The River's Gift by Mercedes Lackey Read Free Book Online Page B

to inherit from him. As a
woman, you cannot inherit any property. You have your dower-portion, of course,
but no property. Had you wedded while your father was still alive, Swan Manor
would have gone to your first-born son, with your husband holding it in trust
for him, but since you were still a maid—" He shrugged. "As your
nearest male kin, I was to inherit the Manor if your father died before you
were wed, but neither your father nor mine cared to think of you going to the
charity of the Church or making some hasty and imprudent alliance in that case,
so they made a pact that if you had not found a husband by the time your father
died, and I had not found a wife, then I would wed you, thus keeping Swan Manor
in your bloodline and saving you from being displaced. It was all arranged a
very long time ago, and your father probably never wanted you to bother your
pretty head about it."
    Simple? Simple? She stared at him, her head and heart
pounding together, too utterly appalled and shocked to say a single word.
    "I
must admit that I was quite well pleased to find my bride to be so
comely," he continued with an expression she could only think of as a smug
smirk. "I find myself with a very fine bargain, and I am sure you are
hardly displeased with the sight of your intended husband!" His grin
widened and he puffed out his chest a bit, and some of his men laughed out
loud. "As to where we are going, we travel to my own estate, where we will
be properly wedded in the sight of witnesses and kindred." His expression
turned a touch threatening. "I will have this done properly. I would not
have it rumored that your hand and land should have gone elsewhere, that our
kinship is too close for matrimony, or that our union is no true marriage.
There will be no reason to protest that this union is invalid."
    By
this time he had led her, step by step, to the door of the tent. Now he pulled
the flap aside and held it open for her. "And now I will leave you to your
well-guarded and well-deserved rest, my Lady. I am sure so delicate a maid as
you must be fatigued by the journey. One of my men will bring you something to
eat, and you may sleep when you
will, knowing that we guard you as we would any precious object."
    A
slight nudge sent her stumbling into the tent, and he dropped the flap shut
behind her, leaving her in a canvas shelter illuminated only by the firelight
filtering through the fabric. With a little moan of pain and incredulity, she
sank down on the pile of bedding at her feet, drained of strength and will.
    She
woke in the morning, certain it had all been a terrible nightmare, only to
find that the nightmare had not passed with the coming of daylight. She opened
her eyes to find herself staring at a canvas roof, head aching, bundled in
blankets that smelled of smoke and horses. Around the tent outside, men tramped
about, making thumping and clattering noises; she heard shouting, harnesses
jingling, and horses stamping and neighing. Her head
throbbed abominably, but her mind was clearer now.
    Too
clear, perhaps, for she could see no way to escape from this trap. She did not
know where she was, she could hardly run off on foot into a strange forest with
no weapons and no provisions. It was unlikely that with so many alert men
about, she would be able to steal a horse and escape, and even if she could,
where would she go? She didn't even know what direction to travel to return to
Swan Manor, and if she did find her way home, Lord Lyon would only come to take
her again. She could run off to the forest and hope that she could elude him
there—but she shrank from the idea of all those armored men with their iron and
steel rampaging about near her Faerie friends.
    Before
her thoughts went any further, the tent-flap was pulled aside and Lord Lyon
shoved a round of cold bread and a cold rabbit-quarter at her without any kind
of greeting or warning. She took it reflexively and stared at him with
stinging eyes.
    "Break
your fast, Lady