The Sacrifices for Peace.

Sorry for the short chapter!

 

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Chapter 10

Jarrad was physically dragged back to the castle at nightfall. He had wanted to keep looking, to find his wife but he knew he was no good to her exhausted. He looked at the bottle of sedative on the bedside table. The last image before his eyes as the drug dragged him to sleep were the wolf cubs curling up by the fire to sleep. In his sleep he could see the tapestry of their marriage, every mistake they’d made and he would find her, he promised himself, and those who took her from him pay.

The sun rose and Jarred rose with it. He sat in the council chambers listening to his father and the council argue while guards searched for his wife up and down the country. There were many theories. That the Galphorian’s had kidnapped the princess to return her home, before they launched an attack, another was that the rebels in the north had kidnapped her to re-start the war, the last and most disturbing to Jarrad was that perhaps Branwen had a lover who had stolen her away to save her from living a life of forced marriage. Jarred was lost as he thought about his wife, he was far from understanding the woman but somehow a bond had formed between them, something akin to friendship.

Jarrad chased these thoughts around and around in his head and secretly hoped the last theory was true and that she would be safe and happy. He was snapped out of his thoughts when his father addressed him.

“Son, perhaps we should consider that she is not alive. It is unlikely she will return” His father said. Jarrad’s laugh was low and dark, knowing what his father was like he knew the man was about to suggest that he look for a new wife.

“Father. I have a duty of care to this woman. She is my wife and could very well be carrying the heir to this kingdom. I am not about to give up on her yet.” Jarred stated. “Good day to you all.” he turned his back on the court and stormed out. He stormed into his quarters aware of two pairs of feet following him.

Alone in his room he began changing his clothes. He was unsurprised when Brad let himself in but he was surprised that the man held a whore in his firm grip.



“Do you have a minute my lord?” Brad asked his jaw tight.

“You have one minute.” Jarrad said not pausing his actions despite his surprise.

“Tell him everything you told me whore” Brad said. Jarrad was shocked to hear Brad use such a hard tone on a woman, he wondered what the woman had done to provoke such anger in his usually soft spoken friend.

“My Lord” she said bowing her head “I was with Council member Gracki last night when I overheard a conversation between him and another, a voice I did not recognise. They seem to think your father Kidnapped the princess. He’s not sent off word to her father and he’ll attack while their guard is down and take both Kingdoms for himself.”

Jarrad paused as his brain processed the girls words. It sounded like something his father would do. He was silent for several moments while he thought.

“Brad, buy this woman’s contract, hide her somewhere. My father will kill her for what she’s told me, true or not. Tell no one of this, either of you.”

“What about you?” Brad asked.

“I’m going to find my wife” Jarrad replied.

“Take some men with you Jarrad, things just got even more dangerous. If it is your father and you defy him. I wouldn’t put it past him to kill you and when your father dies that means the kingdom goes to Gordon…and I wouldn’t trust the man with a cactus”

“I know. I’ll be careful. Stop talking about Gordon like that! He’s my family and a good man. You two are like bickering five year olds, considering the situation you’d think you’d be able to bury the hatchet”

“I will never bury the hatchet with him and considering the circumstances you should be even more careful around him. He’s just as likely to betray you as your father.” Brad said stalking out with the whore in tow, leaving Jarrad with even more to consider. He followed Brad out and grabbed the man’s arm.

“I think it’s time I heard the whole story of why you don’t get along with him.” Jarrad said. “Meet me at the stables in half an hour.”

“Yes sir” Jarrad watched them man’s back retreat. It was clear to Jarrad he could not trust his father, now it was possible he could not trust his only other living relative. Brad was his best friend and they had been through allot together but Jarrad was starting to wonder if he could even trust him, his avoidance of the subject to date was suspicious.