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She lets out a sound of exasperation when she realises he has walked all the way through his cottage and out the back door. Tommy appears before her and lets out a yelp of excitement. She pushes his head out of the way and jogs down to the shed that he must have gone to. She knocks on that door and hears another thud and more words muttered under his breath. The wooden door swings open and he frowns, his crystal blue eyes flicking from her head to her feet. He raises one eyebrow before looking over his shoulder. Deciding that whatever is inside is not for her eyes, he steps out and closes the door behind him. Dawn hurriedly steps out of his way, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
He marches once again back to his cottage. "Frederick, what are you doing?" His shoulders tighten and he swings round, narrowly missing hitting her in the face with the giant leather bound book he still carries. Again she steps back and pulls a face at him.
"Why are you here and why do you use that horrific name." He groans. "My brother is not here and will not be here until later."
"I want two letters delivered." He has already started to walk away at her first word but stops when the whole sentence is processed in his mind. He swings around again and she was wise enough to stay stood where she was. His eyes flick to the two rolled up letters in her hand. He tilts his head.
"You want letters delivered. To who exactly?"
"One needs to go to the Usani manor, the other to the Iceni manor." She carefully says. He purses his lips and taps his fingers against his side.
"As far as I am aware you do not know anyone from either of those lands. Is this something to do with the Usani murderer?" His eyebrows raise and a smirk lifts on his lips. "Are you doing something you should not be, Dawn?"
"Do not look so smug, Frederick." His smirk drops at the name. "It does not suit you. Will your brother deliver these letters or not?"
"Of course I will." A man identical in looks to Frederick appears in riding gear. He smiles brightly at Dawn before clipping the back of his brother's head. Frederick glares at him and rights his glasses.
"You really want to ride such a long journey for just two letters for her?" Frederick asks his tone disbelieving.
"I am already heading to Usani. Gavriel has given me a letter to hand personally to a Hunter. Another letter will not slow me down and if I do not wish to ride to Iceni I can give the job to another in Usani." He places his arm around Dawn's shoulders and pulls her into her side. She shrivels up her nose and pulls away from him.
"You absolutely stink. I think you should wash before you ride out again." He laughs and glances at his brother. His laugh dies in his throat.
"Please tell me you are not still doing your experiments, it is not real work." Frederick rolls his eyes and walks away, locking himself in his shed. Benjamin runs his fingers through his hair with some irritation before turning his attention back to Dawn. He holds out his hand and she places the letters in it. "How are the family doing?"
"I have not seen Kier or Aileen to know but the siblings are coping strangely. How did Gavriel seem to you?"
"He seemed happy." Benjamin presses his lips together and grimaces. "That is probably not the right word. I do not think he and Jasiel agreed on much and there was always so much competition there. He may be happier to have that gone. But they were brothers, maybe he is just hiding how he feels."
"Maybe." She repeats, doubt in her tone. "Wait, why is he sending a letter to a hunter?"
"Not a hunter, a man called Hunter. He told me I will find him residing in the Usani manor." Benjamin shrugs and with a hand at her waist guides her back towards the cottage. Inside he moves away from her and pours himself a glass of water. Dawn hangs back, her eyes drawn to the garden through the window. "How are you doing?" She starts and warily regards him. He chuckles. "You grew up with him. You were as much his sister as Zara is."
Relief fills her and she exhales before speaking. "I am doing fairly well. The news is difficult to stomach but I will survive." Tommy jumps excitedly at the shed door and once he realises that he's being ignored he lets out a loud abrupt bark. "I should go." Benjamin nods and looks at the letters on the table.
"Goodbye Dawn."
She pushes open the door, whistles to Tommy and sets off back to her cottage. He zig zags back and forth sniffing bushes and trees and she smiles watching him.
○ ○ ○
"Zara." He clears his throat, forcing a kind smile on to his face hiding his irritation. She walks before him, oblivious to his multiple attempts to catch her attention. The noise still does nothing to alert her. His sister's voice nags at him inside, telling him he should be securing her hand now while she is fragile. He speeds up and catches her arm. She jerks her arm back, anger clouding her face, her dark grey eyes growing darker. His eyebrows skyrocket.
She clears a throat and turns away, gaining her peace of mind again. She turns back, the anger gone. She offers a small smile. He expects her to speak, to explain the strange reaction. She does not. She starts to walk again. Egan frowns and quickly follows her, more cautious now.
"Zara." He speaks again. "Please speak to me."
She pauses by a rose and touches the petals gently. One drops and she catches it in her palm and crushes it. She spins round to face him. With measured movements she removes the pins securing her hair and her dark red hair tumbles down her back in waves. She then runs her fingers through it, smoothing out any knots. Egan glances around but no one is around, everyone being inside or having ventured further out for a walk.
"Egan," she starts softly, "What exactly do you want me to say? My brother is dead; the love of my life is in the dungeons and will die. I need friends around me at this time and I do not believe that is what you wish to be. My parents may have given permission for you to marry me many months ago but I never did. I came here with you today to make this clear; I will not marry you until this whole mess is over. I will not even consider it. So you may leave or you may remain, but only as my friend and should you make any advances, I will banish you." Her voice grows in volume, her tone final.
Egan smiles; she makes quite a sight. Her grey eyes focus intently on him, her red hair frames her like a halo and settles across her shoulders and her pose is one of someone who is ready to fight. He bows lowly and offers his hand out to her. With narrowed eyes, she places her hand in his. He presses a light kiss to the back of it and she raises an eyebrow. He straightens up, still holding her tightly, and he focuses his light brown eyes on hers.
"I wish to be your friend and I can be patient with all else."
Zara removes her hand and nods, a smile passing her lips momentarily. "Then you may remain."
When she turns and continues walking he does not immediately follow. Instead he watches her, not long enough for her to notice though. When her eyes flit to her side he is there and he inclines his head.
They walk for ten more minutes around the house before returning inside. Raised voices are heard from inside the great hall. Egan's curiosity is clear and Zara clears her throat delicately. "I believe I am in need of refreshment, would you mind?"
Hiding his disappointment he nods his head and heads off in the opposite direction. Once he is out of sight she pushes the doors open to the great hall and steps within. They do not notice her presence immediately and continue to argue. She quickly slinks behind a pillar and listens.
"Father; he is responsible for his actions and you are not going to do anything?"
"He is right." Kier glares at his son. "Father, we can get a confession out of him, let us do it."
"No." He shakes his head, his eyes tired and heavy. He does not wish to have this argument yet his sons were determined.
"Why not?" Gavriel raises his voice, his agitation coming through. Gethin vigorously nods his head agreeing with the question. They had got many others to admit to crimes, whether guilty or innocent. Why would their father not allow them to do it now, surely it is important.
"Because he is not one of our people. He is a Usani and Wolfe will not take it well if we torture his brother. He will die for his crime but anything more is unnecessary."
"Wolfe would never have to know." Gethin argues. Kier sighs loudly and rubs his eyes.
"You think he does not have spies among us as we do with him? Logan will have a fair trial."
"I thought you were tough, father, it seems you are too afraid of war." Gavriel spits out nastily.
Kier rises to his feet, fire shooting from his eyes. "Afraid of war? I have seen more war in my lifetime than either of you will ever experience. A war will do nothing for us and it will not just be the Usani's that will go against us.
"Do you know what is hardest about losing Jasiel? Out of all my children, out of all you who could take over control of my lands, he was the one I wanted. He is," pain crosses his face, "was intelligent and fair but if he needed to do what had to been done, he did it. He would have made a good Leader and now he is gone. You two need to get your act together if you ever want me to hand over the reins. Start thinking in a way that benefits your people; not just your own selfish desires."
"Father..." both of them say; their voices defeated. He holds his hand up.
"Zara," he speaks softly, she steps out from her hiding place. He extends his hand to her and she crosses the room and steps up onto the platform. "That applies for you also. One of you will rule and you need to prove your worth." She gulps. He looks back to her brothers. "I have said it before, I will say it again. Not one of you is allowed to step foot anywhere near the Usani's cell. If you do, you will not be my heir." He presses a light kiss to Zara's cheek and nods to the two men. They bow their heads as he leaves before turning angrily to each other.
Zara watches their whispered exchange for several seconds. "Gethin, Gavriel." They stop, remembering her presence. "Jasiel's body is lying cold, not yet in the ground. Can we forget about the monster that put him there?" She comes down and stands between them. "Do not test father at this time, for me."
Gavriel nods and kisses his sister's cheek. Gethin follows his example. "We promise."