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Bliss looked to see that all eyes were on them, but the one that caught her attention the most was her husband’s. He did not look on her with worry or fear, or even anger ... but with pride.
She not only carried the pride of being a Pict, but the pride of being a MacAlpin woman.
At that moment, Trey, Reeve, and Duncan bowed their heads to Bryce and backed their horses to stand a few feet behind the true king.
Bryce raised his hand, and a warrior brought Leora forward. She kept her chin high and her stature regal.
“I have someone who belongs to you and you have two who belong to me,” Bryce called out.
King Kenneth laughed, and shouted, “Do with her as you wish. She means nothing to me.”
All color faded from Leora’s cheeks.
Bryce looked down at her. “This is the man whom you want as king? Go to him.”
Leora raced over to the king, but before she could reach him, one of his soldiers grabbed her and hurried her off, kicking and screaming for the king.
“I am not as charitable as you,” King Kenneth yelled. “I will keep your women. When you are dead, I will wed your intended. After all, she is meant to be queen ... my queen. As for the other, she will serve me well as a seer.”
“And do you pay heed to her warning? That today you die.”
The king’s cheeks burst bright red, and his lips moved though no words came out of his mouth. His fury mounted, and he raised his fisted hand. “You will rue this day.”
Bryce shouted out for all to hear. “This day I claim my rightful heritage ... I am the true king of Scotland.”
A deafening cacophony of shouts, cheers, and hoots filled the air.
King Kenneth grew angrier, and Bliss could feel the soldiers around her grow alarmed. They doubted their ability to win this battle.
“Do you have the courage to meet me alone in battle?” Bryce shouted above the din of the warriors. “Or are you the coward so many believe you are?”
Silence fell like a thud of a stone being dropped to the ground.
Bliss knew at that moment that King Kenneth would pay no heed to her warning about choosing to act wisely. Without thought or common sense, King Kenneth rode forward to meet his death.
It wasn’t a quick fight, both men being equal in strength and skill. But there was something about Bryce that was different. And as Bliss watched, along with everyone else, as the two men battled each other, she realized what that difference was ... Bryce fought without fear.
They swung their swords with the potency of two powerful men, rolled and jumped and maneuvered their way out of endless jabs. They took severe blows to their faces and bodies until, finally, the true king delivered the final blow straight through King Kenneth’s heart.
It was done. In that one instant, life changed for all, and everyone knew it. Cheers filled the air, and, with a bloodcurdling scream, all the true king’s warriors rushed forward to finish the battle and protect their king.
Epilogue
The sacred grove shimmered with sunlight though snow fell lightly. It seemed that the heavens smiled down on this joyous day. The true king was wedding his queen in Pict fashion. Only the MacAlpin family was in attendance to hear Bryce and Charlotte exchange words of love and commit to each other.
Trey stood with his arm around Bliss, his mum sending him a look that asked if the woman carrying her future grandchild was feeling well. It had been his fault that his mum had found out about the babe. He had been beside himself with worry when he had seen Bliss’s bruised eye and had anxiously asked how she and his son faired ... in front of his whole family.
Mara had gone wild, then became even more ecstatic when Reeve proudly announced with a firm arm around his wife that he also was to be a father.
Mara had cried tears of joy and repeated throughout the day that her fondest dreams had come true. She would have tons of grandbabies to fuss over.
Trey smiled at his mum to let her know that all was well. Bliss was fine although he sensed she wasn’t, and it had nothing to do with the babe.
He knew what troubled his wife, and he waited until the ceremony was done and his family drifted off, and, with a nod to Bryce that he would follow them soon, he turned his wife around in his arms.
“It was a beautiful exchange of vows,” she said teary-eyed.
Since having realized she was with child, her feelings were more open to him. It proved difficult at times since he thought it was his duty to ease her every worry until she finally explained that she preferred he simply listen to her whimpering complaints and ignore them.
