LITMIR.BIZ

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then, getting up in front of people had been difficult for me, but I obeyed my parents.

      Once again, the Monvílles had hoped to embarrass Jarrod, probably thinking that I would be too shattered by my newfound existence to consider such a public display of myself. Even more, that the harp would look ridiculously out-of-place at Volodane Hall.

      Looking directly at Jarrod, I said, “Father, would you like me to play?”

      In this way, I placed him back in control of the situation, as if the decision to hear music tonight was entirely his.

      He nodded.

      Sebastian raised an eyebrow at me quizzically.

      Standing, I went to the harp and settled myself. Then I drew upon the strings to test them. It was a good instrument. First, I played a lively, cheerful tune—or as lively as one can play on a harp—and I glanced over to see the astonishment on Jarrod’s face.

      I should have told him before, but it had never occurred to me.

      When I finished, Phillipe called out, “Sing us a ballad. The one about the girl who drowns.”

      Lady Rosamund smiled tightly. “Of course. Megan has such a sweet, clear voice.”

      Again, her words were barbs, for my voice would certainly never fill a large room, and she meant to point this out. But I could carry a tune and hit the highest notes with a pleasing sound as opposed to the screech of many young noblewomen.

      Rolf and Kai glanced at each other in open surprise, as if uncertain this scene was playing out in their own hall.

      When I began to sing, everyone fell silent. Even Betty and Matilda stopped moving. The ballad was a sad one about two star-crossed lovers who tried to escape their families, each one taking a different ship to meet up on the shores of another country.

      The girl’s ship is caught is a storm, and she is lost.

      In the last stanza, she speaks to her love:

      When you look at the harsh waves

      When you look at the sea

      When your long life is ending

      You will still see me

      I allowed the final note to hang in the air. When I looked up, Rolf stared back at me, and then he began to clap. The others joined him quickly, even Kai.

      “I think that might be enough music,” Lady Rosamund said.

      By way of answer, Jarrod stood, and I was glad he knew enough to cue the others. It was customary after dessert and entertainment for the guests to walk about a dining hall, sipping wine, looking at tapestries, and visiting with one another.

      I also knew this was the time the men would conduct business, and I quietly made my way to Jarrod, Rolf, and Lord Allemond where they stood near the hearth.

      Discussion of the land purchase was already underway.

      “I do think you should ride the day after next and meet me at the old hunting lodge,” Allemond was saying. “My gamekeeper swears some of the trees have bark beetles. I haven’t seen an issue, but with such rumors, it would be wise for both of us if you and Rolf come out and check for yourselves before money changes hands.”

      Jarrod was a cautious man by nature, and he listened carefully. “The day after tomorrow?”

      “Yes, I’m free that afternoon.”

      The situation appeared straightforward enough. There had been a report of bark beetles, which would damage the value of any lumber taken out, and Allemond wanted Jarrod and Rolf to check trees at random themselves.

      I was nervous. In the past, I’d occasionally tried to do two readings in a day and had sometimes failed in the second attempt. Though I was still drained from my reading that morning, I had no choice but to try here. Focusing my mind, I reached out to connect with Allemond’s, and as had happened with Lavonia, a wall of emotion hit me. It was so strong I nearly lost my composure. Hatred and fear seethed through him. Bracing myself, I reached deeper until snippets of his thoughts grew clear.

      No such men on the Council of Nobles . . .

      Cannot be allowed to happen . . .

      Nearly lost inside his mind, I felt the things he felt. He feared the Volodanes rising to greater power, and the events of tonight had driven his fear into panic. He saw Jarrod and Rolf as a threat, as brutish, uneducated men who could never be allowed to push themselves into the realm of civilized men or decisions that affected the nation.

      His thoughts rolled forward to the suggested meeting, and I saw a clear image of a lodge surrounded by oak trees. He envisioned himself out front of the lodge, on his horse, with two other men, one on each side of him, and a few guards behind. Inside his mind, I took note of the two men at his sides.

      One was enormous, with a dark beard and black leather armor, on a bay warhorse. The other was wiry with a scar on his forehead. He rode a great roan stallion.

      Jarrod and Rolf soon entered his vision of what would play out, and they rode up with perhaps ten guards.

      As they approached the lodge, dozens of men suddenly charged from the trees on horseback, swinging swords and surrounding them. Allemond envisioned himself just watching, but the two men with him rode into the fray.

      The large, bearded man charged straight at Rolf, coming at him from behind as he fought two attackers on his right. This man took Rolf’s head off in the first swing. Several other men were rushing Jarrod . . .

      I stumbled backward and pulled out of Allemond’s mind. I couldn’t look anymore. He dreamed of murdering Jarrod and Rolf. He was planning their deaths.

      Rolf stepped toward me and reached out with one hand. “Are you all right?”

      Faint from overtaxing myself, I tried to smile. “It’s nothing. Perhaps the fire is too warm?”

      Neither of the other two men had even noticed.

      “You’ll ride to meet me?” Allemond pressed. “The day after tomorrow?”

      Though it was deftly done, Jarrod glanced at me. I shook my head once at him.

      “I’ll have to check and see what needs our attention that day,” Jarrod answered. Then he yawned. “Let’s talk over breakfast.”

      As the Monvílle border was a half day’s ride, they would need to spend the night here and ride out in the morning. This was one area where I could not do much to make Jarrod appear as a proper host. The old keep didn’t boast many guest rooms, but I had managed to have several rooms prepared on the third floor of the tower. At least the bedding was clean.

      However, Allemond seemed taken aback by Jarrod’s response. He’d expected a quick assent to his sensible suggestion.

      “I don’t see why we cannot decide this now . . .” He trailed off as Jarrod walked away from him.

      “It grows late,” Jarrod announced. “Time to retire.”

      This was clearly an order, but Lady Rosamund and Phillipe took the time to say proper good nights before joining with Lord Allemond and leaving with Betty to be shown to their rooms. Allemond’s face was dark. I doubted anything about this evening had gone as he’d planned.

      Once our guests were out of the hall, Jarrod looked to Sebastian and Kai. “Out. Both of you.”

      Sebastian glanced at me. “You did well.”

      “So did you,” I managed to answer, but I felt so drained I had trouble staying on my feet.

      A few moments later, Jarrod, Rolf, and I were alone in the hall, and Jarrod turned to me.

      “Well?” he demanded.

      Too weary to even attempt to soften the blow, I answered. “He plans to have you and Rolf murdered the day you go to meet him at the hunting lodge.”

      It

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