Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
She had had no reason to distrust Odo. He was the uncle who had searched so unselfishly and endlessly for her and her sister, but for what end?
In a few hours time she was to wed. She should rightfully be preparing for her wedding at this very moment. Instead she rode through woods, the trees barren in their winter sleep, the ground hard and the cold air biting her cheeks.
She had no idea where they went or Odo’s intention, and she wondered what the next few hours would bring?
Her answer came suddenly.
Freedom.
She may have fallen prey to her enemy but she would not remain so. She would free herself, starting with the ties that bound her wrists, and then once free she would go after Odo. He was fit and strong for a man well into his late years, but all men were vulnerable somewhere. She would wait and watch and discover his weakness, then she would strike. Without their leader’s guidance, the men would be easy to deal with, and besides Tarr and Aliss could not be far behind.
“You think to plot your escape,” Odo said with a chuckle. “There is no getting away from me this time. I have searched too long and hard for you.”
“Not for my sister and me?”
“You will do, or so the prophecy says.”
“I am getting tired of this Giann and her foolish prophecies—”
“They are not foolish,” Odo snapped. “They are wise and they have alerted me to the possible destruction of my clan.”
“Did the prophecy have to do with why you wanted us gone?” Fiona asked, fishing for answers.
“Actually, the opposite.”
“You wanted us around?”
“Aye, so that I could make certain the prophecy never saw fruition,” Odo admitted. “Shona abducted you, why I still cannot understand, and ruined everything. I had no choice but to search and pray that you had not survived.”
“Then you did plan on killing us.”
“I thought only one would need to die, but I was not certain whom,” he said.
“Yet you made an attempt on both our lives. Tell me, did you fire the arrow that hit Aliss?”
“My men are faithful and do what I ask of them.”
She shook her head. “No wonder we found no tracks after Aliss was hit. You covered your own when you volunteered to search for the offender.”
“I do what is necessary to protect my clan.”
“Tell me of this prophecy that predicts doom and gloom for the clan.”
“No one heard it but me,” Odo whispered, his eyes darting in all directions to see that his men did not ride too close and hear the dire words. “Giann whispered them over your mother as she slept. I was in the shadows. She did not see me, but I heard her.”
“What did you hear?” Fiona asked impatiently.
Odo gave another anxious glance around before reciting the prophecy. “On a full moon two babes are born; and with their birth sounds the horn; eyes of green; hair of red; destruction comes when the first one weds.”
A chill ran up her spine, though she refused to shiver, she simply shrugged. “My marriage unites two fine and powerful clans. It does not cause destruction.”
“According to the prophecy it does.”
“And you believe such nonsense?”
“I believe the truth,” he said harshly. “You and your sister were born on a full moon, the horn sounded from a distant village, you had green eyes and a thatch of red hair. The rest was sure to prove true. It was yours or your sister’s life or the clan’s demise. There was no other choice left to me.”
“And what choice do you have now? You have betrayed one of your own. You will be hunted and punished.”
He laughed. “I am no fool. You were seen freely leaving Hellewyk land with me. You did not protest or scream that I was abducting you. We rode off together in a common cause. And if you should die in pursuit of that cause?”—he shrugged—“heroes are born from less.”
Her green eyes glistened with a tangible fury and she raised her tied wrists, shook her fisted hands at him. “You will bring destruction.”
“Blackshaw clan will gladly unite with the clan Hellewyk and seek revenge against the Wolf clan,” Odo said with pride. “Of course, if Tarr should die in battle the Hellewyk clan would have no leader; my nephew being a strong chieftain and following my wise opinions, would take leadership and unite the two clans.”
“It will never happen. Tarr is no fool, he will not believe you.”
“My brother, his wife, and my nephew Raynor would never doubt me. They know I serve the clan with honor.”
“Your own deceit will be your defeat. Tarr knows I would not ride off without first—”
“What makes you think Tarr will live to hear an explanation of your sudden disappearance?”
She glared at him, gritting her teeth to prevent spewing oaths at him.