He was right. It was the perfect time to make sure my men were safe, or at least as safe as they could be. Regardless of my feelings for Allete, I could not forget the mission. With those thoughts in mind, I could move of my own accord. I still did not like leaving her, but there was only so far I could push before Cathal decided to petition King Albric to replace me or have me seriously punished for insubordination. The latter would not surprise me.
“I wonder if there is a way to get in contact with my mother,” I said. Not only did I want to make sure my mother was safe, but I also needed reassurance. Was the prophecy still the same? Or had Cathal’s presence altered it somehow? The prophecy had not mentioned my queen was already betrothed.
An hour later, Brant and I had discreetly checked on our comrades. They were each watchful, doing mundane guard duties as they awaited my further instructions. None had any information as to the shouted reports of Northmen we had heard earlier. Once I had given each man encouragement and further orders to remain in place, we walked back to where we had left Allete. Surely their noon meal was over by now. I just hoped that Cathal hadn’t led Allete away from their picnic spot. I would likely panic if I did not see that she was safe, and that wouldn’t help anyone. A hiss caught my attention. I glanced in the direction of the noise and saw a form hidden behind a wagon full of bags of wheat.
I patted Brant’s arm and motioned him to follow me. As soon as I was close enough, a hand reached out and grabbed my arm, jerking me forward. I started to protest until saw who it was.
“Oracle,” I said bowing low.
“Tsk, tsk, none of that. Give me a hug, boy. I have been worried. None of the other soldiers had news of your wellbeing.”
I wrapped my arms around my mother’s small form and breathed in her familiar scent. I was relieved to see that she was safe.
She pushed away and reached for Brant. He leaned around me to give her a hug as well.
“Now then,” she began, her eyes were dancing with joy. “You have met her.” It was not a question.
“Have you seen something?” I asked, wanting to know the answer but fearful that it would not be something I wanted to hear.
“You have met your match, Torben.” My mother looked entirely too pleased with herself.
“She’s what any man would want in a woman,” I responded. “Feisty, strong, vulnerable, infuriating, and bold. If Cathal gets her, he will destroy her and steal away any semblance of who she is now.” My heart beat painfully in my chest, and my hands were clenched into tight fists. I was hanging onto my control, but it was quickly slipping away.
My mother placed a hand on my arm. “I still see her as your bride. But the path to that future will not be an easy one, I’m afraid.” Suddenly my mother’s eyes lost focus, and she grew very still. We were in the presence of the Oracle. When she began to speak, I closed my eyes, attempting to add images to her words.
“Death, pain, lies, betrayal, love, joy and life all stand between you and your union with Allete. It will be your perseverance, integrity, determination, need, and love that will lead you to your destiny. Nothing great and beautiful and right happens without struggle. It is the growth in the journey that gives meaning to the ultimate outcome. You must be strong, Torben, future king of your people. You must not falter, and you must not give up on your destiny. If you do, your beloved will be surrounded in darkness, instead of your light. She will be punished with pain, instead of touched out of love and desire. Should you fail, your beloved will be stripped bare until she is just an empty shell. Only then will her captor grant her death.”
Her words hit me like a cannon ball. The breath was knocked from my lungs, and had not Brant grabbed me beneath my arms, I would have landed on my knees. I hung my head down as the words, should I fail, beat against my head.
“There is hope, son,” my mother said, her voice returning to normal. “She is not gone. She is still here, and she still has your protection.” She lifted my head and stared into my eyes. “You are one of the strongest men I have ever known. I do not just mean physically. When you make a decision, there is nothing that can stand between you and what you want. Do you want Allete? Do you want to be the one who provides for her, protects her, and fights with and for her? Do you want to love her?”
There was no hesitation when I spoke. “With everything inside of me.”
“Then you have to be the one that makes it so. You. Others will help you, and you will need their help. Ultimately, you will be their commander, and you will be the one to lead them to victory.”
I felt the iron will that my mother spoke of rise like a phoenix from the ashes inside of me. As usual, my mother was right. I was relentless when I set my sights on something, and now I had. Not something, but someone—someone to inspire me to be relentless.
“Go now,” my mother said, pushing us back the way we had come. “Protect her with your life. She is not just what saves our people. She is what saves you as well.”
I had no idea what she meant, and I knew she would not explain it to me, so I did not bother asking. Instead I gave her forehead a quick kiss and then marched back in the direction of the castle—in the direction of Allete. And I beseeched every god I knew that she was unharmed.
“I have been told many times that trial is what makes us stronger. Facing adversity builds character. That no great leader can learn to be great without going through great challenges. I am beginning to think that being great is a tad over rated.”
* * *
~Diary of Princess Allete Auvray
Watching Torben and Brant walk away was one of the scariest things I had ever had to do. But I had no choice. When Cathal had threatened me with lashes if I did not do what he wanted, he saw in my eyes that physical harm wasn’t going to be enough to control me. But then he threatened who I love most—Dayna. The things he had said he would do to her caused bile to rise in my throat. There was nothing I would not do to keep my sisters, both of them, safe.
As soon as my guards were out of view, Cathal pulled me farther into the grove of trees while Beatrice followed. She was a beautiful young woman. Probably not much older than me. When we were sufficiently masked from prying eyes, Cathal jerked me, unnecessarily, to a stop. He looked at Beatrice, and she practically withered under his glare.
“You will watch for any interruptions. You will not speak a word of what you hear or see. If you do, that worthless husband of yours will find out all about the times you asked me into your bed. How do you think he would feel about our affair? What about your children? How would they view their mother if they knew you were so easily led from your own marriage bed?”
Beatrice’s lip trembled as she nodded her understanding.