Read Online The Promise of Peace by Carol Umberger - Free Book Online

you need to take care of yourself and your family?”
    She had ducked the spray of water and paddled off a short distance.
    â€œI worry more that I’ll never get to see anything outside of the glen.”
    â€œReally? You’d like to travel?” Nola the adventuress. Somehow this didn’t surprise him.
    â€œAye. Mother told me about France and about the great cathedrals in Paris. I asked if we can go there sometime, but it would cost a lot and my brothers are too small to travel so far.”
    â€œMaybe you can go when you are older. With an escort,” he added.
    She stopped swimming and stood up. “You could take me!”
    â€œI’ve no desire to see France.” Unless of course he was needed to guard the king of Scotland on a royal errand.
    Nola resumed paddling about. “Well, if I can’t see Paris, I would at least like to see Edinburgh, and maybe even Stirling Castle. You could take me there, couldn’t you?”
    â€œI could, but I have to complete my training, and that will take years. And I’m hoping that your father will recommend me to train with Sir Bryan Mackintosh.”
    â€œCan’t Seamus teach you everything you need to know?”
    â€œHe’s a very good teacher, and so is your father. But I want to be knighted, to gain experience in the tourney, and perhaps in a real battle.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be a knight to do that.”
    â€œPerhaps not. But I have a more practical reason. Innishewan is in need of money—money I could earn in tournaments, if I’m good enough.”
    Nola didn’t give up. “I don’t see why you have to become a knight. You could marry a wife with money.”
    He laughed. Practical Nola always had a solution. “I could. But maybe . . . maybe if I am the very best fighter, I won’t die senselessly and leave my family without protection.” He had never admitted that to anyone.
    Nola paddled over to him. “Keifer, no amount of training can guarantee that.”
    â€œMaybe not. But I’m going to do all I can to stay alive.”
    â€œI still don’t see what the great danger is, but I guess I can understand you not wanting to die and leave your family like your father did.”
    Nola understood too much, despite her tender age. She amazed him with her maturity. Oft times, like now, she seemed more his own age instead of years younger.
    Keifer feared that he would not be there for his loved ones—that he would one day have a child who would grow up not knowing him, just like Keifer. Sometimes the aching emptiness of that loss nearly sent Keifer into despair.
    â€œYou miss having a da, don’t you?”
    He shrugged. “Your da is all right, when he isn’t lecturing.”
    She laughed. “He just wants what is best for you. For all of us.”
    â€œAye, well, he needs to take a lighter hand sometimes.”
    â€œIs that the kind of father you will be, then?”
    â€œNo. I’m not going to marry.”
    â€œNot going to marry? You have to get married.”
    â€œNo, I don’t. I have decided to name Morrigan’s son as my heir. I will devote myself to the protection of my sisters and their families.”
    â€œMorrigan doesn’t have a son.”
    â€œShe will someday, God willing.” He shook his head. “Enough of such serious talk.” He splashed Nola and she retaliated. They continued to play until they churned up the bottom and the water began to cloud with mud.
    Tired of swimming, they made their way to the bank where Nola threw herself onto the grass. Keifer sat beside her. “So, I take it you do want to marry but you want to see the world first.”
    She pushed her wet hair behind her ears. “Aye, but I’ll settle for a trip to Edinburgh.”
    â€œYou’re only nine. Are you planning to marry any time soon?” he teased.
    She shook her finger at him. “A girl must think of