- Is everything all right? - I asked worried.
- Yes, I am. - he said making some faces. - It still hurts a little bit, but it's nothing I should or want to worry about. After all, I have a bride to take care of me.
- Oh, great! - I returned the provocation. - I recommend you show her to take care of your wound from now on. That is, if she has any talent in that respect.
Bruce smiled at my provocative tone and I didn't quite understand why. He opened the passage and pointed the staircase at me to follow. Without thinking about it, I went where he told me to go and started coming down. The banquet hall was the same as Aideen's wedding party. The difference was that this time there was only one long table in the center. Alistair was sitting at the bedside with Aideen on his right. On the left were sitting Ector and Adelaide. The men stood up when I approached and my sister came to meet me.
- My sister! - she hugged me. - I hope you've had plenty of rest. I really wish I could talk to you later.
- Sure! - I answered smiling.
Aideen held my hand and drove me to the chair next to her. Alistair approached me and kissed my forehead before I sat down.
- Ector, in case you can't remember, that's Annabel MacBride, Ravenna's youngest. - he said with a mixture of pride. - She's become a very brave woman. After my wife, of course!
Everybody had a laugh. Bruce, who came slowly, sat next to me. I didn't understand, but I saw fury in Adelaide's eyes as he sat down. She looked at me like she wanted to kill me.
- Of course I remember you, Annabel! - said Ector. - I heard the stories involving you and several soldiers. I thought Ravenna didn't approve of her daughters' use of weapons, let alone their involvement in combat.
- You're absolutely right about my mother! - said smiling. - That's exactly why we were trained in hiding. My grandfather made sure we knew how to defend ourselves.
Adelaide had a laugh.
- That idea really had to come from an old man like your grandfather. - she fired with disdain. - My mother would never agree with mine if I acted the same. Besides, being the lady I am, I myself would never agree to take a sword and have a brutal thought like that of a man.
I let out a cold laugh.
- That's exactly why you have nannies as an escort!
Adelaide locked her face in a frown when everyone laughed. Ector, you didn't seem to like the comment and you snorted.
- I disagree with your thinking, Adelaide! - said Bruce, making me stay on alert. - Surely, I'd love to have someone as brave and warrior as I am on my side. I would like to be as lucky as my cousin was, just as I believe Alec would think.
Adelaide shot Bruce's gaze and I swallowed it dry. What was going on? Why was she so angry and attacking Bruce in silence? I could see that she was not satisfied with my presence either. Did Adelaide know about what happened between me and Bruce? No! He wouldn't be so low as to divulge something so intimate. Would it be?
- So you consider yourself a warrior? - asked Ector.
I blinked, looking towards the imposing lord. Ector Macintosh had black eyes and black hair. He was tall and strong, just like Bruce and Alistair. A really handsome man for your age. He owned a huge fiefdom and had already gone through several difficulties. My mother had told me that her marriage was an agreement with another lord, so that she would not lose her land. He had been widowed too soon and had raised Adelaide as best he could. That made her a very spoiled girl and it only got worse because of her age. Adelaide was younger than us, she had never been present at the banquets my mother promoted. We suspected Ector was going to parties, just to try and find another rich wife. There were rumors that his fief was in short supply and he lost his wealth day after day.
- Not exactly! - I answered. - I don't think I'd dare enter a battle if there was no need. At least that's not what I want for myself.
- And what do you crave for yourself? - Adelaide pinned it.
- Now I just want to eat! - I fired. - Later, who knows, a good reading accompanied by tea.
- But what about the future, my sister-in-law? - said Alistair. - What do you want for the future?
- Honestly? - said sighing. - I have no idea what to think about the future. I've been through so many mishaps, that to imagine that something good might come to attack me, really scares me.
- Well! The future is uncertain. - said Bruce sipping a sip of wine. - We never know when something good will happen to us, so we must be prepared and attentive to all that is going on around us, so that we do not miss anything.
I stared at Bruce with surprise. His words were filled with hope as if he was sure of something.
- I agree! - said Alistair. - A toast to the future!
- To the future!
Even though I participated in the toast, I was not very willing to talk and limited myself to answering what I was being asked. Alistair and Bruce exchanged discreet looks and it was already pissing me off.
