Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

Magnus gripped her hip as if he feared her leaving his side. “The day you arrived, my people were packed and ready to leave the next day for Dunhurnal land.”

“My mapping made no difference in your decision, then?”

“Your mapping made a large difference in my choice.”

Reena sprang up and turned wide eyes on him. “Your arrival here and my association with you would force Kilkern’s hand in claiming what he believed is his land.” She shook her head, doubting her own explanation. “He could have had me map for him any time since his arrival. It makes no sense.”

Magnus took her hand. “A map was not necessary until now.”

“Why?” She more demanded than asked, hurt by the truth that it had not been her skills at all that had brought him here but his own intentions.

“Because he needs one now.”

“Why?” she demanded again.

“To prove a false claim.”

“You know it is false.” Her stomach ached from what she might hear.

“Aye.” He gripped her hand tightly.

“How do you know?”

“I possess the map that shows Kilkern land was originally Dunhurnal land and was falsely divided by Robert Kilkern to give to his brother.”

Her heart thudded in her chest, and she waited.

“Philip Kilkern was Robert Kilkern’s brother, and Robert Kilkern was my stepfather.”

Reena closed her eyes for a brief moment. “Making Peter Kilkern your—”

“Half brother.”Chapter 27Reena sat in bed, shocked, a chill racing through her. Magnus was quick to wrap a blanket around her, and he hugged her shoulders tightly.

“Let me explain,” he said, his voice apologetic, though firm in his resolve.

He rested his hands over hers where they lay in her lap. “Peter Kilkern is the son my mother had by Robert Kilkern. My stepfather barely let my mother see her own son, so therefore Peter cared little for my mother. I, on the other hand, saw Peter quite often and watched as my stepfather showered him with attention and adoration, giving him whatever he wished from a very young age, and making certain that Peter knew I was insignificant and entitled to nothing.”

“Is Peter the reason your stepfather divided the land?”

“Aye, he thought to protect his son, since Dunhurnal land belonged to my father’s family for generations. My father served the king well and so his land was protected, until my father died and my mother married Robert Kilkern.”

“Against her wishes,” she reminded him.

“I remember her pleading with her father not to force the marriage upon her, but he paid her no mind. He was determined she would have a husband to protect the land.”

He looked away for a moment, as if the memories were too painful, and she slipped her hand from under his and squeezed his hand gently.

Magnus continued. “Robert was a sly man, and he agreed to wed my mother only if he was granted a portion of the land.”

“But the land was legally his once he wed your mother.”

“My grandfather was a sly and determined man. He intended to make certain that I inherited what was rightfully mine, since there was a good chance that the union would produce more children who could very well inherit the property, something my grandfather had no intentions of happening. Dunhurnal land would remain intact for me to inherit. Kilkern would control it until I reached my majority, then he would have to make due with the small section of land agreed upon in the marriage contract.”

Reena shivered and rubbed her arms. “Kilkern would have never let you reach manhood, would he?”

“Nay, he would not, and my mother understood that, especially when my grandfather died. My mother knew it was not an accident that took his life; Kilkern had something to do with it.

“She knew all too well that our lives were in danger and that we had to flee. She told me of the crude map my father had of his land and how Robert Kilkern had hidden it away along with their wedding agreement; both would prove my ownership of Dunhurnal land.”

Reena closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “You tortured Robert Kilkern to find the whereabouts of the map?”

Magnus nodded. “I could not have what was rightfully mine if I did not have the map and the wedding agreement to present to the king. My stepfather refused to tell me where they were, and he laughed at me, telling me that I was as weak as my mother and that Dunhurnal land was no more, that it was Kilkern land and would forever remain in Kilkern hands.”

“He underestimated you.”

“He underestimated my love for my mother and father and my honor to my name and land. He paid dearly for his mistake.”

“But why did you not claim the land immediately? You had your proof. You could have easily taken the land from Philip Kilkern; he was a fair man, far different from his brother—” She halted abruptly, understanding dawning. “You wanted to take the land from Peter Kilkern.”