Authors: Kathryn Loch
Garin shook his head in sympathy. “Your father opened his home to Roger and his family so Roger would not be forced into the church.”
Alyna nodded.
“’
Tis a shame,” Garin muttered. “Roger had great talent with his goldsmithi
ng.”
Surprisingly, Alyna smiled. “Aye,” she said.
Garin gazed at her curiously but she said nothing more. He shrugged off the matter, deciding that it was probably too painful to talk about.
Garin escorted Alyna to their seats at the high table. His h
eart twisted in his chest as he sat at the place that had once been his father’s.
Simon stood, calling for the others to attend. “Lords and ladies, hear now the words of my lord and our future baron.”
Garin stood and cleared his throat. “Thank you for th
e wonderful homecoming. Although I am greatly saddened by my father’s death, I am very happy to finally be home with my friends and family.” He paused and lifted his cup. “To East of Eden and our future. May the blessings of God be upon us.”
The guests
cheered loudly and lifted their cups. Garin took a drink and returned to his chair with Alyna beside him. The others sat and the servants brought the food to the table. Various guests began offering toasts to the future baron and his betrothed. Garin
smiled and responded as necessary but his gaze remained locked on the food.
Roger slowly stood. Soft mutterings of surprise and displeasure rippled through those in attendance. Many did not approve of a blind man sitting as a peer at the baron’s table.
G
arin gritted his teeth and resolved any derisive comment would be dealt with immediately. This man was Alyna’s uncle, soon to be part of Garin’s family. Garin would consider an insult to Roger as an insult to himself.
“
Your excellency,” Roger said, his v
oice deep. “In honor of your investiture and coming marriage to my dear niece, I would like to present you with a gift.” He paused and the little girl Garin had seen with Alyna stepped forward, bearing a large object wrapped in silk. Roger took it from
her and unwrapped the cloth. With a dramatic pause he held it up for all to see. “I have created a chalice for our new baron and the man who will soon be my nephew.”
Garin’s eyes nearly popped from his head. A soft gasp of appreciation echoed through th
e guests.
Roger, with subtle guidance from his daughter, stepped forward and handed the cup to Garin. He took it and stared at the large golden goblet. He saw fine lions etched into the metal, his heraldic emblazon. Between each lion’s outstretched claw
s were large sapphires and rubies, set into the metal.
Alyna chuckled softly beside him. “As you can see, my lord, my uncle’s goldsmithing trade still thrives.”
Garin’s eyes grew even wider. “You made this?” he asked Roger.
Roger grinned brightly, his br
own eyes sparking but unfocused. He bowed. “Aye, sir. I have learned to work without my eyes. Sometimes my family will assist me in picking out the gems to make certain their color is true.”
“
This is beautiful, Master Salkeld, thank you so much.”
Roger
beamed with pride. “You are most welcome, your excellency.” He bowed again and returned to his seat.
Garin placed the chalice on the table, still gazing at it in surprise. Never had he seen such fine craftsmanship.
Alyna squeezed his hand, flashing him
a dazzling grin.
Garin smiled at her. “This is absolutely beautiful.”
“
Your excellency,” a servant whispered. “Would you like some wine in this cup?”
“
Certainly.”
The servant filled the cup and Garin saluted Roger as he took a drink but abruptly realize
d the man could not see his action. Surprisingly, Roger returned the gesture.
“
How--?”
Alyna chuckled softly. “Cecily, Emily, or I will act as Roger’s eyes. We will whisper what is happening so little takes him by surprise.”
Only now did Garin see Roger
’s wife subtly lean toward him, her lips moving. The action was not obvious and Garin only saw it because Alyna had told him.
“
Absolutely amazing,” he said as the servants brought them their food.
****
Garin sat back with a sigh, certain this meal was
the best he had ever had in his life. Unfortunately, a full stomach opened the door for his exhaustion. All he wanted to do was go to bed but he had to admit he was having too much fun to retire just yet.
Through dinner, Alyna’s company and lively conve
rsation had been absolutely delightful. But now she circulated through the crowd speaking to various people. Garin rubbed his eyes and forced himself to focus. He was going to have to call it a night soon but not yet. Garin pulled himself to his feet a
nd walked toward Alyna but Baron Naworth intercepted him.
“
A fine feast, Swein,” Naworth said.
Garin forced himself not to groan. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he said, barely managing to keep his tone civil.
“
You know, Swein,” Naworth said smoothly. “Now t
hat you will be baron, it is up to you to see your sister properly married.”
Here we go,
Garin thought dryly. “That is my intention, your excellency.”
“
You should really give more thought to increasing her dowry. My son is quite fond of her you know.”
An
d you’re fond of her inheritance.
Garin took a deep breath, forcing back his anger. Instead he grinned broadly. “Of course, Naworth,” he said and slapped him on the shoulder. “I promise you that I will give it every consideration but please forgive me
if it’s not right now. I only arrived home this morning and I’m sure you can understand that I wish to enjoy seeing my friends and family.” He started to walk away, hoping his words would end the matter.
They didn’t.
Naworth stepped in front of Garin aga
in. “I understand perfectly, Swein. But do know Vaux of
Gilsland
has approached me about Peter marrying his daughter. While I do not wish to break up two young people who are obviously fond of each other, I must keep
my son’s future in mind.”
Garin rubb
ed his eyes, a headache suddenly nagging at him.
Gilsland
was a nice sized barony. No doubt Vaux’s daughter had a large dowry. But the land was not as prime as East of Eden, which is what Naworth truly wanted. Garin tried to sort through his exhaustion
and frustration to find a reply that would get Naworth away from him for
a while
.
“
My lord, I pray pardon,” Alyna said softly.
Garin blinked down at her, again startled he did not hear Alyna approach. But the scent of lavender reached him. He should have
known she was there just by that. “Aye, my dear?”
“
I fear your mother needs to speak with you.”
Confused at what would be so terribly important but grateful for the excuse, Garin nodded. “I will discuss this with you later, Naworth,” he said and quickly
turned on his heel. He looped his arm around Alyna’s. “What is so urgent?”
Alyna’s cheeks colored. “Nothing, my lord,” she said
. “I...I made it up.”
Garin jerked to a stop and stared down at her in shock.
“
Forgive me,” she whispered
,
her cheeks
turning an even brighter red. “But it seemed you were in the midst of a situation you did not want or need at the moment. This is your homecoming, not a treaty negotiation.”
He almost howled his laughter but managed to keep his expression neutral. Alyna
had read the situation perfectly and taken deceptively artful action. “Ah,” Garin said gently. “My little
wildefyr
continues her mischievous ways.”
The expression on Alyna’s face was devastating. In an instant, Garin was certain he had flayed her heart
wide open. Her eyes filled with tears and her cheeks turned ashen. She quickly walked from the great hall to a balcony, disappearing in the darkness.
Garin stared after her, his jaw slack. What in the world had he done to hurt Alyna so terribly? He ha
d not been angry with her. O
n the contrary, he was
grateful for her actions. Garin glanced over his shoulder and saw Naworth speaking with a noble of minor importance. Before Naworth had the chance to spot him alone, Garin darted after Alyna.
H
e found her in a darkened corner of the balcony, staring over the moonlit castle gardens. Garin moved slowly, not wishing to startle her. “Alyna?”
She jumped and spun. Garin spotted a silver tear glistening on her cheek before she hastily wiped it away.
“
Alyna, what is it?”
“
Nothing,” she said. “I apologize if my actions were unseemly. It will not happen again.”
Garin stepped forward and cupped Alyna’s cheek in his hand, marveling at the soft warmth of her skin. “My lady, I am not angry with you.”
She
gazed up at him, her gray eyes staring into his. Garin had the sudden feeling she gazed into his soul. He cringed, it was a soul who had known too much death as of late. But his fingers continued to caress her cheek. In the magic of the beautiful even
ing, Alyna seemed to radiate a silver light.
Without conscious thought, he reached up and tugged away her veil, watching the moonlight dance in blue and silver hues in her hair. He ran his fingers through the silken
strands, certain he had never touched a
nything so fine.
Garin stepped closer and cupped Alyna’s face in both hands. “I have not had a chance to thank you for the letters you sent me while I was in the Holy Land.”
She blinked at him.
His lips curved upward. “Your words brought a little bit of
peace in the midst of war.”
Alyna gave him a half-hearted smile. “And I thought you would find the details of my life boring and silly.”
“
Nay, lady,” Garin said and moved closer. Only a hairsbreadth separated them. Her feminine scent provoked him like n
o woman he had ever met. “Those details were most welcome. They reminded me there was a life without chaos, a place where senseless death did not reign supreme, a place that was waiting for me.”
Her eyes were liquid. Timidly she touched his cheek, her f
ingers light and gentle. “I worried so much. Surely, Heaven grew tired of hearing my prayers.”
“
Ah,” Garin said and grinned broadly. “So that was the reason for my summons. If the Heavens grew weary of your prayers then no doubt that’s why I am home al
ive.” He drew her closer until her slight form pressed intimately against his. The blood roared through his body and he could no longer resist her siren’s call. He lowered his head and brushed his lips to hers.
The taste of her was sweeter than the ho
neyed wine of the Holy Land. Garin buried a hand in Alyna’s hair and his tongue teased her lips. She opened her mouth with a startled pant and he kissed her deeply. He reveled in the sensations coursing through him, bringing his body alive with brillian
t intensity. His tongue explored her mouth with wondrous abandon.
Alyna stiffened against him but slowly relaxed, her lips responding instinctively to his. Her hands lightly touched his chest and fire blazed against his skin, making him dizzy.
Garin
wrapped her in his embrace, longing to sweep Alyna from her feet and take her into the gardens. There he would make love to her, bathed in the silver moonlight with the black velvet of night their cloak. She was his betrothed, soon to be his wife, bound
to him body and soul b
ut Garin wasn’t sure if he could wait the eternity of a sennight.
A tiny sound curled up the back of her throat and almost destroyed what little control he possessed. With great effort he ended the kiss. Alyna did not deserve a tu
mble, she deserved much more.
She stared up at him, breathless, her lips reddened from his kiss. Garin was forced to take a savage hold on his desire.
“
Garin!” a
voice shouted from the great hall.
He flinched and released Alyna. His sister’s screech was
unmistakable.
Juliana stormed to the balcony and glared at him as he leaned casually against the railing. “Yes, Juliana?”
“
Baron Naworth just told me he tried to negotiate with you and you refused him.”
“
It was no negotiation, Juliana, and I didn’t refus
e him.”