Redemption, M J Marlow [best way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

stop you.”
“Do you want to stop me, my angel?” Justin asked as he leaned towards her. “Then you must,” he continued as he stopped just short of taking her lips, “for I find it increasingly difficult to keep from claiming what will soon be mine.” He jumped back as the sound of an explosion rocked the fortress. “Look to your lady!”
Marit rose to her feet as Justin and his man ran into the Great Hall. Smoke was billowing out of it and she could feel pain striking at her mind. She started forward and her ladies pulled her away, insisting that she not involve herself. It was too hard, Marit’s mind screamed as they got her into her chamber and locked her inside. She was on her knees, shaking with pain, when there was a secondary explosion. She looked up to see the shutters to her balcony in flames. They were kicked open and a man strode into her chamber. His eyes were cold and filled with a purpose that sent terror coursing through her. He was here to do her harm.
“No!” Marit screamed and ran for the door. “Let me out!” she cried and beat on the door. “Please…”
More men came inside and subdued her ladies as they tried to keep the first man from getting to Marit. The doors to her chamber burst open and Justin strode in with the guards. He and the guards chased off the attackers as Marit’s men surrounded her. She was shaking in reaction to her near abduction, but set aside her own distress when she remembered her women. She ran to their aid, healing their bruises and easing their pain and distress.
“They were hurt because of me,” Marit sobbed as she was taken to her father’s study. “I can’t be responsible for people being hurt, Father.” She was shaking as he took her in his arms. “Please call off this alliance.”
“It is not going to stop now, child,” Marius told her bluntly. He saw the look of confusion in her eyes. “This is not all about the alliance, daughter. It is about you,” he continued, wishing he could spare her, “and what you bring to a man through marriage.” He stroked her back as she burst into tears. “I’m sorry, Marit. I wish I could spare you this reality, but it is how things are.” There was a knock on the door, and he frowned. “Enter.”
“Your Majesty,” Kedys said as he came in and bowed to them both. “They have found two of the men who tried to abduct your daughter.” He looked at Marit. “I am gratified to see you well, Princess.”
“Thank you, lord Kedys,” Marit said softly. She looked up at her father. “I wish to see to my ladies, Father.” Marius nodded and kissed her on the forehead. “Good night.”
“Try to get some rest, child,” Marius told her as she left. “We will discuss this later when you have had time to calm down.”
Marit nodded and left the study. Her guard was waiting for her, but she did not feel safe. This last attack had left her feeling very vulnerable and that made her angry. How dare someone think they could just walk into her rooms and carry her off. How dare they hurt her friends! She entered her rooms and found that her ladies had poured themselves each a goblet of wine and were trying to relax. They rose as she entered, and she waved them to their seats. She smiled absently as Naji handed her a goblet of wine.
“Not fair,” she sighed as she realized they had drugged her. They got her to bed and settled in around her as their lords took up positions inside the room and out on the balcony. “All my fault.”

*
Marit insisted on visiting the Fair the next day. She did not want anyone worrying about her after news of the failed abduction swept through. She wanted them all to be at peace when they left Sylvan Ford. She was exhausted from speaking to all those wishing her well by the afternoon meal and decided to share it with the fair-goers. Her cousin, Rafel, joined her and she smiled as she saw Susa on his arm. They had been growing very close since Marit and Susa had arrived.
“I am relieved to see you well, cousin,” Rafel said as he kissed her on the cheek and sank down next to her. “But should you be out so soon after what happened?”
“I do not want these people worrying about me,” Marit told him candidly. She saw his look. “Is it so unusual for people to care about other people’s distress?”
“Among those of our rank,” Rafel answered her, showing shame, “yes. Among those of our house, no.” He squeezed her hand and smiled. “You prove yourself truly one of us by such behavior.” He looked over at Susa. “But the lady Susa tells me this is how you have always been.”
“You haven’t told him everything, Susa,” Marit asked in mock horror. “Please tell me he is not privy to all of our secrets.”
“Our secrets?” Rafel was intrigued. He leaned towards Marit. “Perhaps later, cousin, you can tell me things about my lady that…” He suddenly frowned and rose to his feet. “If you will excuse me, cousin. Lady Susa.”
They watched Rafel head across the fairgrounds and meet a strange, dark clothed man with a bald head and scarred face. Something about the man made Marit cringe, but she already had her attention being pulled away by a blushing Susa. There was a booth that had the most beautiful art pieces that Susa wished to visit. One of the pieces reminded her of their village. Marit went with her, still trying to control her reaction to the man Rafel had approached. What was her cousin up to?
“Marit?” Susa was frowning as she tugged on Marit’s sleeve. “You’re not paying attention to a word I say!”
“I’m sorry, Susa,” Marit smiled. “I was distracted by that man that Rafel went to speak with.”
“The lord Talbot?” Susa asked her. “Rafel introduced me to him at the banquet last night. He has a holding on the northernmost edge of the border and is here to petition the king for assistance.”
“There have been attacks there?”
“Nothing he hasn’t been able to handle so far,” Susa replied, feigning boredom by the conversation. She picked up the art piece she had her eye on and showed it to Marit. It was an exquisitely carved cow and calf in a field of flowers. “Do you think Mother would like this?”
“It’s beautiful,” Marit smiled and ran her hand over the wood. “But what kind of wood renders such a softness when it is carved?”
“It is called satinwood, cousin,” Tavin’s voice sounded at her shoulder, making her jump. He took the piece and handed it to Susa. “This man is a well known craftsman. Any piece of his becomes a treasured heirloom.”
“Your Highness is too kind,” the man behind the table actually blushed. “I do what I can to make pretty toys, but treasure? That is far too kind.”
“And you,” Tavin laughed at the man, “are far too humble, Samuel.” He offered his arm to Marit. When she did not take it, he frowned. “Frightened of me, cousin?”
“I distinctly remember my father telling you to stay away from me, Tavin,” Marit told him bluntly. “I would hate to be responsible for you coming to harm.”
“Very well,” Tavin bowed his head. “We have this conversation with witness then.” He smiled at Susa and watched her melt under his regard. “I hear you asked your father to break your alliance to Northfell last night.” He saw her frown. “You don’t need to know how I heard of it, cousin. Is it true?”
“My father did not agree with me,” Marit told him, even as she nodded. “He said I was merely reacting to my near abduction and thinking with my emotions.” She shook her head at his crestfallen expression. “I am sorry to disappoint you, cousin, but the alliance has not been broken.” She looked past him and smiled. “My lord prince,” she said, her voice warm and loving, “we were just talking about you.”
“Nothing good, I’m certain,” Justin said as he held his arm out to her and she took it. He moved close to Marit, and Tavin’s expression went dark. “My father would like us to join him for a few moments.”
“Your father!” Tavin snapped. “I hope you are strong enough to stand up to him when he comes for Marit like he did your…”
“No!” Justin broke in and slugged Tavin across the jaw. “You will not speak of that to me, you bastard!”
Marit backed away as the two young men began to fight. Susa drew her aside as the combat continued. Justin was pulling no punches but, Marit was certain, Tavin was holding himself back. He had only pushed the man so that Marit could see what Justin was made of. She was angry at them both for continuing this fight. So she stormed off, ignoring Susa’s cries for her to remain. She rounded the corner of a row of booths and someone grabbed her and drew her inside a booth.
“You’ve had your fun, lady,” a harsh voice said in her ear as she was bound and gagged. “There is a man who paid good money for you and is through waiting for his property to arrive.”
The blindfold came down and Marit was hefted over a shoulder and carried away. She struggled as she was put inside of a sack and tried to free herself as she was dumped down on something hard. A moment later, she was moving. They had put her in a cart, she realized. She could feel someone near her and his cold laugh made her freeze. Where were they taking her? Who was this man who would dare to move on her like this?
“Marit?”
Marit heard Susa’s voice crying out in alarm as the cart moved out of the fairgrounds, but there was nothing she could do. She could not cry out for help; her abductors had seen to that very quickly. She laid back and prayed that someone would come to her assistance. Tavin’s head snapped up as he had Justin on the ground, one hand clamped to the other’s throat. Something had happened to Marit. He could sense the change in her scent; a scent that was moving further away.
“Lady Susa?” he snarled as the redhead came running. “What has happened to your princess?”
“She ran off,” Susa told him. “Your fight with her affianced lord angered her and she would not listen to me. I looked for her,” she said to Justin as that man rose, evidently worried, “but she had vanished.”
“She has been taken,” Tavin snarled. He was on his way to his horse, barking out orders to his men.
“To arms! To arms!” the call rang through the fortress as Justin got his weapons and armor and prepared to ride out. “They have taken the princess!”
Marius’ men were on the alert immediately and rode out without order. They knew what they must do. But they had not seen the cart, so the band riding to the west overlooked it as it stood in the shadows of the trees lining the roads west. Marit heard the horses moving past and tried to get their attention, but the gag and bonds stilled her attempts. And someone was lying on top of her, keeping her from getting up. Once the horses were past, the cart moved off again.
“I will not return without her, my liege,” Justin told Marius as he bowed his head on bended knee. “I will bring your