11. Vision

KERRIENNE

The next few days went by in a flurry of activities as our clans prepared for an upcoming battle and a wedding.  I was given a room in the castle, as had my father.  Some of our men were bunking with Emrick’s soldiers, since our village was a five day journey.  Since the version of me I was before had given express orders for my men not to kill any of the Mcleods until our differences could be resolved, there were no hard feelings.  My father had sent word back to our village for more men to come and join us.  They made camp outside the keep as they came in. 

At the betrothal celebration, my father spun me around the dance floor as I laughed and giggled. 

“Just say the word and we are out of here.”  He said half-seriously.  

“Father,” I laughed, “this alliance is what both clans need.  You raised me to never shy away from my duties.” 

“I cannot say that this match isn't ideal, politically speaking.  But you are my only child, my sole heir.  I want you to be happy.” 

“I will be.” 

“There's talk that this Emrick fellow isn’t even human.  That he has a tendency to slay or maim any within reach whenever his eyes turn blood red.  It’s like he goes berserk or something.”  He whispered in my ear as he continued to spin me around the makeshift dance floor.

“Father, since when do you listen to idle talk?” 

“Since my only child and heir wants to sacrifice herself to a monster so that she can save her people.  I mean you saw what happened in the hall.  He almost killed one of his own men.  With his bare hand.  If you weren’t there to stop him?  And those red eyes...” my father shivered as he said the last. 

“He's not a monster father.  Besides, the same thing has been said about me because of my gift of sight.  And if I was not there, he would have found a way to stop himself.” 

My father gave me a we’ll talk about it later look as he led me back to my chair.  I took a seat and continued to watch the festivities. 

“May I get you anything milady?”  I turned to find Sarah smiling at me. 

“Have a seat Sarah” 

“My lady…” 

“Tell me more about this legend your people have.  And please call me Kerrienne.” 

“We have many legends, my lady.” 

“Tell me about Emrick, your laird.”  I said, blushing.  “Is he a good man?” 

“He's a great man, milady.  He's fair and listens to both sides in a dispute before making a decision that will benefit both parties as well as the clan.” 

“What of his parents?” 

“His mother died in childbirth and his father blamed him for it.  After his wife died, he started drinking.  He ended up a tyrant, who mistreated his people but no one more than his own son.  Laird killed him in self defense.”

As Sarah talked about Emrick, I found it fascinating that I could actually see what happened as she’s describing it without even trying.  I've never been able to see the past before, only snippets of what was to come. 

I saw Emrick as a lad of sixteen summers playing with a little girl who could barely walk for more than five minutes before falling down.  When out of nowhere, his drunkard father started yelling at him.  ‘Ye're the next laird you should behave like one.  Ye shouldn't be running about with motherless babes, ye have duties boy.’  Emrick’s father tried to slap him but he evaded the hit easily.  

As his father staggered after him, the little girl tugged on the father’s pant leg.  He looked down in disgust and backhanded the little girl so hard, her little body flew into an arc to land a few feet away.  ‘No’ Emrick ran to the little body that looked even smaller lying on the ground curled into a ball and crying. 

As his father approached them, Emrick stepped in to protect the child.  He knocked his father to the ground to keep him from reaching the little girl.  Not wanting to cause actual physical harm to his father, Emrick held him loosely.  Thus giving his father the chance to get the upper hand.  And as soon as he did, he started choking him. 

Emrick felt a surge of rage and hatred for his father, a feeling he’s never felt until this very moment.  He looked out through a red haze as every last part of him cried out for blood, his father’s blood.  Right then and there, he vowed to never let his father hurt another innocent again, he pushed his father off and told the little girl to run.  

Glen, for the first time noticing his son’s red eyes, started calling him a demon’s seed.  ‘The demon inside ya killed my lovely young bride.’   He came at him then with his sword, burying it halfway into Emrick's shoulder.  Emrick pulled out the sword as if the blow was no more than a scratch and buried it in his father's heart. 

“Since the death was witnessed, no one blamed him.” 

Sarah looked at me with tears in her eyes as she continued, “After his father lay dead on the ground, he kneeled down and asked the little girl if she was okay? He was covered in blood, a big gaping wound in his shoulder and all he wanted to know was if…. If…” 

“If you were okay.”  I finished for her. 

“Yes” she sniffed.  “He has sort of adopted me ever since.” 

“Where are your parents?”  I asked. 

“They died when I was a baby, my lady.  The villagers looked after me, and Emrick has been looking after me since the day he rescued me from his father.” 

I looked to where Emrick was standing, talking and laughing with his men.  They not only respect him as a leader, but they loved him as a man and a brother.  I am making the right decision.  For my people as well as for myself.  He will make a good husband and a trusted ally.

EMRICK

Though I was drinking and talking to my men, every inch of me hummed in awareness of the woman who has agreed to become my wife.  She's like me.  Different.  The lass had magic in her, I could feel it in my bones.  I never thought I'd find someone I could share my life with.  I've had my share of women, but none have captured my interest for more than a couple of nights.  But since she's been in the castle, every night I’ve found myself outside her door, with my hand poised on the handle.  I've  even opened the secret door between our rooms once to watch her sleep, the reason I gave her the room next to mine in the first place. 

On one such night, the moon had shone bright through the window panes and onto her sleeping form, making her look surreal.  I'd reached out and touched her cheek just to make sure that she was solid and not some figment of my imagination.  

She’d sighed and leaned into my touch, then turned over onto her side, leaving her curls fanned out across the bed like a living thing.  The sheet slid away from her body giving me a perfect view of her arse.  She wore a see through nightgown that left nothing to the imagination, making her look like a goddess bathed in the moon’s silvery glow.  

The lass had the sexiest bottom I'd ever seen.  One that made my groin burn at the thought of lifting the thin material and burying myself deep inside her, sliding in and out of her moist heat until we were both left sweaty and spent.  I shook my head to clear my thoughts and uttered a curse under my breath.  It’s been a hard couple of days.  Touching her before our wedding night was a sure way to get my head removed from my shoulders.  I felt my lips turn up into a smile.  It would be worth it though.  

I  glanced around the courtyard and my eyes found her without even trying.  She was talking to Sarah.  They seemed to really like each other.  That will make things easier since Sarah is such a big part of my life and like a little sister. 

As the festivities wound down, I watched as Sarah and Kerrienne made their way into the keep.  I had taken three steps in their direction before I even realized I was following them…  following her.

A voluptuous lass walked in my line of vision, swaying her hips and smiling at me in invitation.  But I felt nothing.  The need to release myself  into a willing body was not there.  Well, it was, but I wanted the willing body to be Kerrienne’s and I wasn’t supposed to touch her until our wedding night.  Maybe I should follow the woman with the swaying hips.  Get rid of some tension. 

I saw her standing in the shadows and started to make my way towards her.  But as I drew nearer, I found my desire diminished.  So I turned from her and made my way into the keep instead. 

Once again, I  found myself  standing outside her door, my hand on the handle, with no recollection of how I got there.  I was about to turn and walk away when she opened the door and looked up at me.  Standing to the side, she opened the door wider to let me in.  I walked in and turned around watching her with hooded eyes.