The King's Executioner (27 page)

Anin curled around her husband when she felt him climb into the sleeping pallet beside her. Paine had hurried her away from the chaotic scene after he took Tarn’s head and made her promise to remain in their dwelling. She had no trouble giving her word. She was exhausted from the long day as was Bog who stretched out in front of the door.

She had dropped down on the pallet, her limbs feeling as if they could hold her no more, but she woke a few moments before Paine returned and hurried out of her garments eager to slip into his arms when he joined her.

“All is well?” she asked.

“For now,” Paine said. “Atas is being looked after by Bethia. Her wound is severe and will probably leave her badly scarred. Wrath is trying to discourage the King from sending him with the two Drust prisoners and supplies to the Drust village to settle any problems and reaffirm his commitment to help them.” Paine gave his body a good stretch before he continued, trying to ease the aches from it. “The King calls for a High Council meeting tomorrow to discuss who will fill the two seats, though he has suggested that my duties as executioner have dwindled with your arrival and that I might serve him better on the council as Master Builder since I have helped him build many of the small buildings he constructs before erecting the actual building.”

Anin sat up beside him. “That is wonderful. Death and suffering will surround you no more. You will be free. People will not avoid you. They will speak with you and call you friend and when it is time for us to leave here you can help my people to build fine dwellings.”

Paine wrinkled his brow. “What do you mean when we leave here?”

“I had no chance to tell you of my visit with Esplin.”

“When did you meet with Esplin?”

“I went into the woods for a private moment with two of my father’s warriors not far off, intending to run and meet you on your way to rescue me. Esplin warned me against it and told me to stay with my father until you came for me.”

“Wise of her since the Drust was on their way and if they had found you...” Paine grabbed her and kissed her. “Remind me to tell her how grateful I am that she saved my wife’s life.”

Anin sat up beside him again. “Esplin is my grandmother.”

He grinned. “I knew I was drawn to that woman for a reason. She is much like you. Is that why there will come a time you wish to leave here and go live with the Wyse?”

“It is more that it will be my duty to go. You see Esplin is the leader of the Wyse Tribe and I will one day take her place.”

Paine stared at her, looking as if he was about to respond then closing his mouth only to open it again until finally he said, “You will be chieftain one day?”

Anin nodded. “As will our daughter.”

“Are you...” His hand went to her stomach.

“Esplin says I am and I will know soon enough. You do not mind I will give you a daughter first?”

“I look forward to a little lass who will hug me and know without me saying that she has my heart.”

Anin leaned down and kissed him. “We will have a good life together and grow old together.”

“That is all that matters to me... that we are together always.”

“Never to part,” she whispered.

“Always one,” he murmured and eased her beneath him to join together as one.

THE END

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The King’s Warrior

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There is little know about the Picts, the
Painted People
as history refers to them, though more is being uncovered through archeological finds. While I sprinkled some facts that are known or believed to be accurate about the Picts throughout the story most all of what I wrote is from my imagination. Though, it seems with some new finds about the infamous
Painted People
, they are discovering that the Picts were not the savages they first believed them to be, but had more of an established society.

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The King’s Executioner

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