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)
“Fiona, is she with you?”
“She left me earlier to go to you.”
“She never came to my room,” Aliss said, panic straining her voice.
Anya heard as she came up behind Aliss. “No, God, not again.”
Oleg and Raynor had joined them, Oleg going to his wife’s side to wrap his arm around her shoulder.
“Fiona could be anywhere in the keep lost in what she is doing and forgetting time,” Raynor suggested.
Aliss and Tarr shook their heads.
“She made that mistake twice already and made certain to tell me it would not happen again. She is a woman of her word,” Tarr insisted. “She would have told me before she went elsewhere.”
“Besides, she would not miss the morning meal. She has always woken hungry and eager to eat.”
“Aliss is right,” Tarr confirmed. “She told me she was starving.”
“Something has happened to her,” Anya said.
“If it has, then it would have been when she left Tarr’s room on her way to Aliss,” Oleg said. “Did anyone hear a commotion?”
Tarr shook his head. “Anything unusual would have been reported to me.”
“Someone had to have seen something,” Aliss said, and pushed past the men to climb on a table and shout. “We need your help.”
All sound ceased.
“Has anyone seen Fiona this morning?”
Eyes rounded, hushed whispers rushed around the room, and then a man spoke up.
“I saw her leave the hall.”
“Alone and willingly?” Aliss asked.
“With Odo, and she did not look like she objected.”
“Kirk,” Tarr shouted. “Take men and see if you can find Odo.”
Talk resumed in the hall, though it was now solemn not joyous.
“What would Odo want with her?” Anya asked, and grabbed her chest. “He could not mean my daughter harm? He tirelessly searched for her all these years.”
“But for what reason?” Tarr asked. “To save her or condemn her?”
“But why? What reason would he have?” Oleg asked upset. “He is my brother. He taught Raynor to fight, to hunt, to track and he was more worried than anyone when the twins were abducted. The first to go in search of them. I agree with Anya, he could not mean her harm.”
“The clan means everything to Odo,” Raynor said. “He would not do anything to bring disgrace to its name.”
Aliss had climbed off the table and stood beside Tarr. “Which is probably the reason Giann had us sent away.”
They all stared at her not understanding.
“It is probable that she knew no one would believe she had a vision of Odo harming the babes, so to protect us she had Shona take us to people who would protect us.”
“That is nonsense,” Oleg said. “Odo never meant you or your sister harm.”
“You prove my theory true,” Aliss said sadly. “Giann could never have convinced you of Odo’s deceit.”
Kirk rushed into the hall and yelled to Tarr. “Odo, several of his men, and Fiona’s horse are all gone.”
“Prepare to ride,” Tarr shouted to his men.
“Blackshaw joins the search,” Raynor cried out.
The men from both clans hurried out of the hall to ready for the search.
“I am going this time,” Anya insisted. “I will see my daughter safe.”
Aliss went to her mother’s side. “This is for me to do. I will find my sister and bring her home safely. I promise.”
Anya’s eyes teared. “I have been promised before by those who I thought I could trust. Now I know not what to think or who to trust.”
“This is your daughter who makes the promise. Fiona knows I will rescue her, as I knew she would rescue me. You can trust I will bring her home safely.”
Tarr stepped up behind Aliss, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We will bring her home.”
Raynor stepped forward. “You can count on us, Mother. I will either defend Odo or deal him the punishment he deserves if it should prove necessary.”
Anya held her chin up. “Do not keep me waiting long.”
“Do whatever must be done, my son,” Oleg said.
“If he does not, I will,” Tarr warned, and grabbed Aliss’s hand. “A moment alone.” He tugged her along after him to the corner of the hall where they had a bit of privacy.
Aliss spoke before he could. “You worry that I do not possess Fiona’s warrior skills and that I will be more of a hindrance than a help.”
“You read the situation well, and I know you will do what is best for your sister.”
“And that would be for me to go with you.”
Tarr stared at her. “Speaking with you is like . . .” He turned his head away.
Aliss placed her hand on his arm, drawing his attention back. “Our identical features may be just what we need to rescue Fiona.”
“I would not put you in harm’s way—”
“If it meant a chance to free my sister, you most certainly would. Now, we waste precious time. Let us ride and find Fiona.”
They were on the trail in no time, tension as sharp between the two clans as the cold air that stung their faces and chilled their bones.