Gods, it was so unfair.
But then, life was never fair. Especially not to a man who had duties and responsibilities. A man who had to force respect for himself and his sister at the point of his sword.
His life had never been his own.
Turning away from her, he mounted his horse and rode to meet his aunt and uncle so that they could finalize the marriage between their clan and the Gaulish-Celt tribe that bordered them to the north.
This marriage would finally silence the tongues of the gossips and doomsayers who wanted someone else to be named heir.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Sunshine thrashed in her sleep as her dream shifted. She saw Talon later that day, standing between a beautiful woman in her early thirties and a man only a few years older. The woman had the same blond hair and blue eyes as Talon while the man was black haired and black eyed.
They stood in the middle of an old wood hall. The room was crowded with people who were strangers to the three of them. Everyone was dressed in fine plaids and wore gold jewelry.
Speirr's uncle was dressed in black leather armor and his aunt in gold armor with a long, plaid skirt.
To the people gathered there, Talon looked strong and proud. Fierce and princely.
The Gauls' whispered voices echoed in the room as they retold stories of his prowess in battle, told each other that he was the Morrigán's favored warrior.
It was said the goddess herself walked beside him in battle and dared anyone to mar his beauty or dull his sword.
What no one knew was that Speirr was ready to bolt as he waited to meet his bride.
"I swear, lad, you're as skittish as a colt," his aunt whispered with a laugh.
"You were too, Ora," his uncle teased her. "I remember your father threatened to tie you to his side if you didn't stop fidgeting while our parents bound us together."
"Aye, but I was much younger than he is.
"
His aunt placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Speirr took a deep breath as a young woman was brought forward to stand before him.
"My daughter Deirdre," King Llewd said.
She was beautiful. That was Speirr's first thought. With hair as golden fair as any he'd ever seen and blue eyes that were kind and gentle.
But she was no match for his Nynia. No other woman could ever come close to her.
Speirr stepped back instinctively.
His uncle pushed him forward.
Deirdre smiled invitingly. Her eyes warm and accepting.
He stepped back again.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) This time, his aunt nudged him toward his bride. "What have you to say to her, lad?
"
"I…" Speirr knew the words that would bind them together. He'd rehearsed them incessantly.
But now they lodged in his throat.
He couldn't breathe.
He stepped back again, and again his aunt and uncle moved him forward, toward her and a destiny that seemed suddenly bleak. Cold.
"Speirr," his uncle said with a warning note in his voice. "Say the words.
"
Do it, or you will lose everything-
Do it, and I will lose theonlything
.
In his mind, he saw the hurt in Nynia's eyes. Saw the tears she'd tried to hide.
Speirr clenched his teeth, flexing his jaw with determination. "I willna do this." He whirled around and left
the hall, hearing the shocked gasps as he made his way to the door and out into the village.
A few seconds later, his aunt and uncle came rushing out behind him. He was halfway to his horse when his uncle grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly to a stop.
"What is wrong with you?" he demanded.
"Speirr?" his aunt said in a gentler tone. "What is it?"
He looked back and forth between them, searching for the words to make them understand what was in his heart. "I willna marry her."
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
"Oh aye, you will," his uncle said sternly. His dark eyes snapped fire at him. "Now march yourself back in there and finish this."
"Nae," he said stubbornly. "I willna marry her while I love someone else."
"Who?" they asked in unison.
"Nynia."
They exchanged a deep frown.
"Who the blazes is Nynia?" his uncle asked.
"The fishmonger's daughter?" his aunt said.
The two questions came at him at once. Until his aunt's comment registered in his uncle's mind.
"The fishmonger's daughter?" he repeated.
His uncle moved to pop him on the back of his head, but Speirr caught his hand and glared at him. His days of being hit by his uncle were long over.
"Are you mad?" his uncle demanded, wrenching his arm free. "How do you even know her?"
Speirr tensed, expecting his uncle's condemnation. No doubt they would finally banish him from their clan just as they had done his mother.
None of that mattered.