Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“It’s a brave woman I wed,” Royden said with pride.
“Then tell me. Is battle imminent?” she asked, fear roiling her stomach.
“It would appear that way. My da will send messages out to the clans to unite and prepare for attack. If we join forces, we should have no problem conquering them, since it appears that the troop consists of men who work for coin. They’re not a faithful lot. They will run if they see that the battle isn’t going their way.”
“When do you think they’ll attack?”
“That’s difficult to say. It’s also difficult to say which clan will be next, but if we’re prepared and have runners ready to alert the other clans when an attack occurs, then there is a very good chance of defeat. Once we capture some of the warriors we can find out who is behind this and stop him.” He kissed her cheek. “Worry not. It will be over before it starts.”
Oria was about to mention what Raven had said about the witch and ask him if he intended to tell her about it, but stopped. There had been enough worry for one day. There was time to discuss that with him after the wedding. And right now that was all she wanted to think about—she and Royden exchanging vows and becoming husband and wife.
Tomorrow would be their day. They would join as one and together they would face whatever fate sent their way.
Raven was left facing her da and Arran. She stood, her da not offering her a seat. He tapped the table with one finger as he stared at her, a sign of his frustration. Arran glared at her, something she was used to, though there was a smugness to it that irritated her. How he could be so loving and caring one time and such an arse the next, she couldn’t understand. However, that didn’t change the fact that she loved him.
Instead of waiting for her da to speak, she spoke up. “Do you intend to send me to the convent?”
Her da stopped tapping the table, but it was Arran who spoke.
“It would be the best thing for you.”
She shot him a quick scowl of her own. “It isn’t your choice.”
“No, but Arran does make a good point,” her da said.
“I won’t go and if you send me, I’ll escape and make my way back home,” she said defiantly.
Her da leaned his elbow on the table and rubbed his brow.
It took that picture of him to make her realize how much she had upset him and that bothered her. He was a good, fair, and loving da, and she didn’t want to cause him worry, especially now with battle looming so close.
“I’m sorry, Da, I truly am. I’m worried, more so since the witch spoke to me, and I needed to know what goes on. I need to know how to help.”
“You know what to do if we’re attacked. You remain in the keep with the women and children where you’ll be safe,” Arran said.
Raven didn’t want to hide away. She wanted to defend her clan, her family, her home. She wisely held her tongue, knowing her words, her plea would make no difference.
“It is important your brothers and I know you’re safe while we fight. These men we will fight are not men of honor. They don’t fight for a cause. They fight for coin and what they can get, what they’ve been promised. While the convent might be the best place for you right now, I feel you’d be safer here with us.” Her da turned his eyes on Arran. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“As much as I think my sister would benefit from some time at the convent, I do agree. She’d be safer here.”
Raven silently blessed her brother.
“Arran will continue to train you in defending yourself, but when the time comes, I’ll have your word you will do as you’ve been told and seek the safety of the keep,” her da said with a stern glare.
Raven wasn’t happy about hiding out while her brothers and father fought, but she also wasn’t so foolish to think she had the skill to fight seasoned warriors. She only hoped that there would be enough time for her to learn more skills in case she would need them.
“I’ll do as you say, Da,” Raven said.
His stern glare remained when he said, “I’ll have your word, daughter.”
That was difficult for her to commit to and she explained why. “Please, Da, listen to why I can’t do that.” She was relieved when he nodded, granting her permission to continue. “No one knows what a battle may bring. What if it was necessary to leave the keep to protect those within it? I can’t give my word when I don’t know what the circumstances may force upon me.”