Chapter One

Two years later

‘W ho will win, do you think?'

Morwenna turned at the sound of the male voice. She had been watching her brother spar with Piers, but now Robert of Penrith was approaching her. He wore his chainmail armour like a second skin, and his sword rested at his side.

For the past two years, he'd spent every waking hour fighting. He'd filled out, and instead of being lean and swift, he now had arms so thick she couldn't span them with both hands. He could lift a heavy broadsword with one hand, and she'd been fascinated by Robert's transformation. His light-brown hair was tipped with gold, and his brown eyes held a warmth and kindness that made her stomach twist with ‘if only's.

Unfortunately, he seemed unaware of her feelings. Or if he was aware, he was kind enough not to tell her that he wasn't interested.

‘Piers will win,' she predicted, pushing her idle thoughts away. ‘But Brian is getting better.' The two young men continued to spar with one another, and she watched as Piers struck a hard blow against Brian's shield. Her brother stumbled a moment but then struck back with his own attack.

‘He's grown stronger, aye. And older.' Robert came to stand beside her, and her shoulder accidentally brushed against his arm. Her cheeks blushed, and she couldn't think of what to say right now. She was entirely too conscious of his nearness.

Don't think of that , she warned herself. He sees you as a friend, nothing more.

In two years, he had never once treated her like a woman who had captured his interest. Better to bury the unrequited feelings and act as if it didn't matter.

She stared out at the ruins of Stansbury, the fortress that had once belonged to Lord Penrith. It was a forgotten place where they had fled after they'd left the abbey. Robert's uncle had offered the young men a place to stay among the monks after a few months, but they hadn't wanted her.

Rather than send her to a nunnery, Robert had come up with the plan for them to come here to train. He'd acquired armour, weapons, and supplies with the help of his uncle. Piers and Brian had welcomed the chance for freedom, and Morwenna had learned to fight alongside them. Somehow, the four of them had become a strange sort of family, staying together to survive.

She wrenched her attention back to her brother and Piers while they sparred. There was a stoic determination about Brian, as if he would never look back on the past. But whenever Piers fought, there was an intensity that went beyond reason. He poured his rage and frustration into fighting until he could no longer stand.

Not like Robert. When he fought, there was no emotion at all—only a quiet, focused demonstration of strength. He seemed to think about every move before he made it.

Morwenna had learned how to defend herself, but she was no match for their strength. She rested her hand on the light dagger at her side. It had once belonged to Robert, but he'd given it to her as a means of protection. There was something about holding a blade that gave her a feeling of power. Not because she wanted to fight...but because it made her feel safe.

A tightness caught in her chest as dark memories assailed her. Never again would she allow a man to attack her. Though she'd mostly pushed the memories aside, there were still moments when she awakened in the middle of the night, terrified by dreams of the soldier tearing her gown and groping her.

She squeezed the hilt of her blade, pushing back the vision. Instead, she studied Robert and saw tension in his stance. Although he'd said nothing, she sensed that something was wrong. ‘Is anything the matter?'

His mouth tightened, and he stared off into the distance for a time. ‘I have news from my uncle about Penrith.'

From the sound of his voice, the news wasn't good.

‘What is it?' She knew he'd been training all these years, hoping to one day retake his lands at Penrith. King John had put a new earl in command, but the lord had many soldiers. It wasn't possible for them to fight an army of that size.

‘I've found a way to reclaim the estate,' he said. ‘Without bloodshed.'

She didn't know what to think of that—especially since he didn't seem pleased by it. ‘How?'

‘The earl is hosting a feast at Midsummer. He has invited warriors and lords from across the north for competitions. The winner will wed his daughter—that is, if he gains her consent.'

Her heart nearly stopped with dismay. ‘And you...hope to wed this woman?'

Please say no.

But unfortunately, he nodded. ‘If I win her favour and her hand in marriage, our sons will be the heirs to Penrith.' He met her gaze, and she felt her heart breaking at the resolution in his eyes. ‘It's the best way forward, Morwenna. I'll regain what was lost.'

She knew he was right, but she'd never imagined the invisible pain that slashed her feelings. Though she tried to act as if she supported his decision, it hurt because she was another step closer to losing him.

She didn't delude herself into believing she could ever be with a lord like Robert. Not at all. But these moments living beside him had given her a reason to dream. And she intended to savour his attention for as long as she could.

‘Will you walk with me?' he asked. ‘There's something I wanted you to have before I go.'

Her heart surged with anticipation. ‘Of course. What is it?'

‘Well, it's not exactly a gift,' he amended. ‘More like something you might need.' He wasn't making eye contact any more, and the awkwardness hung heavily between them.

He led her towards the stables, saying nothing further. As they drew closer, she thought of other possibilities. He might have a new puppy for her or a kitten—something to love when he was gone. Her anticipation heightened as they walked closer to the stalls.

‘I thought...you might like it,' he continued.

‘What is it?' she asked.

‘It's over here,' he said, opening the last stall. She walked inside, and confusion made her frown. There was no ribbon, no kitten. Only a battered wooden shield.

‘It's to protect you,' he said, offering a tentative smile.

For a moment, Morwenna could hardly believe what he'd given her. It was the sort of present an older brother might give to a younger brother. Certainly not a woman. What on earth was she supposed to say?

‘It's...um...very kind of you.'

‘Try it on,' he urged. He lifted the shield and held it out for her to put her arm in the leather straps. The wood was heavy, but the weight of disappointment in her heart was worse.

She tried to form a smile and nodded. ‘Thank you.'

He did smile then. ‘I thought it might be useful to you. For when you fight.'

She set down the shield and faced him. Did he mistakenly believe that she loved fighting? ‘Robert, I'm not going off into battle.'

‘I know you're not. But you do like to spar sometimes.'

She closed her eyes a moment, feeling foolish. The only person she enjoyed sparring with was him. And even then, it was only an excuse to interact with the man she liked. She had no intention of becoming a fighter, and the shield was utterly useless. But then, she didn't want to seem ungrateful for his gift. ‘Thank you.'

He gave a nod, but when she studied him more closely, she noted the crease of tension around his eyes. He seemed uncertain about this journey.

‘When are you planning to leave for Penrith?' she asked.

He leaned his arm against the horse stall. ‘On the morrow. I want to see for myself how things are at the estate. Perhaps even meet the new lord's daughter early if I can.'

The blade of jealousy sliced a little deeper. ‘So soon?' Worse was the realisation that she could do nothing to stop him. Robert was going to leave her behind, and it was likely she'd never see him again.

Her brain conjured up all the terrible things that could happen on his journey. The people of Penrith might recognise Robert as the rightful heir, and the earl would want to be rid of him. Or even if he did win the competitions, the earl's daughter might not want to wed him.

To be truthful, she rather hoped the woman would not be interested. Which was ridiculous. Robert had grown more handsome than she'd ever imagined. Stoic and strong, she loved watching him fight. Any woman with eyes in her head would fall in love with him, just as she had.

Her only hope was to be at his side, for as long as she could. And the thought of him leaving shattered the idle dreams in her heart.

‘I'm going to win back my lands,' he insisted. ‘I owe it to my father's people.'

Without thinking, she reached for his hands and took them. Her palms felt like ice in the warmth of his grasp. His expression turned to pity, and it took all her strength not to crumble.

There was a solemnity to his expression, as if he knew the trials that lay ahead. He reminded her of a soldier about to ride into battle—one who might not return. Her heart clenched at the thought, though she tried not to wear her emotions.

She should have known this day was coming. Over the past two years, he'd done more than transform his strength. He'd spoken to his uncle regularly, learning all that he could about what had happened to his father's estate. And she'd always known he'd been making plans to take his lands back.

‘I don't want you to go,' she murmured. The moment he left, he would be surrounded by other men competing for the right to claim Penrith and the nobleman's daughter. It could be dangerous.

He gave her hands a gentle squeeze and then released them. ‘I've waited long enough,' he said. ‘I acted like a coward on the night the king's men attacked us. I've heard that the new earl has caused hardships for the people of Penrith. I need to know what he's done and how I can make it right.'

In his voice, she heard the yearning for honour. He wanted to reclaim Penrith, and she understood that desire. But she didn't want him to sacrifice everything.

‘They took us captive before,' she said quietly. ‘If you go back, what will stop the new Lord Penrith from taking you prisoner again?'

He faced her, resting his hand upon the horse stall. ‘This earl had nothing to do with the attack. And I cannot hide for ever, Morwenna. That's not the sort of man I want to be.'

She moved closer to him. ‘We hid because we didn't have a choice.' Even after they'd left the abbey and taken shelter at the ruined estate, they'd lived with the fear of being discovered by the king's men. They still didn't know why they'd been taken prisoner. Perhaps it didn't matter anymore, but during the past year, they'd slept in a freezing fortress with a leaking roof. The only consolation was that no one had hunted them...and Robert had been with her.

‘I have a choice now,' he replied. ‘This is what I've trained for. If I defeat the others, I'll win her hand in marriage, and Penrith will be mine again.'

She didn't know what to say, but his determination was clear. He saw this marriage as a prize to be won and a means of reclaiming Penrith.

You knew this would happen , her brain reminded her. Now the moment she'd been dreading was here.

‘What about the rest of us?' she asked. ‘Should we go with you?' The thought of watching him court another woman was a dagger wrenching in her heart.

‘No. I think it's better if I go alone, Morwenna. I don't want to draw too much attention to myself.'

She didn't know how to respond to that. ‘Should we wait here?'

He shook his head. ‘You should go and live your own lives now.'

It was almost impossible to imagine it, though she'd known they couldn't stay here for ever. Robert had always planned to go back. And for a while, she'd clung to the frail hope of staying with him for as long as he continued to train. But now, it would all come to an end. The thought of her own future terrified her.

‘What is there for me, Robert?' she ventured.

‘Perhaps you'll find someone to marry.'

When his gaze rested upon her, Morwenna felt self-conscious about the leggings and tunic she'd borrowed from her brother. She was a skinny waif who had hacked the length of her brown hair with a blade until it hung short around her shoulders. Her face was dirty, her skin sweaty. ‘No man would have me,' she said quietly. Least of all the man she wanted.

He looked as if he was about to argue with her, but she cut him off saying, ‘And besides, I don't think you should go alone to Penrith. It could be dangerous. What if they're still searching for you?'

But the true reason was that she didn't want him to be married.

‘I'll be all right, Morwenna. Even if I don't have you to guard my back.' He touched her chin softly, but she sensed the pity in his tone. Her skin burned with embarrassment from the light contact for she knew he did not mean it. For once, she wished she were wearing skirts or even a ribbon in her hair. Something to make him see the woman she longed to be, instead of the awkward one she was.

‘I could come if you want me to,' she answered softly. ‘I could hide among her ladies.'

His smile dimmed. ‘It's probably better if we part ways now, Morwenna. You have your own life to lead.'

He was wrong in that. The only reason she had felt safe during the years of hiding was because of Robert, Brian, and Piers. There was comfort in a place where she was surrounded by protectors. Although she would never be as strong as any of them, she could defend herself and kill a man, if need be. But now they were leaving, and the last thing she wanted was to be abandoned.

‘I don't have anywhere else to go,' she admitted. ‘I may as well come with you and help if I can. Penrith used to be my home, after all.'

‘You have your freedom, Morwenna. Of all the places you could go, why would you return to Penrith?'

Because you would be there , she thought but didn't say it.

Although it was an utter lie, she suggested, ‘Perhaps I'll find a husband among the men who don't win the lady's hand in marriage.'

He frowned but couldn't come up with a good reason to refuse her. Then she added, ‘There's something else you should consider, Robert. Do you even know how to court a woman?'

‘Not really,' he answered. ‘But all I have to do is win the fighting competitions.' He rested his hand on his sword hilt.

‘Is that what you believe?' Morwenna frowned at him. ‘You did say that the new Lord Penrith gave his daughter the choice, did you not? You'll have to do more than win a sword fight to win her consent.' She straightened and regarded him. ‘No, I am coming with you. You're going to need my help. Piers and Brian might join us as well.'

He shook his head. ‘Piers will go where the wind blows him. He has no interest in helping me gain my birthright. Not when he has his own fortunes to seek.' The two half-brothers had become reluctant allies, even if they would never be friends. They'd fought each other for most of the year before grudgingly admitting that their fighting skills were equal.

But Morwenna clung to hope since he hadn't found a reason to deny her request. ‘I'll tell Brian to pack his belongings.'

‘Are you certain you want to go back to Penrith?' he asked carefully.

It wasn't about Penrith, she thought. There was nothing there for her. No family, no home. Only the emptiness of a life she didn't want. But the man she did want was travelling there, and she intended to make the most of the remaining time.

Morwenna raised her chin and stared at him. Then she lifted her battered shield and said, ‘On the morrow, we'll go together.'

And perhaps, if she could find her courage, she might bare her heart to him before it was too late.

It took only a single day of travelling to reach Penrith. They had one horse, and Robert and Brian took turns walking while Morwenna rode. They had few belongings to bring with them, aside from armour and weapons. Brian had outgrown all his clothing, so Robert and Piers had given him what they could.

All of them were dressed simply, and Robert had hidden away his chainmail. For today, he'd been careful to wear only clothing that a serf might wear. His sword was strapped to his back, hidden by a cloak. He wanted to observe his estate and discover what had happened during the past two years before he determined his plan to win the lady's hand in marriage.

In the distance, he saw that the main castle walls had been rebuilt. His instincts sharpened, and although his uncle had told him about it, it felt strange to see the mortar and stones after he'd watched the previous wooden walls burn to the ground. The new Lord Penrith had made changes, and Robert grudgingly admitted that they were good ones.

He shielded his eyes from the sun and saw ripening grain in the fields. It occurred to him that their horse would draw attention, so he avoided the urge to continue onward. Instead, he led the animal into the nearby forest. Morwenna and Brian followed him while he tethered the gelding loosely to a tree near the stream. ‘He'll be safe here until we return,' he told them.

‘I'll stay with him,' Brian offered.

Robert glanced at Morwenna, but she shook her head. ‘I'm coming with you.'

Though he didn't want to endanger her, it occurred to him that they might seem like less of a threat if they walked together. He gave a shrug and murmured his thanks to her brother.

Yet, his uncertainty only deepened as they left the forest. When they had walked a short distance, Robert asked softly, ‘How is your brother? He still seems troubled.'

Morwenna kept her gaze fixed ahead. She offered no explanation for her brother's behaviour except to say, ‘He feels guilty about what happened to our father that night. He blames himself.'

Robert sensed that there was a great deal she was holding back and didn't push for more answers. The boy had trained as hard as she had, but there was a rigid quality to his fighting—almost as if he doubted himself. Or perhaps it was hidden rage.

Whatever it was, the boy was safe now. No one would harm him or Morwenna again. And yet, Robert knew that they could only rely on themselves.

‘Do you think anyone will recognise us?' Morwenna asked when they reached the edge of the forest. She reached for her short hair and tried to smooth it out. Even so, the wind tangled it around her face. He knew she was self-conscious about it, but the brown curls only accentuated her deep green eyes. She reminded him of a wood nymph—a little wild, yet lovely and fierce.

‘I suppose they'll know who you are,' he said. ‘But as for me? I doubt it. I rarely left the castle keep.'

‘Why didn't you?'

‘I was ill for many years when I was younger. Even after I got better, it didn't feel right to leave. People stared at me if I did. I think my father didn't want me to leave because he was ashamed of me. I knew nothing of fighting.'

‘You know a great deal now,' she said.

But he didn't truly believe that. It was one thing to spar with Brian and Piers. It was quite another to fight against seasoned soldiers who were trained to kill.

He would have to study the other fighters and learn, Robert decided. There was no sense in worrying about the past. Not any more.

As they approached the fields, he saw men guarding the gates at intervals. Uneasiness washed over him as they continued their journey. Who were the soldiers? And what kind of man was the new Lord Penrith? His uncle suggested that there were problems, but it was difficult to say what they were.

Robert felt as if he'd stepped into another life. Instead of finding his lands in ruins, someone had already rebuilt the estate from the ashes.

They passed the fields of grain, and he saw a few familiar faces mingled with others he did not know. Most of the serfs paid them no heed. One man glanced up for a moment, but he immediately returned to his work. No one spoke—there was only the endless silence of labour.

That was what bothered him most—the lack of conversation among them. Something was wrong, but he didn't know what it was.

No one reacted to their presence. He fully expected them to recognise Morwenna, but if they did find her familiar, no one acknowledged her.

‘We should go towards the castle to find our answers now,' Morwenna murmured. ‘I don't think they're going to tell us anything here.'

He agreed with her and took her hand. They joined behind a large cart entering the gates, following the others before Robert pulled her back into the shadows. He didn't want anyone noticing them, and since it was a sennight before Midsummer, their presence would only draw attention. Morwenna stepped back to hide behind a wooden support beam beneath a parapet, while he studied their surroundings.

The new Earl of Penrith clearly had wealth and power. There was prosperity here, and the sight of it unravelled Robert's plans. He wasn't certain his people would welcome his return—they already had a leader. He turned to Morwenna, wondering what she thought of all this.

But she continued to stare, and he turned to see what she was looking at.

A noblewoman was walking down the stairs of the keep. She wore a grey gown, and her hair was the colour of sunlight. A golden circlet rested upon her brow, and she smiled at something her female companion said. It had to be the earl's daughter.

Robert studied her for a time, trying to determine what sort of person she was. He couldn't deny her beauty, but he noticed that Morwenna had shrunk down even lower. The two women could not be more different—the noblewoman had an innocent beauty and grace, whereas Morwenna's features were rough and raw. But he'd always admired her spirit and the way she was a survivor.

You have to marry the earl's daughter , he reminded himself. He couldn't let himself get distracted by Morwenna, no matter the reason. He studied the woman on the stairs, noticing the way her gaze fixed upon the horizon with a dreamy expression. Did she want to be married? Was this competition her idea or her father's?

‘You should go and meet her,' Morwenna muttered. ‘I'll go back and find Brian.'

Before he could ask her to wait, she had already slipped out of hiding and hurried back towards the gates. He'd wanted to argue with her, but there was no point in doing so after she'd made a decision. Morwenna was strong-willed, and he suspected there were other reasons why she'd left.

As for himself, he wanted to watch and wait. He needed to discover who these people were and where their loyalties lay. He'd come here planning to rebuild his lands and petition the king to have his title restored. But now, he wondered if he'd made a mistake. King John had given his lands to someone else—and Penrith was thriving. They didn't need him.

He'd not expected to find it this way, but for a time, he watched the activity within the gates. There was a sense of order and an invisible air of command.

He was about to join Morwenna when a hand clamped down upon his. He spun, reaching for the hilt of his sword, before he recognised Henry the Fletcher. The man had been a trusted hunting friend of his father, and Robert had seen the pair of them drinking together on many occasions.

He was about to greet the man, but Henry shook his head in a silent warning. Then without another word, the man left.

Robert frowned, uncertain as to what was happening. There was no doubt Henry had recognised him, but he was being careful not to expose his identity. It meant that there was danger at the keep, something beneath the surface.

Perhaps things were a little too perfect, too controlled. He gave a slight nod, not knowing whether Henry saw it. Then Robert joined a small group of serfs and left the inner bailey before anyone else noticed him.

I never should have come to Penrith , Morwenna thought to herself.

It was bad enough knowing that Robert meant to court the earl's daughter. But watching his reaction when he saw the woman for the first time had brought back all her feelings of inadequacy.

A fierce jealousy caught her heart, though she knew she had no right to feel that way. He should marry someone like the nobleman's daughter, a beautiful lady who knew what it was to govern a castle. And surely, the young woman would be delighted by how handsome Robert was. If only it didn't hurt so much to see the admiration in his eyes when he'd glimpsed the young lady. Never had he looked at her in that way.

In one hand Morwenna carried a bundle that she'd retrieved from the old mill. She had returned to their former dwelling, hoping to find a shelter for her and Brian. Instead, there had only been the burned ruins of their home, and another mill had been constructed nearby. A heaviness centred within her chest at the knowledge that she could no longer go back. But then, Morwenna had suddenly remembered her mother's things that her father had hidden away. It had surprised her to find the bundle unharmed, tucked beneath a charred floorboard. She didn't know how it had escaped the fires that night, but she was glad to have it back.

Morwenna walked back to their camp and saw her brother napping against a tree. ‘Brian.'

He jerked awake at the sound of her voice and scrambled to his feet. ‘What's happened? Where is Robert?'

‘He is back at the castle.' Her face reddened at the memory. ‘I left him with the heiress.' She went over to stroke the horse, trying to act as if nothing was wrong. But she could feel the rise of humiliation in her face.

Her brother was watching her with suspicion. His gaze fixed upon the bundle she had brought from the mill. ‘Did you go back home?'

She nodded. ‘Father gave this to me not long ago. It belonged to our mother, and I didn't want to leave it behind.'

‘Do you want to return to the mill tonight?' he offered.

Morwenna shook her head. ‘There's not much left of it. It wasn't rebuilt after the fire.' She had no wish to stay in a place that evoked such terrible memories. ‘We'll remain here instead.'

Though she continued to pet the horse, rubbing his ears, her brother hadn't missed her darker mood. ‘Something happened,' Brian predicted. ‘Why are you so upset?'

She didn't answer, and he caught her hand, forcing her to look at him. His steady blue eyes made her realise that she was panicking like a coward. She took a deep breath, then another.

‘I'm sorry,' she murmured. ‘It's just... I thought I would be fine. But then, I realised Robert doesn't need us any more.'

She had wanted to believe that she could distance herself and help him achieve his goals. Instead, her hopes had been shattered by the sight of the beautiful noblewoman. The woman had been poised and lovely—everything Morwenna could only dream of becoming. And Robert had been caught up by the woman's appearance as if she'd cast her spell upon him. Humiliation had washed over her, and she'd wanted nothing more than to leave.

Brian took the reins of the horse from her. ‘You shouldn't have raised up your hopes, Morwenna.'

She closed her eyes, wishing they had never come. ‘I know you're right.' She shook her head. ‘I knew that when we came here, but I still wanted to be at his side.'

At that, her younger brother's eyes turned knowing. He reached for her hand again and held it. ‘Morwenna...' There was a wealth of sympathy and warning in the single word. He knew, as she did, that the chances of Robert falling in love with her were almost impossible.

‘I know,' she answered softly. But then again, she'd never openly admitted her feelings or tried to win Robert's interest. She'd dreamed that she could be part of his life somehow, and she had treasured each day with him. But the moment she'd seen him looking at another woman, she'd behaved like a coward, running away.

Yet she understood her brother's silent message. Now was not the time to turn around and give up. Robert still needed their help.

Brian pointed to the bundle. ‘You never showed me what was inside.'

‘It's just a gown,' she answered. ‘Nothing much.'

Her brother didn't ask anything more, for he had little interest in clothing. ‘What do you think Robert will do now?'

‘He said he wanted to find out what was happening at Penrith. I think he plans to stay there and gather information. Or perhaps he'll try to court the heiress in secret.' She pushed back the rising jealousy, for it was likely they would have to join him.

‘Then we need to go back,' Brian said. ‘We have to find out what happened since we left Penrith.'

‘Not yet,' she answered. ‘It will only draw too much attention with three of us trying to blend in. You should go and hunt for our meal tonight. I'll stay here with the horse until you return.' She needed a few moments to herself, to tamp down her feelings. ‘Robert will join us later and tell us what he's learned.'

‘I don't want to leave you alone,' Brian protested.

At that, she smiled and rested her hand upon the hilt of her blade. ‘Believe me when I say, no one will harm me. Anyone who tries will lose his hand.' At least she had the utmost confidence in her fighting abilities, thanks to their training.

‘All right. But as soon as I've found food, I'll return.' Her brother turned to leave, and she held the horse's reins. Morwenna waited until he was gone and then walked towards a nearby pond. She splashed water to her face, clearing her thoughts.

She had spent the past two years training, in order to transform herself. Her body was lean and muscled now, and she knew how to defend herself against any attacker. She would never be weak again.

But she now questioned the wisdom of that. It seemed that she had mistakenly led Robert to believe that fighting was what she wanted in life. That wasn't the truth at all. What she wanted was him. She had trained at his side, wanting to be noticed—craving his attention. And instead of seeing her as a woman, he saw her as a fellow soldier.

Morwenna leaned her forehead against a nearby tree, feeling utterly lost. She reached beneath her shift and withdrew the golden chain and pendant she'd retrieved from the mill. Although her mother had died years ago, her father had given it to her, along with the gown, saying that Morwenna was meant to have them.

It surprised her that her father Geoffrey had kept something so fine without selling it. Still, it was all she had left of Eldreth. She was glad she'd retrieved her mother's belongings for it gave her a tangible piece of her to keep.

Geoffrey had never spoken of Eldreth's past. Morwenna traced the engraving, wishing her mother had told stories about her family. From the fine material of the silk gown and the gold, she believed that Eldreth must have come from the nobility. She wished she had asked her mother questions about her past while she was still alive. But even if she had, Eldreth had never spoken much. They had never been close, though Morwenna had tried to be a good daughter to her. And now, she had no answers at all.

A dull ache caught in her throat. The last time she'd seen her father, their home had been on fire. He'd been trapped inside, and she'd heard his screams before the silence. There had been nothing more horrifying than to hear him die and be unable to stop it from happening. Even now, she could remember the choking smoke and the way she'd fought the rough hands of the soldiers as they'd dragged her away. Brian had tried to save her, only to be captured himself. She'd never understood why the soldiers had taken them prisoner instead of killing them outright. Perhaps they'd intended to make an example of their deaths or use them to coax others to do their bidding. Only Robert had helped them escape.

She tucked the pendant below her shift, feeling the warmth of the gold against her skin. She owed him everything. And until they knew he was safe, they ought to stay hidden. But eventually, she intended to disguise herself among the women, keeping her weapon close at hand, and guarding Robert as best she could.

It was all she could do for him.