The Mark of Salvation Read Free Page B

at what happened to Henry yesterday.”
    â€œYes. Well. Bruce is a notable warrior. I’ve never before seen anyone stand in the stirrups and deliver such a blow as Bruce dealt Henry.”
    Orelia shuddered. Henry de Bohun was—had been—young and somewhat rash, but he’d been their friend. Now he was dead at the hand of the Scottish king himself. The first of many, she feared.
    Apparently aware of her apprehension, John continued his attempt to reassure her. “Fortunately, few of Bruce’s men are trained in the art of war. Most are simple highlanders with crude weapons and insufferable tempers.”
    â€œJohn, how can you speak so about your fellowman?”
    â€œThey aren’t my fellowman, Orelia. They are England’s enemies. The sooner we subdue them and civilize them the better.”
    The heat in his voice warned Orelia not to press further. She didn’t approve of such disparagement but did not want to send him off to battle with angry words between them.
    He struggled with the fasteners on his chain mail. “Call my squire to help with this.”
    â€œNonsense. I don’t want to share our time together with young George. Here, let me.”
    He bent his knees to accommodate her shorter stature and she tied the leather bindings. John was a good man and a worthy husband. Their marriage had not been a love match but they had found love together. When she finished the task she stepped around him and finding her boots, sat on a chest to put them on.
    â€œThank you,” he said.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” She frowned at her tangled bootlaces.
    â€œYou’re frowning again.” He bent and stilled her hands with his. “Today will be better, love. England will be victorious and then we shall take our share of the spoils. We can stay in Scotland on our new estate and create a home in peace.”
    Orelia had come north with John to help him establish their new home and to escape her brother-in-law’s wife and her increasingly hostile behavior toward Orelia. Alice and Richard had already produced a daughter, and the woman never passed an opportunity to remind Orelia of her own childless state.
    Orelia shook her head. She would not waste time thinking of that woman. Orelia was here to begin anew with John, to begin a new chapter in their marriage. One that did not include Alice.
    A number of other men had brought their wives and household goods to Stirling. They were so sure of victory that they didn’t want to waste time returning home before taking over the promised Scottish estates.
    She and John had come together as man and wife again last night, no longer in hope of creating a child. After seven years of marriage they had no children and were resigned that there would be none.
    Still, like Hannah of the Bible, Orelia petitioned the Lord daily, hoping that he would hear her prayers and promising to raise the child for God’s work if only he would bless her with a son. But John had suffered a serious fever as a child, and the healer had warned him that he might not father children as a result.
    John tipped her chin up. “The battle won’t last long; I’ll be back for supper. Make plans for furnishing Dunstruan and leave your worries to God. What will be, will be.”
    She closed her eyes and swallowed. “And if you should die?”
    He touched her cheek and she opened her eyes. His gentle smile should have eased her anxiety, but it didn’t. “If that should be God’s will, Orelia, then I will see you again in eternity. Don’t lose faith. No matter what happens you will not be alone.”
    She threw her arms around him and clung to him. He allowed it briefly, then gently put her aside and finished donning his armor. With a quick kiss and a confident dip of his head, he left her.
    CEALLACH’S HORSE SHIFTED BENEATH HIM, dancing sideways until Ceallach nudged it with his lower leg. With trembling hands he