They were seated at the head
of a long banquet table that his men had quickly assembled in the center of the
village. They had spread out food
and wine for the whole village.
Dei accepted the goblet of wine that Erick offered her quickly and
downed it immediately. She felt
her senses dull some and the noise and music from the crowd soften as
well. Dei managed to get the
goblet refilled twice more before Erick caught on and took it from her.
“I would prefer you
conscious my Lady.” He smiled down
at her; even seated he was more than a head taller than her. She felt like a small child seated
beside him, though she herself stood almost six feet in height.
“I would prefer not to be!”
Dei snapped quickly and reached for another goblet of wine. His hand caught her wrist roughly and
pressed her hand against the table.
“I don’t care what you
prefer. You are my wife and this
is our wedding feast. You will
honor your people and mine by staying and celebrating. Things are changing Lady; you must
accept and change with them.” He
waved his hand down the table and out across the beach. Dei stared in awe, seeing her people
and the families that had come with his war party eating and drinking. All the children were playing together;
even Maggie was playing with a small red headed girl about her size.
“These will be my lands; it
is only a matter of time Deianira.
Your father does not have enough men to hold the castle if we were to siege
it. No one will come to his aid,
as Rollo and others are keeping all your neighbors busy. Do you really think he would risk
fighting me when he learns I wed his only daughter?”
“Yes, he will risk it,” she
answered solemnly, meeting his glance.
He saw a strange sense of despair in her eyes.
“You speak as if he dislikes
you.”
“He hates me.”
He looked back from the
beach to Deianira, startled by the fresh look of pain in her face and the new
tears running down her cheeks.
Aw, poor thing. Wonderful teaser, Krystal! And thanks for sharing my link too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks and no problem! We have to stick together and help each other out.
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