Page 187 of The Valiant Knight

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“They seemed to have done a lot of legwork,” Finn admitted. “I saw them in the square the one day. He’s a big dude, isn’t he?”

Tony laughed.

Oh, he could say that.

“Gryphen is a Marine. He hovers over his man and gets cranky if you mess with him.”

That he respected.

Finn planned on hovering over his lady, especially since she seemed to get herself in danger.

A.

LOT.

Like the lake.

Like falling into the crypt.

Like the falling bookshelves.

Pulling out the first letter, they began at the beginning so they could catch up.

‘Ravensmire Castle

Scotland

August 1593

My dearest Duncan,

My dearest love, but I miss you so much, and I can’t wait for your return to Ravensmire. A lot has happened since you left, and a lot must be told to you.

I am with your child.

We are expecting a little one, and one day, when you return to me, my love, we shall be a family.

I was wrong to tell you I shouldn’t have married you. My lord, I was so very wrong. I see that now, and I wish I could take those words back since they damaged not only you, but what was between us.

The flowers didn’t bloom this year. As I stood here looking down from Ravensmire, the highlands were empty. I’m hoping that isn’t some kind of sign of what is to come. Maybe it’s witchcraft, or the sorcery of the English destroying our lands, but I worry that you sent me that sign.

Was it to tell me what I fear so much?

Is it that you are never returning to Ravensmire? Is that the message?

I know you said those words in frustration and anger, and I know that I am just as guilty of the same sins, but we must be strong.

We have a wee one coming.

My Lord, you’re going to be a good father. You are, after all, protective, strong, and like no man I’ve ever met before in my whole existence.

How do I live without you?

This is something I ask myself over and over again, as I wish I thought those words before I told you to leave my sight.

How I wish I could take them back, make them disappear like the mist that is called back when the sun reaches into the sky.

But I can’t.

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