Free Read: Song of Marwey by Robin D. Owens, Chapter 7

It’s time for the second-last chapter of Robin D. Owens’s story Song of Marwey! In Chapter Seven, Marwey learns that her great-aunt Thealia’s wisdom extends far beyond the battlefield…

Song of Marwey by Robin D. Owens, Chapter 7

After Pascal broke off their affair, Marwey walked around the Castle heart-wounded, soul tune thready for days, trying to act normally. She couldn’t eat. She could barely breathe. The joy of life, of love, had drained from her.

She couldn’t think of words that could convince him they belonged together. Didn’t believe she could convince him. She doubted her judgment and herself.

Her great-aunt, Thealia, was preoccupied with convincing the other Marshalls to Summon the person from another world, and clashing with the Lord Marshall. She only mentioned that Marwey looked a little pale.

Pascal spent most of his time in the Lower Ward of the Castle and the town below, while Marwey stayed in Temple Ward and the keep. Now and then she’d unexpectedly glimpse him in his Castle Soldier’s uniform and hurt would arrow into her so deeply she thought no physical wound she might ever have gotten as a fighter could be worse.

She heard that Pascal’s sponsor, Luthan Vauxveau, had winged horses flown in from his brother Bastien’s estate and had asked Pascal to exercise one. That had closed her throat further.

Pascal hadn’t needed her help with his career. He did better on his own. Everyone knew Bastien’s volarans were the best. No doubt Luthan would recommend Pascal for Chevalier training when the time came, too.

But those occasional sights of Pascal showed that he’d lost weight, and his skin had taken on a pallor.

One morning Thealia burst into the suite after the Marshalls’ council meeting, eyes gleaming and rubbing her hands. “It’s finally done. I won! The vote was with me.”

For an instant, Marwey was pulled from apathy. “I thought Marshall votes had to be unanimous.”

“True, but it looks very bad if only one person disagrees, especially if it’s the Lord Marshall and he’s dissented every step of the way. Then the group begins to think of having a Vote of Confidence and replacing him.” Thealia swept from the sitting room into the bedroom and smiled in satisfaction at the gleaming bow windows — signs of a previous triumph against the Lord Marshall. Marwey followed.

Thealia swirled off her malachite-patterned cape and handed it to Marwey, who hung it in the wardrobe.

“The end of winter is near. Our world of Amee grows closer to the Exotique Land. Soon we can Summon the one who will restore the magical fenceposts that will stop the invading monsters.” Then she turned, her gaze glowing with determination. “This is the right thing to do to save our land. I knew it, and I made it happen.”

She pointed a finger at Marwey. “And I haven’t been blind to your affair with Pascal Raston and that it ended. You are as determined a person as I am, Marwey. You and he belong together, your Songs harmonize. So go make it happen.” Thealia gestured toward the door of the suite. “He’s at the Chevalier’s inn called Nom de Nom in Castleton. Go.”

Marwey’s mouth opened and closed. “I pushed him too hard and broke our Song.”

“So fix it.” Thealia chuckled. “You think I never overwhelmed my husband, made mistakes with him? But he’s strong and stood up to me. We fight together, now. Go get your man.”

The shock of joy at the thought of being with Pascal convinced Marwey. Her pulse quickened. How could she truly live without him? Exist, yes, perhaps recover enough to love another, but she was sure any future love could only be bland and commonplace. What she and Pascal had was extraordinary and she should fight for that love.

She hurried to her room and pulled on her light cloak, then ran from the keep tower and through the Castle courtyards. The sun shone and the day was warm. Yes, winter was ending, and she intended that this hard winter in her heart would end, too. She checked the Song between herself and Pascal. He hadn’t cut it, like he could have. She hadn’t, either. So it lilted. When she sang a bit of it, it surged.

With every step she took down to Castleton, her heart lifted. He’d been right about many things, but he was wrong when he said they didn’t belong together.

The guards at Castleton gate smiled at her and she waved as she entered the town, then slowed. Admitting her faults to Pascal and apologizing was going to be hard, especially in public. Her stomach tightened. She lifted her chin. She could do it.

The moment she walked into the Nom de Nom, she spotted Pascal sitting in a booth. His head jerked up, nostrils flaring as if he physically sensed her as well as through their bond.

Ignoring invitations and comments from Chevaliers, Marwey strode to his booth, then stopped as she realized Luthan Vauxveau and his brother Bastien were also there.

“Hello, pretty lady,” Bastien said, eyes gleaming.

“She’s not for you,” Pascal snapped. “She came to me.”

Luthan raised his eyebrows. “Mistress Famil?”

She dipped her head at Bastien and Luthan, but gazed at Pascal. He looked so good! Strong, intelligent, handsome. Her heart thumped hard.

Bastien sighed and Luthan cleared his throat, but she continued to look at Pascal. She wet her lips. “I’ve come to apologize. You were right–”

“Excuse me,” Luthan said, slipping out and around her. “Let’s go, Bastien. We’ll talk later, Pascal.”

Bastien winked as he left.

Instead of taking the bench the men had vacated, Marwey slid in next to Pascal. “You were right that I acted without consulting you. I’m sorry. I knew what you wanted, and that we belong together…but I was impatient.”

He tapped his fingers against his ale mug. “I’ve never been able to afford impatience, and hurrying won’t get me named a Chevalier or any further along my career flight any sooner.”

“I promise to discuss my plans with you before trying to smooth your career.” She covered his hand with hers, sent a flood of loving to him, felt a rush of powerful feeling back. Enough to make her dizzy and tie her tongue for a moment.

Then determination sluiced through her. “Can you deny what’s between us?” she challenged, loudly and clearly.

A man snickered.

Pascal reddened, nudged her. “This is no place to talk of our private affairs.”

Marwey grasped the table to keep him from sliding her off the bench. “I’m not going anywhere until we finish this discussion.”

“Arranging my life, again?”

Heat flushed her face, but she kept her voice steady. “We must talk. I’m serious about my apology, about us. I’ve said I was sorry, but you were wrong to walk away.”

An older, female Chevalier grunted. “Boy’s a fool. Everyone in here can hear the Song between you.”

There was a chorus of laughter.

“Let’s get out of here.” Pascal threw coins on the table, and gripped her upper arm. Longing whipped through her. Hope dizzied her. Desire took her breath.

They walked fast to the Castle, his hand tight around her fingers. “I was wrong to walk away from you — I’m sorry. Over these last few days I’ve realized just how much I need you,” Pascal said. “More than just your body.”

“I need you, too.” She loved him, but feared if she said so, he’d think she was manipulating him.

His gaze filled with passion; he stared down at her. “I can’t deny what’s between us. Shall we try this affair again?”

Copyright © 2005 Harlequin Books S.A.

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Join us next week for the final chapter of Song of Marwey! With their affair in the open, will Marwey and Pascal finally be able to be together?