caught—”
Emlyn splashed her friend and laughed when she returned it. “No one knows we come here. Besides, all fear this place. There’s no way we will be caught.”
“What of the army coming? Do you deem they’re close?” Branwyn asked skeptically.
“How do you know about that?” She didn’t consider her father would allow such news to be shared amongst the clan. At least not yet.
“My father was discussing it with my mother at supper. He’s angry that our lord would call on others to fight our war. He deems we can take care of our own troubles.”
Delyth scoffed. “I for one think our lord is doing what’s best. He cares about us and wants to protect us. I’m gladdened they will have help.”
Emlyn narrowed her eyes. How ignorant they were of her father’s true nature. He did care about his people, but his lands and fiefs were more coveted. Her father was ruthless when it came to battle and merciless against his enemies. His only challenge was William Marshall of late. He lived and breathed to one day meet his nemesis face to face.
Emlyn floated in the water and listened to her friends’ chatter.
Delyth scooped water and leaned back against a rock. “I want to be betrothed to someone who looks akin to our leader.”
Emlyn laughed, for her friend had an odd infatuation for her father. “Ewww, really, Del, he’s older than a saint’s bones.”
“I said akin to, not the very man.”
Branwyn chuckled. “My Cranog pleases me and I couldn’t be happier.”
Hearing them speak of betrothals, made her regard her own. She was forced to agree to take Bevan and eventually came to accept him. If he hadn’t died, she’d be married by now and likely spending her days tending to her husband’s needs. What a disdainful life.
She would rather be trussed up like a Michaelmas goose than spend her days in such an existence. If she had to watch one more demonstration on how to properly replace the rushes, how to effectively dye bedding, how to sew a straight line, she’d be waylaid. Her sword and daggers were more coveted than kitchen ladles or sewing needles.
“What are you thinking about? You’re afar from us.” Branwyn snapped her fingers in front of her face. “Come back to us, Emlyn.”
“My sword,” she said, and laughed when both her friends rolled their eyes. “And my goal of joining my father’s soldiers in war.”
Branwyn sent a splash at her and caused her to gain her feet. “Do you deem he’ll let you? He coddles ye and only that. He’ll never allow you to war with his men.”
She splashed Bran back and hastened away before she could retaliate.
“You should be thinking about finding a man,” Delyth said, “like I am.”
“I had a man but alas no longer.”
“Do you deem your father won’t betroth you again? None of us are free. And besides, do you not wish to be with a man? I do. I wish to experience for myself what the ladies speak of. I would that he speaks of beautiful poetry akin to the bards.”
Emlyn scoffed her affront, and muttered under her breath. “I’ve already been with a man, and I could do without such unwanted attentions for the rest of my life.”
Branwyn’s lips firmed and she shook her head. “What say you?”
Emlyn continued, “My father only betrothed me to Bevan to reward him for his honorable service, and he had his choice. I couldn’t reject him, now could I?” She watched her friend’s eyes sadden, and wanted to shove Delyth’s face beneath the water for bringing up the subject. “I’m sorry, Bran, we shouldn’t discuss him. I know how upset you get when we do.”
“Nay, I miss him is all. If you cease discussing Bevan that would make me sadder. He was tolerant of your … interest in weapons,” Branwyn said. “I deem he really loved you.”
She snorted. “Love, verily not? Hah, he wanted a bed partner and I …” Emlyn closed her mouth, for she never told her friends about what she’d done with Bevan. She couldn’t wed
Emlyn splashed her friend and laughed when she returned it. “No one knows we come here. Besides, all fear this place. There’s no way we will be caught.”
“What of the army coming? Do you deem they’re close?” Branwyn asked skeptically.
“How do you know about that?” She didn’t consider her father would allow such news to be shared amongst the clan. At least not yet.
“My father was discussing it with my mother at supper. He’s angry that our lord would call on others to fight our war. He deems we can take care of our own troubles.”
Delyth scoffed. “I for one think our lord is doing what’s best. He cares about us and wants to protect us. I’m gladdened they will have help.”
Emlyn narrowed her eyes. How ignorant they were of her father’s true nature. He did care about his people, but his lands and fiefs were more coveted. Her father was ruthless when it came to battle and merciless against his enemies. His only challenge was William Marshall of late. He lived and breathed to one day meet his nemesis face to face.
Emlyn floated in the water and listened to her friends’ chatter.
Delyth scooped water and leaned back against a rock. “I want to be betrothed to someone who looks akin to our leader.”
Emlyn laughed, for her friend had an odd infatuation for her father. “Ewww, really, Del, he’s older than a saint’s bones.”
“I said akin to, not the very man.”
Branwyn chuckled. “My Cranog pleases me and I couldn’t be happier.”
Hearing them speak of betrothals, made her regard her own. She was forced to agree to take Bevan and eventually came to accept him. If he hadn’t died, she’d be married by now and likely spending her days tending to her husband’s needs. What a disdainful life.
She would rather be trussed up like a Michaelmas goose than spend her days in such an existence. If she had to watch one more demonstration on how to properly replace the rushes, how to effectively dye bedding, how to sew a straight line, she’d be waylaid. Her sword and daggers were more coveted than kitchen ladles or sewing needles.
“What are you thinking about? You’re afar from us.” Branwyn snapped her fingers in front of her face. “Come back to us, Emlyn.”
“My sword,” she said, and laughed when both her friends rolled their eyes. “And my goal of joining my father’s soldiers in war.”
Branwyn sent a splash at her and caused her to gain her feet. “Do you deem he’ll let you? He coddles ye and only that. He’ll never allow you to war with his men.”
She splashed Bran back and hastened away before she could retaliate.
“You should be thinking about finding a man,” Delyth said, “like I am.”
“I had a man but alas no longer.”
“Do you deem your father won’t betroth you again? None of us are free. And besides, do you not wish to be with a man? I do. I wish to experience for myself what the ladies speak of. I would that he speaks of beautiful poetry akin to the bards.”
Emlyn scoffed her affront, and muttered under her breath. “I’ve already been with a man, and I could do without such unwanted attentions for the rest of my life.”
Branwyn’s lips firmed and she shook her head. “What say you?”
Emlyn continued, “My father only betrothed me to Bevan to reward him for his honorable service, and he had his choice. I couldn’t reject him, now could I?” She watched her friend’s eyes sadden, and wanted to shove Delyth’s face beneath the water for bringing up the subject. “I’m sorry, Bran, we shouldn’t discuss him. I know how upset you get when we do.”
“Nay, I miss him is all. If you cease discussing Bevan that would make me sadder. He was tolerant of your … interest in weapons,” Branwyn said. “I deem he really loved you.”
She snorted. “Love, verily not? Hah, he wanted a bed partner and I …” Emlyn closed her mouth, for she never told her friends about what she’d done with Bevan. She couldn’t wed
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