Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“I can’t find Purity.” His own words were like a punch to his gut.
“What do you mean you can’t find Purity?” Oria asked, her hand rushing to her stomach as she anxiously hurried her steps to the men.
Royden hastily slipped his arm around his wife. “Do not worry yourself. Purity probably took the animals for an early walk through the village.”
“Did you see her on your walk?” Oria asked.
Royden hated to admit that he didn’t. “No, I didn’t see her or the animals.”
“Where’s, Wren, get her, she will know where Purity is,” Oria demanded. “And what of Quiver, perhaps she went somewhere with him.”
Arran was annoyed that he hadn’t thought of that as well. “Da, get Wren. I’ll find Quiver.
His da hurried off.
“I’ll show you where Quiver is staying,” Oria offered and Royden was quick to go along with his wife.
Quiver wasn’t at his cottage and that gave Arran hope that he was with Purity.
“There he is,” Royden said, spotting Quiver talking with Wilfred, the arrow maker.
Arran rushed over to him. “Have you seen Purity?”
Quiver continued shaking his head as he spoke. “No, sir, I haven’t seen her since yesterday.” He paled. “Is Purity missing?”
Arran didn’t answer. He turned away from the man, running his hand over his short, cropped hair. She couldn’t be missing. He didn’t get her home safely just to have something happen to her here in his own home.
His da rushed toward him with Wren in tow.
“Tell me you know where she is,” Arran demanded, though it sounded more like he begged.
“I’m sorry, Arran, I don’t know. I see or sense nothing,” Wren said, holding tight to Parlan’s hand.
“If you see nothing, what does that mean?” Arran demanded once again.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Wren said.
“She could be dead, that’s why you see nothing,” Arran said, anger warring with his worry.
“Or it could mean all is fine and she goes about whatever she is doing,” Wren explained, her grip on Parlan growing stronger.
“Easy, son,” Parlan said calmly. “Wren is doing all she can to help.”
Arran wanted to roar in frustration, not having felt this helpless since his capture.
“The woods,” Oria said. “Purity had a favorite spot where she sought solace.”
“Take me there,” Arran demanded, thinking if she had dared ventured into the woods alone he’d… he shut his eyes briefly and prayed he’d find her there.
Royden kept hold of his wife’s hand as he hurried along with her.
Parlan and Wren followed as did Quiver.
“It’s a spot where Raven and Purity would meet and I joined them a few times,” Oria said as she hurried along. She took the lead when they reached the area by the table and benches under the oak tree. “It’s not that far into the woods from here.”
They all stopped suddenly when they heard the bark of a dog and in the next second Purity appeared a few feet from the edge of the woods. When she spotted them, she waved and smiled.
Arran rushed forward and grabbed her by the arm, practically dragging her the rest of the way out of the woods, the look on his face one of pure rage. King was quick to swipe at his ankles once out of the woods while screeching at him and Princess barked furiously at him.
“It’s all right. It’s all right,” Purity warned the animals. “He means me no harm.”
“MEAN YOU NO HARM?” he shouted at her, his face nearly plastered against hers. “I should strangle you for going off without telling me.” He shook her and King took another swipe at his ankles, the cat’s claws ripping at his boots.
Quiver bravely snatched King up in his arms, receiving several scratches, and Princess followed the trembling man at his urging. He tried to reassure the animals, repeating what Purity had said, that Arran meant her no harm. At least he hoped the furious man didn’t.
“YOU WILL NEVER EVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT TELLING ME!” he ordered, his voice so strong that it shook the brightly colored autumn leaves loose from their tenuous hold on the branches and they began to fall. He shook her again. “NEVER, EVER, WILL YOU DO SOMETHING SO FOOLISH AGAIN!” he warned. “YOU WILL OBEY ME, ALWAYS!”
Royden went to step forward worried what his brother might do to Purity, his anger out of control.
Oria grabbed his arm, shook her head, and whispered, “Let them be.”
Royden reluctantly remained with his wife.
Purity managed to raise her hand and rest it against her husband’s cheek, his anger not worrying her as much as the fear she saw in his dark eyes. She knew in her heart he would never hurt her. He couldn’t, not after suffering so much hurt himself.
“You’re right, husband, and I am sorry for causing you concern. It was foolish of me and I give you my word I will never do it again,” she said and sealed her promise with a brief kiss.