nothing, why?”
He forced a smile and brought her hands to his lips. His eyes closed, he brushed her knuckles to his cheek.
Something was bothering him.
Something was wrong.
“What is it?”
He looked through her. “If you fear anything, Tara, call on me.”
“You’re scaring me, Duncan.”
The trumpets sounded, calling the warriors to the field.
The feeling he projected shook her to the core.
Something was gravely wrong. “Trust me.”
She searched his face, his eyes, trying in vain to see what was bothering him. An uncontrollable tremor went through her.
They both had places to be, both in opposite directions. His hand brushed her chin and left a blaze in its wake.
She watched him march away. His head held high, his stance and stride demanded people part in his path.
And…they did.
****
“Her cure has begun,” he told Fin when he met up with him.
“Tell me.”
“Tara’s hand was marred and crusted with blood. Grainna cut her with her rings.”
“Is Tara suspicious?” Fin asked.
“A little, I think.” Duncan put his armor on over 84
Binding Vows
his tunic. “I believe I know what Grainna has planned.”
“What is it?” Fin fumbled with his own armor.
“She isn’t stopping or changing the outcome of these games. Her salvation has something to do with the end result. Tara has to be consenting. The curse is clear on that account.” He tugged his sleeve down under the armor.
“Aye, but how will she be consenting to a mere stranger? Even if Grainna could control her mind, Tara’s heritage would keep her from making any grievous mistakes.”
He spoke the truth, Duncan knew. “How are we to know she hasn’t found a way around that?”
Fin’s look said all he needed to know.
They didn’t have any assurance Grainna would play fair. Truly, she would play dirty if her past was any guide to her character.
They placed their helmets on in unison. Both held a renewed interest in the outcome of the joust.
85
Catherine Bybee
Chapter 7
Back in Tara’s tent, Grainna prepared her altar.
A platform of stone had been constructed with symbols of black magic. A pentagon was carved in the center. Her curse printed out in her native tongue surrounding it.
The cloth with Tara’s blood soaked in her brew.
When Grainna pulled it from her pot the entire rag was thick with blood. Carefully, she carried it to the stone and dripped blood in the etchings of the circle surrounding the star.
Wisps of smoke emerged and sounds of sizzling and popping came with every drop that hit the sacred symbol.
Smiling in triumph, Grainna continued.
****
The first two challengers faced each other on the jousting field. Tara sat in apprehension as she watched them prepare to do battle. It was all in fun, mind racking, but fun. She was certain the lances they held were made of some flimsy material, which fell apart easily. But still she worried about the outcome.
She couldn’t help wondering if one of these men would be the victor.
When the horses took off in a run, Tara watched as the lances merely glazed the sides of their shields.
Only a game, she told herself. Breathing easier, she watched the first few matches and let her body relax.
It was when Fin had his turn, her interest in the 86
Binding Vows
game was renewed. He faced the better of the first few players. Tara wasn’t surprised when Fin toppled the first rider with hardly a swipe and with only one pass.
Because Duncan was Tara’s favored rider, his matches were held toward the end of the tournament. He took the arena much like his younger brother had, but with more accuracy and swiftness.
A powerhouse on the field, he took no chances and toppled his challengers one after another. Some saw him as a formidable foe and chose to dodge his blows, thus forfeiting their game.
Tara watched as the numbers of players for her hand dwindled to only three—Sir Duncan, Sir Finlay and Sir Michael.
Could she go through a mock ceremony with anyone
He forced a smile and brought her hands to his lips. His eyes closed, he brushed her knuckles to his cheek.
Something was bothering him.
Something was wrong.
“What is it?”
He looked through her. “If you fear anything, Tara, call on me.”
“You’re scaring me, Duncan.”
The trumpets sounded, calling the warriors to the field.
The feeling he projected shook her to the core.
Something was gravely wrong. “Trust me.”
She searched his face, his eyes, trying in vain to see what was bothering him. An uncontrollable tremor went through her.
They both had places to be, both in opposite directions. His hand brushed her chin and left a blaze in its wake.
She watched him march away. His head held high, his stance and stride demanded people part in his path.
And…they did.
****
“Her cure has begun,” he told Fin when he met up with him.
“Tell me.”
“Tara’s hand was marred and crusted with blood. Grainna cut her with her rings.”
“Is Tara suspicious?” Fin asked.
“A little, I think.” Duncan put his armor on over 84
Binding Vows
his tunic. “I believe I know what Grainna has planned.”
“What is it?” Fin fumbled with his own armor.
“She isn’t stopping or changing the outcome of these games. Her salvation has something to do with the end result. Tara has to be consenting. The curse is clear on that account.” He tugged his sleeve down under the armor.
“Aye, but how will she be consenting to a mere stranger? Even if Grainna could control her mind, Tara’s heritage would keep her from making any grievous mistakes.”
He spoke the truth, Duncan knew. “How are we to know she hasn’t found a way around that?”
Fin’s look said all he needed to know.
They didn’t have any assurance Grainna would play fair. Truly, she would play dirty if her past was any guide to her character.
They placed their helmets on in unison. Both held a renewed interest in the outcome of the joust.
85
Catherine Bybee
Chapter 7
Back in Tara’s tent, Grainna prepared her altar.
A platform of stone had been constructed with symbols of black magic. A pentagon was carved in the center. Her curse printed out in her native tongue surrounding it.
The cloth with Tara’s blood soaked in her brew.
When Grainna pulled it from her pot the entire rag was thick with blood. Carefully, she carried it to the stone and dripped blood in the etchings of the circle surrounding the star.
Wisps of smoke emerged and sounds of sizzling and popping came with every drop that hit the sacred symbol.
Smiling in triumph, Grainna continued.
****
The first two challengers faced each other on the jousting field. Tara sat in apprehension as she watched them prepare to do battle. It was all in fun, mind racking, but fun. She was certain the lances they held were made of some flimsy material, which fell apart easily. But still she worried about the outcome.
She couldn’t help wondering if one of these men would be the victor.
When the horses took off in a run, Tara watched as the lances merely glazed the sides of their shields.
Only a game, she told herself. Breathing easier, she watched the first few matches and let her body relax.
It was when Fin had his turn, her interest in the 86
Binding Vows
game was renewed. He faced the better of the first few players. Tara wasn’t surprised when Fin toppled the first rider with hardly a swipe and with only one pass.
Because Duncan was Tara’s favored rider, his matches were held toward the end of the tournament. He took the arena much like his younger brother had, but with more accuracy and swiftness.
A powerhouse on the field, he took no chances and toppled his challengers one after another. Some saw him as a formidable foe and chose to dodge his blows, thus forfeiting their game.
Tara watched as the numbers of players for her hand dwindled to only three—Sir Duncan, Sir Finlay and Sir Michael.
Could she go through a mock ceremony with anyone
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