Redeeming Vows

These long dead souls opened their voiceless mouths but no sound came. Tatiana wondered if when Grainna slept these souls spoke in her dreams.

“What do you see, seer?”

Tatiana’s head started to ache. The talons of Grainna’s power started to find a break in Tatiana’s mind and worm their way inside.

“My travels are over. I am to stay with ye.”

The nameless souls swirled, and attempted to find the very edges of Grainna’s aura. Her brows drew together and jaw tightened. “I have no need to keep a child by my side.” These words spat out in anger. Grainna’s irritation slammed into Tatiana’s consciousness, forcing a vision clouded in darkness.

She stumbled back, reached for the pain in her head, willing it to stop. The vision drew from the past and not of the future. “I am not Druid,” Tatiana managed, though her skull felt as if it were splitting in two. “Killing me would not bring ye my visions.”

Grainna flew upon her, her breath streamed down her neck.

Tatiana cowered.

“How do you read my thoughts?”

“I do not read ye, Grainna. I see the past.” Even as the words tumbled from Tatiana’s lips, she knew this was only partially true.

The black of her eyes swirled in thought.

“I can be yer eyes of the future. So long as ye let me live.”

Grainna reared back, considered her words. As her hand lifted, Tatiana bit hard on her lip, drawing blood, but didn’t cower a second time.

“I can kill you now.”

“I know.”

But death didn’t come when Grainna placed her palm on her head. Instead, numbness replaced the pain her vision brought.

“Thank ye.”

“Do not thank me yet, seer.”

As Grainna turned away, the Romani, who stood by and watched the entire scene, parted in her path.

Tatiana knew Grainna would not be destroying her any time soon.

****

Sweat poured off Fin’s brow under the bright afternoon sun. Surprisingly, Todd required his full attention during their routine of sparring. His ability with a sword increased every day. Of all of them, Todd needed this extra training in order to survive a fight. For that reason, Fin held little back.

His sister’s happiness depended on Todd’s life.

A shout bellowed from the tower. A signal rose in the air, telling all who listened that a rider approached.

Fin climbed the steps to view the unexpected visitor. As the rider drew near, the tension in his shoulders dissipated. The amber-and-black mantle claimed the knight belonged. Fin ordered the gates down and instructed his squire to bring his father.

“Who is it?” The question came from Todd.

“I cannot tell. He is too far away.”

As the rider drew closer, Fin’s hand slipped from his sword at his hip and his lips pulled into a grin.

Logan.

Logan jumped from his horse the second he came to a halt. His bearded face dirty from riding didn’t hide his appreciation to be home.

A squire caught the reins Logan tossed his way before addressing him. “God’s teeth, ’tis good to see ye, my lord.”

Fin’s baritone laugh shook the walls. “As a second son, I’ll never be your lord, Logan.” The men clasped hands with forearms with genuine affection.

“How long has it been?”

“Near three years.”

“Is that even possible?” Fin knew it was.

“Aye.”

A sharp squeal came from the shadows. Myra’s voice rose while she ran into the courtyard. Fin stepped away when she affectionately greeted Logan with a hug. Todd kept a watchful eye on the exchange, but said nothing.

“You’re home!”

Logan put her back down. “I would have been sooner if I skirted outside of Lancaster. They kept me there nearly a week.”

“Everything is quiet, is it not?”

“Aye, but there is news from your neighbors.”

Fin wanted to ask what information he had, but Todd stepped forward and placed his arm around his sister’s waist.

Logan’s eyes took in the exchange.

“Seems I’ve missed much.”

“Logan Douglass, this is Todd Blakely, my husband.”

Logan accepted Todd’s hand.

“Ye have a wonderful prize in a bride such as Myra.”

“Yes, I do.”

Fin laughed. Todd’s reply and possession was the instinctive reaction of many men when it came to Logan. His fair features and easy smile won him many favors among the women. In truth, Myra probably sat on a short list of women not interested in his prowess.

“Does Gregor know you’ve arrived?”

Logan shook his head.

“I’ll find him,” she said before turning back to the keep.

“I hear Duncan has married and sired a son.”

Fin walked with him and Todd out of the heat.

“We’ve had a productive year.”

Todd snorted by his side, but said nothing.

Inside the cool, stone walls of the great hall, Fin led Logan in and took a seat. “Alice!” he hollered.

Soon the kitchen maid scurried into the room, towel in hand. “Aye?”

“Fetch some ale and food for our traveler.”

Alice nodded and returned to the kitchen.

The sound of slippered feet drew from the stairs.

All eyes glanced to see who came. When Fin recognized Elizabeth’s gown, warmth settled in pit of his stomach. They’d said little since their exchange the day before.

“Who is this bonny lass gracing yer home?”

The mirth in Logan’s tone brought Fin’s eyes to him. The inquisitive stare and lift in his lips leapt in his throat with a passing wave of jealousy. “’Tis Duncan’s sister-in-law.”

“Mom.” Simon ran from around the corner, cutting off Elizabeth’s entrance to the room.

Logan leaned over. “Is her husband here as well?”

“Nay, Elizabeth is…widowed.” Fin knew where the questions were going and didn’t care for them at all. Logan’s gaze swept her frame from across the room. The man already calculated his chances with her. Before he could set the man back, Elizabeth stepped into the room with Simon at her side. Logan shot to his feet, wiping a hand over his overgrown beard.

Simon opened his mouth to say something before he glanced at his mother. Fin knew they spoke to each other inside their heads. Liz’s eyes fell on Logan and her hand caught Simon’s attention.

“Seems we have company, Simon. Perhaps the cottage will need to wait for a day or two.”