Bound: Chained Trilogy, #3 by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion [Marion, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marion Press

* * *

“Leofred, look! There, on the horizon.”

Raising his hand to shield his gaze from the setting sun, Leofred narrowed his eyes and searched the waters beyond for what Gwen had just detected.

Ships. An entire fleet of them, bobbing steadily toward the rocky shore of Daleraia.

Rising with the sun that morning, they had continued on their journey through the rugged valley. A full day’s travel saw them to the shore, where they now stood studying the approaching ships.

“They’re too far out for me to determine who it is,” Leofred said, lowering his head, “but I am willing to bet that they are ours.”

Gwen frowned. “Sir Caden did mention that one of Dilles Bothe’s scouts reported seeing a fleet amassed at Seahaven. Do you suppose Achart refused the treaty and launched the ships? Or sent them before the treaty had arrived?”

Leofred shrugged. “Either could be true. However, those are not just Seahaven’s ships. There are too many.”

Her lips pressed together as she remembered glittering blue-green eyes, a harsh mouth, and hands touching her in places that made her want a hot bath.

“Gaiwan,” she murmured. “The others belong to the Bainards.”

“Perhaps riding to Camritte has become unnecessary. If King Rowan will not act, then I say let Seahaven take its vengeance. ’Tis no more than they deserve for what has been done to our family.”

“’Tis not that simple,” she argued. “Caden believes that the Bainards are responsible for the breaking of the peace between us and the Daleraians. What if he is right? What if King Henry and Prince Gaiwan are using us for the purposes of conquest?”

“What would it gain them?” Leofred argued.

“With Daleraia crushed, all of Alemere could be theirs,” she countered. “They are powerful, perhaps even more so than we are. Their naval might alone would be enough to bring us to our knees.”

“Aye, but where is their motive? I am not denying the possibility, Gwen, but you must think about who stands to gain the most from this. You were not there—the night Evrain, Achart, and I were attacked and kidnapped. The men who did it were Daleraians, not Lerrothians. I saw their faces myself. The men who attacked Heywick were also Daleraians.”

Her mind raced as they watched the steady approach of the vessels. They grew larger against the sunset, taking the form of longships and galleys. She could make out the oars now, stroking rhythmically against the rising and falling tide, as well as the sails, fluttering white against the strength of the wind. There were banners, but from this distance the colors and crests could not be seen.

Could Caden have been wrong about the Bainards? She’d wanted to believe his theory because it made sense. Yet, she could not deny that her brother made a very good case in defense of the Bainards, who sailed alongside her kinsmen to rescue her and Leofred and exact vengeance. As their families were now tied by Gaiwan and Gwen’s betrothal, the Bainards seemed to have chosen to aid them.

Yet,

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