“I’m leaving.” Kathryn pushed away from the table. Marc fell in beside her, not willing to let her out of his sight. Tienan and Logan were right beside them, arranging themselves so that Kathryn was boxed in on three sides.
The sound of steel being drawn from a scabbard sliced through the arguments.
Mennoc Fairmount and his brother Enoc stepped in front of Kathryn, swords drawn.
Marc’s sword was in his hand before he actually thought about drawing it. Positioning himself in front of Kathryn, he faced down the brothers.
“Stand aside, Garen, you have a woman. Your brother has a wife.” The words were painful daggers in his chest. His woman was behind him. “You will step aside and allow Kathryn to pass.”
Mennoc waggled his sword. “We merely want to talk to her and get to know her better.”
Kathryn pushed her way in front of him. “I have no desire to talk to you. Any of you.” Her gaze swept the men who now blocked their way. She lifted an eyebrow.
“And in this instance, mine is the only opinion that matters.” Marc fought to hold back the grin that threatened. Damn but she was a spirited woman. Mennoc frowned and then scowled. “By law we are allowed to challenge.”
“You may challenge but that does not mean you will win,” Marc shot back. He wrapped his arm around Kathryn’s shoulders and they continued forward. The Fairmount brothers stood their ground with the Forrester family behind them. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Nardor brothers watching with interest.
Mennoc’s sword lowered to halt their passage. Before anyone could react, another sword shot out, twisting beneath Mennoc’s blade and sending it flying into the air, where it clattered as it hit the wall and fell to the floor. It was a daring move and a quick one. Marc’s gaze darted to his left, expecting to see his brother. Instead it was Logan who stepped forward, the tip of his blade level with Mennoc’s heart.
“The woman does not wish to speak with you.” Logan’s voice was low but all in the room could hear the menace in it.
“You are a stranger here,” Mennoc sputtered. “You do not know our laws.”
“I care not for your laws. The only thing that matters is Kathryn.” He pricked the other man’s skin and a thin line of blood trickled down his chest. “That is my law. Do you understand?”
Mennoc nodded and stepped away. Logan nodded but did not lower his blade until Marc and Tienan had ushered Kathryn back up the stairs.
She was shaking almost uncontrollably by the time they reached her room. “I can’t believe them.” She slammed into the room. “Who the hell do they think they are? They can’t just claim me because they want me.” She glared at Marc. “Your world has serious problems.”
“And yours does not?” he countered back. He was furious. The actions of the men below had made her even more determined than ever to leave.
“At least I understand my world,” she muttered, absently rubbing her stomach.
“Sometimes…”
Marc’s anger fled. “Your belly is paining again.” He ushered her over to the bed.
“You should rest. Mara will be up shortly with something to ease your stomach.” She started to protest and then subsided. “I’d like to be alone for a while.” Every cell in Marc’s body rebelled against this but he knew she needed this time.
He had plans for later but first he wanted to talk with Logan and Tienan. He cupped her face in his hands. “Promise me you’ll rest.” Her expression softened and she sighed. “I promise.”
“Everything will work out.” He’d make certain of it.
She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. “I don’t think anything will ever be all right again.” Pulling away from his grasp, she turned away from him, curling on her side on the bed.
He pulled a fur over her body, hesitating before leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “Rest. I’ll be back in an hour or so.” He’d need that much time to talk to Tienan and Logan and to respond to the challenges that would be put forth.
Gesturing to the other men, they all left the guest room, closing the door behind them. They were a grim trio as they went down the hallway to Marc’s room where the men had passed the night.
Tienan spoke first. “What’s going on? What do they mean when they said that they want to claim Kathryn?”
Marc motioned for them to sit. Tienan threw himself down onto a chair, Logan leaned against the wall and Marc propped himself up against the fireplace mantle. In simple, concise words, he explained about Javara and the history of the tapestry.
He told them how women were scarce in this world and brothers competed for a bride. Only one man could marry the woman but she would spend one night a week with each of his brothers. That way no man did without and peace was kept among all.
There was one woman to no more than three men, so if there were four brothers in a family, they had the right to claim two brides. And if the husband was killed or died, the woman still had the protection of the brother, whom she could then wed if she desired.
The tapestry was a gift from a sorceress. It appeared once each generation and on the rare occasion, twice. A tapestry bride was thought to bring luck to the family and the union always bore female children, which was important to all. This third time was unprecedented in their history and no one knew what it meant. The tapestry had never taken one of them away from Javara. Marc was the first.
Tienan contemplated Marc for a few moments before speaking. “If I’m understanding your laws, it is illegal for you to claim Kathryn.” Marc’s heart clenched, but he ignored the pain. “It does not matter.” He would break any law, do whatever it took, to be with her.
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.”