Page 1 of Marin’s Promise

1

July 1333

Brackenhill, England

Lady Marin Barrington was used to attacks from the reivers. As the eldest daughter to the third Earl of Werrick, the English West March Warden, she was even used to acting as his unofficial constable in his absence.

Threat of an impending battle in Berwick had resulted in the earl bringing a majority of his forces with him to go to King Edward’s side. The remaining soldiers looked to her for guidance, to ensure the people within the castle remained properly defended and safe.

The castle had not been breached, not in the last eleven years when the last raid forced them to erect fortified curtain walls so great no marauders could get penetrate them to reach the castle within. Not until this moment.

Marin kept her arrow nocked and pointed toward the dark-haired man below. The blonde girl in his arms did not move. It was that last fact which made Marin's heart chill.

“Open yer gates,” he shouted.

The army around him was larger than the one remaining to defend the castle. Well over one hundred men. If the gates were opened, her forces would be easily overwhelmed.

“Open yer gates, or I will kill yer sister.” The man leapt from his stocky reiver’s horse and dragged Catriona with him, her hair streaming in the summer wind like a banner of gold.

As soon as his feet hit the ground, Catriona jumped to life, launching her elbow at his face. He jerked hard to the side from the impact but kept his hold on her.

Marin lowered her bow and edged to the castle wall.

“Don't give in to him, Marin—” Cat opened her mouth to say more, but the reiver snagged her around the waist and pulled her toward him. A knife flashed at his side and pressed to her neck.

He sniffed hard, the way one often did when a blow to their face resulted in a bloody nose. “Open the gate or I will kill her.”

Marin's heart plunged into her stomach.

It was in moments like this that she wished Father was not in Berwick. As Warden to the West March on the English side, he would typically have been home. Yet as one of the king’s wealthiest earls, he was with their king. When she needed him most.

She was glad Geordie was with him. It would cut the lad to the quick to see Cat in such a predicament.

Sunlight glared down on her and did nothing to quell the bite in the air while she wrestled with her decision, with the life of her sister as well as the lives of all her people.

“Marin, please.” Marin did not have to turn to see her sister’s face. She could read the horror and fear in Anice’s voice.

“If we let them in, every man, woman and child will be at their mercy,” Marin said numbly.

Anice and Cat were the only sisters Marin had permitted thus far on the battlements. Now though, Marin regretted having Anice to join her. And she especially regretted allowing Cat to go out and pick flowers that afternoon.

Cat, who always saw the best in people, who always knew how to lighten any dark situation, whose bright smile was for everyone no matter how awful a person might be. A girl of only sixteen whose life had not yet had a chance to blossom. If it were Marin below instead, Cat would have nocked an arrow and killed the reiver in one shot.

Marin did not possess such a skill. But she would cut out her own heart if it would save her sister.

Only it was not her heart the reiver wanted.

“My lady?” Sir Richard regarded her. As the knight with the most experience and Werrick’s Captain of the Guard, she often looked to him for advice. His kind brown eyes were bright with concern.

Marin shook her head, unsure what to do, unsure what to say. Her soul was on fire with indecision. How could she choose between sacrificing her people, or seeing her sister murdered?

“We can fight,” he said levelly.

“Aye,” Anice agreed quickly. “Let us fight. I’ll get our swords. We can tell Ella to get her axe, and Leila to get her daggers. Please, Marin.”

The reiver jerked Cat harder against him and pushed the blade closer. Cat did not make a sound, but Marin cried out as if she had been struck.

God help her and her people, for she was not strong enough to endure this.