“She’s always kneeing her husband in his bal—” Arran’s deep scowl had Raven quickly correcting herself. “In his private parts when he drinks too much. I don’t understand why he doesn’t drink less.”
“Probably because he’s married to her,” Arran mumbled.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, let’s get back to teaching you what you need to know to defend yourself,” Arran said.
Two hours later, Raven was jubilant as she made her way to the barn to get King. Fear of what might come still lingered in her, but now she had the knowledge to protect herself, if not the skill—yet. Arran had promised he would work with her every day, starting the day after the wedding, after tomorrow, and show her all she needed to know. He even promised he would teach her how to handle a sword. She was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of one day having her own sword.
As soon as the kitten saw her, he tripped over his own paws hurrying to her. She scooped him up. “Ready to see, Purity?” He meowed as if understanding her. She headed to the kitchen first to get some treats and stopped when she saw Royden and Oria in what looked to be an argument. It worried her since they never argued.
She marched up to them and demanded, “You never fight. What’s the matter?”
“It doesn’t concern you,” Royden snapped.
“I’m going to stay right here until you tell me. Better yet, I’ll go get Arran and tell him you two are fighting,” Raven threatened.
“And I’ll tell Da that you’re going into the woods to meet Purity,” Royden threatened back, pointing to the kitten.
“I already told him,” Raven shot back.
“No you didn’t,” Royden accused.
“Enough you two,” Oria snapped. “Your brother and I are having words because he insists I stay here tonight and that wouldn’t be at all proper for me to do.”
“Proper or not, Royden’s right. What if your clan was attacked tonight? He’d never reach you in time. Here, he can keep you safe.”
Royden was quick to praise his sister. “Raven sees the wisdom in it and so should you.”
Oria relented. “If my father agrees—”
“I’ll go speak with him now. He’s with my da in the fields.” Royden took off before anyone could say a word.
“Come see Purity with me,” Raven offered. “I’m going to stop at the kitchen first and get some honey bread.”
“I don’t know if I should. There’s so much yet to do for the wedding.”
“A few minutes then you can leave and when I finish my visit with her I’ll help you with whatever you need,” Raven said, though almost cringed at the thought.
“You promise?” Oria asked.
Raven debated whether it was worth it, then thought how much Purity would enjoy seeing Oria. “I promise.”
Oria smiled. “I would have gone just for the honey bread.”
“You tricked me.” Raven grinned. “We just might have some fun together after all.”
King leapt out of Raven’s arms when he spotted Purity and jumped into her outstretched ones to snuggle in the crook of her neck and offer comforting purrs as Purity cried.
“What’s wrong?” Raven asked worried something dreadful had happened.
“I’m being sent to the convent the day after Oria’s wedding,” Purity said and hugged King tighter to her. “Bayne says your da may send you as well. Please go with me, Raven. I can’t stand the thought of being locked in that place alone.”
Raven was stunned by the terrible news and that her da had even discussed it with Bayne. She hadn’t been spying enough on the conversations in his solar or she would have known about this. She’d change that soon enough.
“I can’t be locked away like that, Purity. I’d never be able to obey their rigid rules,” Raven said, shuddering at the thought.
“I don’t believe your father would send you there, Raven,” Oria said.
“I wouldn’t go and my da knows that, though Arran might have had a hand in this,” Raven said, thinking about what he’d said yesterday. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter I wouldn’t go no matter what they said and I’d escape if they sent me there.”
“My brother would force me to return if I escaped, not that I’d have the courage to,” Purity said and lowered herself to sit on the ground.
Oria and Raven followed suit and joined her.
“I finally have friends and now I have to leave them. It’s not fair,” Purity said.
Raven reached out and squeezed Purity’s deformed hand. “We’ll still be friends. Nothing can change that. Besides, with the recent problems maybe you’d be safer at the convent where you wouldn’t be forced to wed anyone.”
Purity wiped at her wet cheeks, her tears having stopped. “My da and brother insist troubling times are headed this way.”
“So does the witch,” Raven whispered.
“The witch?” Purity asked along with Oria.
“She was by the edge of the woods yesterday and beckoned me to her. She warned me of destruction and that it would take years for those torn apart to be reunited.” Raven shivered, her fear returning, and prayed the witch was wrong.
“Have you told Royden about this?” Oria asked.
Knowing her brother Royden, he probably had no intention of telling Oria so that she wouldn’t worry. And she certainly didn’t want them fighting again. “I only told him last night. He probably hasn’t had time to tell you about it yet.”
“Or he doesn’t plan to so it doesn’t worry me,” Oria said.
Raven was glad Oria knew her brother well.
“I’m frightened for all of us,” Purity said, fear turning her eyes wide.
“We need to stay strong,” Raven said, easy advice to give though not so easy to follow.
Sadness weighed heavily in Purity’s voice. “I’m not strong. My father reminds me of it often enough.”
“And Bayne?” Raven asked.
Purity shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s always been commanding and he never had much time for me. More often than not, I feel in the way all the time. Sometimes I wish I could live alone in the woods like the witch does. But that wouldn’t benefit my father, only a favorable marriage would suit him.”
“Hopefully, Raven and I will be permitted to visit you,” Oria said.
A smile, slight as it was, lit Purity’s face. “I’d like that.”
“I can sneak King in to see you,” Raven said with a nod toward the kitten stretching himself awake.
“That would be wonderful,” Purity said as the kitten scrambled around on her lap in play.
“What we need to remember is that if troubling times come, our friendship will always stay strong,” Oria said.
“What if we’re torn apart?” Purity asked.
Raven was quick to say, “We find a way to reunite, to help the other if necessary.”
“Agreed,” Oria and Purity said in unison.
“Now there are more disgusting things to discuss,” Raven said, pretending to gag.