N. Walters - Threads of Destiny

Marc hurried down the stairs, strapping on his sword belt as he went. He knew that Kathryn had eaten and was long gone as he made his way down to the great hall. His conversation with Tienan and Logan had taken longer than he’d anticipated. They’d had many questions they’d wanted answered and he’d found that he had many questions of his own, not only about their lives on Earth but Kathryn’s life as well.

Both men had refused to tell him more than the basics, informing him that it was up to Kathryn to tell him the rest if she so chose. What they had told him was enough for him to know that her entire life had been a living hell.

He rubbed his sternum as he hurried across the hallway toward the kitchen. He planned to have a bite to eat and then go for a long ride. One of the servants had informed him that Kathryn, Christina and Mara were touring the grounds. As much as he wanted to be with her, he was glad she was talking with the other women and exploring his home. Maybe that would influence her decision to stay. Or maybe it wouldn’t. Only time would tell and that was quickly slipping away.

His heart ached for the child she’d been—one whose father had pushed and berated her, always letting her know that she wasn’t good enough. Tienan and Logan had known her for years but they’d known about her long before they’d met her. Seems that her father had liked to talk about her in front of others. According to both men, that had made most of the staff at work dislike her before they’d even met her.

Tienan, in his quiet, thoughtful way, had said that he’d known she’d had a kind heart from the beginning. It was obvious in the way she interacted with people.

Kathryn had only become aloof after she’d been rebuffed and ignored by her coworkers. Once she’d started working with he and Logan, she’d soaked up the positive attention they’d given her.

“They were too stupid to appreciate what a treasure they had.” Logan’s angry words still rang in Marc’s ears.

Well, he wasn’t stupid by any means and he knew what a treasure Kathryn was.

They all did. And they all agreed on one thing.

Kathryn must be kept safe at any cost.

Striding through the kitchen, he grabbed an apple, a hunk of bread and some cheese, eating most of it as he continued on to the stables. His horse, Destiny, was waiting impatiently in his stall, stamping his hooves on the straw-covered ground. “I know you didn’t get a run yesterday.” He offered the apple to the enormous warhorse as he ran his hand down the animal’s side. “I’m going to miss you, boy.” Destiny stamped once again and shook his head but he sidled closer and took the apple from Marc’s palm.

“Going for a ride?”

Marc gave the horse a final pat before turning to face his brother. “I need to clear my head.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Jarek stood, hands on his hips, looking as strong and formidable as ever. But Marc could see the concern in his brother’s eyes.

“No. There is nothing. Kathryn will make her decision when the tapestry arrives.”

“You think she is going back to her own time.”

“Yes.” Marc grabbed a blanket and threw it over the horse’s back. “Especially after what transpired yesterday.”

“Those damn idiots,” Jarek began but he broke off and began pacing. “I sent the rest of them packing at daybreak.”

“I figured that most of them would go but I expected to be facing the Dannon brothers at least and perhaps the Hunters.”

“Abrah came to me and told me that he’d thought about what Kathryn had said and she was right. The tapestry brought the bride to wherever she was supposed to be.

Plus, the way she looked at you, it was obvious to all except maybe a few blind fools that she would have no other.”

Marc was surprised but pleased. “That is good. I didn’t want any more blood shed over this. Kathryn would never stay if that came to pass.”

“He also hinted that he wouldn’t be averse to the idea of Kathryn getting the tapestry to work its magic again.”

Marc laughed, shaking his head. That sounded like Abrah.

Jarek stopped pacing and turned on his heel to face Marc. “That is the conclusion that most of us drew. She is important and not just to us. She has skills. We all saw what she did for Tienan. The woman is a healer, plus she has untapped magical powers as well.”

“She’ll deny the magical powers.” From everything Tienan had told him, Kathryn was a woman who believed in what she could see and prove. He grabbed his saddle and tossed it onto Destiny’s back, tightening the strap around the horse’s belly.

“Denied or not, they exist. Many of the men, besides Abrah, are hoping that she can somehow make the tapestry appear again, bringing another potential bride, perhaps two.”

“She will not stay,” Marc blurted. He finished saddling the horse and faced his brother. “And I am going with her if the tapestry will take me.” All the color drained from Jarek’s face and he swayed. “No.” Reaching out, he grabbed Marc by the shoulders and shook him. “No. I forbid it.” Marc laughed but there was no humor in it. “You cannot forbid me.” He felt no anger at his brother, knew his reaction came from a place of love. “She is my life.

Without her I am dead.”

Jarek jerked him into a rough embrace. “How will I survive without you by my side?”

“You have Christina and the children.” Marc swallowed the thick lump in his throat. “I will have nothing if I let her go.”

Jarek released him and turned away. He tipped back his head, shutting his eyes tight. Marc watched as his brother composed himself. When he turned back, there was only the slightest sheen in his eyes but his face looked older and more haggard than it had only moments before. “So be it.” Striding to another stall, he began to saddle his own horse.

“Where are you going?” Marc gathered Destiny’s bridle and led him from his stall.

“With you.” He quickly readied his mount. “If you are determined to go, I would share this one last ride with you, my brother.” Marc nodded and swiped his face against his shoulder, unashamed of his tears.

“One final ride.” Swinging up on his horse’s back, he waited until Jarek had done the same. Side by side, they rode from the stables, through the courtyard and out the castle gates.

Kathryn meandered toward the stables, her thoughts filled with all she’d seen this morning. The sun was high in the sky and her stomach was informing her that it would soon be time for lunch. The air was clean and unlike anything she’d ever experienced back home where it was stale and sterile at best. Here the rich smell of earth and grass filled her nostrils. The only sounds she heard were of people laughing and talking as they worked and animals going about the business of living. It was incredibly peaceful and, in some ways, healing.

The castle was incredible. It was more like a mini city where Jarek was CEO and Marc the VP of operations. She snickered. That meant that Christina and Mara were the trusty executive assistants who actually ran everything, all the while letting the men think that they were in control.

They were incredibly self-sufficient here. They grew their own herbs and vegetables, as well as harvesting wild mushrooms, greens and berries. They raised cattle, pigs, sheep and goats for meat and milk, as well as for their hides. The women produced vast amounts of cloth for clothing, spinning and weaving it all in their homes.

The men were all warriors but they were also farmers. There were two blacksmiths and a barrel maker, along with several carpenters and masons. The list went on and on.