Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
It was difficult to imagine bidding her da farewell. She had always been secure in his love and while he would still love her, she would rarely get to see him. How did one manage such an abrupt change? How could it be that one day she was here among those who loved her and the next swept away by a stranger who she was expected to obey without question?
She had been impressed with Lady Dawn’s strong, independent nature, even though her husband was the infamous, mighty Lord Cree. She wished she had a small portion of Lady Dawn’s strong resolve. At least then, she would not be as fearful as she was in meeting her husband.
A sudden, strong wind had her stopping to pull up her hood, the wind having whipped across her face stinging it. So much had happened in the last week that she barely had had time to comprehend it. She supposed that was why she had needed this time alone in the forest to try and make sense of things, to try and accept her fate, to try and not let her heart break when she bid her da goodbye. She had already bid her cousin Flora, who she had had little time to get to know, farewell. Her sudden and unexpected marriage to Lord Torin and their departure had been rushed after he received a message. The contents or who sent it, he had not shared, only that they would leave immediately.
She shook her head. Life was far more difficult than she ever imagined it would be. She missed the carefree days of when she was young and there was little worry and lots of mischief. She hoped she would be able to give the same to her children.
A shiver ran through her, not from the cold, but from the thought of what it took to conceive a bairn. How was that possible with a man she did not know at all?
Tavia reached the edge of the forest, spying the village not far in the distance. She stopped knowing once she left the refuge of the forest, life would be forever different for her. She could hear her da’s voice reminding her again that she had no choice. Her marriage to Lord Bhric of Clan MacShane was beneficial to the clan and it was her duty to see it done.
But wasn’t that the lot of a dutiful daughter?
She shook her head again. If she were lucky enough to have a daughter, she would not allow the same to happen to her no matter what the cost to herself. She would see her daughter wed to a good man of her choice, not one forced upon her.
With fortitude born out of necessity, Tavia took a step out of the forest and into the life fate had dictated for her.
The village was a short walk away, Tavia’s wander having taken her farther away from the village than she had thought. She took barely a few painful steps when she felt the ground tremble beneath her feet and heard horses’ hooves pounding the snow-covered ground, then the mighty sound of a horn filled the air.
Could it be?
“Nay,” she whispered and attempted to hurry her steps. She had at least a couple of days before his arrival. Please. Please, do not let him be early, she silently pleaded.
She hurried a glance behind her and almost froze with fright at the group of men baring down on the village a few feet away. It was a small troop of men, but every one of them were large especially the man leading them. He was broad beneath the hides and furs he wore, and his light-colored hair was long with two narrow braids hanging along each side of his face. Even from a distance his features were striking and intimidating. He exuded confidence in the powerful way he sat his horse, in the way he held himself erect, in the way his eyes remained focused in front of him as if he feared nothing. But then the numerous weapons that hung off his horse’s sides attested to his many skills as a warrior.
Tavia pressed her hand to her chest, her heart beating so rapidly she thought it would burst. Fear captured her, an intense fear she had never felt before this moment. It ripped through her, squeezed at her, threatened her. How would she ever be wife to such a powerfully intimidating man?
The group was baring down on her fast and she barely had room to avoid them, though if she could run, she could at least make it to a small clearing up ahead where she could avoid being trampled by them.
Tavia raised the hem of her garments, gritted her teeth against the pain that would strike and rushed her steps. Tears threatened her eyes from the pain that shot through her leg, but she ignored it and pushed forward. A few more steps, just a few… her leg gave out without warning, and she went down hard.