The Bewitching Twin(91)
“I heard every word.” Aliss hugged her sister. “You kept me strong.”
“I think you kept yourself strong and I admire your courage.”
“You taught me.”
“Nonsense,” Fiona said. “We learned from each other.”
They hugged each other tightly.
“Let’s go,” Fiona said, grabbing her sister’s hand. “I am starving.”
Rogan and Raynor stood when the twins entered the hall. Tarr hurried to his wife’s side, his arm going around her.
“You are well enough to be up?”
“So says Aliss,” Fiona said, giving her husband a peck on the cheek. “After we eat, I am going to spend the day with her at her healing cottage, so you needn’t worry. If I deliver, she will have everything at hand.”
Tarr paled.
“She jests,” Aliss assured him, and walked to sit beside her husband at the table while Tarr seated his wife.
Raynor stood to assist.
“Everything looks delicious,” Fiona said, licking her lips while her husband piled her plate with food.
“Rogan has worked wonders with the isle,” Raynor said. “A field is ripe for harvesting, the storehouse is near full for the winter, logs and peat have been gathered and stocked by each cottage. Shelter has been constructed for the animals and the cottages fortified against the cold.”
“You turned a foe into a friend?” Tarr asked with no malice.
“It would seem that way,” Raynor admitted.
“That is good since we are family now,” Tarr said. “Though I am curious, why did you insist on ownership of the Isle of Non?”
Rogan shrugged. “It is a good place. My clan can thrive here.”
“There are other areas where your clan could have thrived; why this particular isle?”
“My father brought me here when I was young and I took a liking to it.”
“It must have made quite an impression on you to remember it after all those years,” Fiona said in between bites.
Rogan stood. “It did. Please enjoy the meal, I have things I must attend to.”
“I offended him?” Fiona asked once he was gone.
Aliss slipped off the bench. “No, he has much to look after. Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
The sun was bright, the air cool, as Aliss hurried after her husband. She had to keep a quick pace to catch up with him, as his steps were determined.
“Do you run away?” she called out when nearly on top of him.
He spun around. “Go back to your family.”
“What upset you?”
“Nothing. Go to your sister, she needs you.”
“You need me right now,” she said, refusing to be ignored.
“I need no one.”
His words pierced her heart like a sharp blade, but she maintained her courage. He had worked hard to win her and she would work hard to keep their love strong. “I think that you do.”
“You care?”
“Yes, I care or I wouldn’t have come after you.”
He grabbed hold of her, to her surprise, and buried his face in her hair. “I’m glad you care. I’m glad you came after me.”
She hugged him tightly to her. “Tell me what troubles you.”
“Aliss,” Anna yelled from the cottage door, and waved. “You’re needed.”
“Go,” he said, and pushed her away.
“No!” She turned and shouted to Anna, “Take care of it!” Then she turned her attention back to her husband, who stood with a look of shock on his face. “Are you all right?”
“I cannot believe you just did that.” He reached out, grabbed her around the waist, and swung her up against him. “God, but I love you so much.”
“Then tell me what is wrong. You worry me.”
He smiled. “Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine now. We’re all at peace.”
He lowered her and they hugged.
“’Peace.’ I have heard that word often of late, starting with Giann and her prediction. Tarr recently mentioned that his mother had told him this land, which he inherited from her, would bring peace to many. He generously gave of his inheritance so that—”
Aliss gasped and turned wide eyes on her husband. “Oh, my God. Your mother bequeathed this isle to you, as your birthright. Tarr’s mother bequeathed this land to him, as his birthright. Your mother left you in order to protect you and your father. She returned to wed a man of her father’s choosing. That man was Tarr’s father, wasn’t he? Tarr is your half brother.”
He took her hand and tugged her along after him, and she realized that he wanted privacy. They walked to the side of the keep, out of earshot and away from prying eyes.