Binding Vows(27)

“Wow.” Cassy stood up and looked into her empty cup. “What was in that stuff?” she asked Gwen. “It really worked.”

“Only herbs,” she smiled. “Healing was here long before modern medicine you know.”

“You should try it, Tara. My headache is gone.

You could market those herbs and be rich, Gwen.”

Gwen smiled when Tara drank her portion of brew. “Maybe sometime I will, but not today. There are better things for this day.” She turned to leave the room. “Take care in your appearance, ladies, and be sure and have a good time. Tomorrow you go back to your everyday life. Tonight is for fantasy and pleasure.”

The ache in Tara’s skull eased, although she hated to admit it.

“You know, the old lady kind of grows on you.”

Cassy murmured when Gwen left the room.

“Yeah, I guess so.” The fuzziness and pain had completely cleared in a matter of minutes.

Tara looked at the gown she was going to put on and repeated Gwen’s words to herself. Tonight is for fantasy and pleasure. ****

Colorful flags and banners surrounded the arena. The wind caught their ends and the sound of flapping added to the scene. Polls standing twenty feet in length with massive rings stood at the 77



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entrance to where the games would be played.

All the fair’s guests were dressed in their finest attire. Even the horses were garbed in fancy blankets and ornate tack.

The day was meant for pomp and circumstance.

Tara and Cassy were surrounded by guards dressed in intimidating black tunics. The platform, housing their special seating for the event, was placed center stage. On each side, large canvases created shade, keeping the area cool and comfortable.

Tara looked over the crowd in search of the man who held her captive in her dreams. Neither he nor Fin could be seen anywhere. A minor tremor went through her when she considered Duncan might have already left. She knew it was pointless to want to see him again but she wanted to, never the less.

When Tara and Cassy approached their seats, trumpets sounded, drawing everyone’s attention.

The sound warned everyone the games were about to begin.

Gwen had explained in detail what was expected of her. Tara imagined this event was simply another weekend for the old woman. It made sense she would pick new royalty at each fair, to take the load off her.

Besides, sitting in the sun for hours on end would be difficult for anyone her age.

A young boy dressed in finery fit for a squire bowed to Tara. “My Lady?”

Tara smiled at him and motioned for him to stand.

“My Lady, Madame Gwen said the games are to begin now.” His teeth flashed once his role was done.

“Thanks,” Tara whispered and winked at the nervous boy. She stood and motioned for the trumpets to sound.

The people settled down and all eyes went to her. Tara’s heart tripped over itself before she started to speak. She would never see any of these 78



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people again, and none of them would know if she said the wrong things. At least the thought kept her nerves calm.

Tara looked at Cassy with a wicked grin. “You owe me for this one,” she said out of the corner of her mouth.

“Lords and Ladies, Warriors and Knights, Pages and Squires, welcome.” She paused with their applause, her eyes searched for Duncan while she spoke. “For the brave men who will participate in our games and tournament we wish them good luck and good health.” The crowd clapped their approval.

“Gentlemen.” she presented the trumpeters who immediately called in the warriors.

They rode atop their horses, straight and tall.

The horses pranced around the arena bringing many smiling faces and pointing fingers from the spectators in the crowd.

Tara recognized some of the faces from the previous evening dancing but some she did not. One by one, each rider came forward to Tara with helmet in hand. Each bowed, and then met with a nod and a smile from her. They went on, showing off their mounts and occasionally taking a ribbon or flower from a wife or sweetheart in the audience.

Fin and Duncan were the last two to make their entrance into the arena. Tara saw Fin first. His cocky smile lifted her spirits.

Duncan’s expression intensified when her gaze rounded to him. The tense feeling eased from her neck when she saw him. Her shoulders fell with relief. As his smile reached his eyes, she realized his effect on her was no less powerful. The slight curve of his lips and the depth of his attention would live in her mind forever.

They stared at each other longer, and his bow was deeper than the previous riders had been. When he turned away to circle the arena like the others, 79



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she called out.

“Wait.” She leaned over the balcony and handed him the ribbon from her hair.