At first, she thought she must be dreaming as she focused her gaze on her father’s pennant drawing closer.
But it was not her imagination she realized as her father camped his army just outside of Draven’s walls.
“What means this, Hugh?” Draven called down once her father came within hearing range.
“I’ve come for my daughter, you bastard!”
Emily went cold. “He couldn’t have found out, could he?”
“Nay,” he said to her before he shouted to her father, “She is under my protection.”
“Not after last night, she’s not. Now send her out or I shall tear down your walls to fetch her.”
Emily gasped at his words.
Her father knew! But how?
Draven put his hand on her arm to steady her.
“Father?” she called. “Why do you come for me?”
“He raided Keswyk in the night. I’ve sent word to Henry, and I will have you back now or else I will see his walls collapse. Release her, Ravenswood, and I might speak in your favor to Henry.”
Emily frowned. “You didn’t raid last night.”
“I know well enough where I spent the night, Emily, but should we tell your father where I was, he’ll want to raze more than just my walls.”
Draven was right. And she gulped at the thought of what her father would do if he ever found out what they had done.
“Father, you’re wrong!” She hoped and prayed he might be swayed to reason.
Draven grabbed her. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to explain to him that you didn’t do it.”
“Think you he’ll listen?”
“A—, nay” she finished. “He’ll hear none of it.”
“Prepare our defenses,” Draven called to his men. “Man the walls and?—”
“Nay!” She grabbed his arm. “‘Tis my father you would fight.”
“Would you have me surrender my castle?”
Frustrated, upset, and terrified beyond thought she snapped at him, “Let me think. Surrender your castle to my father or kill him? I believe my answer is aye, surrender your hall!”
“Nay. I hold Ravenswood in the name of Henry, King of England, and I will not throw back my gates in surrender to a man Henry trusts not at all.”
She heard her father call to his men to prepare for battle. Emily trembled in fear.
What should she do?
What could she do?
Draven took a bow from one of the men at arms and prepared the arrow. As he tested the string, he caught sight of Emily’s ashen face.
Her eyes wide with panic, she stared at her father and he saw the love in her for her sire.
