranger in the woods for the first time, letting him know that he’d had to kill someone who was after the family. “The master isn’t going to stop.”

  Christiana sighed heavily. “I think I know who the master is, but before I say, I need you to promise me you will not go searching for him until Marina says you are healthy. And you must also promise you won’t send your men out looking for him. I think a divided army is just what he’s looking for.”

  Roland stared at her steadily. “How long have you known?”

  “I figured it out the day before Marina and Charles married, but I was unsure.”

  He shook his head at her. “You should have told me immediately.”

  “So you could run off and kill yourself? You have a magical wound, husband. I’m not about to let you die for me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, making it very clear that he was getting no information out of her without a promise that he would wait until he was healed before doing anything. “Your promise?”

  “I will do what I need to do for my family.”

  “Then you will get no information from me. My child needs a father, and I’m not going to let him be born an orphan.” She took a bite of meat, chewing it slowly while her words sank in.

  “Wait…You’re having my baby?”

  “Well, I’m certainly not having someone else’s! And I’m not doing it without you!”

  Marina hid a smile as she watched the emotions play across Roland’s face. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was excited to be a father. “I will wait until I’m healed before I act on anything you tell me. I could not let you have a child to raise without my influence. You would ruin it.”

  Christiana leaned toward her husband, resting her head on his shoulder for just a moment. “It’s my former fiancé, Walter. The man who brought Father back.”

  Roland’s eyes went to his father-in-law. “Do you believe this?”

  Robert seemed to consider the information for a moment, before nodding. “I do. He came here to seek out an alliance with my eldest daughter. He asked a lot of questions about her before agreeing. Yes, I believe it. I think that’s why he was so thoughtful when bringing me back as well.”

  Roland simply nodded. “We’ll make a battle plan, but we won’t go until I’m fully healed.” His eyes went to Marina. “When will that be?” He’d been antsy to get back out with his men, and Marina knew this would only make him worse. She was about to have a bear on her hands.

  “A fortnight, minimum. It will give you plenty of time to get all your knights in a row.” Marina glared at Roland. “And that’s with plenty of rest and eating properly. If you stay up all night every night working on battle plans, then it will take longer. I will not let you go until I believe you are completely healed.”

  Charles nodded. “We’ll be making certain you don’t go. Whatever it takes.”

  “I’ll want the two of you in my chamber in the morning to discuss tactics. We’ll find a way to get him before he comes to us. How many other men have come here?”

  Hugh frowned. “I believe we have someone in our army giving him information. New men come along almost every day, but we’re turning them all away now. No one is allowed to join us. It’s either that or have Christiana stay with us while we’re training so she can let us know if someone can join us or not.”

  Roland shook his head. “No one else joins the army or the household until further notice. I don’t know how the enemy would have infiltrated our camp, but we will bring everyone here for supper in groups, and Christiana can narrow down who the informant is.”

  Christiana frowned. “I’m not certain I’d know. If someone isn’t evil, it would be difficult. What if someone is just a little bit bad and wants money for his family back in Normandy? He wouldn’t trigger my senses as evil. It’s possible he doesn’t realize that Walter is anything more than a disgruntled Saxon lord.”

  “We’ll at least try. I can’t bear to lie about doing nothing when our sister is in danger.” Roland looked at Marina. “I want you to start carrying a dagger everywhere. I’ll have a scabbard made that you can wear in your cleavage. If someone comes at you, you can draw the dagger.”

  “I couldn’t use a knife on anyone. I’m a healer. It goes against everything inside me to kill another person.” Marina shook her head adamantly. “There’s no reason for me to carry a dagger.”

  Charles looked angry. “There’s every reason for you to carry a dagger. You and your sisters have been training physically for a long while. Tomorrow you will start training in how to use a dagger as well. You can’t very well carry your bow everywhere within the manor, but you can carry a dagger. You will be ready for the enemy. No matter what it takes.”

  “You can train me to use a dagger, but you can’t train me to kill. I couldn’t do something that is so against my nature. It won’t happen.”

  Roland frowned. “You will learn to use the dagger. At least you will have the knowledge and if the opportunity presents itself, mayhap you will realize that using it and killing him will actually save the lives of people you love, instead of just ending someone.”

  Marina hated the idea with a passion. She thought to Christiana, “Talk some sense into your husband, and I’ll work on mine.”

  Her sister’s response was not what she wanted. “I agree with Roland. At least learn to use the dagger. It won’t hurt you to be proficient with another weapon. I love you, and I know how you feel about it, but we need you safe.”

  Marina made a face, but said nothing else, either in her head or aloud. She would do what they wanted, but she would never use a dagger to harm another person. She’d worked too hard to learn to heal to be willing to hurt another.

  That night, after she’d given Roland a small healing boost again, she retired to her bedchamber with Charles, and slipped under the covers. Charles gathered her close, his hands smoothing over her. “We’ll begin your training tomorrow morning. I want you as proficient with a dagger as you are with a bow.”

  “I don’t believe that’s possible. I’ve been using a bow and arrow since I was a child. How could I possibly learn to use a dagger that well in a matter of days?”

  “By ceaseless training. We’ll do it together, and you’ll learn.”

  M
arina buried her face in his shoulder. “There are other things I prefer to learn from you.”

  He smiled. “Oh? Like what?”

  “Well, you taught me the fine art of kissing. And lovemaking. Maybe I could get a little better at the latter?”

  “If you do, you’ll kill me,” he said with a laugh. “But I’m willing to risk it if you are!”

  “Always!”

  Joan spent an hour measuring Marina and mumbling under her breath the following morning. “I’m not sure why they think that I’ll be able to make a scabbard to fit under your dress this way. I’m not the one with special powers around here.”

  “I’m not the one wanting you to make the scabbard. I will never pull a dagger on someone, so why am I being asked to train with one and carry one?” Marina couldn’t keep the frustration from her voice, even though she knew that Joan had nothing to do with the command for her to wear a dagger.

  “You will if he’s threatening someone you love. Think about it, Marina. If someone was trying to hurt one of your sisters and you had the ability to stop him with your dagger, you would do it.”

  Marina shook her head. “No, I really don’t think I could.”

  “Methinks you’ll change your mind if the need arises.” Joan finished her measurements. “I believe I have an idea for how to make this work. I will try some things and return to you this afternoon to let you choose.”

  “Thank you for helping me, Joan. You are an angel to work so tirelessly for us.”

  Joan laughed. “No, I’m but a servant. One who loved your mother dearly.” She slipped from the room to go and work her own form of magic.

  As soon as she left, Charles came in. “We need to go downstairs. I will push the table in the hall out of the way, and we will train with the dagger there.”

  Marina sighed. “Let me check on Roland first. I want to make sure he didn’t get worse overnight.”