Read Online A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) by Lana Williams - Free Book Online
Authors: Lana Williams
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have the power to disturb a man like Royce. The thought of such a vision caused her to shudder, and she burrowed under her covers to keep watch for his return.
***
Royce moved away from Alyna, grateful for the darkness and the cool night air. One hid the emotions he could not cover and the other helped calm them.
He could just make out Hugh in the dim light. His friend rose up on an elbow, but Royce motioned for him to remain where he was. Royce walked the perimeter of the camp, noting all was in order even as his mind processed the nightmare.
It had been some time since he’d last had it. Visions of his parents’ deaths had filled his nights for a long time after they’d died. They eased as time passed. Of late, he only dreamed of it when he was upset or extremely fatigued.
The question was, what had brought it on this night? To his knowledge, he was neither upset nor especially tired.
Mayhap it was a reminder. A reminder for him to concentrate on what was truly important.
Vengeance.
He fingered the amulet held by a leather thong around his neck tucked in his tunic. The coolness of the blue stone helped to calm him and keep him focused on his goal. His uncle would pay for his greed and jealousy. The people who lived under Tegmont’s rule would soon be free from his tyranny.
It had taken Royce many years to understand what would make a man turn against his own brother, his own flesh and blood. Royce had seen traces of that trait in other men, men who thought they were entitled to take what didn’t belong to them. Somehow, earning it for themselves never entered their minds.
Honor was nothing but an empty term Tegmont used at his convenience. Not something he felt in his soul. Not something that guided every decision he made. Not something he lived every day.
For Royce, it gave his life purpose. And he would use honor when he fulfilled his vow and at last made his uncle pay.
***
Alyna next awoke to the sound of Nicholas crying. She bolted upright, heart pounding, scanning the camp to locate him.
Royce sat on the ground and held her son gently in his arms. Even as she watched, Nicholas’s tears subsided. The two of them examined Nicholas’s skinned knee with great interest. Something Royce said made Nicholas giggle in response.
Warmth pooled in the region of Alyna’s heart. The strong knight had a gentle side.
Royce spoke again, and Nicholas clapped his hands in delight, a huge smile on his face. Hugh joined the pair as Royce produced a small stick.
Alyna looked closer. It wasn’t a stick, but a skillfully whittled dagger. Touched, Alyna stared at Royce, amazed at his thoughtfulness. Nicholas’s minor injury was forgotten as he held the wooden knife high to show Hugh.
Hugh took the knife and examined it closely before handing it back to her son with a solemn nod of approval.
Nicholas turned to look at her. “Mama!” he cried. He walked carefully toward her, holding his new prize before him. “Look,” he said, as he proudly presented it for her inspection, the scrape on his knee long forgotten.
Alyna made certain the tip of it was dull enough for her young son to play with, then returned it to Nicholas. “Did you thank Sir Royce?”
Nicholas nodded, gave her a quick peck on her cheek, before going back to the men.
She smiled at Royce, touched by his consideration. The look he gave her in return set off more butterflies in her stomach. Alyna turned away before she made a fool of herself. Hadn’t she just told herself not let his considerate behavior fool her?
Stretching to ease her stiff muscles, she grimaced at the thought of riding a horse yet again not to mention wearing the same clothes a third day, but it couldn’t be helped. Her gown had been donned for its serviceable brown material rather than for attractiveness. With a sigh, she thought of the saffron gown she’d packed in her bag to wear when she met her grandfather. The bag that was still at Montvue with Enid. Her
***
Royce moved away from Alyna, grateful for the darkness and the cool night air. One hid the emotions he could not cover and the other helped calm them.
He could just make out Hugh in the dim light. His friend rose up on an elbow, but Royce motioned for him to remain where he was. Royce walked the perimeter of the camp, noting all was in order even as his mind processed the nightmare.
It had been some time since he’d last had it. Visions of his parents’ deaths had filled his nights for a long time after they’d died. They eased as time passed. Of late, he only dreamed of it when he was upset or extremely fatigued.
The question was, what had brought it on this night? To his knowledge, he was neither upset nor especially tired.
Mayhap it was a reminder. A reminder for him to concentrate on what was truly important.
Vengeance.
He fingered the amulet held by a leather thong around his neck tucked in his tunic. The coolness of the blue stone helped to calm him and keep him focused on his goal. His uncle would pay for his greed and jealousy. The people who lived under Tegmont’s rule would soon be free from his tyranny.
It had taken Royce many years to understand what would make a man turn against his own brother, his own flesh and blood. Royce had seen traces of that trait in other men, men who thought they were entitled to take what didn’t belong to them. Somehow, earning it for themselves never entered their minds.
Honor was nothing but an empty term Tegmont used at his convenience. Not something he felt in his soul. Not something that guided every decision he made. Not something he lived every day.
For Royce, it gave his life purpose. And he would use honor when he fulfilled his vow and at last made his uncle pay.
***
Alyna next awoke to the sound of Nicholas crying. She bolted upright, heart pounding, scanning the camp to locate him.
Royce sat on the ground and held her son gently in his arms. Even as she watched, Nicholas’s tears subsided. The two of them examined Nicholas’s skinned knee with great interest. Something Royce said made Nicholas giggle in response.
Warmth pooled in the region of Alyna’s heart. The strong knight had a gentle side.
Royce spoke again, and Nicholas clapped his hands in delight, a huge smile on his face. Hugh joined the pair as Royce produced a small stick.
Alyna looked closer. It wasn’t a stick, but a skillfully whittled dagger. Touched, Alyna stared at Royce, amazed at his thoughtfulness. Nicholas’s minor injury was forgotten as he held the wooden knife high to show Hugh.
Hugh took the knife and examined it closely before handing it back to her son with a solemn nod of approval.
Nicholas turned to look at her. “Mama!” he cried. He walked carefully toward her, holding his new prize before him. “Look,” he said, as he proudly presented it for her inspection, the scrape on his knee long forgotten.
Alyna made certain the tip of it was dull enough for her young son to play with, then returned it to Nicholas. “Did you thank Sir Royce?”
Nicholas nodded, gave her a quick peck on her cheek, before going back to the men.
She smiled at Royce, touched by his consideration. The look he gave her in return set off more butterflies in her stomach. Alyna turned away before she made a fool of herself. Hadn’t she just told herself not let his considerate behavior fool her?
Stretching to ease her stiff muscles, she grimaced at the thought of riding a horse yet again not to mention wearing the same clothes a third day, but it couldn’t be helped. Her gown had been donned for its serviceable brown material rather than for attractiveness. With a sigh, she thought of the saffron gown she’d packed in her bag to wear when she met her grandfather. The bag that was still at Montvue with Enid. Her
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