Page 123 of Bound to a Warrior
“You didn’t tell anyone,” Mercy said.
“I wanted to savor the news,” Duncan explained. “I’ll tell them all tomorrow.
“You feel well?” he asked and then shook his head. “You must. You have survived another plunge off a cliff.” He kissed her. “You know how to swim.”
“After I healed, I practiced every day.”
His hand drifted to the scar on her shoulder and his fingers brushed over it ever so lightly. “I am sorry you suffered.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she assured him. “My father is to blame. He wanted to know about the symbol my mother traced on my hand.”
Duncan released Mercy and plopped flat on his back. Her chained wrist followed his and came to rest across his chest. She turned with it and slipped her leg over his.
“What’s wrong?” she asked propping her elbow beside his shoulder and resting the side of her head in her hand.
“I need to tell you something.”
“This will upset me?” she asked, her eyes widening.
“No. Well, I hope not,” he admitted.
“Then tell me and be done with it.”
“That piece of hide your mother showed you belonged to the true king of Scotland and the symbol she traced on your hand is a secret code, only the true king can decipher.
“How do you know this and how did my mother ever come by it?” Mercy asked, confused.
“I don’t know how your mother came by the piece since it has long been stored in a chest in the solar,” he said. “My brothers and I assume that someone from here stole it and gave it to your mother.”
“Why?”
Duncan shrugged. “We don’t know, though if we can find out who stole it, we can find out why it was given to your mother.”
“This piece of hide is important?”
“It holds the proof of his birth. It is what makes him the rightful king.”
“Then he can no longer claim the throne?” she asked, worried.
“He will take the throne, he knows how, so do not worry.”
“How do you know so much about the true king?” she asked.
“That’s what I need to tell you,” he said. “You know the first part of the myth?”
Mercy nodded and recited it. “Four warriors ride together and then divide, among them the true king hides.”
“My brothers and I are the four warriors,” Duncan said.
Mercy stared at him for a moment, shook her head, opened her mouth to speak, closed it and then shook her head again. Finally she said, “That makes one of you the true king of Scotland.”
Duncan nodded. “And I cannot reveal his identity.” He took her hand in his. “So I need to know if you will marry me knowing that I may or may not be king.”
Mercy leaned down and kissed him. “I love you, Duncan, and I would be proud to be your wife, king or not.” With a smile she raised the shackles that bound them. “Chained or not, I am bound to you, but it is love that binds us and forever will.”
