Page 171 of Bride of Fire
“Why didn’t they tell us?” she wondered aloud.
There was a long silence before he answered, “I think I know.”
She lifted her brows in askance.
“We would have refused the match,” he said.
“What?”
“Think about it. If your kin had shown up and said that in order to win Creagor, ye’d have to wed me…”
“I would have turned them down.” She’d already decided she didn’t want to win Morgan by force. She only wanted him if it was of his own free will.
“As would I,” he said. “I couldn’t have ye always wonderin’ if I only married ye for your castle.”
She nodded, beginning to understand. “Feiyan. It had to be her idea.”
“Your cousin?”
“She knew I had…feelings…for you. She must have told everyone that the match could be accomplished without force.”
“Without force.”
“Aye. ’tis the same thing she says about her fighting. That there’s greater power in diverting a foe’s own force and using it against them.”
“So ye’re sayin’ they had faith in the power of our love.”
She nodded.
Morgan studied the document more closely. “There’s more.”
“More?”
“Your cousin’s betrothal was bargained for as well.”
“What?” she exploded. “Feiyan?”
“Hallidis.”
She gasped.
Hallie’s hand in marriage seemed too great a price to pay for one border castle. The man who married Hallidis Cameliard of Rivenloch would inherit a valuable prize indeed. After all, she was in line for the lairdship after her mother.
“Hallie’s to be married?”
“So it says.”
She snatched the parchment away. “To whom?” she asked, quickly scanning the document.
Finally she found the name.
“Nay.”
Her heart sank. No wonder Hallie had seemed so glum and resigned when she returned to Creagor. She must have known what was in the king’s decree.
“What’s wrong?” Morgan asked. “Who is it?”
“Archibald Scott.”
