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)
“It would seem that mother and father thought ignorance of our situation was best for us.”
“I would think that too, except that Tarr pointed out how mother and father actually prepared us both for what we might face.”
Aliss stopped sorting. “I never thought of it that way, but Tarr is right. Mother encouraged me to learn all I could about healing—”
“And father taught and encouraged me to defend.”
“They knew our lives were in danger,” Aliss said.
The twins grew silent, both lost in memories.
Aliss spoke after several minutes of silence. “Mother was insistent that we stay together until we marry.”
“Actually she was insistent about us marrying. Remember how she would repeatedly tell us to find good husbands who would provide and protect.”
“She would get so upset when I would insist I did not want to wed,” Aliss said.
“She knew we were in danger and that husbands would protect us.”
Aliss caught a yawn with her hand.
“You should rest.”
“You are right. All this thought has made my head ache.”
Fiona followed her sister to the bed and tucked her in. “I will make certain no one harms us.”
“Father prepared you well to see to our safety.” Another yawn had Aliss closing her eyes.
Fiona stood beside the bed watching Aliss drift off to sleep, her words repeating in Fiona’s head. They echoed Tarr’s, and a sudden thought came to her. What if she and Aliss were purposely taken to Peter and Eleanor, the parents who raised them? What if it was their purpose to prepare the twins for the future? What if this whole thing had been planned from before their birth?
Fiona hurried to find Tarr.
She discovered he was at the storehouse with Kirk and was about to rush out of the keep when her mother insisted she put on a wool cloak.
“You will catch a chill,” Anya said, draping a green wool cloak over Fiona’s shoulders. “The day is gray and cold.”
Memories tugged at Fiona’s heart. She recalled how her mother had fussed over her, made sure she had been warm, hugged her to her warm body when Fiona had been chilled. She felt safe and secure in her mother’s arms, and there had been times she could not wait to feel them wrap around her.
How Anya’s arms must have ached for those moments with her daughters.
“That is better,” Anya said, closing the cloak over Fiona’s chest. “Now you will be warm.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Anya looked teary-eyed. “Go, perhaps later you will share some of Aliss’s special brew of hot cider with me. She instructed me on how to prepare it and promised I would enjoy it.”
“It is perfect for a cold day. It chases the chill out of the bones.”
“Good, I will expect you later in Aliss’s room so that we may share it all together.”
“I will be there,” Fiona said and almost turned to leave but stopped, stepped forward, and hugged her mother tightly. Anya returned the affection and Fiona could feel her reluctance to let go, and she understood it. The fear of losing her daughters would always haunt her.
“Until later,” Anya said, and hesitantly turned away and hurried off.
Fiona watched her brave retreat and admired her strength. Aliss and she were actually lucky. They had a wonderful mother who raised them with love, and now they had another mother who was as equally wonderful and loving.
Fiona braved the gray day with a smile and went to find Tarr.
“You cannot mean to do this,” Kirk said.
“What choice do I have?” Tarr asked, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone approached the storehouse. Once inside with the door partially left ajar for sufficient light and to watch that no one lingered about, he told Kirk of his intentions. He, Tarr, would go meet with the leader of the Wolf clan.
“Let someone go in your place.”
“Who?” Tarr frowned, his own frustration annoying him. “I do not know who to trust.”
“Anyone in the clan would—”
“Would not be received well by the leader of the Wolf clan,” Tarr argued. “And while I believe I can trust Raynor and his parents, I will not chance that I may be wrong and place my future wife and her sister in the hands of those who wish them harm.”
“So you go alone into the clutches of your enemy.” Kirk shook his head. “I do not agree with this plan of yours.”
“This Wolf attacks us but inflicts little damage. It seems he wants something from me and now I want something from him. We will see what can be agreed upon.”
“I thought the man Odo agreed to go find this Giann.”
“How do I trust him to do as he says?”
“Send some of our warriors with him,” Kirk said.
Tarr shook his head. “I do not want secondhand information. I will hear the truth from this Giann, not through anyone else.”
“Have Giann brought here.”