The King & His Queen (Pict King Series Book 3) Read online

  “Quiet, wife, I am sure the new queen would like to hear about when the King was a lad and refused to listen to anyone who gave him an order.”

  “I would very much like to hear it all,” Hemera said, turning to Egot with a generous smile.

  “Be careful, Uncle, or I will have a few tales to tell myself,” Talon warned teasingly.

  “I will hear them,” Ethra said and sat beside the King.

  Talk and laughter filled the air and as time passed those who had joined her and Talon would leave and others would sit and visit with the King and his queen.

  Hemera sighed when Verity finally took the seat beside her and Talon got lost in a conversation with Wrath.

  The sisters joined hands, squeezing tight as if nothing could separate them, as they had often done when they were but wee bairns. Especially on the night the Northmen had come for them.

  “I remember the night we were taken more clearly now,” Verity said, “Mum screaming, Da trying to stop them from taking me, yelling it was you they wanted, then him falling to his knees when a Northmen hit him. I knew I could not let them take you, at least not alone. You are my sister.”

  Hemera threw her arms around Verity and they hugged tight before easing apart.

  “I remember now, how you begged them to let me go as we were carted off. That it was you they wanted,” Verity said.

  “But what no one knew was that you told them it was you they wanted, confusing them and making them take us both.” Hemera shook her head.

  “I could not bear to think they would take you away, that I would never see you again. But what hurt me most was that you would be alone away from all those who cared most for you.”

  Hemera watched a tear fall from Verity’s eye and she gently wiped it away, feeling her own tears building. “You suffered helping me.”

  “And you suffered protecting me, but we survived.” Another tear touched Verity’s cheek and Wrath was suddenly at her side.

  “Tell me your tears are ones of joy,” Wrath said as he hunched down beside his wife and took her hand.

  “They are,” Verity said and looked to her sister. “We are truly home.”

  Talon leaned over his wife’s shoulder to say, “And here is where you will stay and together we will watch our bairns grow strong along with the Pict Kingdom, forever to rule.”

  “I believe our daughter agrees with you, my King,” Anin said with a laugh as she approached with Paine. “She has yet to be born and she kicks and punches like a warrior.”

  “A true Pict,” Talon said with pride.

  “A word with my daughter,” Haggard more demanded than asked as he approached the table.

  Talon looked to Wrath and Paine and the two men escorted their wives away.

  “Have your say,” Talon commanded.

  Haggard made another demand. “I will speak to her alone.”

  “Never will you speak to her alone.” Talon’s commanding tone made it clear that he would not debate the matter.

  “Say what you will, Da,” Hemera said as Talon’s arm went around her.

  Haggard stepped closer to the table. “Your mum touched my heart like no other woman could. When I learned she had died, I believe my heart died with her. Then I learned she had given me a daughter. Bringing you to my home was a way of having her with me once again.”

  “If that is so, then you should have protected Hemera better,” Talon accused and was surprised at his response.

  “You are right.” Haggard nodded and looked to his daughter. “I favored you over my other children and they knew it, especially Ulric. I had thought of returning you here to your mum’s people, but I could not bear parting with you. As I watched you grow strong and defend Verity, I knew one day you would leave. I am grateful for the time I had with you and proud to see the strong, courageous woman you have become... in spite of me.”

  Hemera tried to feel for her da, but his heartfelt words did little to erase the memories of what she and Verity had suffered. “We will talk one day, Da, but not this day... in time.”

  “I look forward to it.” Haggard went to turn away and stopped. “I am sure your grandmother will make herself known soon. Tell her she was right. I was not the right man for her daughter.” He looked to Talon. “Hope the old woman does not feel the same about you for her granddaughter.”

  Talon did not have a chance to ask Hemera about her grandmother with Broc approaching the table in quick strides.

  “I must talk with you, my King,” Broc said.

  Talon saw that Wrath and Paine were already headed toward the High Council Chambers as well as Gelhard. He stood and went to summon Tilden but his uncle Egot was suddenly at his side. “Something seems amiss. Go. I will protect your wife.”

  Hemera stood and rested her hand on her husband’s chest. “Go do what you must and worry not about me.”

  Talon brushed his lips over hers. “I will always worry over your safety. Stay here until I return.”

  Hemera nodded and watched the King hurry to the High Council Chambers, concern for her husband heavy in her heart, for just as he would worry over her, she would worry over him.

  “Sit and I will tell you more about Talon,” Egot urged.

  Reluctantly, Hemera took her eyes off the High Council Chambers’ door that had closed behind her husband, and she sat. Soon Egot had her laughing.

  Not long after Minn approached the table with Dalmeny. Hemera had met the warrior briefly after the ceremony. They joined Egot and shared tales of Talon.

  Hemera kept glancing toward the High Council Chambers door, anxious to know what was happening and grew even more worried when Minn was summoned to the High Council. What could they want with Minn?

  Her thoughts were distracted by shouts and she looked to see that a warrior, not one of the King’s warriors, was arguing with a Northmen. It took only a few more angry words for fists to fly and chaos to ensue.

  Dalmeny stood before Egot could and grabbed Hemera’s arm. “I will get her to safety.”

  Egot shoved Dalmeny’s arm off Hemera. “I gave my word to the King. I will see her kept safe. Go see to stopping this brawl.”

  Dalmeny disappeared into the melee while Egot kept Hemera tucked behind him, throwing a punch or two when battling warriors almost collided with them. Hemera stretched her neck to see that Verity and Anin had wisely moved away from the table to brace themselves against a wall out of reach of the chaos. Once Egot got her to the steps, he rushed her up them to the second floor and into Talon’s sleeping chamber.

  Before he shut the door on her, he said, “Open this door for no one but me or Talon.”

  Hemera nodded and stood by the door, listening to the chaos below. It was not long before she heard her husband shout, “Enough!” Deep silence followed.

  That was when she heard the creak. There was no time to turn and see who it was. She called out to Egot just before she felt a blow to the back of her head and darkness engulfed her.

  Egot turned around and opened the door. “Hemera!”

  He was met with a knife to his gut.

  Chapter 33

  “What goes on here?” Talon demanded, his eyes instinctively searching the feasting hall for Hemera and his concern grew when he did not see her at the table where he had left her.

  Wrath and Paine sent quick glances to their wives and both women nodded, letting their husband’s know they were unhurt.

  “Whoever started this step forward now!” Talon demanded.

  A Northmen warrior stepped forward without hesitation.

  “There is a coward among us?” Talon called out and no one moved.

  The Northmen looked around. “I do not see the warrior who started arguing with me for no reason.”

  His words alarmed Talon and he called out, “Where is Hemera?”

  Verity stepped forward, raising her voice to be heard. “Egot got her safely to your sleeping chambers.”

  Talon did not hesitate. He took quick strides to the steps, peopl
e hurrying out of his way, and took the stairs two at a time. Wrath and Paine followed close behind.

  Fear slammed into Talon like a mighty fist as soon as he entered the room and saw his uncle on the floor, his hand covered in blood as he hugged his side.

  “Who?” Talon demanded, dropping down beside his uncle, while Wrath hurried to call for the stronghold gates to be closed and the healer to be fetched.

  “Hemera?” Egot asked with a groan.

  “She is not here,” Talon said. “Who did this? Who took Hemera?”

  “Impossible.” Egot cringed in pain. “I stood guard at the door and no one passed me.” He shook his head. “I did not see who did this.” He cringed again. “Forgive me, my King, I failed you.”

  “You did not fail me, but you will if you do not fight to live, Uncle,” Talon ordered.

  Ethra hurried into the room and her hand flew to her mouth to cover her gasp when she saw her husband. She lowered herself down on the floor beside him. “You old fool, what did you do now?”

  He clung tightly to her hand when she curled hers around his. “Quiet, woman, and stay with me, for I want no other beside me if the spirit of death takes me this day.”

  “The spirit of death has to get past me first,” Ethra said.

  “Then I will surely live, for death would not want to deal with your nagging tongue.” Egot groaned.

  “Then my tongue will not stop nagging you.”

  “It never does. No wonder I live so long,” Egot said, tempting to smile through his pain.

  That was the last Talon heard as he slipped through the door in the wall, Paine and Wrath following in surprise.

  Once they reached the bottom and stepped outside, Paine hunched down to examine the marks in the soil. “Single prints. He carried her.” He stood. “How could he know of this passage when Wrath and I knew nothing of it?”

  Talon shook his head. “That is of no importance now. Hemera must be found. Have the stronghold searched thoroughly and get the tracker here to see if he can follow.”

  Paine nodded and reluctantly left the King.

  Stay alive, wife, I will find you.

  The pain woke Hemera. It radiated in the back of her head and down her neck. She went to reach her hand up and fear struck her hard when she discovered she could not move. She felt it then, the rope around her body, keeping her arms tight at her sides. It wound down around her to her ankles like a snake that refused to let go. She did not have to open her eyes to know she was tied tightly to a stake, but she opened them anyway.

  It took her a moment to focus and when she did, she saw Dalmeny standing a short distance away, smiling.

  Talon had donned the garments he hunted in, a black leather tunic that fell just above his knee and dark leather foot-coverings. Leather straps crisscrossed his chest and back, the two back ones holding the sheaths that held his two swords. He had tied his long hair back at the nape of his neck with a leather tie and his face wore the mask of battle... he was ready to kill.

  Verity approached the King as he stood outside the stronghold gates waiting for word that tracks had been found.

  “My King,” she said and his head snapped to the side to look at her.

  She hastily took a step back. It had been said that when the King went into battle he could kill the enemy with one look. Seeing him now, she believed it.

  “What is it, Verity?” Talon asked impatiently.

  Verity wished she was not so afraid of the King especially now with him being her sister’s husband. She swallowed her fear as best she could and said, “Please, my King, I beg you, please bring my sister home safely.”

  His features softened, though only for a moment. “That I can promise you, Verity.”

  Wrath approached and Verity hurried to hug him tight, then stepped back. “I will wait with Anin in the feasting hall. The King will bring my sister home to me.”

  Wrath turned to Talon as his wife rushed off. “You were right. It is Dalmeny. He cannot be found. When did you realize it?”

  “Too late.”

  “You cannot blame yourself. None of us saw it,” Wrath said. “Not even Minn who saw him every day, not until things began to surface. And why even think it could have possibly been Dalmeny when he had fought so bravely beside us?”

  “I should have known. I should have seen it sooner. I heard him ask you about Simca and if I had paid heed to it, I would have recalled he had sought her favor whenever he visited here. Minn recalled as well, his favor for Simca. And while he had respectfully addressed me as my King, he told me he would die for the Picts. Never once did he say he would give his life to protect the King. But it was the secret passageway that confirmed it for me. I remembered the old warrior who built it was Dalmeny’s uncle.”

  A shout rang out, drawing Wrath and the King’s attention.

  “Several different tracks have been discovered in several different places,” Paine informed Talon when he reached the King. “It is meant to confuse and divide us.”

  “They plan to separate you from us,” Wrath said to Talon.

  “When that happens, you know what to do,” Talon said and the two warriors nodded.

  Broc hurried over to them. “Dalmeny’s tracker wishes to speak with you.”

  “After you bring the tracker to me, send word to the tribes that wait in place and inform them of Dalmeny’s betrayal. Have them sweep the land from where I have had them waiting to the stronghold for Dalmeny’s warriors and any Northmen that may be among them. The traitorous band is probably on the move, with plans to join Dalmeny and make it appear as if he saved the Pict people. Do not let the band reach Dalmeny.”

  “All is in place, my King. The traitorous band has no chance against the hoard of Picts that will descend on them,” Broc assured him and with a nod took his leave to fetch the tracker.

  “We need to be cautious,” Paine said, moving to stand next to Talon, his voice low. “You cannot walk into a trap alone.”

  “You and Wrath must be cautious as well. Dalmeny will know that you follow, want you to follow and he will have warriors waiting to make certain you die. He will leave no true friend of the King’s alive. You will keep a good distance from me and dispose of any threat.”

  “And you will wait to confront Dalmeny until we meet up with you,” Wrath ordered.

  “Tell me, Wrath, Paine,” Talon said, looking from one to the other. “Would you wait if it was Verity or Anin held captive? And do not bother to tell me this is different, that I am King. I am a husband fearful of losing his wife and unborn bairn.”

  Wrath and Paine remained silent, since there was nothing they could say to contradict the King.

  Talon gave a nod and Wrath and Paine looked to see a short, wiry warrior walking toward them with Broc.

  “I am Dalmeny’s tracker and a skilled one. I believe I have found the tracks you should follow. They resemble more closely the tracks leading from the back of the feasting hall. Though, I would caution that the other tracks not be ignored.”

  Talon looked from Paine, to Wrath, and Broc and gave orders he knew would not be obeyed. “Follow the other three trackers. I will go with this tracker.”

  “No,” Wrath said, stepping forward, knowing he would be expected to protest. “I go with you.”

  “Dalmeny warriors would gladly protect the King,” the tracker offered.

  “I cannot spare you, Wrath. You must lead a search party. You will follow the command I gave you.”

  “As you say, my King,” Wrath said looking annoyed, which he was. He did not like the King being alone with Dalmeny’s men, but he and Paine would rectify that soon.

  They all spread out and entered the forest, going in different directions. Clouds had moved in overhead, though no storm brewed and a chill filled the air. Since there had been no sign of horses’ hooves in any of the tracks, it had been decided to follow on foot so they would not miss any vital signs.

  Talon followed not far behind the tracker. As they got deeper int
o the woods, Dalmeny’s warriors began to fan out away from him while the tracker made the excuse that he had to scout ahead. Soon Talon was alone.

  He heard the howl of a lone wolf in the distance, if it was a true cry, and was reminded of Bog. He would be here helping if he was not off settling his new family deep in the woods.

  He stopped, when he heard another lone howl. Was it in answer to the other? He remained still and listened to the forest, waiting to hear what else it had to tell him and hoped he would hear Hemera call out to him. It took only a moment for a sharp wind to whip around him.

  Talon.

  It was Hemera.

  Talon gave a quick look behind him. Wrath and Paine were there somewhere. They would do what was necessary and so would he.

  The wind whipped at him again.

  Talon.

  “I am on my way, Hemera. Stay strong.”

  “You are finally awake. Good, for the King will be joining us shortly,” Dalmeny said as he walked toward her.

  Hemera stared at him, scrunching her brow.

  “I forgot you are slow-minded in understanding things.” He shook his head. “Why the King would wed you is reason alone he is not fit to be King. I was meant to be King.”

  Hemera remained silent, though inwardly she begged the forest to keep Talon safe, especially since he was entering a trap and she was the bait.

  Dalmeny paced slowly in front of Hemera. “I am wiser, stronger, and more capable of being king than Talon. He is too easy on the people and does not demand enough from them, and he needs to conquer the southern region or dal Gabran will conquer us. When I am King, things will change and the Picts will rule this entire land and woe to those who try to take it from me.” His eyes turned angry. “Talon also needs to pay for my sister’s death.”

  Hemera tilted her head in silent question, thought thinking it would make sense that Simca was Dalmeny’s sister.

  “No one knew she was among you and fed me information or that she kept any fool woman who mated with Talon from getting with child.” Dalmeny stopped pacing. “Simca did well. and I will revenge her death and see that our plan reaches fruition in her honor.” He walked up to Hemera and grabbed her chin roughly. “And I will see that you and Talon suffer unmercifully before you die.”