Blood Ties (Noble of Blood Series Book 2) by Wright A L

Author:Wright, A L [Wright, A L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Noble Blood Books
Published: 2015-12-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Victor stood stoically nearby as his Prince sat silently at his desk. They had just ridden back into the keep to find that Tynen and the girls were gone. Dartein was seething mad, but trying very hard to control it.

Nikka had never done anything against her father’s will before. But she was a grown woman, and could take care of herself. That did not cause them to worry less, however. Having Tynen with them was good, they would be that much safer.

Victor knew all that was running through his Prince’s head. He also knew that every irrational thought about hordes of goblins setting upon them unexpectedly was in there as well.

He knew that because he was having all those same thoughts himself. And a couple other ones. He was trying quite hard to push them away, but just couldn’t.

Ever since they had brought the smithy girl here, he knew he was going to lose Nikka. He knew it, but had not been resigned to it. He knew that he did not deserve such a woman for himself. But he dared hope.

That hope died the day he saw Nikka and Friesa holding hands. Their casual conversation about turning the girl cemented his belief that he had lost her completely. He never should have shut her out like he had. Victor had seen in hindsight that if only he had opened up just a bit, she would have responded.

But he had been afraid.

A loud bang had Victor opening his eyes to see his friend standing with his fists on the desk. His thoughts had taken him to dark places, and he hadn’t even realized his eyes were closed until just then.

“Victor, I cannot leave the keep. Not now, not while we are negotiating with the humans. I cannot have them deciding to move out here to our lands, and myself not even present when they do. That will not foster trust.”

They had ridden to the village to speak with the humans there about the goblin raids, urging them to send their able bodied people out to the keep to learn how to fight. Dartein needed an army, and did not have a chamber to turn humans. So he had to build one however he could.

A couple of families decided that they would take their chances farming out next to the keep. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. As they left the village, they heard talk among others about doing the same.

They could only hope that enough would come to make it worth it.

“I understand, my Prince. Let me go after the girls.” Victor hoped his Prince wouldn’t order him to stay behind. The worry that his Princess would slumber with Friesa to turn her was starting to turn him inside out. He was going to lose her once and for all, and without even a chance to say his piece.

Dartein was quiet for several moments, and it almost drove Victor into a panic waiting for him to speak. His old friend looked up finally, studying Victor’s face.

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