“How does he think to get me when I am so well protected? It seems a foolish thought on his part.”
“That is one of the reasons he seeks Brigid.”
Reena grew indignant. “He intends to use my friend to get me?”
“He knows well of your friendship with her. Remember, he will count on that friendship to misdirect you. Or when he discovers that we love and will wed, he may use that to force your compliance.”
“He would attempt to hurt you?”
“Kilkern will attempt anything, and that is what I want you to remember. He lies and thieves to have his way and cares naught for anyone.” He took hold of her chin. “Listen well, Reena. If by chance you should find yourself having to map for Kilkern, you will do so without any thought of betrayal to me.”
Reena was about to let him know what she thought of his warning, but he held her chin firm so she could not respond.
“I will not have you suffer for me: in this you will obey me.” He released her chin and waited for the only answer he would accept.
She thought she saw fear in his eyes, and the idea that the Legend feared for her touched her heart. “I will do as you say.”
His worry faded, replaced by a smile. “Then I say we sleep, for it has been a long day and the night late. And tomorrow will be busy.”
She slipped off his lap and rested on her side, Magnus moving up against her, his arm draped over her waist, his hand resting on her breast.
“Why will tomorrow be so busy?” she asked on a yawn.
“Two weddings need to be planned.”
“Should we not wait until this is all settled?”
“I will not wait upon Kilkern.” He was adamant.
“You are right; he cannot dictate our lives, and besides, the village would love a celebration. But still, it will take a couple of weeks or more so that we may do it properly and the flowers will be in bloom, and there will be time to stitch wedding dresses, and—”
He nuzzled her neck. “Enough, take what time is necessary, and you and Brigid enjoy making plans for the weddings. I will go speak with your father about wedding his daughter. Now sleep and know that I love you.”
“And I love you,” she said, only to feel his arm grow heavy on her waist and his breath steady in her ear. He was sound asleep.
She smiled and closed her eyes, content in his arms and content that though there were difficulties to face, they would face them together.
A few minutes later she opened her eyes, wide awake, her thoughts much too chaotic for sleep to claim her. Try as she might, she could not stop thinking of the circumstances that had brought them together.
She turned, dislodging Magnus from her, and he turned onto his back to snore lightly. She smiled at the light, easy rhythm, happy to hear it and know he was there safe beside her.
When she realized that sleep would not come quickly, she slipped from beneath the blanket and reached for his shirt on the floor, dropping it over her head as she walked to the hearth. A fire burned brightly, keeping the chill from the room.
She was grateful for the fire’s warmth, and she sat on the small bench before the hearth, pulling the large shirt down over her bent knees so that only her toes were visible. She hugged her legs and gave her thoughts free rein.
What troubled her the most was how much Magnus and his mother had suffered and how difficult it must have been for his mother, married to a man that cared naught for her or her son.
His mother had spent much of her time imprisoned in a small room, alone with her thoughts and fears and concerns for her son. She had written to keep her sanity and she had planned, planned her escape. She had written in Latin, a language not all could speak or understand.
Had she done so for a reason?
Reena stood suddenly and looked to where Magnus slept soundly, still snoring lightly. She did not waste a moment; she rushed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. She grabbed a torch from one of the many metal wall sconces and hurried up the spiral stairway to the tower room.
Her feet and legs grew chilled, and when she entered the room, the total darkness made her pause momentarily in fear. She shook it off, determined to read the message Magnus’s mother had left on the wall. She hurried into the darkness.
The torchlight chased the darkness to the corners, where it lurked in flickering shadows, waiting for her to leave. She entered the secret room without fear of being locked in, for the door had been removed.