is not being held prisoner and neither am I,” Aliss said, and walked over to her sister’s side.
“Tarr is shackled to a chair,” Fiona said bewildered.
“Only because he refuses to listen to reason,” Raynor attempted to explain while the blade remained at his throat.
Aliss placed her hand on her sister’s arm. “Let Raynor go; he means us no harm.”
Fiona had no reason to doubt her sister’s words. She moved the blade away, though kept the knife firm in her hand. “What goes on here?”
Raynor stepped a safe distance away from her, rubbing his throat. “I wish all of you to be guests in my home.” He saw Fiona’s confusion. “I could not very well invite you to my home while being held prisoner by your soon-to-be husband. And I doubted Tarr would accept my invitation once I escaped, so I had no recourse but to take Aliss with me. Which guaranteed you would follow.”
“I am listening,” Fiona said, “but I will listen better if you release Tarr.”
Raynor walked over to the shackled man. “Will you give me your word that you will be reasonable and listen to what I have to say?”
“Where are my men?” Tarr asked Fiona.
“They wait on the outskirts of the village. If they do not hear from us within the hour they will attack.”
“Your men are invited to join us and enjoy the food I have had set out for them,” Raynor offered.
Tarr stared at Fiona and she knew his thought. He was concerned with her safety; she however was not. She was confident in her ability to protect herself and her sister. She gave a slight nod, letting him know that she thought Raynor’s proposal safe.
“I will listen,” Tarr said gruffly.
Raynor released him and he walked over to Fiona, rubbing his wrists. “You have done well.”
“Did you doubt I would?” she grinned and poked him with her elbow.
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her next to him. “Never.”
He spoke with such heart that she pressed her cheek to his and held it for a moment, enjoying the feel of his warmth mingling with hers. Then reluctantly she squirmed out of his arm and turned to her sister.
They hugged.
“I knew you would come for me,” Aliss said, her wide smile letting all know how glad she was to see Fiona.
Fiona sent Raynor a heated glare. “You have explaining to do.”
He spread his arms. “Gladly, come sit and enjoy the food.”
“My men could use nourishment,” Tarr said.
Fiona understood that he brought his men in for added protection, but then Raynor did not object. He welcomed them, which meant he spoke the truth. He intended none of them harm.
“First, I wish to know why we have been brought here,” Fiona said, having waited long enough for an explanation.
Tarr did not object.
Raynor smiled as though overjoyed. “I wish you to meet my parents, who are on their way here and should arrive in a few days.”
“Why your parents?” Fiona asked, completely confused.
“Let me explain it all,” Raynor offered eagerly.
“That is a good idea,” Fiona said, “since I grow tired of this game of cat and mouse you seem to be playing.”
“It will all make sense,” Raynor said, and hurried on with the telling. “When first I laid eyes on Aliss I knew, and when you appeared”—he shook his head as he laughed—“you were how I imagined you would be. That was why it was so easy to tell the two of you apart.”
“Easy?” Tarr asked as if the man was insane. “They are identical in every way.”
“They are as different as night and day,” Raynor insisted, “especially when you know what to look for.”
Tarr pointed to Raynor’s head. “That wound to your head has done damage.”
Raynor patted the spot. “It has healed miraculously due to Aliss’s skills.”
“What do you mean what you imagined I would be?” Fiona asked.
“Your look, your strength, your stubbornness.” Raynor smiled. “You are so much like her.”
Aliss and Fiona glanced at each other.
“Like who?” Aliss asked cautiously.
Raynor walked over to the twins. “Do you remember that night I grew impatient to see again and forced my eyes open?”
“You screamed out in pain,” Aliss said.
“It was not only the pain that caused my reaction. It was seeing your face that shocked me.” He placed his hand on her arm. “I mean no insult. You are as beautiful as I knew you would be.”
“There you go again,” Fiona said. “Can you finally explain this so we know what you are talking about?”