Page 2 of Marin’s Promise

“There are too many of them to fight,” she said weakly. “Let us keep this as peaceful as possible. Open the gates.”

“Open the gates,” Sir Richard bellowed with such readiness, Marin knew he had been hoping to hear those very words.

She didn't wait to see the reivers amass below on their anxious mounts. Nay, she ran down the stone stairs to the gatehouse with Anice close at her heels. If they came in with weapons raised, she could at least head them off, give the women and children an opportunity to flee.

“My lady, please.” Sir Richard followed Marin down the stairs. “I do not trust them.”

“This was my choice,” she replied, her decision made. “I will be the first to face the consequences. Take Anice back into the castle.”

“My lady, your mother—” he broke off before digging deeper into a wound that had not healed in any of them these past eleven years.

Anice’s mouth opened as if to protest.

“I am not my mother,” Marin replied. “Take Anice into the castle.” She lifted her head and turned from him. Her steps were confident as she strode to the gatehouse. No doubt the reivers could smell fear. She would not give them the satisfaction.

The heavy metal portcullis gave great groaning squeals and protests as it rose and revealed to her the force of an army. Still it was not enough to cover Anice’s pleas to remain.

But Marin was not focusing on Anice. Not when Cat was locked against the man with a blade set to her neck, defeated, her face ruddy from silent tears. “Marin, please don't do this,” she said miserably.

But it was already done.

“Ye dinna have enough men to fight us, so dinna bother trying.” The reiver removed the blade from Cat’s throat and shoved her forward on stumbling legs. Marin caught her second youngest sister before the girl could fall. Cat clung to her, her slender body trembling.

“Do you mean to attack us?” Marin pushed Cat behind her and regarded the reiver who had craftily forced his way past their fortifications.

He was tall with deep set eyes of the most intense, dark brown she'd ever seen. His black hair fell in messy waves to his shoulders from beneath his steel helm and an unruly beard covered his entire jaw. A trail of blood showed beneath his sharp nose from where Cat had struck him.

“Who are ye?” He sniffed hard again and wiped at the injury. Marin’s lip curled in disgust. The man was a beast. And so was the younger man, barely more than a lad, standing stoically next to him.

“I am Lady Marin, eldest daughter of the Earl of Werrick.” Marin spoke with strength and authority. This man would not intimidate her. “We are mostly women and children here. We do not want to fight.”

“Ye mean ye dinna want to die.” The dark eyes scanned up her body and came to rest on her face, assessing.

She wasn’t wearing her chainmail and hated her own vulnerability. Her simple blue kirtle was of fine Italian brocade with bits of silver thread embroidered at the ends of her sleeves. It was a poor substitute for chainmail and a solid sword in her palm. She straightened as tall as she could and stared directly back at him.

She could assess as well, and he had been found wanting.

“Are ye the mistress of the castle?” he asked.

“Aye,” Marin replied.

“Cede the castle to me, or we attack.” He folded his arms over his chest while the whole of his army pressed at his back.

Cede the castle?Marin nearly blanched. And yet…there were too many of them. Even if she gave the order for the portcullis to be closed, it wouldn’t be done in time to block out the storming reivers. Her own men would be not strong enough to defend Werrick Castle. It could not be like last time the castle had been taken, not like with the Grahams.

“Nay, Marin,” Cat whimpered behind her. “Please.”

Marin gritted her teeth. Better to give her castle without a fight than allow all of them to be killed. She squared her shoulders with determination. “I will cede my castle only on the condition that my people remain unharmed.”

The reiver lifted his brows. “Ye’re negotiating with me?”

“Aye.” Marin was in no position to do so, and they both knew it, but she refused to back down. “If you do not agree, we will be forced to attack.”

He smirked. “Ye would lose.”

“And many of your men would die.” Marin crossed her arms over her chest as well, mirroring his easy confidence.

He gave a mirthless chuckle. “Verra well, my lady.” He bowed mockingly. “Cede yer castle and I give ye my word yer people willna be hurt.”