Tapestries 04 - Threads of Destiny (13 page)

Tienan stroked his hand over his chin. “It might all be moot anyway. Kathryn will want to return home.” He paused and his green eyes bored into Marc. “If you want her to stay, you’ll have a battle on your hands, both with Kathryn and with the laws of your land.”

All three men were silent as they pondered everything.

“So Christina came from earth?” Logan pushed away from the wall and strolled over to the table. He went straight to the tankard of ale and poured some into three of the four cups that sat beside it. Picking up two, he handed them to the other men before retrieving his own.

“Yes. And so did Jane, wife of Zaren and Bador Bakra.”

“And they are fine with this situation.” Tienan held his cup in his hand, not drinking.

“Jane is very happy from what I have seen and so is Christina.” Marc paused and took a sip from his cup before setting it on the mantle. “I’m the one who is not content.

Although I was raised to expect and accept this, I cannot. Christina belongs to Jarek. I have not sought her out for more than a year.” It was important for these men to understand that he was not attached to Christina as a lover but as a friend.

Logan shook his head. “I cannot see Kathryn being happy in such a situation.”

“Nor can I,” Tienan agreed.

“I want Kathryn for myself.” He saw no point in holding anything back from these men. He wanted them to know where he stood.

“I kinda figured that out for myself.” Logan saluted him with his glass, tipping it up and draining it before lowering it to the table with a thump. “Problem is, I want her too.”

“So do I.” Tienan pushed to his feet, hands on his hips. “I have wanted her for years but did not dare to make it known until recently.” He glanced at Logan. “Neither of us dared. The situation would have been too dangerous for her. Our claim is just as valid, if not more-so, than yours.”

Marc didn’t bother to dispute their claim. He knew it was true. Both Tienan and Logan had the right to try to win Kathryn’s love and affection. “It must be her choice.” On that point he would not waver. Marc’s insides were tied up in knots. He’d wanted to avoid this but knew it had to happen. “Kathryn is very fond of both of you. She is also attracted to you.” He almost choked on the words.

“What are you suggesting?” Tienan’s eyes narrowed. Marc could tell the other man was weighing and measuring his every word.

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Marc pushed away from the mantle, taking the measure of the men in front of him.

They were worthy adversaries. He didn’t want to like them but he did. Their devotion to Kathryn was obvious and they put her safety above their own. He had a feeling that if he knew them better, they could be friends.

“That we follow the customs of Javara. The three of us will go to Kathryn tonight and pleasure her. That way, when the time comes, her choice will be made with full knowledge.”

“She won’t accept us all in her bed.” Logan shook his head even as Marc sensed the other man’s growing desire.

“Maybe not back in her world but here…” Marc let his words hang in the air.

Christina had told him much about the sexual norms on her planet. He knew what he was suggesting would be foreign in their world unless their culture had changed a great deal in the past hundred or so years. “Here it is totally acceptable and expected.” His heart pounded heavily and he wanted to fight, to work off the excess anger flooding his veins. “I have seen her looking at you both. She will accept you and welcome all of us.” Marc knew it had to be this way. Otherwise he’d never be sure of Kathryn if she stayed.

And if she left…

He couldn’t even fathom the possibility. For the first time, he began to entertain a different idea. If she wouldn’t stay, perhaps he could go with her when she left. She was not safe in her world but he could fight by her side. Tienan and Logan would teach him to use those strange weapons that he’d seen. Even if he died in that strange world, he’d be with her. Leaving behind his family and his home would be hard but losing Kathryn would be like losing himself. He would not survive.

He stepped forward. “Are you with me?”

Logan nodded. Marc turned to Tienan.

“I’m in,” Tienan replied, rubbing his hand thoughtfully over his jaw. “Although I still think that you’re wrong about her accepting all three of us in her bed.” Marc shook his head. “She already has, or do you not remember the dream?” Both men appeared shocked and then Logan smiled. It was filled with male satisfaction and a hint of anticipation. “She has, hasn’t she?”

*

Kathryn had waited until the door closed before rolling over onto her back and staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t believe the debacle she’d just experienced. While she understood their want of a woman, the way they were going about it almost guaranteed that any sane woman was going to run in the opposite direction.

She turned onto her side and something dug in to her stomach. The journal. Sitting up, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small leather volume. She stared at it for a long time. Somehow she knew she’d find answers in there.

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Sliding off the bed, she padded over to the window seat where the light was better.

The colorful panel was a thing of beauty, depicting a garden scene. She traced her fingers over the vibrant reds, blues, yellows and greens before settling on the seat.

Opening the journal, she began to read. Page after page, she scanned, the story unfolding. Seems her ancestor was a sorceress, if one believed in such things. A few days ago, Kathryn would have scoffed at the idea. A woman of science, she dealt in the facts. But she was also smart enough to know that there were many unexplained and undiscovered things in her world and beyond.

She was living proof that there was such a thing as travel across time and space and her ancestor was responsible for it. The woman talked about living in various worlds, in different times. Whether it was fact or fiction, it made for fascinating reading.

The woman, whose name was Sarainta, had apparently lived in Javara for a while.

Though she had decided not to stay, she had been moved by the plight of the people and the ingenious solution they’d created for dealing with it. Using her magic, she’d created the tapestry to travel to other places and times and bring to Javara women who did not fit in their own time but who might flourish here. One per generation, maybe two. The decision belonged to the tapestry. If it could find two women, it could offer them the choice.

Kathryn curled up, resting her head against the stone wall as she thought about the science behind time travel. It boggled the mind. Turning her attention back to the book, she began reading once again.

Her eyes widened as she read about the various brides who’d been brought here over the years. Gasping, her fingers gripping the book tightly, she read about Christina and how Sarainta had enticed the other woman to buy the tapestry. She detailed the story of Jane Bakra, formerly Jane Smith, whom Kathryn had yet to meet. Her story was as amazing as Christina’s. She also explained the book in the attic. Apparently, Sarainta had befriended a writer and gifted her with the stories, encouraging her to tell them.

The writer had believed them to be nothing but fanciful stories of fiction but had agreed to tell the fantastic tales, enthralled by the unique tales of love and devotion.

Incredible!

Kathryn rubbed her forehead in wonder. This must have been written around the same time Christina actually arrived in Javara. That was over a hundred years in earth time but Christina had only been here for about six years. Time was fluid and it seemed that the tapestry and her ancestor had been able to move easily through time and space.

Totally enthralled, she continued to read until she stumbled across her own name.

Heart pounding, she read her own story on the pages. It detailed everything, including the battle in which Marc appeared and her own journey to Javara. What it didn’t have was an ending. The story abruptly stopped after it detailed her finding the journal and reading it.

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Okay, now she was totally freaked out. This wasn’t possible. Yet it was there in black and white. She almost tossed the book away but at the last second flipped through the remaining pages, stopping when she saw more writing.

Her eyes flew over the sheets, absorbing everything. Ohmigod! The secret of the tapestry was in the book. It was so simple if you knew the secret and accepted that there was such a thing as magic.

Kathryn swallowed as she read the final lines aloud. “This is my legacy to you but it is your choice. You are of my blood. The only living descendant of my line on Earth.

Whether you go or stay, you will have the knowledge of the tapestry to help and guide you. It is a portal to other worlds if you but know its secret. Trust that the tapestry would never have brought you here if you could not find happiness in this world. The tapestry has an intellect and a life all its own. You are but a guide but as you alone are of my blood, you can call it to you if necessary.” Stunned, Kathryn read the final instructions at the bottom of the page. Standing, she staggered slightly when a pain much like pins and needles poking at her went through her leg. She’d been sitting on it for a long time. The sun had passed its peak in the sky and the afternoon was waning. Kathryn knew that her time alone would soon come to an end.

Stumbling over to the fireplace, she stirred the embers, carefully adding several tiny pieces of kindling to it until she got a small flame. Slowly, she knelt and stared into the fire as it snapped and reached higher. She took a deep breath and ripped the final pages from the leather book and fed them one at a time into the flames. The fire greedily consumed them, protecting their secrets forever.

When it was done, Kathryn sat before the tiny blaze, her mind spinning with the possibilities. She could travel through time and space. She could go home or she could try her luck in a totally different world. Or she could stay here.

Her fingers tightened around the journal as Marc’s face popped into her mind. All day, her thoughts had gone to him again and again. But the laws of the land would not allow her to remain with him. Tears pricked her eyes but she blinked them back. There was no time for that now.

Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside. Pushing to her feet, she went back to the window. Kathryn placed her nose against the glass, peering through the few clear pieces of glass. There was a huge crowd gathering in the courtyard below.

“They wouldn’t.” With her obsession with reading the journal, she’d forgotten all about the men issuing challenges earlier. She knew what that meant. A fight. Possibly to the death, with Marc right in the thick of things.

What had she missed while she’d been hiding away in her room? Because that’s what she’d been doing, she realized. Hiding.

Well, the time had come to face the reality of the situation. She’d faced down worse and survived. She could do this. But, her heart screamed that she’d never had this much to lose before. Although she was attracted to Tienan and Logan, she had deeper feelings 71

for Marc. It might seem impossible but then this entire situation was impossible. What was one more thing?

There was one heavy thud on the door and it was shoved open. Christina, her face pale, rushed into the room. “You have to come with me.” 72

Standing in the courtyard, Marc swung his sword, testing it, feeling the perfectly balanced blade cut through the air. It was an extension of his hand, a weapon he’d used many times before. There was a light breeze but the sun was shining. The air was sweet with the smell of freshly cut hay, overlaid with the scent of leather, sweat and horses.

His long hair was tied back at his nape and he’d discarded his vest. His boots and leather pants fit comfortably and his wrists and upper arms were sheathed in strong, metal bands. A sense of rightness and calm descended upon him. This was his destiny.

“Are you certain?” His brother stood by his side, ready to support him but Marc could see the concern in Jarek’s face. He loved and respected his brother, had watched his back and followed him into battle many times. Now it was Jarek’s turn to watch and wait while Marc fought.

“There is no other choice. Kathryn is mine.”

Jarek’s piercing brown eyes narrowed as he watched the gathering crowd. A dog barked in the distance and the murmur of the crowd grew louder. The clang of metal and the swish of blades being tested filled the air as several groups of men readied themselves and their champion to fight. “What about Christina?” It was a casual question but Marc sensed the turbulence underlying his brother’s words.

“Christina has always been yours.” This time when he said the words there was no emptiness in his heart, for Kathryn had filled it. Marc had gone to his two nephews earlier, giving them one final hug before they were sent off with Mara. He expected to win but he wanted to say goodbye just in case. The outcome of any fight was never one hundred percent certain.

Their conversation was cut short as Tienan strode up to them, Logan by his side.

Both men looked determined and Tienan appeared more than ready to fight even with the bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Looking at him, you’d never know that the man had been close to death just a day before. His powers of recovery were phenomenal. “We will fight beside you.”

Marc shook his head. “That is not the way it is done. Each family will chose a champion and I will fight them. However,” he continued as Tienan started to interrupt.

“I would value having you watch my back in case someone gets a bit overzealous and tries to interfere.”

Tienan’s eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. “That is hardly fair. Kathryn was ours to protect long before you knew her.”

That reminder made Marc scowl. The fact that they had a history with Kathryn left him unsettled. He could fight for her but she could still choose one of the other men. Or she might simply decide to return home. His fingers tightened around his sword hilt 73

and he forced them to relax. Now was not the time to allow emotion to take over. That would only hinder him as he fought.