Binding Vows(9)
Sober now, Fin put the bread aside and asked, 23
Catherine Bybee
“Do you think Grainna knows of her?”
He nodded. “It was her friend who confirmed that and the truth behind her virtue.”
“Then she’ll be watched.”
“Aye, she’ll be watched.”
“Damn Duncan, I wish we had our powers of sight. How are we to know if Grainna is on to us?”
“We have to trust what Da told us. If we came here, as anything but mortals, we wouldn’t have stepped one foot inside Grainna’s village without her knowing it. We have three days until the solstice.
This gives us plenty of time to woo a maiden and keep Grainna here in this time and place.”
“I hope you’re right.” Fin leaned back, closed his eyes to get some sleep.
Duncan looked at the stars and pondered words the maiden had said during their brief meeting.
“Fin?”
“What?” he asked, half asleep.
“What is the word freak?” Duncan regretted asking when his brother had another fit of laughter.
****
Bells rang in her ears, waking Tara up like an alarm clock. No. Not bells, horns, and not in her ears, but outside their tent. Cassy rolled over, dragging the blanket over her head at the interruption of sleep. She would undoubtedly be hung-over, Tara thought, before stumbling out of bed and going to see who was making all the noise.
A man, dressed in a bright yellow and orange oversized shirt and brown pants, stopped blowing his horn when Tara popped her head out of the tent.
His voice boomed out, demanding the attention of all who stood by and watched. “Hear ye! Hear ye!”
He removed a scroll from under his arm and started to read.
“Madame Gwen has declared the fair maiden 24
Binding Vows
Tara and her chaperone Cassandra, to be the royal guests for the duration of the fair. Hereby granting them the privileges bestowed upon royalty. From this time forward, all are to bow and pay respect to our Lady of the court.”
The man stopped bellowing, rolled the parchment, and handed it to Tara. The spectators started clapping drawing in even more attention.
“Oh great,” Tara grumbled.
The man started to leave. Tara yelled, “Wait!
Just wait a minute.” She ducked back in the tent, kicked Cassy’s side, and hissed, “Get up.”
Cassy muttered, and rolled over.
Tara snatched the blanket off of her. “Get up!”
Tara poked her head outside the tent again to find the man still standing there. The size of the crowd grew by each passing moment. “Just one more minute.”
She hurriedly yanked on her dress and stared into the bloodshot eyes of her friend. “You got me into this,” Tara snarled between clenched teeth.
“Got you into what?” Cassy rubbed her eyes.
“There’s some guy standing out there saying we’re royalty or something. Get up and fix it.”
“What? Royalty?” Cassy’s eyes focused. She scrambled out of her blankets and poked her head outside. “No shit,” she said with glee. Cassy tossed her dress haphazardly over her head. “This is great.
This is going to be so awesome!”
“Great my...” Tara left off the insult and stepped outside the tent. At her appearance, the men bowed, and the ladies curtsied. “Oh great.”
Cassy stumbled into her, noticed the people, and clapped her hands together like a six year old on their birthday.
“Listen, mister,” Tara addressed the ridiculously dressed man.
“Your Highness.”
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Catherine Bybee
“Yeah, about that…” Tara batted Cassy’s hand away when she pulled her back. “We don’t…”
“Yes, we do.”
“No. We, don’t!”
Cassy turned Tara around. “Yes, we do. Come on, Tara, this is a once in a lifetime. What’s it going to hurt?”
“Excuse us,” Tara said and yanked Cassy back inside the tent.
****
Outside the crowd waited. Muffled voices from inside the tent could be heard as the women argued. Heated shouts and the occasional head popping out kept the onlookers entertained.
After several minutes, Cassy emerged smiling and triumphant. “We accept.”
“Very well. Gather your belongings and return to Madame Gwen’s tent before breakfast. You will be told what is expected of you then.”
Elated, Cassy went back inside.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
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Binding Vows
Chapter 3
“Do you see her anywhere?” Fin asked after their third trip around the camp.
“Nay.”
“Say ‘no’ Duncan. We need act as they do.” Fin smiled at a brunette who openly swept his body with suggestive eyes. “You don’t want the lass to think you are a freak, do you?”