Fabric of Fate (21 page)

“It has.” Her low words were barely a whisper. She turned and raced back out the door of the bedroom.

“Audrey.” Heroc was on his feet running for the door, tossing aside the remains of the garment as he took off after her.

Abrah was hot on his brother’s heels. What had she meant? Had the tapestry not taken her home? Was she stuck here?

Audrey went up the stairs, not down. Abrah frowned as Carn shot by him, his nails scrabbling against the stone stairs. Her path led to an empty tower room that their mother had used when she wanted to be alone. There was nothing there now but a light layer of dust and a few discarded pieces of furniture. Why would she go there?

When he stumbled into the room, he found Audrey curled in a ball on the floor next to the window. Heroc was crouched next to her, his hand hovering over her shoulder as if he was afraid to touch her, while Carn paced before them and whined.

“I’m sorry, Audrey,” Heroc said. “Maybe the tapestry will come back for you.” Abrah did not think his brother’s words would console her, not if the tapestry had come and gone she was stuck here.

Her head came up and the anguish stamped on her face almost brought him to his knees. In that moment, Abrah would have conjured the tapestry if it were within his power to do so. He would do anything to make her happy, even if that meant her leaving him.

“Don’t you want me?”

Her tearful question did finally bring Abrah to his knees in front of her. He cupped her face in his hands and leaned down so their lips were almost touching. “I want you more than anything else in this world. But I want you to be happy. I know you want to go home.”

She shook her head. “I thought I did. But then I couldn’t leave you.”

“What are you saying?” Heroc demanded.

“The tapestry was here and there was a lady too. She asked me what I wanted to do.” Audrey swiped at her eyes and sniffed. “I didn’t know. It’s such a huge choice to have to make in such a short time.”

Both men nodded. An emotion grew within him and Abrah almost didn’t recognize it for what it was—hope.

“She said I had to make up my mind or the tapestry would do it for me. I’m the master of my own destiny. It’s my decision to make.”

Her fierceness made Abrah’s heart clench with pride. Here was the spirit he’d gotten used to in the past few days. This was the real Audrey.

“And what did you decide?” Heroc asked.

“That I’m in control of my life. No one else.” She thumped her chest. “Me.” She sat back on her heels and stared at them both. “I chose to stay.”

Heroc let out a whoop of joy and swept her up into his arms. He stood and swung her around and around until they were both giddy. Carn let out a loud
woof
and followed them in a circle. Abrah watched them, still not able to truly believe she was here and she was real.

His brother finally released Audrey and joined him, standing to his left. They didn’t even look at one another but, as if the moment was choreographed, they both went down on bended knee. Abrah was the first to speak. It was his right as the elder brother.

The pledge was one every young man learned from his father from the time he was old enough to understand he might never have the opportunity to use it. It was a sacred oath, the foundation of their very civilization. Abrah took a deep breath and repeated the words that would change his life forever.

“You are the heart that beats in this chest and in this home and if you would take me for husband I will give you my love, loyalty and devotion for as long as I live. With me, you gain the love, loyalty and devotion of my brother as well, who will be lover to you, and would also be your husband should I die before you. In return, I ask for your love, loyalty and devotion and any children that the gods see fit to gift us with.”

Audrey shook with emotion, her limbs trembling and weak. She’d feared she’d made a horrible mistake when she’d gone downstairs to the bedroom to tell the brothers she’d decided to stay. Abrah had been so angry that she’d almost regretted her choice. She understood now, or at least she thought she did. He hadn’t believed she’d made the choice to stay, had thought the tapestry hadn’t arrived or had somehow left her here by mistake.

She’d hurt him and knew she had some fences to mend before he would completely trust her again. That was ironic really, considering it was she who had never been able to trust. Still, she couldn’t regret her choice. It felt right. No matter what happened in the days and years ahead, her life was here.

Heroc had been overjoyed but even he’d pulled away from her to return to Abrah’s side. The two men had suddenly gone down on one knee and placed their hands over their hearts. There was an aura of earnestness to their actions that made her straighten her spine and pay attention. Whatever was about to happen was important.

Abrah began to recite a pledge that made her heart almost stop as the words soaked into her befuddled brain. She put out a hand and leaned on the wall for support. He was offering her everything he was and would ever be, holding nothing back.

She wanted to blurt out her acceptance, but what about Heroc? She knew he wanted her too and she didn’t want to do anything to hurt him.

Her gaze flew to the younger Dannon brother and he smiled at her. He opened his mouth and repeated the same pledge, leaving her slack-jawed and staring at them both.

“I don’t know what to do.” Her mind was whirling. She couldn’t marry both of them. “I don’t want to hurt either one of you.”

Heroc laughed as he bound to his feet. “You are here with us. How can we be anything but happy?”

“Yes, but if I marry one of you, what about the other one?” She loved them both equally, but in different ways. She hadn’t thought such a thing possible until a few days ago.

Abrah put his hands on her shoulders. “It is formality. Only one of us can be the legal guardian of the children. But you can be with either of us as often or as little as you wish. It is up to you.”

Audrey glanced at Heroc. He gave her an understanding smile and gave an almost imperceptive nod toward his brother. The enormity of his sacrifice rocked her and she gave a prayer of silent thanks for his capacity to love. Heroc had faith in his heart and hope in his soul. He also deeply loved his brother and understood that Abrah needed the commitment more than he did. He was trusting her not to leave him out of the new relationship they would all forge together.

She took a deep breath and plunged headfirst into her new life. “I accept.” She went up onto her toes and kissed Abrah. His lips were firm and unyielding and she began to wonder if she’d made a mistake. Maybe he didn’t want her as much as Heroc did.

Feeling self-conscious, she started to pull away. Abrah uttered an oath and took her mouth in a torrid kiss. He stole the very breath from her body, kissing her until she grew lightheaded. She swayed when he released her but he caught her easily, lifting her into his arms.

“Come. You are cold and need to be in bed.”

Heroc laughed at his brother’s pronouncement. “She is probably warmer than we are.”

Audrey’s eyes widened when she stared at Heroc. She’d been so caught up in the emotion and the enormity of the moment she hadn’t
really
looked at either of them. “You’re naked.” She glanced down over Abrah’s body. “And so are you.”

He laughed and she stared at his beloved face as his joy washed over her. She’d never heard Abrah laugh, not like this, unrestrained and totally happy. She’d done this for him.

The rightness of her decision settled over her. Yes, she was still scared to death. She didn’t know quite how she’d fit in here but she’d find a way. And they would help her. She trusted them to be by her side all the way.

She toyed with Abrah’s hair as he carried her down the stairs and into the bedroom. Heroc closed the door, locking the three of them and Carn inside. The dog went to his usual spot in front of the fire and settled back down ready for sleep.

But his master had other ideas and sleep wasn’t one of them. Audrey laughed when Abrah tossed her onto the bed. She felt as though a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. For a brief moment she wondered what would happen to her apartment and belongings and how long would it be before anyone reported her missing. She’d probably end up as the subject of one of those crime news shows somewhere down the road when no sign of her was ever found.

Those morbid thoughts disappeared when Abrah followed her down onto the bed. He pulled her into his arms and rolled her onto her back, all the while kissing her and running his hands all over her body. He made quick work of her sweater, pants and panties.

Something dug into her back and she yanked it from beneath her. It was the remains of her bra. It looked as though it had been burnt. “What happened to my bra?”

Heroc snorted with laughter and his eyes twinkled. “It is all Abrah’s fault.” He joined them on the bed and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

There was a story there for sure, but it would have to wait. “I love you.” She blurted the words out. “Both of you.” They had to know, had to understand why she stayed, why she’d overcome a lifetime of fear.

Both men stopped and stared down at her. Abrah spoke first. “You are everything to us.” His voice shook with the emotion behind his words. His hands were gentle on her face as he stroked his fingers over her cheeks. “No one will love you more than we do. No man could ever cherish you the way we do.”

“You have given us a great gift.” Heroc brushed a lock of her hair away from her forehead. “Thank you.”

Audrey smiled and laid a hand on each of their faces. “Thank you for the gift you’ve given me. Thank you for giving me something to believe in.”

Abrah groaned and kissed her and it was a long time later when they all finally slept.

* * * * *

Carn rose from his spot in front of the hearth and padded toward the bedroom door. It wasn’t closed all the way and he used his nose to push it open. He climbed up the stairs to the abandoned tower and went unerringly toward the center of the room.

The older woman stepped out of the shadows and laughed as the dog let out a loud
woof
. “Thank you my friend for playing your part.” She petted his broad, furry head and smiled with satisfaction. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Using the tapestry so much in such a short span of years was messing with the magic she’d spun into it all those years ago, making it a little unpredictable. Audrey was supposed to have ended up inside the keep when she arrived three days ago, not lost outside in a raging storm. Thankfully, Carn had been more than willing to lend aid and lead the Dannon brothers to their perspective bride.

The sorceress shrugged. She’d have to see if anything could be done about that. But now it was time for her to go. The tapestry shimmered next to her, the design on the front constantly changing, and then both of them disappeared, traveling once again through time and space.

Carn stood and stared for the longest time at the place where the lady had stood. Then he padded to the door and headed back down the stairs toward the warm fire, the room and the woman already forgotten.

Epilogue

“Why is it taking so long?” Abrah paced up and down the hallway, wearing a rut in the stone floor. Everyone in the keep was tense. It had been two long days.

“Tara says these things take time,” Heroc assured his brother even as he cast a glance at the closed door. “Especially with the first one.”

“Enough of this.” Abrah slammed the bedroom door open and stalked inside just as a cry of pain shattered the silence. He hurried forward and fell to his knees beside the bed.

Audrey’s hair was plastered against her skull with sweat. Her face was pale and her lips were red from where she had bitten them.

“My love.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.

“You should not be in here, my lord,” Tara scolded him. She didn’t take her eyes off Audrey and he could see her growing concern in the deep grooves around her eyes and mouth.

“This is the only place I can be. I will not leave you again,” Abrah promised.

“Nor will I.” Heroc went to her other side, picked up a damp cloth and patted it over Audrey’s forehead.

She closed her eyes and gave another cry.

“You are almost there, my lady. Do not push. Not yet.”

Audrey nodded and gritted her teeth. As he watched, Abrah watched her enlarged stomach ripple. His child was in there waiting to be born. It had been almost two days now. Two days of pain and waiting. Abrah had never felt so helpless in his life.

His gaze met Heroc’s and he knew his brother felt the same. Ever since the day he had married Audrey, their lives had changed for the better. All of their people adored her. She’d spent countless hours learning to weave and then she had proceeded to create new dyes for the wool and design patterns for the cloth they wove that was garnering attention from surrounding lords and especially their ladies. Their new cloth had enabled them to trade for a wider variety of goods, bringing prosperity to all who lived at Dannon Keep.

The day she had told them she was expecting a child had been the best of his life, second only to the day they’d wed. Nine months almost to the day of her arrival she had gone into labor.

“Now, my lady. Push!”

Audrey gripped his hand and squeezed it so tight she cut off the blood flow. He grimaced but held on. She gritted her teeth and grunted as she bore down.

“That’s it,” Tara praised when Audrey finally stopped. “Again. The baby is almost here.”

Audrey panted for breath, her strength waning. Abrah wished he could do this for her. All he could do was watch helplessly.

Tara had one hand low on Audrey’s belly. “Push.”

Audrey grunted and pushed again, every muscle in her body tensing as she gave it everything she had. She gave a tired cry and then another wail echoed in the room. “It’s a boy.” Tara laughed as a tear rolled down her cheek. She carefully eased the babe onto his mother’s stomach. “You have a son, my lord.”

Abrah leaned down and kissed his wife’s forehead. “Thank you, my love.”