Heather wanted to reassure the two that she would be fine, but she was not fine; she was scared to death. Actually death seemed preferable to what she was about to face. Tales of the Dark Dragon spread far and wide. Recently a traveler had passed through their village and she had overheard him talking with a Macinnes warrior. He had told the warrior that it was known that the only use the Dark Dragon had for women was to appease his lust for rutting which was as ferocious as his lust for battle.
The awful thought sent her stomach roiling and her heart pounding. How was she ever going to survive?
“Did you try to negotiate with him, Da? Something—anything—that would benefit Heather?” Patience asked with concern.
“There was nothing to negotiate. All the power was in his hands and when I realized that in the end he would have Heather one way or the other, I knew I had no choice. By agreeing to the marriage, it would avoid needless bloodshed and put us in good stead with the Dark Dragon, thus protecting everyone and suffering no casualties.”
“Except Heather,” Emma said.
Heather needed time to digest the startling news. A soothing brew would help as would a few moments alone to prepare, though how one prepared to meet the devil she did not know.
“We must make ready for our guests,” Heather said, taking charge. “Food and drink will be needed and—” She was about to say a guest bedchamber prepared, but it would not be a guest bedchamber he would sleep in tonight. It would be hers. Her bedchamber no longer belonged to her alone. It belonged to her husband—the Dark Dragon.
Her father sent her a look that had Heather realizing there was more unsettling news yet to be delivered.
Her father was quick to tell her. “You will be leaving today with your husband.”
His announcement brought utter silence.
Tears sprang to Heather’s eyes. “I must prepare for my departure.” She hurried out of the room, Patience and Emma following close behind.
Donald Macinnes dropped down on the bench afraid his legs would no longer hold him.
Hunter hurried to fill a tankard with ale and handed it to him.
Rogan laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You did what was best for your family and clan.”
“So I have told myself,” Donald said. “I only pray it is so.”
* * *
Heather collapsed on her bed,tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to be alone to try and accept her fate. But when her sisters entered the room and flung themselves at her, hugging her tightly, she was glad they were there, especially since she would be bidding them farewell today.
They stretched out on the bed side by side, Patience’s hand clinging tightly to one of Heather’s and Emma’s hand almost choking the other, as though neither of them intended to let go of her.
“There must be something?—”
“Do not say it, Patience,” Heather begged. “The deed is done and I must face my fate and you two must help me.”
Patience popped up and looked down at her two sisters. “How do I do that? How do I let such evil lay hands on my sister?”
Heather eased her hand out of Patience’s hand to lay it on her rumbling stomach.
Emma hopped off the bed. “Your stomach troubles you. I will fetch a soothing brew to calm it and you should try to eat a little something.”
“The brew would help,” Heather agreed, laying her arm across her eyes.
Emma nodded to Patience and she followed her to stand just outside the door.
“She is upset enough, and rightfully so, do not upset her any further,” Emma ordered sternly.
“How do we stop this travesty?” Patience asked tersely.
“I do not think we can. As Father said, it is done.”
“And what if he treats her poorly or how do we even know if he does treat her poorly, what then?”
“You are right. We cannot just let him take her away never to know what becomes of her,” Emma said, growing teary-eyed. She swiped at the unshed tears. “Ever since I have gotten with child, tears come much too easily.”
