A Warrior's Promise by Donna Fletcher Read Free Book Online Page B

yours.”
    Charles’s small hand was consumed by Bryce’s large one, though it was with a gentle tug that Bryce helped him sit up.
    â€œI’m like my da, small in size.”
    â€œThat you are, small in stature just like him,” Elsa agreed, as they gathered around the table.
    â€œYou saw his father?” Bryce asked, and Charles and Elsa shared with him what they had previously discussed.
    â€œWould you know this secret place where the king sends prisoners?” Charles asked.
    â€œI have heard rumors of such a place,” Bryce said, “but there is no proof that it truly exists.”
    â€œElsa and I discussed that, and the most logical conclusion would be that if such a place exists, then no one has ever escaped it,” Charles said, “except possibly one.”
    â€œTell me.” Bryce listened as Charles told him about Old John. “It would appear that our next stop is the village Tine.”
    It wasn’t until they were on the road again, Elsa having sent them off with a goodly amount of food and Bryce having dropped a trinket of solid value in her hand, which she accepted with a joyful smile, that Charles inquired about how this detour would affect Bryce’s mission.
    â€œWill you lose time going to the village Tine?” he asked.
    â€œWhat we learn may just help me,” Bryce admitted. “With all that I have garnered about this spy in the king’s court, I’ve wondered if perhaps the king has discovered his ruse and has had him imprisoned. Elsa had spoken about two other men being tethered together. The spy could be one of them.”
    â€œThe king will surely have him tortured to find out who he spies for.” Charles’s shoulders slumped. “My father will be tortured as well.”
    â€œHow could a conjurer suffering torture serve the king?”
    Charles’s eyes brightened. “You’re right. My da would be no good to the king if injured, though”—his shoulders slumped once again—“when it is discovered that my da cannot conjure, the king will surely make him suffer.”
    â€œWe’ll have found your da before then,” Bryce assured with a strong pat to the lad’s shoulder.
    The lad looked up at him. “I am appreciative of your help, and though I do not like being owned, I will serve you well.”
    Bryce nodded and stopped himself from telling the lad that he was free, that no man was to be owned. But he worried that if the lad knew he was under no obligation to him, he might just decide somewhere along their journey to attempt to rescue his father on his own. And he wouldn’t take the chance of that happening. Besides, the lad and his father needed a home, a permanent one, and with the lad obligated to him, it would force father and son to remain with the clan MacAlpin.
    He would see the lad protected, whether he wanted it or not.

Chapter 6
    C harlotte watched Bryce sleep. They could have reached the village Tine before nightfall, but Bryce had preferred they delay arrival so that they would have the day to explore the village and locate Old John and speak with him. And then they could take their leave, putting distance between them and the village. He didn’t want to take the chance and linger too long in one place, and Charlotte had to agree with him. Asking too many questions in regard to the king raised suspicion.
    So they bedded down a short distance from the village, enjoyed some of the food Elsa had generously shared, and while Charlotte wished to fall asleep as easily as Bryce had done, she hadn’t been able to.
    Her thoughts would simply not settle down. While she continued to worry over her father, Bryce crept in now and again. She couldn’t seem to stop thinking about the Highlander, a brave man though, still, in a sense, tender. Never had she met one like him before. So wasn’t it only natural that he intrigued her?
    Her da would certainly agree and