“Aye, she can stay, and her sister will be made known that she now resides here,” Rannick said and called out to the guards outside the door to enter. “One of you escort Damia to the Great Hall and tell a servant to see that she is given food and drink.”
Damia stood. “I am most grateful, my lord.”
“Wait in the Great Hall, my wife will see you when we are done here,” Rannick said.
Once the door closed, Rannick crossed his arms over his chest and settled a glare on Bram. “And why did Lord Odran send you here?”
Bliss saw that she was right. Bran was missing a chunk from one of his earlobes, though it did not distract from his good features.
“I was unwise in who I trusted and not being mindful of what I had been told and warned about,” Bram admitted. “Lord Odran believes I will either learn to become a better warrior here or learn I am no warrior at all.”
“I will see what we can do with you,” Rannick said, “but a warning, do wrong here and I will ship you off to a foreign land and let someone else deal with you.”
“I will serve you well, my lord,” Bram said with a bob of his head.
“How is my sister? Is she happy with Lord Odran?” Bliss asked.
“Lady Elysia asked me not to mention that Saber is actually Lord Odran. She did not want you to worry over the news. But since you already know,” —he shrugged— “one only has to see the way Lord Odran looks at your sister to know he loves her deeply and it appears Elysia feels the same about him. He keeps her well-protected. She is safe with him.”
“I am glad to hear that,” she said.
Her worry over Elysia was for naught. She was doing well and had a husband who would keep her safe. At least she was wed to a man she loved whether he was one of the cursed lords or not.
“You do well, Lady Bliss?” Bram asked.
“You speak to my wife only when she asks you a question. Otherwise, do not address her,” Rannick ordered.
“Aye, my lord,” Bram said with a nod.
Rannick saw that the order did not set well with Bram, annoyance tightening his brow. “You will train with the warriors, and you will do your chores without complaint.” Once again Rannick detected annoyance in the man. Obviously, the mention of chores was not to his liking. “Also, Damia will be your responsibility. You will see her kept safe and see that she is adequately looked after… much like a dutiful husband minus the benefits of marriage.”
Bram looked ready to argue as his mouth shot open.
“I would think wisely before you say anything and remember that Odran is a far more patient man than I am,” Rannick warned.
Bram closed his mouth.
“Go find Lawler and see what chores he sets for you. I will have Damia wait here until you finish,” Rannick ordered. He didn’t look to his wife when he said, “Do you have any questions for Bram, Bliss?”
There were many things she wished to ask him about Elysia, her old home, and the people there, but she did not think her husband would be patient enough to hear it all. She would find another time to talk with Bram.
“Not at this time,” she said, letting her husband know that she would speak with Bram again.
“Go!” Rannick ordered and once the door shut, he took his wife in his arms. “I will be with you any time you speak with him.”
She spoke her worry. “While I do not mind you there, I believe Bram will be reluctant to fully discuss my sister with me in front of you.”
“I can understand that, but—”
“I do not believe he will harm me, but I will make sure there are many around us when I speak with him,” she offered.
“I am not willing to take that chance, but I will see that you speak with him while I am a short distance away.” Rannick did not want to concede even that, but he could understand his wife wanting to learn all she could about what had happened to her sister since she had been gone.
“At least Elysia is wed to someone she loves. I no longer have to worry about her being stuck with a man who would treat her badly,” Bliss said, relieved. “Now I have only Annis to be concerned about.”
“She is with Brogan. You need not worry, he will protect her,” he assured her.
“But can he protect her against a witch?” Bliss asked and shivered at the thought.
The door suddenly swung open, and Lord Lochlann entered. “Did you hear it?”
“Hear what?” Rannick asked, surprised by how pale his father appeared.
“Good Lord, Lochlann, not again,” Rannick’s mum cried as she rushed into the room behind her husband and into his arms.