****
32
Binding Vows
Duncan stayed in the back of the crowd, waiting and watching. He searched for a vulnerability to the guard. A weakness he might push past to get her alone.
“Tara.” He rolled the name off his tongue, enjoying its sound. He had learned it from others who asked who she was.
Tara caused quite a stir amongst the people of this time. She wasn’t one of them. Some considered her an outsider and unworthy of the post she was given. Others, mostly unattached men, found her fetching and looked forward to the coming games, games in which they would compete for the opportunity to stand next to her and be handfasted.
It was expected that Tara would let the winner kiss her. But, judging by what Duncan had seen, she didn’t know that part of the bargain.
None of these people believed in handfasting.
They’d think it was only entertainment. Duncan knew it was more than a sport. Grainna was much more cunning than even he gave her credit for. She had managed to sequester the virgin without raising an eyebrow from anyone.
Grainna knew these people and knew what motivated them. That was one of her advantages. He and his brother had only journeyed to this time on two other occasions. Both were in the camp which Grainna had procured, but neither time before had Grainna gone through the effort to isolate a virgin.
Then again, Duncan and Fin saw to it there were none. Grainna hadn’t known they were there.
Or that they sabotaged her plans.
His father’s words rang in Duncan’s head. “Don’t underestimate Grainna. She lived for five hundred years before she went into exile. She will crave youth like a lover craves release. And stop at nothing to get it. With her power restored by the virgin, she would crush you with a thought. With power gained by your 33
Catherine Bybee
death, Grainna will return here and destroy us all.”
This time Duncan knew, they played Grainna’s game of chess, and unlike before, she already held the Bishop.
While Fin rode deep in the forest to bring their armor, Duncan purposely spent time talking to the people of the fair. The women melted at his accent.
His smile had them stepping on their tongues.
Once he learned where Tara’s tent was, he spent much of his time finding its weak points. He set up an entry, or more important, her escape. Then set out to find the maiden once again.
He found Tara in the dining arena pushing food around on her plate. She hadn’t eaten anything.
Every so often she would glance up, as if knowing another set of eyes were on her.
She saw him from across the yard. A flash of recognition went over her before she darted her eyes away.
She appeared tired and annoyed at all the attention. The men who approached her were met with dismissive eyes. Duncan didn’t need any special gifts to realize her temper was starting to boil.
The wait wasn’t long before Tara abandoned her friend for the serenity of her tent. She stormed away, practically running to her quarters.
Once inside Duncan heard her shouting at Grainna’s man. “Get out!”
Duncan waited.
“I didn’t sign on for this, Bruno. If you don’t leave, I am, and to hell with your court, your fancy dresses, tent and everything!”
The man retreated and stood guard outside the entrance of the tent.
Duncan slowly backed around behind the canvas, careful to keep his movements natural. He ran his fingers along the tent and found the straps he had loosened earlier. Within seconds, he slipped 34
Binding Vows
inside, completely unnoticed by anyone.
****
Tara sat at a vanity with her head lowered in the fold of her arms. Long strands of hair fell to the sides cocooning her face. Her fists clenching several times did nothing to ease her frustration. “What the hell am I still doing here?” Tara asked herself out loud. “Cassy’s off playing lady of the court, or whatever the hell else. What would she care if I left right now?”
A movement and rustling of fabric caught her attention. Her eyes flung open, her breath caught at the sight of a massive form in a dark cloak standing inside the room. She opened her mouth to scream and found a large hand covering it up.
He moved so fast, she didn’t get out the smallest shriek. “Quiet, lass, I’m not going to hurt you.”
The voice was familiar, but Tara couldn’t see his face. She opened her eyes wide and started to struggle in his grip.
“Stop, or else you’ll call her man in here.” The man removed the hood off his head with his free hand. She relaxed slightly once she recognized him, but kept her eyes alert. “You won’t scream if I let go?” She shook her head. With his grip loosened she turned away from him and gave herself a few feet of distance. She calculated how fast she could make it to the opening of the tent. “What are you doing here?” she hissed out, careful to keep her voice low.