Awry

32

The afternoon Scarlet had agreed to marry him, Tristan entered the dining hall of the Archer castle.

“I have found someone to marry.” He announced to his father as he strode up to the round man in the otherwise empty hall.

Cornelius Archer turned around and eyed him. “You?” He laughed. “You are not my boy who marries.”

Tristan nodded his head. “I was not, no. But I have changed my mind.”

Cornelius waved him off. “It is too late, my son. The king requested you in his army.”

“Yes, but I refused to go.” “You did.” Cornelius nodded as he took a seat in one of the ornate chairs at the table. “But I have made an agreement with him. One of my sons for his war and in return I get six more parcels of land.”

“You…you sold me to the king?” Tristan was not surprised by this, but he was incredibly panicked.

Cornelius waved a hand. “I did not sell you. I negotiated with the ruler of our land, Tristan. Stop acting used.”

“But why?”

“Because you and Gabriel are the best archers in our region.”

“So?”

“So, the king wanted the best.”

“Then why not send Gabriel?”

“Ha!” Cornelius plucked a fat grape from a tray of fruit before him. “If I send Gabriel, then you are left here to marry and reign in my place. We all know how poor an idea that is.”

“Why? Why is that a poor idea? I can reign. I am wise and strong.”

“You are a bleeding heart!” Cornelius looked at him sternly. “If I hand the castle over to you, you will be passing out food and giving away gold like a nun. No.” Cornelius shook his head again. “You will go fight for the king and Gabriel will marry and reign here.” He sighed. “Thankfully, I have found a more suitable woman to be his wife. Do you know he runs around with Eli Fletcher’s daughter?”

Tristan said nothing, not caring one bit about Gabriel’s love life. Tristan was being sent away from Scarlet. Away from his home. Away from everything he knew. “When is my departure scheduled?” Tristan tried to act honored, even though he wanted to throw something.

Cornelius chewed another grape. “Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?! Tristan only had one day to come up with a plan.

“Allow me to marry first,” Tristan said desperately. “Allow me to take a wife before I go into the king’s service.”

There.

That way Scarlet and Ana would be cared for while he was away. He would marry Scarlet and she would never have to hunt again. She could move into the castle and be cared for until he returned.

Cornelius grimaced. “Who is this girl you are so desperate to wed?”

Tristan raised his chin. “You do not know her. She is a peasant.”

Cornelius rolled his eyes and stood up, grabbing another grape. “Absolutely not.”

“What?”

“No,” Cornelius said, popping the grape into his mouth. “You are not marrying a peasant just so you can go off and fight in war while I feed and clothe your woman. Do you know how many servants that would require?” He shook his head again. “You can marry whomever you want when you get back. But I refuse to take care of your woman with my wealth while you are away.”

“You do not have to care for her. Just protect her. She has a home and can provide for herself. Just allow her to be protected under your title until I get back.”

Cornelius laughed. “I am no guard dog, Tristan. And I will not allow my son to marry someone and then have her live in the village. You are truly mad.”

“But father—”

“No! You will not marry before you leave and that is final!” Cornelius’s face turned red as he yelled and Tristan closed his mouth. “Now go see Tennius for your armor. He will equip you as necessary for your enrollment.”

Tristan turned to leave, but had no intention of going to Tennius.

He would not leave Scarlet. Not ever.

If his father would not let him marry her under the safety of a noble title, then Tristan would marry her without a title.

Tonight, he would go to the hut and run away with her. They would take Ana and find a home elsewhere. They would not be wealthy, but they would be safe.

And always together.

Tristan left the dining hall and hurried to his quarters.

He quickly packed all he could think of needing—weapons, ammunition, blankets, money, food—and threw everything he could fit into his pack. He quietly exited his room and made his way out of the back of the castle.

If he could make it to the stables without being seen, he could get to his horse and be on his way to Scarlet—and their life together—before sunset.

His hopes were high as he entered the stable and took silent steps to where his steed waited.

“Sneaking out, my lord?” Tennius’s voice met Tristan’s ears like the cutting of bone.

Tristan turned to see his father’s guard eyeing him carefully.

“It is no business of yours.” Tristan continued moving toward his horse.

“But it is the business of your father.” Tennius gestured to someone behind Tristan. “Which makes it my business.”

Tristan hated Tennius.

Turning around, Tristan saw three more guards at his back. He was greatly outnumbered and had all his weapons packed and out of reach.

“Your father asked me to watch for you today. In case you decided to flee from the king’s service.” Tennius gave a wicked smile. “Looks like I caught you fleeing.”

Tristan dropped his pack to the ground and prepared to fight his way out of the castle grounds.

And fight he would.

Ana returned home at sunset to find a very happy Scarlet whistling in the garden. “Mama!” Scarlet ran to her as she entered the yard. “Wow.” Scarlet paused, looking Ana over. “You look…beautiful.”

Ana could feel the effects of the water still streaming through her, making her healthy and strong. And bringing her closer to death.

Ana waved a hand. “Hush, now.”

Scarlet eyed her mother for another moment before returning to her cheery mood. “Guess what?” Scarlet looked like a little girl with a treat when she leaned in to Ana and said, “Tristan and I are to be married.” Her smile was radiant and her cheeks flushed with love and hope.

Ana was confused. “When did this happen?”

“Today!” Scarlet squealed. “He has gone home to tell his father.”

Ana thought for a moment, perplexed by the irony of the situation. The earl had agreed to Ana’s marriage proposal just hours ago and Tristan had proposed to Scarlet at that same time?

Interesting.

Either way, Scarlet would be well cared-for.

Ana smiled. “I am so happy for you dear.” She wrapped Scarlet into her arms and shuffled her inside the hut. “We will have to dress you well for tomorrow.”

“What is tomorrow?” Scarlet asked.

“Tomorrow, we will go to the earl’s castle for the marriage announcement.” Ana smiled again, feeling a pit in her stomach beginning to form.

Why did she not feel settled?

Probably because the fountain water was already affecting her mind.

“It is tradition,” Ana lied. “That the bride be presented the day after an engagement to a lord.”

Scarlet’s smile faltered briefly, but she seemed to accept Ana’s words. “Very well. What shall I wear?”

Ana looked out the door of the hut, hoping the feeling of dread in her stomach was just dark magic at work and not the beginning of something gone awry.

She smiled at her daughter. “Something beautiful.”

Later that night, Gabriel was fuming. “Absolutely not!”

His father had called him into the dining hall to tell him of the marriage arrangement he’d agreed to without Gabriel’s consent. “I refuse to marry a girl I’ve never met simply because it suits you.”

“You cannot refuse.” Cornelius shook his head. “Your bride will be Scarlet Jacobs. I’ve made a deal with her mother and since you are my only eligible heir, I have the right to choose your bride.”

“Have you forgotten Tristan? You have twoheirs!” Gabriel was livid.

“Tristan is no longer eligible now that he is in the king’s service.”

Gabriel’s mouth fell open. “Tristan is going to arms for the king?”

“He is. Tomorrow morning, in fact.”

“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “I do not believe it.”

Tristan hated the king. He would never do such a thing.

“It doesn’t matter what you believe,” Cornelius said. “What matters is that you start acting appropriately. Your bride will be here tomorrow at noon and you will accept her.”

I will not.

Gabriel’s heart was racing. He started stomping around, angry at his father’s audacity, but also fearful that he might be trapped. If Tristan was leaving, then his father did have the right to choose Gabriel’s bride.

But what would happen to Raven?

No. Gabriel huffed out a disgruntled breath.

He and Raven would be together. He’d run away with her if necessary.

No one was going to marry him off to a stranger.

“I will not do it.” Gabriel stated. “You can tell the Jacobs family to find a different groom.”

“You will do it.” Cornelius stood and walked up to Gabriel looking him in the eye. “Or you will receive no inheritance at all.”

Ha! Like Gabriel cared about wealth. “I do not want your money. I want freedom.”

Cornelius placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder with a heavy sigh. “Freedom is expensive, my son.”

Gabriel jutted his chin and left the room.

He had to find Tristan.

Tristan had tried to fight off the guards in the stable, but he had been severely outnumbered and eventually overpowered. Defeated, he had been dragged to his father’s hall and restrained by two guards as his father looked upon him.

“You see, this is why I cannot allow you to reign over the estate.” Cornelius held a goblet in his hand. “You make impulsive decisions—like running away—that are bad for your future and bad for the kingdom. I was right in my choice to make Gabriel earl.”

Tristan exhaled angrily. “You cannot keep me here, trapped in your walls.” Even as he said it, Tristan felt the tug of the large men at his sides.

Cornelius sighed. “I can, and I will, if that is what it takes.”

“You are vile.”

“Why? Because I am offering you a high position in the king’s army? Because I am mapping out your future so you will be successful?” Cornelius squinted. “Or because I will not let you run off to say goodbye to your peasant girl?”

“Because you are choosing six parcels of land over me,” Tristan snapped.

Cornelius took a sip of his drink and waved at the guards to take Tristan away. “You will thank me someday, my boy.”

“No!” Tristan struggled against the men at his arms, but more came from the hall and he was helpless to free himself.

He was trapped and Scarlet knew nothing.