From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [170]
Why would you want to be anyone’s secondary match? If he does not love you, then he is not the man for you, and you will find another—the right one.
Who else would possibly want me, a widow with child? I have no assets.
Why not Master Poe?
Harnu?
I think him quite charming. Once she’d gotten to know him better.
You think I should sacrifice a chance at happiness to marry someone practical, like Harnu?
I am only suggesting you consider it.
I will, if you consider Achan.
That is different.
Gren huffed a sigh and lay back down. Why must everyone but you make sacrifices, my lady? Why can everyone be willing to love beyond rank except you? In cases of true love, station shouldn’t matter. If it does, then the woman loves something else more than her suitor.
This comment left Averella speechless. For if she loved Achan more than Bran, what did she love more than Achan?
A chorus of howls woke Averella. The chilled air clamped around her body, making her skin feel like that of a plucked bird. She pushed herself up to a sitting position.
The men stood shoulder to shoulder across the cave’s entrance. Between the wide stance of Jax’s legs, Averella could see a black wolf pacing outside.
She jumped to her feet and crept forward to peek over Sir Eagan’s shoulder. Six wolves were outside the cave. Two paced back and forth. The others sat watching.
Averella’s stomach boiled with the threat awaiting them. She whispered in her father’s ear. “What will we do?”
His head turned a fraction until his eyes met hers. Warmth and assurance pushed aside her fear.
Thank you, Father.
He smiled. That is the first time you called me Father.
Is it really? Ever? Not even before my memory was lost?
The truth shocked you greatly.
Still, it seems I did not conduct myself in a manner befitting a noblewoman these past months. Forgive my coldness.
He took hold of her hand. Of course I forgive, my dear. And I am sure you did your best.
She winced, feeling undeserving of his kind words. Are you? Memories have been coming to me these past days, and I am not convinced.
I am sorry your mother chose to keep the truth from you.
Mother keeps many secrets. Part of being a duchess, I suppose. Perhaps watching her politics influenced my own.
Sir Eagan cocked his head. How do you mean?
From what I can piece together, the lie became so big that to cover it I had to lie again and again, until the truth was so far away it now seems impossible to find it at all, as if it too has gotten lost in the Veil.
He squeezed her hand. It is never impossible, child. As we have been telling you all along, you must simply choose truth.
She sighed. You make it sound so easy.
It is not easy, but it will set you free. That, I can promise.
“We will have to fight them, I fear,” Sir Rigil said.
His words brought Averella back to the present.
The wolves.
“Better here, with our backs protected, than on the trail when they can come at us from all sides, separate us,” Jax said.
“Still a half day’s walk to Noiz,” Peripaso said.
“It is a pity we do not have archers among us,” Sir Rigil said. “We could pick them off one by one from here.”
“Duchess Amal could storm them if she could find us,” Sir Eagan said. “But I do not see how she could ever learn our location, especially in the dark.”
Averella took a deep breath. “I could do it.”
Sir Eagan gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Your mother said you are not strong for storming.”
“I am not. That is why you both must help me. I’ll let Mother storm through me as we run.”
Sir Eagan shook his head. “That will not work, Averella. To storm, you must remain stationary, as must your guard. That would mean you and I remain in the cave.”
“Absolutely not,” Sir Rigil said.
“Then no one will leave the cave until I have succeeded,” Averella said.
“If you are weak afterwards,” Jax said, “I will carry you.”
“Thank you, Jax.” Averella looked back to her father. As the highest ranking soldier, it was his decision to make.
He nodded. “Very well. Contact your mother.”
And