Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
The man was quick to oblige. “Arran can’t be sure, that’s why he’ll be later returning home than he had planned. He’s making more inquires.”
Royden shot him a scowl.
The man hurried to say, “Arran heard that Raven is dead.”
Chapter 23
Royden asked the man endless questions, most of which he couldn’t answer.
“I wish I could tell you more, but that’s all I was told,” the man said. “Your brother is cautious when discussing your sister and I don’t blame him. If the Beast is after her, he’ll find her, unless he already has.”
The pain on his da’s face tore at Royden’s gut. He, his da, and Arran had sworn to keep Raven safe and they had failed and continued to fail. And what had he done to find his sister? Sent out inquires? He should be searching for her just as Arran was doing.
“Arran says I’m to wait here for him,” the man said.
“Of course you will. You must be a friend of Arran’s or he wouldn’t have entrusted the message to you. You are most welcome here,” Oria said.
“I am grateful and the name is Halvor. I fought alongside Arran for the last two years.”
“Bethany,” Royden said and the woman stepped forward sniffling back tears, the news of Raven upsetting her. “Take Halvor to Angus and tell him to see Halvor settled.”
“Aye, sir,” Bethany said and waved at the man to follow her.
Wren slipped her arm around Parlan and ushered him to the table to sit and pour him a tankard of ale. When she placed it in Parlan’s hand, she said, “Raven isn’t dead.”
Oria took her husband’s hand and they joined the couple at the table.
Parlan turned pleading eyes on Wren. “Are you sure about this?”
Wren closed her eyes for a moment and all remained silent. She opened them slowly almost reluctantly. “Aye, Raven is alive.”
“Where is she? What’s happened to her? Why didn’t you tell me?” Parlan asked anxiously and with a touch of annoyance.
Wren took Parlan’s hand in hers. “I can’t see beyond that she’s alive. I can’t tell you if she’s well or ill or suffering. I only know that she isn’t dead and my vision five years ago of you all reuniting tells me she will return home.”
“You don’t know when or if she—” Parlan shook his head, thoughts of what may have happened to his daughter causing him unbearable pain.
Wren held tight to Parlan’s hand. “I wish I could see more, I truly do. That I can’t worries me for it sometimes means the future has yet to be decided.”
“But you saw us all reunited,” Royden reminded.
“Aye,” I did,” Wren said with a nod. “But I can’t see anything beyond that for Raven and that troubles me.”
“But that might be good,” Oria said. “It means once she arrives home we can help see to a good future for her. No matter how she returns to us we are all here to love and help her any way we can.”
“That is true,” Wren agreed.
“So the most important thing is to get Raven home,” Parlan said. “Hopefully, Arran will see to that.”
Royden was glad his da didn’t look at Wren when he said that or he would have seen the flash of sadness that he had caught in the woman’s eyes. She knew Raven wouldn’t be returning with Arran and Royden wondered what more could be done to help find his sister.
Later that day rain moved in and everyone took shelter inside. Royden searched for his wife once he entered the keep and no one could tell him where she was. He hadn’t found her in their bedchamber like he had hoped he would or in his old bedchamber. He was a bit surprised to find her in Arran’s bedchamber.
The bedding lay on the floor in the corner and she was busy wiping dust off most everything while a small fire burned in the hearth. He stood in the open doorway and watched her. She was so intent on her task that she didn’t know he was there. She worked with enthusiasm, a smile on her face, sneezing when a plume of dust rose around her.
She jumped when she turned and saw him. “You sneak around as quietly as your sister did.”
Royden shook his head. “No one surpasses my sister when it comes to sneaking around.”
Oria laughed. “Raven was good at hiding where no one would find her.” Her smile remained after her laughter faded. “That skill no doubt serves her well now.”
“I pray it is so, but what are you doing in Arran’s bedchamber,” Royden asked, stepping into the room.
“Seeing that it is clean and fresh for your brother’s return home,” she said, looking around the room at the work already accomplished.
“Someone else could see to that,” Royden said.
“True, but I am his sister now—family—and I will see it done as I will with Raven’s room as well.”