Medieval 02 - Forbidden

as clear as the tawny color of his eyes. Yet it was a love that held no sexual desire, despite Amber’s beauty and Erik’s forthright masculinity.
    Abruptly, fear replaced pain in Cassandra.
    He knows. By all that’s Learned, he knows !
    Is that why he risked so much? Is he trying to repay her for what was taken from her at her birth ?
    No answer came from within the well of serenity that held Cassandra’s Learning.
    “Will you give me your good wishes?” Amber asked, turning to Cassandra.
    “You are my daughter in every way that matters,” Cassandra said. “I would give you Paradise if I could.”
    Smiling, Amber glanced at her husband from beneath her long lashes. Though she said nothing, the fire reflected in Duncan’s eyes burned higher.
    “Thank you,” Amber said, looking at Cassandra again. “Your good wishes mean a great deal to me. I love you as a daughter would.”
    With her free hand, Amber touched the other woman’s cheek. The murmur of surprise was repeated throughout the gathered knights and ladies. Despite the clear affection between Amber, Erik, and Cassandra, never had the people of the keep seen Amber touch the lord or the Learned woman.
    Tears glittered once more in Cassandra’s eyes. She turned to look long and hard at the dark warrior whose fingers were interlaced with Amber’s.
    “You have been given a gift beyond price,” Cassandra said distinctly. “Few men are privileged to know its like.”
    The splinters of darkness that lay deep within the clarity of Cassandra’s eyes made coolness ripple down Duncan’s spine. His instincts stirred, warning him that danger lay within this woman as surely as night lay within sunset’s vivid colors.
    Then realization came. It wasn’t menace that lay darkly within Cassandra. It was knowledge.
    And it was dangerous.
    “May I embrace the husband of my daughter?” Cassandra asked.
    If Duncan was surprised, the rest of the people were shocked, including Erik.
    “Of course,” Duncan said.
    Cassandra stepped forward. Full scarlet sleeves rippled and flared over the forest green of Duncan’s shirt as she placed her hands on his shoulders. Though Cassandra was a tall woman, she had to stretch on tiptoe in order to bring her face close to Duncan.
    “This is the truth of the past,” Cassandra said, kissing his left cheek.
    A moment later she kissed his right cheek.
    “This is the truth of the present,” she said.
    Then Cassandra’s palms rested on Duncan’s cheeks, holding him as surely as chains.
    “Your life lies stretched between past and present,” she said in a low, distinct voice.
    Intently Duncan watched the Learned woman, feeling her cool hands like brands on his face while her silver eyes compelled everything within him to listen to her. Even the shadows.
    Especially the shadows.
    “To deny the truth of the past or the present will destroy you as surely as cleaving your head in two with a sword,” Cassandra said.
    A ripple of movement went through the knights as they crossed themselves.
    “Remember what I have said when the past returns and seems to make a lie of the present,” Cassandra commanded. “ Remember it .”
    When she would have withdrawn, Duncan’s hand chained one of her wrists.
    Instantly Erik stepped forward, only to be warned off by a glance from clear silver eyes.
    “What do you know of my past?” Duncan asked in a low voice.
    “Nothing that would bring you ease.”
    Duncan glanced toward Amber. Though he said not one word, she put her hand on Cassandra’s captive arm.
    “What do you know of my past?” Duncan demanded again, softly.
    “Nothing that would bring you ease,” Cassandra repeated.
    Duncan waited.
    “She speaks the truth,” Amber said.
    Duncan’s hand opened, freeing Cassandra.
    The smile she gave him was both compassionate and coolly amused at his arrogance in questioning a wise woman’s honesty.
    “You are canny to listen to your wife,” Cassandra said bitingly. “See that you remain so when past and present are both known.”
    Cassandra looked at Erik.
    “With your permission, lord,” she said, “I have a newly born babe who needs me more than a newly wed couple.”
    “Of course, Learned one,” Erik said. “You need not ask my permission.”
    “Ah, but I enjoy doing so.”
    “Do you?”
    “But of course,” Cassandra said dryly. “’Tis the only time you listen to me.”
    Laughter rose like a shout, for it was well known among the knights that their young lord was