The Bewitching Twin (12 page)

Aliss beamed with joy as her sister ran to meet her. They hugged, laughed, shed a tear or two then hugged again.

“Look at you,” Aliss said, her hand patting her sister’s rounded stomach. “You and the babe are well?”

“Fine now that we have found you,” Fiona said, and took firm hold of her sister’s hand.

Aliss felt the same. Her sister’s sturdy grip let her know she did not intend to let her go, but things were different now. Adjustments would need to be made, lives would change as Fiona’s had when she wed Tarr.

“Fiona, Aliss, come here.”

The command echoed in the air and the two women turned to see Tarr, his hand extended to them.

Aliss was eager to say hello and eager to ease the tension that divided the two clans. Once they knew the circumstances of her abduction, her choice to wed Rogan and her love for him, she was certain the unease would dissipate, though slowly, like the early morning mist rising off the shore.

Aliss had no choice but to walk with Fiona, her sister refusing to release her hand. When they neared Rogan, Aliss broke free of her sister’s hold and hurried to her husband’s side.

She smiled when he wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her close against him, his fingers digging into her as an added protective measure.

Aliss wanted this done immediately so that the repercussions could be dealt with swiftly and the healing between the clans could begin.

“Tarr, Fiona,” Aliss said, her smile growing generous. “I would like you to meet my husband, Rogan of the clan Wolf.”

There was such a heavy collective gasp that Rogan’s men laid hands on the hilts of their swords.

“We wed by my choice,” Aliss added quickly. “I was not forced or coerced into it. I actually proposed to Rogan. And remember, Tarr, you had told me the choice would be mine to make, besides—” She beamed with joy. “I love him and he loves me.”

Tarr looked to Fiona and she stepped forward.

“Are the vows sealed?” Fiona asked her sister.

“This was
my choice,
” Aliss repeated.

“Are they sealed?” Fiona asked again, more firmly.

Aliss took hold of Rogan’s hand to confirm her commitment. “Yes, we are husband and wife and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I had hoped you would be happy for us. I know you consider him an enemy but he is not.”

“He is an enemy,” Fiona said, her green eyes blazing.

“Rogan has treated me well and he loves me,” Aliss insisted, attempting to make them see reason.

Fiona stared at Rogan. “Of course he treated you well and claims to love you. You are his bargaining chip.”

“What do you mean?” Aliss asked and felt Rogan tighten his grip on her.

“He did not think to see us until winter’s freeze, our clan not equipped with ships. However, he failed to consider our parents’ capabilities. As soon as their ships returned from voyage, we came for you, ready to meet his demand.”

“Demand?” Aliss asked, and stared up at her husband.

He remained silent while Fiona answered.

“The Wolf captured you with intention of ransom—”

Aliss shook her head. “No, his people were sick, he needed my help—”

“A ruse,” Fiona said.

“That is not possible—”

“Then why does he demand the Isle of Non in exchange for you?” Fiona spat.

Stunned silent for a moment, Aliss found her voice and declared adamantly, “No, it is not true.”

Fiona reached into the pouch at her waist and took out a folded paper. She handed it to her sister.

Aliss almost didn’t reach out for it and then slowly she stepped forward, away from Rogan, and stretched out a trembling hand to grasp hold, open and read it.

She read it once then twice and then three times. Each time the words stabbed more painfully at her heart. She fought her tears bravely but they gathered in force, threatening to burst forth in an uncontrollable torrent.

She swallowed several times, fighting with every bit of strength she had not to break down and sob. “You used me,” she said, raising her trembling hand and crushing the offending message.

“No—”

“You deny this?” Aliss asked with a harsh laugh.

“I sent the message, but I never—”

“Expected it to be so easy to play me for a fool?”

Rogan stepped forward.

Aliss jumped back. “Do not dare come near me.”

“I want to explain.”

She shook the crumpled letter in his face. “This explains it all.”

“It is different now.”

Aliss laughed in his face. “Oh, I forgot, now you love me and that makes all the difference.”

“It does.”

“Do not think I will continue to play the fool,” she shouted at him, and turned to Fiona. “I want to go home.”

F
iona wrapped her arms around her sister and directed her toward the ship.

“No!”

Rogan’s shout stopped the two women and caused Tarr to move swiftly to their side.

“I am her husband now. Aliss goes nowhere without my permission,” Rogan commanded.

“Like hell she does,” Fiona challenged. “You have hurt her enough. The Isle of Non is yours. You will surrender my sister as we agreed.”

“I will not.”

Fiona lunged for Rogan. Tarr stopped her with a powerful grip to her arm.

Rogan glared at Aliss. “We are wed and the union is of Aliss’s choice. We remain husband and wife and there is nothing anyone can do about it.”

Fiona snarled at Rogan. “If you think I will let my sister remain with—”

“The choice is not yours,” Rogan reminded her with a firm calmness. “Aliss is my wife and will obey my command.”

“If you think you will get the Isle of Non now—”

Tarr yanked Fiona gently to his side and spoke directly to Rogan. “The Isle of Non is yours and I hope you take up residence there with your wife and clan as soon as possible.”

“We will see,” Rogan said. “You are welcome to visit for a few days. My men will show you the way to the village. Right now I wish to speak with my wife alone.” He held his hand out to Aliss.

She stared at him, shook her head, and sprinted past him toward the village.

He turned and followed.

“Why did—”

“Hush,” Tarr said and forced Fiona to walk with him, putting distance between them and the Wolf clan. “We need time to consider this matter. Obviously they are wed as claimed or Aliss would have spoken up, which means Rogan is right—Aliss belongs to him. Until this can be resolved I would prefer Aliss close by.”

Fiona’s eyes sprang wide. “In my rage, I did not think. The Isle of Non is not far from us.”

“And I am sure Aliss will want you close by.”

“She will need me,” Fiona said with a firm nod. “She thinks herself in love with the Wolf.”

“I doubt she feels that way anymore,” Tarr said. “Now come and let us be civil with our new family so that we may help Aliss.”

Rogan found Aliss sitting at the table in the cottage, her head bent and her hands clasped. He had wondered how to approach her on his walk back to the village. How could he make her understand that he laid claim to what was rightfully his? And that he had never imagined falling in love with her. She had been a means to an end. Now she was the woman he loved and wished to spend the rest of his life with, though she would never believe him.

He slid along the bench opposite her at the table, hesitated to reach out to her then finally he laid his hand over hers.

She pulled away as if his touch scorched her skin.

“Will you hear me out?” he asked, praying she would give him a chance to explain, although even then he was not sure she would understand and forgive him.

She did not raise her head. “You lied to me. All this time you
lied
to me.”

“No, I did not.”

Her head shot up and her blazing green eyes disagreed.

“My people were ill and I needed a healer.”

“That was not the case at first, was it?” she asked but answered for him. “The two times you attacked the Hellewyk village you were looking for me to abduct and ransom. When your people grew ill my abduction served a twofold purpose.” She shook her head. “I am such a fool for trusting you. I played right into your trap.”

“I did not plan on falling in love and wedding you.”

“Please spare me the lies,” Aliss said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“It was ransom I asked for, not marriage.”

She choked on her laughter. “But marriage to me would guarantee you the Isle of Non. After all, my sister and I would want to be close.” She shook her head again. “I had told you that, about wanting to be close. How you must have laughed at me when I proposed. Everything was suddenly in your grasp and all you had to do was—”

“Commit myself to you for the rest of my life?” he asked incredulously. “Do you not think ransom a more sensible choice? Why wed you and be stuck with you?”

“Guarantees. Tarr of Hellewyk would not dare attempt to reclaim the isle if you were wed to his sister-in-law.”

“So I saddled myself with you in exchange for the land.”

“It would appear the Isle of Non is that important to you.”

“Do you not care to know why?” he asked.

She shook her head. “What difference does it make? The isle is what matters to you. I do not and that tells me that you do not—”

“Do not dare say that I do not love you,” he said, giving the wooden table one good pound with his fist.

Aliss smacked the table with her hand. “Do not dare insult me by claiming to love me.”

He tempered his tone. “I do love you, Aliss.”

“No! You love the land more.”

Her hurt refused to allow her to listen to him and he could not blame her. Nothing he said right now would make sense to her.

“I want free of our marriage.”

“No!” His shout reverberated in the room. “ We are husband and wife, joined before God and so shall we remain.”

Aliss stood. “We will see about that.”

Rogan followed her out of the cottage and over to where Fiona and Tarr stood talking with Anna and John.

“I want out of this marriage, Tarr,” she said, coming to stand in front of her brother-in-law.

“I will not release you from our vows,” Rogan said with a cold calmness.

“I do not want to be wed to you,” Aliss said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Are you sure?” Rogan asked.

“Yes, I am sure,” Aliss said, her voice trembling.

Rogan walked over to her. Her unshed tears tore at his heart and the slight quiver in her chin made his soul ache. He had hurt her terribly, and in so doing, he had hurt himself. He certainly would not forgive himself, why should she?

“A bargain?” he asked.

“Why should I, when you do not honor them?”

He felt the insult like a slap to his face but retained his composure. “I will let you free if . . .”

“I am listening,” Aliss said when he grew silent.

“Come with me and my clan to the Isle of Non. Let me prove how very much I love you. At the end of six months’ time if you are not convinced of my love, I will free you and take my leave. The Isle of Non will be yours and you need never see me again.”

She swallowed hard and he hoped it was because she could not bear the thought of separating from him, hoped that there was a chance for him to redeem himself, hoped she would fall in love with him all over again.

“Three months’ time,” she bartered to his disappointment.

“Six or you have me for a lifetime.”

“All right.” She sighed.

Rogan walked over to Tarr. “A fair enough bargain for you?”

“The choice belongs to Aliss, but I feel it a fair deal,” Tarr said.

He then turned to Fiona.

She spoke before he could. “I feel as my husband does.”

“Then it is settled,” Rogan said. He approached John and Derek and yelled out, “Get the people packing. We leave in a few days for a new home.”

Aliss stared at her husband’s retreating back and felt her legs wobble. They would not hold her up much longer. They would collapse out from under her if she even dared take a single step.

“Aliss, are you all right?” Fiona asked.

She realized then that her whole body trembled. “I am not sure.” Before her sister summoned help, Aliss grabbed her arm. “Walk with me. I need to walk.”

Fiona hooked arms with her and off they strolled.

“This is such a shock to me,” Aliss admitted. “I feel like an idiot. He told me he loved me. I believed him.”

“I can kill him for you and settle everything,” Fiona said.

“No, you mustn’t do that,” Aliss insisted, knowing her sister was serious. “Promise me you will not hurt him.”

Grudgingly Fiona said, “I promise, but tell me why you do not want me to hurt him. He has hurt you, lied to you, and betrayed your trust. He deserves punishment.”

Fiona was right. He had done all that to her and more. He had made her believe he loved her. He had made love to her, told her she was beautiful, and now he wanted time to prove his love—or did he?

Unshed tears choked her, but she refused to acknowledge them. She gave a hard cough to chase them away, and came to a halt by her garden. She took up her hoe to dig in the earth. She had to do something, concentrate on something other than feeling as if her heart were being ripped apart.

“This is my mistake. I must right it.”

“You need not do it alone,” Fiona said.

“I brought this on myself.”

“You most certainly did not,” Fiona said, grabbing the hoe from her hands. “He lied to you from the beginning—”

“No, his people were truly ill.”

“So he used you twice to serve his own purposes. Isn’t he a
wonderful
man?”

“Rogan is a good man.”

“Now you defend him?” Fiona asked.

Aliss threw her hands up. “I do not know what to do. I do not know how I feel. I do not know what I want. One minute I cannot bear to look at him and then he goes and claims to love me and intends to prove his love within six months.”

“He intends to confuse you and use you all over again. He lied to you once. You do not think he will lie to you again to keep the isle? Need I remind you that he is our enemy?”

“Rogan is a warrior, just like Tarr,” Aliss argued. Why she continued to defend him she could not say.

“Tarr has honor, Rogan does not,” Fiona said angrily. “Rogan has attacked our village, wounded Tarr, abducted you, lied to you and ransomed you, and now
claims
to love you. Do not be a fool and fall into his trap twice. Send him on his way at the end of six months and be done with the bastard.”

Her sister’s clear outline of the situation left Aliss numb.

Fiona took hold of her hand. “I do not mean to hurt you, or let anyone else hurt you; Rogan has already done that. Do not let him hurt you again.”

“What of love?”

“You will find it one day. There will be no question about it. You will know.” Fiona tugged at her to follow. “Now let us get you packed and ready to go. At least you will be close by home and you will have family to help you through the ordeal of the next six months.”

Aliss let her sister lead, yet felt the need to escape her good intentions. She had created this mess on her own and she should clean up the mess on her own. She had to settle this matter not only in her mind but also in her heart and only she could do that.