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)
Aliss had known trouble was brewing, for Uncle Tavish and Fiona had talked often, he respecting her intelligence and forthright manner. It was obvious Leith had been jealous, and Aliss wondered, if it had been possible, would Uncle Tavish have left the leadership of the clan to Fiona?
Uncle Tavish had not been dead more than three days when Leith’s rule could be felt and she and Fiona knew that it would take little time and effort on his part to bring the clan to ruin. If it were not for the match between Fiona and Tarr, the MacElder clan would know much unrest and suffering.
While neither she nor Fiona would wish such a plight on their clan, it was not right that Fiona bare the sole burden of Leith’s ignorance.
Aliss turned and glanced at Raynor stretched out and sound asleep on the bed. Had fate brought him into their lives? If this matter did not go the way Fiona wished, would this stranger be their escape to a more peaceful life?
She wasn’t sure. She was just grateful that they would have a choice.
Chapter 11
“Which one rides with me today?”
The twins stopped talking to glance up at him from where they sat at a table near the huge stone fireplace in the great hall. Tarr had learned that they had arrived in the hall before dawn. The cook had advised him that they had seen to preparing their own breakfast, which they had taken to the table where they have been talking ever since the sun rose a couple of hours ago.
They looked at one another as though deciding, then one stood.
“I would like to ride.”
“I will have the horses made ready.” He glanced at the other twin. “How does Raynor fair?”
The twin that stood spoke, “Why not ask him yourself?”
“In time.”
“You let him wonder over his fate.”
Tarr turned to the twin who sat. “A warrior knows his fate; it is the consequence of battle.”
“We decide our own fate,” the other twin said.
“It is not always left for us to decide,” Tarr said. “Fate sometimes has the right answer, we are just too stubborn to see it.”
The other sister stood. “Then fate has a busy day today.” She smiled and walked off.
He was not surprised to see her leave the keep. Each morning one of the twins would stroll the village and look in on those who were ill. He was not certain which twin repeated the daily routine or if they took turns. It was impossible to tell them apart. Their dress was always the same, either a green skirt or brown one, their blouses white or yellow and their red hair fashioned the same, swept up, tied back, or free to spill over their shoulders; today it was worn free.
Tarr extended his hand for Fiona to take the lead. “Let us meet our fate.”
The weather was perfect, a warm day for autumn, not a chill in the air.
Tarr watched Fiona mount her mare, without any help from him. She grabbed the reins, swung herself onto her horse, and waited. He took a moment to talk with the young lad who tended his horses, and from the corner of his eye caught an impatient Fiona lead her horse away from the village.
Her mare was just as impatient, snorting and stumping the ground, her eyes fixed on the open meadow. The animal was itching to break free and run, as badly as he imagined Fiona wanted to run, and he doubted she would hold her back much longer.
Tarr purposely took his time to see what she would do. Would she wait for him or take off at a blazing pace?
His answer came only moments after he mounted his stallion. Fiona freed her mare to run and Tarr grinned as he urged his horse to catch her.
He could see how much she enjoyed her ride by the way she enthusiastically held her face up to greet the wind. Then there was the ease in which she rode her mare; theirs was a harmonious pairing.
Watching her now he realized that she had a natural ability with horses, actually animals in general. He recalled how the puppy was attracted to the one twin, and he had noticed that most animals around the keep responded to her, or was it both twins?
He shrugged away his confusion and decided today he would let fate deal with his dilemma. He intended to enjoy his time with Fiona, at least he hoped the twin was Fiona.
Tarr took off after her, his stallion having no difficulty catching up with her. When he rode alongside her; she challenged him with a smile and he accepted, pulling past her. Not for long, though. She caught up with him, and they rode neck and neck for a good distance before they both slowed their pace.