Silver Flame

Chapter 7

“S o, there is all that I ken about Sine’s problems.” Gamel sprawled in a heavy oak chair and closely watched his father’s face. He, Farthing, and their parents had all gathered in the elder Logans’ solar and had just spent an hour or more discussing Sine’s troubles. The dust of the departing Brodies had barely cleared the Duncoille bailey when Gamel had done as he had promised Sine, and begun telling them all her story. At times he had not had answers for the pointed questions his father asked. It had been left to Farthing to reply, with Gamel resenting the man’s superior knowledge of Sine. Now, he tensely awaited his father’s decision about aiding Sine Catriona in her fight.

“’Tis a dangerous request the lass wants granted. Aye, she has right on her side, but the ones she must fight have deadly guile and the will to use it,” Lord William muttered after several moments of quiet thought.

Gamel sat forward a little, dreading his father’s reply even as he asked, “Do we join that fight?”

“Do ye wish to?”

“Aye.”

“We havenae a large force—twenty weel-trained men-at-arms at most. Beyond that we must look to our farmers and shepherds to join us.”

“Lord Magnusson has some men and he is willing to help.” Gamel glanced briefly at Farthing’s father, who nodded. “That would near double our fighting force.”

“Only if Thomas leaves his own keep and lands completely unprotected.” William smiled faintly when Gamel flushed and cursed softly. “I havenae said nay yet.”

“Ye havenae said aye either.”

“Son, ye ask that we step into a quagmire of murder, deceit, and treachery. I ken these Brodies from court and have heard naught but ill of them from those who have the wit to see behind their beauty and clever wiles. To take up a sword against those who have no honor, who wouldst cut your throat as ye sleep, is a course of action one must consider carefully. We could bring a great deal of trouble down upon our heads and not gain anything for it. I also have the lives of my men to consider, men who have been with me for years.”

“I understand. How much time do ye need to make your decision?” Gamel could not think of another way to argue his position. His cause was just, and his father knew it.

“I have already decided.” William ignored his petite wife when she pinched him for dithering at Gamel’s expense. “We will fight for the lass.”

Gamel slumped a little with relief. “It could be a long and bloody fight,” he felt compelled to add.

“We ken that all too weel,” Edina answered from where she sat at Lord William’s side, his large callused hand clasping hers. “Your father and I are in agreement, though. I confess that I dread what might come. But ’twould be far worse to turn our backs on the lass. She has been cruelly wronged and she needs help.”

“I thank ye, as I am sure Sine will,” Gamel said, then stood up. “Shall I bring her to ye now?”

Lord William nodded. “Aye, fetch the lass. She should be part of this now.”

“Did ye learn anything of importance from Lady Arabel?” demanded Lord Magnusson of Farthing the moment Gamel was gone.

Farthing looked at his father, vaguely wondering why he had waited to ask until Gamel had left the room to fetch Sine.

“Why not wait until Gamel and Sine have returned before we talk about what little I gleaned from her mother?” Farthing asked.

“Do ye not think that the lass may feel a wee bit ill at ease if she kens that ye have bedded her mother?” Lord Magnusson spoke quietly and watched his son closely as Farthing considered his words.

“Ah, aye, she might. Howbeit, Gamel wouldnae care. Why not wait until he can hear what I have to say?”

“He could accidentally tell Sine where such information was gathered. I truly believe ’twould be kinder if she didnae learn of your tryst with her mother.”

“Mayhaps. It doesnae really matter. There isnae a lot to tell.”

“Your seductive powers werenae strong enough to make the lady speak freely, hmmmm?”

Farthing decided to ignore his father’s sarcasm. “Lady Arabel told me only one thing that is of any importance—the names of some of her many amours. The woman has bedded some verra powerful people, from lowly sheriffs to some of the king’s own council. Mayhaps even more important is how much she kens about each and every one of them. ’Tis knowledge they wouldnae wish spread about too widely.”

“Which means that she can force them to act on her behalf,” muttered Lord William, briefly clenching his big hands on the back of the heavy oak chair in which his wife sat.

“Aye,” agreed Farthing. “We shall have to be verra careful or we could find more than the Brodies and their pack of curs facing us.”

Lord William nodded. “Ye had best give us what names ye can so that we willnae be deceived or surprised. We may even be able to turn her allies to our side, for all ken that I can be trusted with their secrets.” He held up his hand to silence Farthing even as the younger man began to speak. “Later. I hear Gamel returning.”

Edina moved to hug Sine the moment Gamel brought her into the solar. “Oh, my poor wee lass.”

Sine tensed slightly in the woman’s embrace, then felt a little ashamed of herself. This was no Arabel. There was no dagger hidden in this woman’s hand. When she met Edina’s gaze, Sine saw only understanding there and she was able to relax.

“We intend to do all we can to help, be it covertly or in open battle. My husband has agreed to it,” Edina continued. “Although I hope it doesnae come to fighting.”

“I hope it can be bloodless as weel,” Sine murmured.

It was difficult to hide her confusion. Gamel was a bastard, yet clearly the Logans meant to put all of their strength behind him. Sine saw Edina smile as the woman stepped back a little.

“Ye arenae the first one to puzzle o’er the ways of this family, m’dear,” Edina said quietly as she took Sine by the hand and led her to a seat. “Gamel is our son. ’Tis all there is to say.”

Still pondering over that, Sine sat down on a large comfortable bench. Gamel immediately took a seat on her right. She had to struggle to restrain her blush as memories of the heated lovemaking they had indulged in for most of the night rushed to the forefront of her mind. When Farthing quickly sat down on her left, she looked at him in order to deter her errant thoughts. The way he and Gamel eyed each other made her sigh. This constant bristling between the two men could quickly grow very irritating. Edina’s next words told Sine that she felt much the same way.

“And ye two young gentlemen can just smooth those ruffled feathers down.”

“Ruffled feathers?” muttered Gamel indignantly.

Edina continued as if he had not spoken. “Now is the time to be united. We must help Sine and the twins.”

“Weel, my father and I have already offered all that we have,” Farthing said in a stiff voice.

Lord Magnusson, who stood behind Farthing, gently rapped his son on the head with his knuckles. “The more the better and weel ye ken it. What we must discuss now is how best to combine our forces to make the wisest use of each other’s strengths. Ye two can quibble over the lass when the matter is all settled.”

“’Tis more than a quibble,” grumbled Farthing.

Sine almost giggled but forced it back. Farthing looked a lot like one of the twins when he was reprimanded—just a little bit sulky. Then she frowned and looked around the room, realizing that her brothers were not in attendance.

“Where are Dane and Ree?” she asked.

Farthing replied, “Weel, since they are but nine and can add little to any plan I thought it just as weel to leave them out of it.”

“Aye, child,” added Edina. “They are happily at play with my youngest boys. Howbeit, if ye feel otherwise, we could fetch them.”

“Nay. Let them play. ’Tis rare that they have other children to play with. As ye say, Farthing, they can be of little help, so why burden them? And I deeply appreciate all of your help,” she added. “Yet, ’tis a dangerous game ye will enter, so I shall understand any reluctance ye may feel. I cannae ask—”

“Ye dinnae need to ask,” said Lord William. “If naught else, many another would appreciate seeing that pair brought to justice. It took me some time but I finally recalled that I fought side by side with your father once. That was the reason the medallion ye gave to Gamel was so familiar to me. That and the shock I first felt when I saw the same medallion around Malise Brodie’s neck. Your father stood at my back in one battle and I was sorry to ken that he had died before I could repay that debt.”

“I am certain that he kenned ye would have if the chance had ever arisen,” Sine replied.

“Aye, but now repayment can be made in a different way. There is one thing I must ask ye.”

“And that is?” she pressed when he fell silent, frowning at her.

“Ye do realize that to gain back all that is yours and the twins’, to avenge your father’s death, could weel mean that your mother must die—either by our hands or those of the law.”

“Aye, I ken it.”

“Weel, then, we can start by having ye tell us all that ye can about the Brodie keep—Dorchabeinn.” Lord William moved toward a table where a quill and paper were already laid out, then waved at the others to join him.

“I fear I dinnae recall verra much, m’lord,” Sine warned as she walked over to the table, Gamel on her right and Farthing to her left.

“Tell us what little ye do ken, lass,” Lord William advised. “’Twill be a start, a base of knowledge we can build upon.”

She nodded and slowly began to tell them of Dorchabeinn, plunging deep into her memory for every elusive detail. Each question asked of her revealed how dim and inexact her memories were. And as she spoke, it was difficult to subdue the sudden fear that she had begun a battle she was ill prepared to fight.

Sine stood on the high sturdy outer walls of Duncoille staring blindly out over the fields that surrounded the keep. Most of the morning had been spent planning how to deal with the Brodies, yet she had taken little part in it all. They had prodded her for information about Dorchabeinn, as well as about Malise and Arabel, but that was about all she had contributed to the plot. Her vow was now being fulfilled, but she was having very little to do with it.

Her thoughts also kept straying to what Lord William had said—that once begun, the attempt to retrieve her property and avenge her father’s death could well mean her mother had to die. Sine had believed that she had already accepted that fact, yet now she felt very unsure. Malise had killed her father and grandmother and fully intended to kill her and the twins—and all with her mother’s approval and aid. It did not make sense to feel hesitant. For some reason, now that she was nearing her goal she was lacking the strong sense of righteousness she had carried with her for so long.

She sensed Gamel’s presence even before he reached her side. That also left her confused. She had barely known the man a week, yet he had become a complex, integral part of her life. It was hard not to resent that a little, especially when he did it so effortlessly. As he tucked a stray lock of her hair back beneath her headdress, she eyed him with something less than welcome.

“I thought your temper would be sweeter now that ye have the aid ye have sought for so long,” he murmured.

“It should be.” She leaned her arms on the top of the rampart. “Mayhaps there is just something I have missed in the planning and the slight confusion leaves me irritable,” she mumbled.

Leaning his back against the thick wall, Gamel crossed his arms over his chest and studied her. He suspected that what she had just said was a lie. Something was troubling her, but he was going to have to nudge her quite persistently before he found out what it was. And then he hoped he had the answers he needed to solve the problem.

“Sir Lesley is traveling with the Brodies. He claimed he needed to go to court and begged the privilege of accompanying them for added safety. He could prove a most valuable spy.”

“Or get himself murdered.”

Gamel ignored that sulky response. “Father has sent word to the king.”

Sine nodded. “Aye. I saw the messenger leave.”

“The messenger will tell Robert the Second what is happening here and Father has no doubt but that the king will give his full approval to the actions we plan to take. And good wishes for our success. ’Tis true that the king rarely interferes in such interclan squabbles, but Father decided it could only be to our advantage to make the king aware of the trouble and our part in it. Father says that Robert has long been suspicious of the Brodies. The king has often grumbled about them to Father. They gain too much influence and wealth. Too many deaths have followed their rise to power. Suspicions abound but no proof has ever come to light. The king will appreciate someone finding that proof.”

“If proof can be found.”

“It will be. Those two have far too much to hide. They cannae cover all their tracks. Father and Lord Magnusson will send word to everyone they know, asking them what they ken or even suspect. They will also send word to all they ken who have had dealings with Malise and your mother.”

“I ken it. And they will offer protection and the promise of full confidentiality to any and all who fear that murderous pair and what might happen if they tell the truth.”

“Exactly. He has even said that he will take on the protection and care of their wives and children if ’tis needed. So, I have little doubt that some will come forward. They will be glad of a chance to shake free of the Brodies’ hold. I also have little doubt that ye ken each and every step we have planned thus far, so what troubles you?”

Sine grimaced, then looked directly at Gamel. “What do I do?”

“Ah, I see. Ye feel pushed aside, nudged out of your own plans for vengeance, do ye?”

When he reached out and tugged her into his arms she tensed briefly, then relaxed against him with a sigh. She really did like being held by him. It was probably foolish to keep fighting him. Nevertheless, she suspected that she would continue to do so to some extent, if only because he pressed her so hard, so consistently, that she could barely think straight.

“Aye. I fear I might. Ungrateful wretch that I am. I have all the help I have sought for so very long yet I seem to resent the fullness in which it is given to me.”

“’Tis best the way it is, Sine. For many reasons. The Brodies will soon ken that someone is probing too deeply into their affairs. They will look around to try and discover who is being so dangerously curious. ’Tis best if ye and the twins arenae too readily visible. Aye, we are protecting ye now, but the moment the Brodies discover that ye are here that protection will need to be increased tenfold. The longer we can delay carving up our strength in that manner the better.” He idly rubbed his hand up and down her slim back.

It was all true, far too true and sensible to argue with. She felt that touch of resentment she had been suffering begin to ease. After all, she had sought help for much the same reasons. To do it all by herself would have been to expose herself and the twins to the murderous plots of the Brodies.

“Did ye think ye but needed to gather an army, ride to Dorchabeinn, and just toss them out?” he asked.

“Nay.” She smiled faintly, for she had envisioned just such a course of events many times. “S’truth, I did ponder such a swift, impressive end to it all now and again, but, nay, I always kenned that it could ne’er be so simple.” She frowned. “Ye said ‘many reasons’ for keeping me excluded from helping with your plans, but ye really only gave me one, mayhaps two.”

“Two. Searching out proof and protecting ye and the lads.”

“Gamel.” She leaned back a little to look up at him. “Ye said ‘many’ reasons.”

He slid his hands down her back to cup her backside. “Would ye care to forget your worries and fears for a wee while?”

Sine gave him as stern a look as she could manage as she tugged his hands away from her. “Gamel.”

He sighed, then replied, “There is the fact that this will end with your mother’s death. I cannae see any other way.”

“Neither can I.” She pressed her cheek against his chest and slipped her arms about his trim waist.

“I wish to keep ye as far away from that as is possible. I want to keep your hands as clean of it as I can.”

“I have set the hounds on her trail. I am already in great part responsible for whatever happens.”

“’Tis not the same. Ye now only work to end the threat against your own life and the twins’. That is far different from actually taking part in her death, weel deserved though it may be. Nevertheless, she is your mother.”

“That doesnae stop me from seeing the evil in her. The blood tie didnae stop ye from seeing how wrong your mother was, did it?”

“Nay, but my mother wasnae quite the villain yours is.”

She frowned at him. “Ye said she was the same.”

“Aye, she was in many ways. She had a whore’s morals, she was utterly heartless and sometimes cruel, and she had no love for me. Nay, she did her best to kill me whilst I was still in her womb, and even once when I was but newly born. The nuns at the convent where she had taken refuge stopped her from smothering me.”

Sine tightened her grip on him as sympathy flooded her heart. “’Tis a grievous knowledge for a child to bear.”

“Aye. It can still pinch. My father’s wife, Edina, eased the sting of it years ago with her kindness and her mothering. My birth mother was later confined to that convent for life. Her family could no longer abide her lecherousness, and they were deeply shamed by the way she had tried to hurt my father and Edina. I rarely see or hear from her.”

“And I have had little to do with my mother. We share that curse.”

“True, but do we share the ability to see the dangers our mothers can pose for us?”

“I ken verra weel that Arabel is a threat to me.”

“Aye, but, as I have said, she is your mother, and at some point in this deadly game that must, and will, make ye hesitate.”

“It already has,” she whispered.

“I am glad that ye have already seen it. Can ye also see how dangerous that hesitation could prove to be?”

“Aye—easily. She will have no reluctance.”

“Nay, and, if I judge her correctly, she will take swift advantage of yours. Ye have one weakness already.”

“Oh, and what might that be?” She frowned up at him, not sure whether she should feel insulted or not.

He touched a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Ye care about those around ye. But one look and it can be seen that ye love those two lads as if they were your own.”

Nodding, she cuddled up to him again, recognizing all too well the weakness he spoke of. “Aye, and there is Farthing.”

She almost smiled when he muttered a curse, a now familiar response to any mention of the man. There just might be some truth to Lord William’s assertion that Gamel was jealous. It was highly contrary of her to like the thought when she was refusing to marry him, but she did. They were, after all, lovers, and it was pleasant to see that hint of possessiveness in him. She would not cater to it, however. Farthing was her family. Gamel would simply have to get over his animosity.

“And, of course, ye do like me some,” he drawled.

“Do I? Hmm. I cannae recall deciding on that just yet. Must think on it for a while.”

A squeak of surprise and alarm escaped her when he suddenly grasped her around the waist and set her on top of the wall. She clutched his arms and closed her eyes, fighting the compelling urge to look down. Even the firm clasp of his strong hands on her waist did not make her feel completely safe.

“Gamel, set me back down.”

“I thought ye might be able to think more clearly up there.”

“I cannae think at all save to contemplate how far it is to the ground.”

“Ho,” bellowed a strong male voice from below. “Is that our fiery-haired brother up there trying to toss some poor lassie off the walls?”

“Did the poor lassie fail to scent your pristine sheets?” yelled another male voice.

Sine found herself quickly set back on her feet. She leaned against the wall to calm herself and listened to Gamel exchange railleries with the two Logans below. Here was just more proof of how completely a part of the family Gamel was. When he finally took her by the hand, she expected to be led back to the great hall to meet his brothers. But Gamel did not immediately move, so she glanced at him, only to find him scowling down at her.

“I am not sure I should let them meet ye,” he grumbled.

“And why is that?” She fought a sense of insult, often too quickly stirred, waiting for some clear reason for his hesitation.

“My brothers, Norman and Nigel, are closer to your age than I, being but nineteen and twenty. They also have a great deal of charm and an eye for the lasses.”

“I have yet to meet a mon who doesnae.” She started on her way, lightly tugging him along with her. “What puzzles me is why ye should think me so wooden-headed as to be easy prey for a flirtatious eye and a pretty word.” She could not resist adding, “Ye certainly offered me neither.”

“Weel, I did have a flirtatious eye.”

“Flirtatious? Hah! ’Twas lustful. And there were no pretty words—only threats.”

He made no reply to that, only said, “’Twould help a poor besotted fool feel more sure of himself if his lady would give him some sense that she is bound to him.”

“Have I not said that I am yours?”

“A word or two before a priest would nicely convince me.”

“Weel, ye shall have to learn to be satisfied with my word alone for now.”

Gamel grumbled a curse but said no more. He simply quickened his step until he was towing her along behind him. Sine supposed it would not hurt to soothe some of the insecurity he was beginning to reveal, yet she hesitated. He had asked her to be his wife, but there was little said of what he felt in his heart. When she considered how he had thrust himself into her life, she decided it was a bit unfair of him to press for words of love from her yet offer none of his own.

After stumbling into the great hall behind him, she was summarily dragged into a brief round of introductions to the newly arrived Logans. That was followed by a boisterous family greeting for Norman and Nigel. Sine found herself seated at Gamel’s side, listening as her story was told yet again, questions asked and plans reviewed. Norman and Nigel were quick to vow to join the fight, assuring her and their hesitant father that the man they were squires for would wholeheartedly agree.

She studied Norman and Nigel closely but as covertly as possible. They were certainly fine-looking young men. They probably did not need pretty words to catch a maid’s heart. The eldest of the pair could be considered the fairest, although she saw no fault in either of them. Norman had golden hair and rich blue eyes. Younger by little more than a year, Nigel had reddish-blond hair and golden brown eyes. Both were tall young men, but with his stronger build, Nigel was more like his father. She suspected the two set many a maid’s heart beating faster. Even though she knew some of their sweet flattery was spouted as much to irritate Gamel as to compliment her, she found that she heartily enjoyed it. She also enjoyed seeing that neither young man shared Gamel’s animosity toward Farthing. That there would not be a united front of Logans against Farthing could be only for the good.

“Are we to stay here then?” Ree asked as Sine tucked him in bed later that night.

She sat down on the edge of the bed the twins shared, which had been placed in the far corner of the room that Gamel’s youngest brothers occupied. “That is the plan for now,” she answered with a nod.

“And these people are going to help us get Dorchabeinn back?”

“Aye. They and Farthing’s father.”

“I hope no one will be hurt,” Dane murmured.

“I pray for that as weel, loving,” Sine answered in a soft voice.

“Why do Farthing and Gamel hate each other?”

“They dinnae hate each other. In truth, I think they could be the best, most loyal of friends. They must settle the anger between them, however. That will take some time. Mayhaps, as they work together to help us the breach will be mended. Now, to sleep ye two. The others will be wandering in soon.”

After kissing each boy’s cheek, she sought out the chamber that had been assigned to her. A hot bath awaited her and she took quick advantage of it. The comforts of Duncoille were all too easy to grow accustomed to, she mused, as she enjoyed her bath.

Once the tub was removed she sat down on a thick sheepskin rug before a small but comfortably warm fire to brush out her hair. A soft rap at her door startled her. As she called out her permission to enter she decided it was probably not Gamel. He would just walk in. Lady Edina entered the room and softly shut the door behind her.

“Ah, dinnae get up,” Edina told Sine, who began to rise. “I have come to meddle.” Edina sat down next to the younger woman. “Here,” she said as she took the brush from Sine’s hand, then edged behind her and gently began to brush her hair. “’Tis always easier to have someone else do it when ’tis as long and thick as yours.”

“Thank ye, m’lady.”

“Ye must call me Edina, although I have hopes that ye shall soon call me Mother.”

“M’lady,” Sine began a little awkwardly, for she was not sure how she could explain herself. “I…”

“I ken it—ye have refused to marry our Gamel. That vow ye made holds ye back, or so he says. I mean to speak on that, although my husband strongly feels that I would be wiser to just stand back. My compromise was to swear that I would simply speak what is on my mind, then leave ye be. I shallnae press ye on the matter.”

“Gamel does,” Sine sighed, for while that was the full, honest truth, she feared that she might sound impertinent.

“Aye, and kenning our Gamel, I feel certain that he shall continue to do so. I would speak to him about that, but it would do no good. Worse, I could easily press him to make some promise that he would surely break.”

“I should not wish that,” Sine murmured, wondering how everything had gotten so very complicated.

“Nay, I have guessed that much. Ye have our laddie sadly befuddled, m’dear.”

“I did naught to bring it about.”

Edina gently patted Sine’s cheek. “I ken it. All here ken it. M’dear, ye have lain with our Gamel. Is it truly the vow that is all that holds ye back from taking him as a husband?”

Sine opened her mouth to say aye then slowly closed it. She was no longer certain. It suddenly looked so much more complicated than that. Her mind was crowded with muddled thoughts, and the reasons for her hesitation were so tangled up that it was suddenly impossible to sort one from another.

Gamel had her cornered and was not giving her any chance to think. He just continued to press for what he wanted. There was also the passion that flared between them. It both drew her to him and frightened her. That passion was so strong, so overwhelming, that she often felt it had to be wrong, even dangerous. Gamel used it to keep her close by his side and that worried her. A part of her was afraid that her own emotions could be used to enslave her. The mere thought of that chilled her. Then there was Farthing. Would Gamel finally force her to choose between him and Farthing? Would Gamel ever accept Farthing and what he meant to her? And there was the fear that she tried so hard to ignore, the deep, ever-present fear that she might carry within her the same evil that infected her mother. Sine knew she could not tell Edina any of that, however, and struggled to set aside her confusion and answer the woman.

“I dinnae ken if ’tis only my vow which makes me refuse Gamel,” she muttered and briefly massaged her temples. “He pushed his way into my life, tricked me into his bed, and I havenae had a moment to think clearly since that night at the inn.”

“And ye willnae for quite a while yet.” Edina took hold of one of Sine’s hands.

“Then what am I to do?”

“I think that ye must solve each problem as it comes to you.”

“I have no time to solve my problem with Gamel. I must fight my enemies.”

“Ye need little time to solve matters with our Gamel—only as long as it takes to kneel before the priest.”

“Ye want me to marry him? What would that solve? I have just told ye how pitifully confused I am.”

“Oh, aye, and how weel I can understand that. Aye, verra weel indeed. My marriage to William was an arranged one. We had to sort through many troubles before we found our happiness.”

“Weel, I have no marriage arranged for me. Gamel tries to drag me before the altar.”

Edina patted Sine’s hand in a vain attempt to ease the girl’s increasing agitation. “Think for a moment, child. Ye are not free; ye have merely eluded the confines all other weelborn lasses suffer. Ye are an unwed lass. That means that ye are the chattel of your kinsmen.”

“Nay,” Sine whispered, though she knew in her heart that Edina only spoke the truth. “My kinsmen are murderers.”

“That is only suspected. There is no proof of it yet. It will take time for us to fully expose their villainy. Until we can do that, the laws that make ye the chattel of your kinsmen cannae be ignored.”

“But my kinsmen cannae reach me, so what does it matter? The law can do them no good at all.”

“One can ne’er be certain of that, child. We intend to hide ye weel and protect ye. Howbeit, Lord and Lady Brodie are verra skilled at the game they play. They are good at finding out all manner of secrets and keeping the whispers of their own crimes and sins from becoming bold accusations. They also have some verra powerful friends, mayhaps more than we realize. The law gives them a weapon in that it makes ye their chattel to do with as they please. If they ever discover that ye are alive and that they have such a weapon, they will surely wield it.”

“Aye, they will. Weel then, I must leave here.”

“And spend another six years running from every shadow? Ye have the chance to fulfill your vow now. Dinnae run from that. Stand and fight. There is one way to elude the threat we have just spoken of—marry Gamel.”

“How can that help me?” Sine began to feel so completely cornered that it nearly restricted her ability to breathe.

“If ye werenae so distraught, I believe ye would have the wit to see the answer for yourself. All lasses begin life as the chattel of their kinsmen, but then they become women and are married.”

“And become the chattel of their husbands,” Sine added in a flat voice. “How can ye be certain that such a ploy would halt the Brodies? The marriage wouldnae be one which they had arranged and sanctioned. Arabel and Malise could rightfully claim that they still held the rule over me.”

“They could claim it but ’twould take time to try and snatch ye from your husband. A marriage performed by a priest isnae something anyone takes lightly even if it is one which the parents havenae condoned. It would also be enough to give Gamel, and us, the right to fight for ye without risking outlawry.”

“Is there any chance of that?” Sine began to fear that she was pulling her champions into far more trouble than she had any right to do. “Gamel said that the king doesnae trust or like Arabel and Malise.”

“That might not matter. The law is clear. We would be holding what was rightfully Arabel’s and Malise’s.”

Sine rubbed her temples again as she tried to think. She did not know where to turn. In all the years she had waited and plotted her revenge, she had never realized how complicated it could become. It had always seemed a simple matter of right against wrong. However, she had no real proof, only her word that the Brodies had actually done any wrong, and until she could get some, she and her allies would have to tread very warily.

Edina slowly stood up and briefly rested her hand upon Sine’s head. “Think about all I have said, child. There is no need to make any decisions tonight.”

“Aye, I shall think about it, Lady Edina. Howbeit, I cannae help but think that ye have set before me a verra poor reason to get married.”

“There have been worse reasons. And I believe that ye would find a great many others in your own heart if ye were but given the time to look. Sadly, I dinnae believe ye will have that time until your enemies are defeated.”

“And so I must make decisions that could alter my entire life without even having the full knowledge of what I need or want. It seems a verra poor way of doing things.”

“It need not alter your whole life,” Edina said in a quiet voice.

“What do ye mean? Marriage sanctified by the Church is forever.”

“’Tis what they would have us think, but that isnae completely true. Ye could cry coercion; ye are far higher born and wealthier than Gamel and it would be a marriage that wasnae condoned by any of your kinsmen or guardians. If ye think hard enough, I am certain ye can think of even more reasons why ye could petition the Church and have the marriage declared invalid.”

“Mayhaps, but it doesnae seem the sort of thing ye should be telling me.”

“I have great sympathy for your verra difficult situation. Also, as a mother, I seek only Gamel’s happiness. Ye could easily make his life a pain-ridden hell if ye decided that ye didnae want him, and I would do most anything to save him from that.” She bent and gave Sine a light kiss upon the cheek before walking toward the door. “’Twould be far better for him to suffer the clean, complete loss of his wife than to spend his years trying to win your love when ye cannae give it to him.” She opened the door and looked back at Sine. “And, for now, ’tis better for ye—aye, for all of us—if ye become a wife. Think on it, child, and try to think without letting your emotions lead ye.”

Edina had barely finished shutting the door behind her when she saw Gamel striding toward her. She took a few steps in his direction and halted him a foot from Sine’s chamber door. It was hard not to smile at his expression of annoyance, which he could not hide, but she quickly pushed aside her amusement. Gamel was not going to like what she had to say. Edina could only hope that he retained the wit to see the good sense of her plan.

“Ye have been talking with Sine?” Gamel asked, and briefly stared at Sine’s chamber door before fixing his gaze upon his stepmother.

“Aye, and I am pleased to be able to have a word with you ere ye join her. ’Tis about the marriage ye are demanding of her.”

“Ye said ye had no qualms about it.”

“And I meant it. Although I cannae approve of the way ye are pressing the lass.”

“I wish to tie her to me as securely as I can. I dinnae want her to slip away again.”

“Gamel, marriage willnae stop her if she truly wishes to leave. Howbeit, that isnae what I want to speak about. I have been trying to convince her to marry ye. Dinnae look so pleased. My arguments werenae about your worth as a husband, or lack of it.”

“Then what could ye say to make her consider accepting my proposal?”

As Edina related what she had told Sine, Gamel began to frown. He did not like it. He wanted a great deal more from Sine than to be used as a shield to deflect her kinsmen’s claims upon her. When Edina began to tell him that he must promise Sine that he would not fight any annulment after her enemies were beaten, he swore.

“Nay! I willnae let her go. I have said so often enough.”

“Ye cannae hold the lass captive and force her to feel as ye do,” snapped Edina. She sighed and took Gamel’s clenched hand in hers. “Try to think clearly for a moment, will ye? ’Twill take us some time to defeat her enemies. Ye can use that time to win her heart. Howbeit, if the lass wishes to be free in the end, ye must let her go or ye will both suffer, and I think ye ken that verra weel. And , if ye dinnae offer her that chance, she may weel still refuse to wed ye. Dinnae make her feel so tightly chained that she will never heed your wooing.”

Gamel nodded, silently acknowledging the wisdom of Edina’s advice. He prayed that he could find the strength to follow it. After kissing his stepmother’s cheek, he went straight to Sine’s chambers. As he shut the door behind him, he met Sine’s gaze and inwardly sighed at the wariness he read there.

“Edina has been talking with ye,” he murmured as he walked over to Sine and knelt before her.

“Aye, but I havenae had much time to consider her advice.”

“’Tis verra good advice.”

“Did she tell ye what she said to me?”

“Aye. Ye need that protection, Sine, and I think ye realize it. Aye, and we would be the stronger for it as weel. Ye may have many a fine argument against wedding me, and many a good reason, but ye cannae deny the wisdom of Edina’s words. If ye wed me, then ye can fight any claim your kinsmen try to make upon ye.”

“I can see the wisdom of it. In truth, it really doesnae require a great deal of consideration.”

He lightly grasped her shoulders. “Was that an aye then? We will be married?”

“Aye, whene’er ye wish it.”

“On the morrow. There is no need to hesitate.”

The pleasure she read in his expression was very soothing, but she fought its allure. “Did Edina tell ye about the promise I must ask of ye?”

“Aye. That I let ye end the marriage when the battle is o’er.”

“And will ye promise to allow me to seek an annulment if that is what I wish?”

Finding it impossible to say the words, Gamel just nodded. The way Sine visibly relaxed and allowed him to pull her into his arms stung a little. As he tipped her face up to his, Gamel swore that he would make her want to stay with him, that by the time her enemies were defeated an annulment would be the very last thing Sine would want.