A Warrior's Promise (26 page)

Chapter 33

B
ryce woke with a stretch and reached out to wrap himself around Charlotte, only to find her gone. He groaned and shook his head. He should have known she wouldn't wait. No doubt she was already on her way to try to find Old John.

He stretched himself out of bed and quickly got into his clothes. He couldn't keep chasing after her. He had his duties to see to, and he wondered if perhaps that was what she intended her early-morning absence to show him.

Should he let her be? She did well in speaking with people and discovering information, so perhaps she would do what others couldn't—get Old John to talk.

He pondered the situation as he hurried down to the great hall, eager to eat.

“What do you mean she went off with Charlotte?” Reeve yelled at his mum.

Duncan and Mercy shook their heads, and so did Bryce as he joined them at the table.

“And what are you doing sitting?” Reeve demanded. “We have our women to find.”

“Your women are not lost,” Mara said. “They took a walk and will return later.”

“A walk?” Reeve shouted again, and turned, smacking Bryce in the shoulder. “Your woman dragged my wife off to find that madman.”

“Actually, Tara asked if she could join Charlotte,” Mara said, filling a tankard with cider and handing it to Bryce.

“Don't worry,” Bryce said. “Charlotte won't let anything happen to Tara.”

“You're not going after her?” Reeve asked, stunned.

“Not this time,” Bryce confessed. “She needs to do this for herself.”

Mara smiled and nodded as she passed around a chunk of bread.

“This is tasty,” Duncan said, munching on it, and Mercy agreed with a nod, her mouth full.

“Etty should make this more often,” Bryce said, agreeing with the others.

Reeve swiped a piece and gave his nod of approval.

Bryce placed a hand on Reeve's shoulder when he finally sank down on the bench next to him. “I do want to run after Charlotte and throttle her for taking off on her own, but I realize that isn't what she needs. As I said, she needs to do this for herself, and perhaps Tara does too.”

“If I wasn't so large with child, I would have joined them,” Mercy said, disappointed.

Duncan turned to his wife. “You most certainly would no—”

“Don't dare say it,” Mercy warned. “If I could trek months through the woods shackled to you, I think I am capable of walking the woods with two women, one who seems quite able of protecting all three of us.”

Bryce grinned. “That's my wife—” He sat, stunned that he had acknowledged Charlotte as his wife, and yet it seemed the most naturally thing to do. And only hoped the future would allow it.

“Well, of course Charlotte will be your wife,” Mercy said. “Any fool can see that you both love each other.”

Carmag entered the hall, preventing any further discussion. His expression was grim, and he told his sons that he needed to talk with them. They immediately stood and followed him to the solar.

As soon as Carmag shut the door behind them, he said, “A friend of Neil's arrived before dawn this morning. He has news of the supposed spy we've been concerned with.”

“Is this fellow reliable?” Reeve asked.

Carmag walked over in front of the fireplace where his sons had gathered. “After meeting with him, I would say more than reliable, and he's asked to remain with us. He's brought his wife and three children with him. He says that the king is in a rage over the spy he discovered in his court. And that he plans on finding out just what information the person has passed on to the true king, and there is also talk that this person knows the true king's identity.”

“How is that possible?” Duncan asked. “The only ones who know his identity are mum and those in this room.”

Bryce shook his head. “That might not be true.”

They all turned wide eyes on him.

“Charlotte told me that her da had met the true king.” He held up his hand to prevent any questions before he finished explaining. “I don't know the circumstances or even if it is true, or whether her da just got the notion in his head that a man he met was the true king.”

“There is also Bliss, the Pict woman who helped heal Trey,” Duncan reminded. “With her ability to see the future, she all but told us that day here in the solar that she knew who the true king was.”

“She has returned home, and, besides, she would not have been received well by the king, being a Pict,” Reeve said. “And hasn't this spy been in the king's court for some time?”

“Several months,” Carmag answered. “The problem is: since we don't know exactly what this person knows, we don't know what danger it could mean for the true king.”

“Which means we need to rescue this fellow and find out for ourselves,” Bryce said.

The others nodded their agreement.

“Does Neil's friend know where the spy is being held?” Reeve asked.

“A secret prison,” Carmag said, “and the mention of it caused him to shiver. It seems that those knowledgeable about the place fear it.”

“We need Old John to tell us about that prison,” Bryce said.

C
harlotte sat on the ground along with Tara, enjoying the food Mara had packed for them. She had unwrapped the bread and set it on a nearby rock, the scent wafting into the air. She had to ply Odin with extra food so he would not try to devour the tempting loaf.

“You think it will tempt him?” Tara whispered.

“A man living on only what he hunts will certainly follow the delicious scent,” Charlotte said, keeping her voice low.

“I'm glad I came with you,” Tara said, no longer in a whisper. “I forgot how refreshing a good walk could be.”

“It is refreshing,” Charlotte agreed with a raised voice, hoping to attract John's attention.

“Why do you torment me,” Old John called from the woods. “I told you to leave me alone.”

“I don't mean to torment,” Charlotte said. “And I can't leave you alone. I need answers that only you have.”

“Answers that will do you no good,” he said.

“Let me decide that,” she said. “Now please come join us and share in our food.”

“It is best I remain separate from others,” Old John said. “But if you could leave some food, it would be appreciated.”

“Isn't it time you gave up your solitary life?” Charlotte said. “And start living again.”

“You don't know what you ask,” he said.

“Then tell us,” Tara said.

“You won't want to hear it.”

“I've heard much heartache lately,” Charlotte offered. “Just recently an old man stumbled out of the woods and into my care, having escaped the soldiers. He thought death his only choice, his son having been taken by the soldiers because of his ability to forge a fine sword and his granddaughter rushing off in search of her da, much like me.”

“What? What is that you say?” And with that, Old John stepped out of the woods and approached them.

He was not bowed or slowed by age. This man had a proud posture and a fine step. Though gray filled his hair, he did not appear as aged as when Charlotte had first seen him.

“This man you speak of, do you know his name?” John asked.

“Donald,” Charlotte said.

John stumbled as if struck and quickly lowered himself to the ground, his hands trembling. “Donald is my da.”

Charlotte had never expected that, and neither had Tara; both their eyes turned wide, and their hearts went out to him.

“Your da survived an attack just yesterday on the group he traveled with. He is fine, and no doubt would love to know that his son is alive and well.”

“My daughter,” John said with a tear in his eye. “I must find my daughter.”

“We could help,” Tara offered.

Charlotte agreed with a nod. “Come with us. Talk with your da and talk with our men. There must be something we can do to help you find your daughter.”

“I stayed away to protect them. I knew they would search for me, and I didn't want the soldiers harming my family,” he said, shaking his head. “But my efforts made no difference, they still suffered.”

Charlotte reached out and placed a comforting hand on John's arm. “It's time for the suffering to end. Your da will be happy to see you, to know not all is lost.”

“But my daughter . . .” John shook his head, and a tear fell from his eye.

“Help me get to my da, and I will help you find your daughter,” Charlotte said, giving his arm a squeeze. “I know how you feel, and I will do all I can to help you.”

John wiped away another tear and nodded. “I will help you, and I look forward to seeing my da again.”

B
y late afternoon, Bryce began to worry, though not as much as Reeve, who wore a path in the dirt in front of the keep.

“Why haven't they returned yet?” Reeve asked, as Bryce joined him.

He watched Reeve walk back and forth, his brow wrinkled with concern. He didn't want to add to his alarm by letting him know he felt the same. Why hadn't they returned? Had something happened?

Reeve stopped abruptly. “You feel the same. You think they should have been back by now too, don't you?”

Bryce nodded. “You're right. I had expected them to return by now.”

“Something is wrong. We need to go after them,” Reeve insisted.

“What? No faith in your women?” Duncan asked, joining them.

“I'd like to see if you'd be saying that if Mercy were with them,” Reeve challenged.”

Duncan grinned.

“Don't dare laugh,” Reeve warned. “You know I'm right.”

“You are right,” Duncan admitted. “I'd be mad with worry.”

“Then why make light of the situation?” Reeve asked, annoyed.

“Because your women are safe and well and headed this way,” Duncan said, pointing past them.

Bryce and Reeve turned to see Charlotte, Tara, and Old John entering the village. Reeve went to run, and Bryce grabbed his arm.

“They return victorious. Give her the honor she deserves and stand here with pride and wait for her.”

Reeve blew out a frustrated breath. “You're right.”

Bryce and Duncan exchanged grins as Reeve started pacing once again. And when the trio was only a short distance from them, Reeve could contain himself no more and hurried to lift his wife off her feet and plant a solid kiss on her lips.

“You're not angry?” Tara asked, once he placed her feet on the ground.

Reeve shook his head. “Worried when I found you were gone. Just tell me next time so that I know where you go.”

Tara wrapped her arm around his. “I love you more now than ever.”

Reeve leaned in, and whispered, “Later you can show me just how much.”

Tara laughed. “That's a promise.”

Charlotte grinned as she passed Tara and Reeve, and when she reached Bryce, she gave him a quick kiss, and whispered, “Thank you for not coming after me.”

He gave her a quick kiss back and answered with a whisper, “I knew you could do this on your own.”

She smiled and took his hand as she introduced John and told him about Donald being his da. It wasn't long before father and son were reunited, tears flowing freely from both as they embraced each other, not wanting to let go.

Food and ale were generous as father and son talked at a table in the great hall. Bryce knew that Charlotte was eager to hear what John had to say about the prison, but he knew that she also understood that father and son needed some time first. She would want it that way when she found her da, and so she would give it to another.

He sat with an arm around Charlotte at the table before the hearth, his family laughing and talking and he feeling more content than ever. He wanted to tell her that he had missed her in the short time she had been gone, but now wasn't the time. Her hand rested casually on his thigh, but her attention was fixed on where John sat talking with his father.

His thoughts might be on her, but her thoughts were on her da, and he needed to focus there as well and be ready to do whatever it took to rescue her father. He had promised her, and he would not break his promise.

“Is there any of the delicious bread left from this morning?” Tara asked with a smile at Mara.

“Not a crumb,” Reeve said. “We ate it all and told mum to have Etty bake more. It was delicious.”

“That it was,” Duncan agreed, and Mercy nodded her approval.

“I got barely a crumb,” Carmag said. “And after tasting it, I wish there had been more.”

Tara laughed, and Charlotte joined in.

Bryce was pleased that the conversation had diverted her attention and brought a bright smile and a laugh to her lips.

“What's so funny?” he asked, giving her a playful squeeze.

“Ask your mum,” Charlotte said.

Mara's cheek burned bright red, and her eyes danced with joy. “I baked the bread.”

Her husband's and sons' mouths dropped open.

“Impossible,” Carmag said, and got a swat in the arm for it. “It's just that—”

“Don't bother to lie,” Mara snapped. “I know that you all don't like my cooking.” She waved her hand to silence them as each tried to disagree. “No lies, I said. I know my cooking isn't good.”

“Then how did you get the bread to taste so delicious?” Carmag asked, wrapping an arm around his wife.

“Charlotte.” Mara smiled, pointing at her. “She showed me what I was doing wrong and how to add a little something extra that would make it taste better.”

Bryce beamed with pride and hugged Charlotte tight. “She's a woman of many talents.”

Before any more praise could be heaped on Charlotte, John approached the table.

“It's time we talked,” John said. “And the women don't need to hear what I have to tell.”

The women, all but Charlotte, got up and left.