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)
He laughed deep from within his soul, though it sounded gentle. He kissed away her tears.
She sighed, wrapped contentedly in his arms. “Promise me it will always be like this.”
“You want me to promise that you shall cry often?”
She smiled and hugged him, and when he went to kiss her she yawned.
It was contagious and soon yawn followed yawn.
“I thought to make love to you tonight, but—”
“We are both tired,” she said, attempting to stifle another yawn.
“Tomorrow night—”
“Will be ours.”
Her eyes drifted closed and he was grateful she was in her nightdress. He lifted her so her head would rest comfortably on the pillow and covered her. Then he undressed and slipped in beside her, hugging her close. In seconds they fell asleep.
Fiona rose with the sun, kissed a waking Tarr on the cheek, and announced, “I am starving. I go to fetch my sister and then to eat.”
“I will meet you in the great hall,” he said, stretching, the blanket slipping down to below his waist.
“Mmm,” Fiona said with a delectable sigh. “You look tempting.”
“Keep the thought, for I promise you will not sleep a wink tonight, wife.”
She grinned with joy. “Wife. I love it and I love you.”
With a quick wave she rushed off, Tarr yelling after her, “It is food you love more.”
He laughed, swinging his legs out of bed and stretching as he stood. He winced, a recurring pain stabbing his arm. He rubbed at the scar that was left from Wolf’s arrow. He was a formidable opponent and one of unequal strength. He knew of no man who could pierce the flesh straight through with a single blow of a hand-held arrow.
Wolf would make a better friend than foe.
He hoped to make such beneficial arrangements when he visited with Giann.
He dressed quickly, hungry and eager to join Fiona for the morning meal and more than eager to wed her and be done with it. He would feel safer when she was officially his wife.
He was about to leave when a knock sounded and the door opened, Anya entering with several servants.
“A new shirt has been stitched for your wedding day, and I will have a bath made ready for you after the meal.”
Tarr listened as she went on to detail what was expected of him, and then she patted his arm and smiled.
“You will make my daughter a fine husband.” She was gone along with the servants who assisted her as fast as she had appeared.
He shook his head, mumbling to himself as he left the room.
Tarr entered the great hall to a flurry of activity. A feast had been spread on the tables, clan members mingled, and tankards were raised when he was spotted, and shouts of congratulations rang out for him and his bride, who he had not yet spotted.
She and her sister were probably lost in talk and would arrive soon. He accepted the tankard spilling over with ale that was shoved at him, and with a smile he joined in the merriment.
Aliss had expected to see Fiona early. She usually woke with the rising sun, as did her stomach, which by now would be rumbling with hunger. Fiona would be expecting her to join her for breakfast as always, particularly since she probably continued to feel guilty about not spending the night with her.
She smiled; perhaps she and Tarr were preoccupied.
She dressed in her brown skirt and white blouse so that she could help with whatever needed doing, then she intended to change into the beautiful sapphire wool dress mother had had stitched for her. She could not wait. She had never seen a garment as beautiful as that dress, and she was eager to feel the soft wool against her skin.
She pulled her hair back to tie with a strip of leather when there was a knock at the door.
She smiled, expecting to see Fiona enter, though curious as to why she would knock first when she had always entered unannounced.
Anya entered and peeked about as she offered Aliss a smile and a good morning. She sighed, obviously disappointed. “I thought to find Fiona here.”
“She is with Tarr.”
“No she is not.”
“In the hall stuffing her face,” Aliss said, a sudden chill prickling her skin.
“She is not there either.” Anya’s eyes widened.
Aliss dropped the leather tie and sped past Anya, the startled woman followed fast on her heels.
Tarr kept a keen eye out for Fiona. He had expected her to arrive by now, but since Aliss also was not there, he was certain they had to be together. He stood by the hearth with Raynor and Oleg trying to remain attentive.
He grew alarmed when he saw Aliss rush into the hall and survey the room with a worried glance.
He dropped his tankard to the table and cut a swift path to her side. “What is wrong?”