I was fearful for a moment that I would never see you again.”
“That would not happen,” Fiona all but hissed.
“I wonder now what will happen? Will our parents be as loving as the parents we thought were ours? Will they want our return? Demand our return? Will we be given a choice?”
“It changes much.”
“More than I think we realize,” Aliss said, and nodded toward Tarr marching into the hall, sword strapped to his side, sheathed knife tucked into his belt, looking ready for battle especially with twenty of his warriors following in behind him.
Fiona smiled with pride.
“He will protect you against all odds,” Aliss whispered.
“And I him.”
Raynor returned as well, having seen to Tarr’s men.
“Time to talk,” Raynor said, extending his hand for Tarr to proceed him to the dais and motioning the men to enjoy the food at the tables. Tarr took the seat next to Fiona.
Raynor sat beside Aliss. “You can tell them apart now, can you not?”
“It now appears easy to tell who is who,” Tarr admitted. “I do not understand how I could not have seen the obvious differences before. How did you?”
“There is a slight distinction in their voices, and once I saw them it was easy for me to see my father Oleg in Aliss and my mother Anya in Fiona. But you will see for yourself what I mean. My parents will be here in a few short days and I request that you visit with me until then.”
Tarr looked from one twin to the other. “This is your decision; I will abide by it.”
“We are grateful for your understanding,” Aliss said.
Fiona gently rested her hand over his and squeezed. “Thank you for giving us this time.”
Tarr moved his hand over hers and held it with a tender firmness. It was a message to Fiona that he had no intention of letting her go.
She grinned, placing her other hand over his and patting it, letting him know that it would be her choice. Then she looked to Raynor. “Tell us of our family and how we came to be separated.”
“Our father Oleg is a Viking chieftain and our mother Anya is the daughter of the laird of the clan Blackshaw, who has passed on, leaving the leadership of the clan to me, his only grandson.
“I was eight when you were born and a very proud older brother. I would guard you when you slept, my hand on my trusty wooden sword.”
The twins smiled.
“There was to be a large festival celebrating your births, and everyone was busy preparing for it. Mother kept you close by at all times, especially Fiona, she was the more demanding babe.”
Tarr grinned and Fiona poked him in the ribs.
Raynor’s smile faded. “It was only two days until the celebration. There was much going on and in the frantic pace of it all, you both disappeared. It was an easy enough abduction since the slave Shona, who helped during your birthing, simply walked off with you. No one thought to stop her; all assumed she was tending both of you while mother was busy. It was not until mother went to feed you that it was learned you were abducted.
“A search was made but to no avail. It was believed she had to have had help, for she disappeared too fast being on foot. Days later it was learned the Shona somehow made it to the shores of Scotland. Father did all he could to find you. He and mother never stopped searching. Any mention of twin girls anywhere and father would investigate.
“When Blackshaw land became mine, I alerted my men to look for twins wherever we went, and then one day I received information that Tarr of Hellewyk was to wed a twin of the clan MacElder.”
“You never meant to attack my keep,” Tarr said. “But why attack us on the road if you meant no harm?”
“Your scout saw our approach and assumed the worse. He raised sword against us and signaled an attack. I had no time to explain, nor a chance to catch a glimpse of the twins. But that is all done now; what matters is that I have found my sisters.”
“Why would the slave abduct us?” Fiona asked.
“We have wondered the same these many years,” Raynor said.
“You never found out who helped her?” Aliss asked.
Raynor shook his head. “We found nothing.”
“How did a slave have such liberties as to walk freely with the babes?” Tarr asked.
“Shona, the slave, had been with my father’s people since