Page 7 of Fearless Heart

Chapter Two

A great crowd came for the king’s autumn festival. All within the clan were excited at the prospect the king would actually attend. The king’s imminent presence caused a furor of activity for many wanted to make his stay as complacent as possible. Lillia Hunter finished her chores and chose her best overdress for the occasion. In her rush to get outside, she ran a comb through her hair and pulled on her softest slippers. She was on her way out of the keep when her father stopped her.

“Lass, you are to stay within the keep.”

She turned on her heel and noticed the deep frown of his eyes. “But why? I should like to join the entertainments, Da.”

Her father, Laird Aylmer Hunter, wasn’t one to refute or make demands of. He held up his hand and shook his head. “You are forbidden to leave the keep. Do you question your laird?”

“No, Da, but—”

“Go to your solar and stay there.” His tone suggested she not argue.

Lillia turned and marched up the stairs with as much forcefulness as she could muster, effectively letting him know of her displeasure. She entered her bedchamber and closed the door, utterly defeated. She’d worked hard for the past days helping her mother and those within the clan ready for the event. And now she wasn’t allowed to attend? As she stood by the window casement, looking out at the festival revelry, she couldn’t help but be seething mad.

Her view of the courtyard gave her an idea of how to escape the chamber. Yet climbing down a rope would be risky and she wasn’t certain it would be worth her neck. Besides that, the courtyard now filled with people and she would be noticed. If only her father would leave the fief. She’d have to keep watch and wait until he did so and then abscond outside.

Were her brothers at home, she might get them on her side and vie for her father’s permission to join the festivities. Hamish and Gawin no longer lived at the main keep. They were married and unfortunately, not concerned with her paltry plights. Being the middle of five siblings boded ill for her because her father doted on his sons. She was a meaningless, insignificant daughter.

That falsehood almost made her smile. Lillia leaned on her elbow and watched midday pass. She couldn’t stay ireful with her father, for he was a kind man and even though he teased her and said she vexed him at every turn, he did so with a grin. There had to be a good reason he wouldn’t let her attend the festival. She wished she knew what that reason was.

As she stood by the window casement feeling quite sorry for herself, her two younger brothers burst into the bedchamber. Their yells were enough to rattle the walls. Miles and Macon drew their makeshift swords and swung them high. They surrounded her and she tried to grab hold of one, but the other tripped her and she ended up on the floor.

“You two will be the death of me. Why are you not at the festival?”

Macon gripped his wooden sword and pouted. “Father won’t let us. He said we were too young. We’re not, are we?”

“Perhaps a wee bit.” She commiserated with them. Being twins of seven winters, the two hardly resembled each other. One had dark hair, Miles, and the lighter-haired, Macon. Though they were alike in many ways, Miles was a mite heavier in body, and Macon slightly taller. Lillia adored the lads, but they were often troublesome. Like her older brothers, they too like to play tricks on her or anyone for that matter.

“I’m sorry father won’t let you attend. If you were guarded, you’d be safe. Did you suggest he send the sentry with you?”

“Nay,” Macon shouted. “We should’ve suggested that.”

“We shall go and suggest it now,” Miles said. “Come, brother, onward.”

The two of them departed the chamber with as much noise and vigor and ran down the long hall to their parent’s solar. Lillia followed, for if her brothers might attend the festival, she might as well if she had a guard.

Outside the door of her parent’s bedchamber, she waited and listened. Her father grumbled at the lad’s suggestion, but her mother cheerfully agreed.

“That is a wonderful suggestion, Macon. I don’t see why you can’t attend with a guard.” Her mother held his chin and laughed when he pulled away. “They are wee lads out for merriment, Husband. Will you not concede and allow them to attend?”

Her father grumbled. “They’ll soon begin their training. I suppose they are old enough. Very well, dearest, but they will not flee from their guards. I want their pledge to remain with the guard.”

The two lads nodded and rushed from the chamber, all but running as if their father would change his mind and call them back.

“Be sure to take two guards with you, lads. Return to the keep before dark,” her mother yelled after them. “Don’t make us search for you.”

Lillia was about to enter and make the same suggestion, but her father’s tone stopped her.

“I ken not what to do, my love. We must send the lass away.”

She pressed her nose to the door and listened.

“But must we marry Lillia to a clan so far away? The Sinclairs are remote and we shall never see our fair daughter again.”

He sat on the bed next to her mother and clasped her hand. “It is the only way I can keep her safe. Even now there are those who will come to seize her. We cannot let that happen. I love the lass if she were my own. I made a pledge to the Guardians we would keep her safe.”

Lillia covered her mouth in shock at what she’d heard. She realized they were speaking of her. Who would come to seize her? Lord above, he was trying to betroth her again. She’d done her best to stay unattached, and even after her father introduced her to several men, she refused them all. With her oath to her own heart, she vowed she wouldn’t wed anyone but the man she’d given her heart to when she was a young lass.