Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“Duty before pleasure, husband,” she said. “Besides, I’d rather a longer ride than a short one.”
He turned and looked at her, his anger dissipating. “Then it’s our bedchamber we’ll seek right after Galvin leaves.”
“With great anticipation and pleasure,” Oria said and with her hand still rested on his, opened the door, not trusting either of them to leave the solar—just yet.
“Wise move, wife, since a thought struck me that a short ride now would suffice until you could enjoy a longer one later,” he said as they walked to the Great Hall.
“I was thinking the same myself, husband, and was the reason I opened the door so fast,” Oria admitted.
He laughed. “I’m glad we think alike.”
“You must help me, Royden,” Galvin said as soon as the couple entered the Great Hall.
Royden hid his shock at seeing Chieftain Galvin. He was not the man Royden had remembered. He had been a sizeable man, thick in the chest and waist with dark hair that hadn’t showed a sign of age. No more, though. He was half the man he’d once had been, His cheeks were hollow and there was a darkness beneath his sunken eyes that didn’t bode well. And his hair had turned completely gray, not a shred of darkness could be seen.
“Sit, and we’ll talk,” Royden offered, pointing to the table close to the hearth, thinking the frail man needed its warmth.
Galvin stared at Royden’s stump. “I had forgotten you lost your hand, perhaps you’ll be of no help to me.”
Oria left her husband’s side to step toward the man. “How dare you enter our home without so much as a greeting and congratulations for our marriage. And then you insult my husband implying he isn’t the man he once was,” —she shook her head— “it is beyond offensive. Royden is a more skilled warrior than he had been when he had two hands. Now you will apologize to my husband or take your leave and never return here.”
Royden was shocked, impressed, and proud of the way his wife defended him, not that Galvin would think so. Any minute he expected to hear the man’s booming voice reprimand Oria for daring to chastise him like a child and order her to leave the talk to the men. He was taken back by Galvin’s response.
“Forgive my rudeness, Mistress Oria. I was pleased to hear not only of Royden’s return, but your marriage to him as well. It is good you both have been reunited.”
“Thank you, Chieftain Galvin,” Oria said with a nod. “Now please sit and enjoy a hot brew while we discuss what help you need from my husband.”
Royden waited for Galvin to object that his wife would join them and when he didn’t, Royden knew the man definitely wasn’t the man he had once been.
“What can I do for you, Galvin?” Royden asked once they were all seated at the table.
“I am not a well man, Royden. I fear I don’t have much time left and while death is inevitable, I more fear being the last of my line, that no one will follow me. That I have failed my ancestors. A new chieftain will be named, but he won’t be of my seed. My only hope to continue the true Macara name is through my daughter. I need you to find her and I need Arran to wed her when he returns home.”
“Have you even heard from Purity in these past five years?” Royden asked.
“No, but I believe my daughter was either wise enough to stay away or too fearful to return home,” Galvin explained. “I don’t care which, either way, kept my land from being claimed. Now that I am ill, I need my daughter returned home and wed so I can die with the knowledge that my blood will run through the bairns she eventually will birth. And with her husband taken over as chieftain, the Clan Macara will rightfully live on. I know Arran would make sure of that.”
“I can’t speak for Arran,” Royden said. “And you don’t even know if your daughter survived.”
“Purity survived. She was in the woods. I saw her sneak there with Raven before the attack came. She knows those woods better than most around here, always preferring to be alone or with animals,” Galvin said, shaking his head as if still trying to understand it.
“It’s been five years,” Royden reminded. “That’s a long time for Purity to last in the woods on her own.”
“I don’t believe she’s alone. Some of your women and children were never accounted for and many believe they made a safe escape. Somewhere my daughter is alive and along with her possibly some of your clansmen. As chieftain it is your duty to see they are brought home safely.”
“That I can do, but I can do nothing about your request that Arran wed Purity,” Royden said.