Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
A small empty room preceded entrance into the great hall and Fiona was immediately relieved when she saw Aliss standing beside Raynor speaking with him. She, however, was not happy to see Tarr shackled to a chair near the huge fireplace.
His scowl and intent glare told her he was ready to kill someone, and probably with his bare hands since his knuckles were white from being so tightly fisted.
Her presence seemed to annoy him, and she thought he most likely assumed that she was foolish for walking into the enemy’s hands. He would learn differently soon enough.
No servants milled about, though a bounty of food was spread on the dais table and the few tables that lined the room.
“Welcome to my home,” Raynor said with a smile.
Fiona approached him, satisfied that they were the only ones in the hall, the warrior who had escorted her there having left as soon as they had entered. It seemed too easy, the brief thought invaded her head as she reached out. Instead of taking Raynor’s offered hand she pulled the knife from her sleeve and had it at his throat before he could retaliate.
“Aliss, release Tarr,” Fiona ordered.
“Tarr is not being held prisoner and neither am I,” Aliss said, and walked over to her sister’s side.
“Tarr is shackled to a chair,” Fiona said bewildered.
“Only because he refuses to listen to reason,” Raynor attempted to explain while the blade remained at his throat.
Aliss placed her hand on her sister’s arm. “Let Raynor go; he means us no harm.”
Fiona had no reason to doubt her sister’s words. She moved the blade away, though kept the knife firm in her hand. “What goes on here?”
Raynor stepped a safe distance away from her, rubbing his throat. “I wish all of you to be guests in my home.” He saw Fiona’s confusion. “I could not very well invite you to my home while being held prisoner by your soon-to-be husband. And I doubted Tarr would accept my invitation once I escaped, so I had no recourse but to take Aliss with me. Which guaranteed you would follow.”
“I am listening,” Fiona said, “but I will listen better if you release Tarr.”
Raynor walked over to the shackled man. “Will you give me your word that you will be reasonable and listen to what I have to say?”
“Where are my men?” Tarr asked Fiona.
“They wait on the outskirts of the village. If they do not hear from us within the hour they will attack.”
“Your men are invited to join us and enjoy the food I have had set out for them,” Raynor offered.
Tarr stared at Fiona and she knew his thought. He was concerned with her safety; she however was not. She was confident in her ability to protect herself and her sister. She gave a slight nod, letting him know that she thought Raynor’s proposal safe.
“I will listen,” Tarr said gruffly.
Raynor released him and he walked over to Fiona, rubbing his wrists. “You have done well.”
“Did you doubt I would?” she grinned and poked him with her elbow.
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her next to him. “Never.”
He spoke with such heart that she pressed her cheek to his and held it for a moment, enjoying the feel of his warmth mingling with hers. Then reluctantly she squirmed out of his arm and turned to her sister.
They hugged.
“I knew you would come for me,” Aliss said, her wide smile letting all know how glad she was to see Fiona.
Fiona sent Raynor a heated glare. “You have explaining to do.”
He spread his arms. “Gladly, come sit and enjoy the food.”
“My men could use nourishment,” Tarr said.
Fiona understood that he brought his men in for added protection, but then Raynor did not object. He welcomed them, which meant he spoke the truth. He intended none of them harm.
“First, I wish to know why we have been brought here,” Fiona said, having waited long enough for an explanation.
Tarr did not object.
Raynor smiled as though overjoyed. “I wish you to meet my parents, who are on their way here and should arrive in a few days.”
“Why your parents?” Fiona asked, completely confused.
“Let me explain it all,” Raynor offered eagerly.
“That is a good idea,” Fiona said, “since I grow tired of this game of cat and mouse you seem to be playing.”
“It will all make sense,” Raynor said, and hurried on with the telling. “When first I laid eyes on Aliss I knew, and when you appeared”—he shook his head as he laughed—“you were how I imagined you would be. That was why it was so easy to tell the two of you apart.”
“Easy?” Tarr asked as if the man was insane. “They are identical in every way.”
“They are as different as night and day,” Raynor insisted, “especially when you know what to look for.”