“He loves you. He had a right to know.”
I didn’t have the energy to scold her, so I decided to hold my tongue and save it for when I could tell her off properly. I didn’t want her to have any confusion about my displeasure at her actions. “So he will be here momentarily? Is that what you’re saying?”
She nodded. “You might want to get dressed.”
I motioned for Lidia to pick out a dress from the wardrobe and quickly ate the now-cold breakfast. I gave it my best effort, but I couldn’t help being anxious. I knew there were so many ways my terrible situation could get much worse, but I did not want to give fate any ideas.
“I have come to realize over the years that no news is good news. So when my men came to me unexpectedly, I knew I would soon be facing trouble. I had a feeling it would be a long time before there would be no news to report.”
* * *
~Torben
I heard several pairs of feet moving quickly through the corridor. I turned my body in the direction of the sound, simultaneously keeping my body in front of Allete’s door.
“It’s our men,” Brant said as he too turned to face the direction of the approaching steps.
I almost asked how he could tell, but then I too heard the unique rhythm of the march, something I had trained my warriors to do long ago, a pronounced stomp every few steps. It let us distinguish friend from foe even at a distance. I must have missed the sound at first because of my worry over Allete.
Less than half a minute later, Amund, Rush, and Delvin rounded the corner and came to a halt in front of us.
“Sir,” they all three said at the same time and bowed their heads slightly.
“What brings you from your posts?” I asked.
“We have information,” Amund spoke up.
“What news?” Sometimes getting information out of them was like trying to get a mule to lead a heifer.
“Magnus,” Amund answered. “His plans have changed. He has become obsessed with taking over this kingdom. We aren’t sure when he is planning to take action, but it will be soon.”
I cursed under my breath. It was just like Magnus to take an already-dumb arse plan and make it worse. “Do you have any idea what he is planning?”
Rush stepped forward. “It will involve killing, that much was made clear by the men he’d snuck into the kingdom.”
That was not surprising. With their Jarl, any raid would involve killing, even if it was not necessary. “Do you know if there is any discord among his ranks? Does anyone else see the folly of his plan?”
They all three shook their heads. I cursed under my breath.
“Continue to keep your ears and eyes open. Bring us any information immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What report from your assigned posts?” I asked.
“We’ve had the displeasure of being around Cathal’s soldiers,” Delvin practically spat. “They’re as dumb as bricks and as mean as wild boars.”
“That isn’t surprising,” Brant chuckled. “Their king is no better.”
“I cannot believe that the ruler of this kingdom would ship his daughter off to be married to such a man,” Amund said.
“She is not going to marry him,” I growled. “He’s too dangerous, and she belongs with me.” I hadn’t really planned on saying that second part out loud, but it was true. And my men should probably know that she would be accompanying us home.
Before they could respond, another body appeared from around the corner. Thomas, Allete’s cousin, looked as though someone had jabbed him with a hot poker. I could feel the violence emanating from him, and I did not like the look in his eyes.
“I need to see my cousin,” he declared and took a step toward me and the door behind me.
“You won’t be going in like that,” I pointed at his face. “You get yourself under control first.”
“Have you forgotten your place, guard?”
I tried not to hold his words against him. I knew he was simply worried about Allete, but I wouldn’t allow him to think he could intimidate me just because of his station. “Not at all. I am Allete’s chief guard, and it is my duty to ensure that she is safe from anyone—including overly emotional family members.”
Thomas’s jaw flexed, and his hands clenched into fists. After several minutes, he finally relaxed, if only a little. “Fair enough. Please allow me to see my cousin.”
I turned and knocked on the door behind me. When I heard Allete’s voice say to enter, I opened the door and stuck my head in. “Your cousin is here to speak with you.”
Her lips tightened, but she gave a stiff head nod. “Send him in.”
I pushed the door open wider and stepped aside so he could pass. Before he could walk into the room, I grabbed his arm and pulled him close. “If you do anything to further upset her, I won’t react kindly. She’s been through enough. Remember that before you open your mouth.” I released him and waited until he was inside before closing the door.
Brant looked at me with a small smile and shook his head. “You are smitten.”
My men shot me a look and their eyes widened. “Not a word,” I snapped at them. “Return to your posts.”
They each nodded and turned, heading back in the direction they’d come.
Brant began to speak again, but I held up my hand to stop him. “No more, please. I’m just worried about her safety.” He left it alone, and we stood guard in silence. My own mind wandered to the life I might have with Allete in the future—a life filled with promise. I realized that until her, I had not been looking forward to my future. But now, now I very much wanted a chance to have a life with her.
I watched as Thomas paced the room. He hadn’t spoken since he’d arrived. He simply looked at me, shook his head, and began pacing. This went on for several long minutes before I finally addressed him.
“Are you going to say something?”
He stopped and looked up at me. “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to ask you why on earth you haven’t told me about the things Cathal has said to you? Do you want me to ask why you didn’t come to me when he assaulted you?” His voice rose with every question, and by the last one, he was yelling. “Do you want me to ask why you kept quiet and continued to put yourself in danger?”
My mouth hung open in shock. Thomas rarely yelled. He was the patient one in the family, but today he looked anything but.
“I can try to explain, but I do not think you will understand.”
“I am not an idiot, cousin. I am capable of rational thought, if what you’ve done is rational.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I mean I don’t know if you can understand because perhaps I wasn’t being rational. I was trying to protect my family. I understand why Father needs this alliance.”
“He would not allow this if he knew what Cathal was like,” Thomas challenged.
“You are correct. He does not wish me to marry Cathal, and he is trying to figure out a way to stop it without provoking all-out war. A war that we would have no chance of winning,” I pointed out.
“So, your parents do know?”