Page 28 of Forbidden

“We are in agreement on that, at least.” But Erik smiled as he spoke. “Since it is impossible to undo that which has been done, what do you suggest we do?”

“Try to bend events so that life rather than death follows,” Cassandra said succinctly.

Erik shrugged. “Death always follows life. ’Tis the nature of living. And dying.”

“’Tis the nature of my prophecies to be accurate.”

“In any event, the prophecy’s requirements haven’t been met,” Erik pointed out.

“He came to her in—”

“Yes, yes,” Erik interrupted impatiently. “But her heart and soul and body aren’t his!”

“I can’t speak for her soul or body,” Cassandra retorted, “but her heart is already his.”

Erik shot Amber a surprised look. “Is that true?”

“I understand the prophecy’s three requirements better than anyone,” Amber said. “All three have not been met.”

“Perhaps I should gut him like a salmon after all,” Erik muttered.

“You might be gutting yourself at the same time,” Amber said with a composure she didn’t feel.

“How so?”

“You need to be in the north to hold Winterlance against the Norse raiders. Yet if you don’t stay here, you will lose Stone Ring Keep to your cousins.”

Erik looked at Cassandra.

“You need no prophetess to tell you of your cousins’ ambitions,” Cassandra said dryly. “They were so certain that Lady Emma would die without conceiving an heir for Robert that they had already begun fighting among themselves as to who would rule Stone Ring, Sea Home, Winterlance, and all the rest of Robert’s estates.”

Without a word, Erik looked to Amber.

“Duncan thinks of himself as a powerful warrior,” Amber said to Erik. “He could be very useful to you.”

She gave Erik a shuttered look, wondering if he was truly listening or merely humoring her. There was no way to tell short of touching him. In the moonlight his eyes had the veiled gleam of a wolf’s.

“Go on,” Erik said to Amber.

“Give him time to heal. If his memory doesn’t return, he will vow fealty to you.”

“So you think he is a Saxon or Scottish free lance looking for a powerful lord?”

“He would not be the first such knight to come to you.”

“’Tis true enough,” Erik muttered.

Cassandra started to object again, but was cut off by Erik.

“You may have a fortnight’s grace while I search out the stranger’s past,” he said to Amber. “But only if you will answer one question.”

Amber waited, breath held.

“Why do you care what happens to the man you call Duncan?” Erik asked.

The calmness of his voice was at odds with the intensity of his eyes.

“When I touched Duncan…” Amber’s voice died.