“Maybe, but strategically he sits well. You can see the whole surrounding area, which would work well for anyone wanting to plan attacks on local clans,” Arran said.
“I’m sure the old fool does well,” William said, his glance going to Royden, Arran, and finally coming to rest on Parlan. “The question is, what do we do now?”
“I want to send a discreet missive to a friend in Edinburgh who is often at the King’s castle and see what he can tell me,” Parlan said.
“That will take time, Parlan, and we may not have time,” William said.
“True enough, but we know nothing of our enemy, not who it is or the size of the foe we fight. Right now it is only your clan and mine and we don’t know if that is enough to defeat our unknown enemy,” Parlan said.
“I suppose then we know what we must do first,” William said.
“Find out the identity of our enemy,” Arran said.
“Don’t you ever get the desire to pick up a sword and see how it must feel to fight an opponent?” Raven asked and hurried over to the stack of wooden practice swords near the empty practice field and scooped one up.
Oria laughed. “Actually, when I was young I thought about it, and I foolishly tried to wield my da’s sword one day. I cut my foot, leaving me with a small scar I barely think about. However, I do think about the thrashing my da gave me which convinced me never to pick up a sword again.”
“That was your da’s sword, this is a wooden one. It can’t hurt you.” Raven scooped up another wooden sword and handed it to Oria. “Come on it will be fun and your da won’t find out.”
Oria couldn’t resist, especially with Raven’s encouragement. She envied Raven’s bravery. She wished she had the courage to speak up to her da on occasion. He decided everything for her, except Royden, he had been her choice. Though, it made it easier that Royden had fit in with what her da had planned for her, to wed into a clan that would benefit him. A marriage to Royden would give him just that.
She hoped Raven continued to remain brave as she got older, not that they were that far apart in age, Oria being three years older than Raven. She wondered, sometimes hoped, that by having Raven as a sister once she wed Royden, that she would gain some of the young lass’s courage.
“Let’s battle,” Raven challenged and swung at Oria.
Oria instinctively raised her sword to defend herself.
Wooden swords clashed and laughter rang in the air.
Oria found the duel exhilarating and marveled at the way it came so naturally to her. It was as if she had been born with a sword in her hand.
“You’ve done this before,” Raven all but accused as she swung the wooden sword, Oria deflecting every blow.
Oria laughed. “I haven’t but it feels good.”
Raven laughed and let out a roar and charged at Oria.
Oria’s instincts took over and she lashed out at Raven, the blows sending her toppling and rolling down the small incline.
“What are you doing?”
Oria turned at her da’s reprimanding yell, her face turning white.
“Raven!” her father cried out once she rolled to a stop and got to her feet. “What have you done now?”
Raven laughed and called out, “Oria is talented with a sword.”
“You will take yourself to your horse, Oria, and we will discuss your improper manner when we get home,” William ordered.
Raven ran to face William. “It wasn’t her fault. I made her spar with me, since no one else would.”
“That’s no excuse. Oria knows better than to behave like a hoyden,” William accused.
“Hold up there, William,” Parlan said, stepping forward. “I’ll not have you calling my daughter a hoyden. Oria is older and wiser than Raven and she should have stopped such nonsense.”
William grunted and shook his head. “You’re right. Oria is the older and wiser of the two. She should have kept her in tow.”
“Stop, the both of you,” Royden said, stepping past his da and William to take Oria’s hand. “Oria nor Raven did anything wrong. They had some fun and that was it. If anything, Oria probably stopped Raven from picking up a real sword.”
“That she did,” Raven spoke up.
Oria looked to her and shook her ahead about to speak up, but Raven spoke in a rush.
“She will be a good sister to me and teach me well, and stop me from doing foolish things, yet engage me in play.”
Royden smiled at his sister and gave a brief nod, pleased she defended the woman he loved and proud of her for doing so.
“Now can we have those sweets that Cook has been making all day?” Raven asked with a grin.
“I do love your cook’s sweet bread,” William said.
“Then let’s go and enjoy,” Parlan said and led the way, William keeping at his side.
Oria grabbed Raven’s arm as she went to walk by her and Royden. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Aye, I did. This was my fault and my blame to take and besides, there’ll be plenty of times you need to defend me once you join this family.” Raven laughed and ran off.
“She’s a good and brave sister,” Oria said, looking at Royden.
“That she is and I’m proud of her. Raven may get herself into trouble from time to time, but she always does what’s right and what’s necessary.”
Oria smiled and wrapped her arms around him, not that they fit, but she did her best. “I cannot wait for us to be husband and wife.”
Royden lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently. “It cannot be soon enough for me.”
Oria tried to hide her frown, but Royden’s tender hand to her chin forced her to face him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “My kiss did not please you?”
“Your kisses always please me, though I find myself wanting more,” she whispered.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s only natural. We love each other.”
“But I don’t know how to please you,” she murmured.
“And glad I am for it, since it means you’ve known no man and to speak the truth, I have known no woman, since I’ve wanted only you, so we will learn together.”
“What if we make a mistake?”
Royden laughed. “Then we will flounder about together until we get it right.”
Oria looked around to make sure no one was close. “You could ask your brother Arran. I hear he has known many women.”
“I don’t need his guidance. I can manage for us both,” he assured her.
“I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
He kissed her gently again. “Never would I be disappointed in you.”
“My heart aches with how much I love you, Royden,” Oria said and pressed her lips to his, having ached to feel them and the sensation that would rush through her body every time their lips touched or when his hand rested at her waist or the time his hand drifted down along her hip, slowly and intimately.
She couldn’t wait to make love with this man who she loved with all her heart.
“I love you, Oria. We will have a good life together.”
“Promise,” she whispered.