Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“Keep yourself out of his sight while he’s here. I don’t trust him,” Arran said.
“You voice my own thoughts,” Raven said and once inside the keep hurried off to her room.
Arran made his way to his father’s solar and wasn’t surprised to hear raised voices as he neared the closed door.
“The King will not tolerate those who oppose him.”
Galvin’s loud, booming voice was easy to recognize and Arran didn’t bother to knock, he opened the door and entered. That brought the conversation to a halt.
“What have I missed?” Arran asked with a grin.
“Your charm will not serve you well when the King comes to claim you for service,” Galvin warned.
“So you’ve heard the rumors,” Royden challenged.
“They’re not rumors. They’re coming for us,” Galvin said.
Parlan shook his head. “We have no argument with the King.”
“It doesn’t seem to matter. The King is asking no permission,” Galvin cautioned.
A knock sounded at the door and Parlan bid entrance.
Arran was surprised to see Purity enter.
“You wished to see me, Father?” she asked, her eyes downcast.
“Aye, but not hear you,” Galvin chastised and turned to Parlan. “I worry for my daughter if attacked. She has no courage, fears everything, and has no strength to protect herself. I ask—I beg—that you accept my proposal for Arran to wed her. At least then she will be protected.”
Arran knew no other way to put this to rest than to be blunt. “I want no wife.”
“I told you this was a fool’s errand,” Bayne said, stepping forward.
He was a sizeable man, taller than them all and lean and fit with muscles. There was no doubt he was strong, tales saying he could best ten men by himself and an arrogance and commanding nature that all avoided when possible.
“Even if attacked the enemy will not want Purity, she’s worthless and nothing to look at,” Bayne said.
Purity turned to take her leave.
“Where do you think you go? You were not dismissed,” Bayne yelled and Purity stopped abruptly, her eyes avoiding her brother.
“She listens well, a rarity in most Highland women. She’ll say little and obey. What more could you ask for in a wife?” Bayne asked.
“He doesn’t want me,” Purity cried out and fire sparked in her brother’s eyes. She cringed, when her brother roughly grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him.
“You don’t need to be so rough with her,” Arran warned with a murderous growl.
“Mind your business,” Bayne warned.
“It is my business when a man treats a woman so poorly and his sister at that,” Arran said.
“You protect her already,” Galvin said. “Why not make her your wife?”
“I told you. I don’t want a wife.”
“That’s enough, Galvin,” Parlan ordered. “My son has made it clear that he won’t wed your daughter, and we have more important matters to discuss than that.”
“Go away with you,” Galvin ordered his daughter with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Purity scurried off, hurrying out the door after sending Arran a sorrowful glance.
“What have you heard, Galvin?” Parlan asked.
“Nothing and that’s what worries me. Where do these men suddenly come from that claim land for the King and why do they take captive some of the Highland men?
“If the King needs to fight the Northmen to keep the land he took from them, he’ll need men who know this landscape and how to survive it,” Royden said.
“It is only a matter of time before the King demands from all of us,” Galvin said. “Are you willing to pay the price, Parlan?”
“Leave us,” Parlan said to his sons and Galvin nodded to Bayne to do the same.
Royden took Bayne to bargain over a horse he had shown interest in and Arran took himself off to the practice field, concerned for what might await them all and wanting to be prepared. Later he would talk with his father and brother about a plan in case they were attacked.
“Arran.”
He stopped, not sure if he heard his name or not, it was spoken so lightly.
“Arran.”
That time he heard it and turned to see Purity tucked against the side of the storehouse, the black and white kitten tucked in the crook of her arm sleeping contentedly.
“What is it, Purity?” he asked, approaching her.
Her cheeks blushed a rosy red and she turned her head away from him as she spoke. “I know you don’t want a wife, that you want to be free, but if you wed me you could remain free. I would force no restrictions on you, make no demands on you, care not what you do as long as you do not raise a hand to me and you keep me safe.”
His heart went out to her. He hated to see women mistreated, but he wanted no wife, especially one who needed such care. And one who, in all probability, would be too frightened to couple. He hated to deny her plea, but he couldn’t—in good truthfulness—wed her.