Page 74 of Love Beyond Words
“Ye wish to strike a bargain with me, lass?”
I nodded as I carefully formed the deal I wished to make in my mind. I couldn’t misspeak a single word, and once the bargain was struck, I would have to move quickly.
“Release me from this cell, promise me that you won’t harm me once you are free, and I will run Raudrich through with Calder’s sword.”
Her hand gripped mine in an instant and our deal was sealed.
Her eyes were sparkling with her anticipated victory as she uttered the words that sent me through to the other side of the cell bars in the span of a blink.
I moved without thought, determined to do what I knew I must before Machara had a chance to realize that I would betray her.
I ran over to where the sword had fallen.
Raudrich lay on his back, his arms spread out beside him.
My hands trembled as I lifted Calder’s sword and held it above the center of Raudrich’s chest.
Just as Marchara began to laugh, I plunged the sword downward with all my might, changing its direction at the last second before it pierced his skin. Rather than his heart, I ran it through his right shoulder.
When the sword’s tip hit the stone floor beneath Raudrich, Machara began to scream.
She no longer had any power over me. I’d not said I would kill him. I’d only promised that I would run him through with the sword.
She cursed and wailed, but I could see in her eyes that she knew she’d been beaten.
Chapter 45
Three Weeks Later
* * *
Dear Morna,
I know that you won’t respond to this letter, and that’s absolutely fine. I hope it finds you well all the same. This surprises no one more than me, but I just wanted to say thank you.
Thank you for all you didn’t do. I can see now why you stayed away.
If you’d given me a way to get home, I might’ve run before I allowed myself to fall in love.
If you’d stepped in to help me with Machara, I wouldn’t have learned my own strength. And if not for the book you placed in my path, Kate wouldn’t have done all the research that prompted her to come here.
She’s going to like it in this time, I can tell. And if the way Maddock keeps looking at her is any indication, I have a feeling we may have another romance on our hands very soon.
But you already knew that, didn’t you?
“Yer mother is looking for ye, lass. She wishes to speak to ye before we leave for our honeymoon.”
I groaned and set down the quill as Raudrich entered the bedchamber.
“How long until her cottage is finished?” Mom had been the stressed-out terror I’d known she would be from the moment she arrived.
Raudrich laughed and bent to kiss me as I walked over to him.
“A fortnight, at least. She isna so bad, really. Paton rather likes her.”
“Paton doesn’t like her. He likes irritating her. He gets way too much pleasure from it.”
Secretly, so did I.
