Page 173 of Forbidden

“Especially if a church or a monastery were offered as a gesture of respect,” Simon said sardonically.

“You exchanged sacred vows,” Cassandra said to Duncan. “Will you go back on your word?”

“Vows.” Duncan’s mouth flattened in pain or contempt or both together. “Nay, I won’t go back on my true word.”

Cassandra closed her eyes in a relief she couldn’t hide.

“I will keep thetruevow I made when my mind was whole,” Duncan said. “I will marry Lady Ariane of Deguerre.”

“What of Amber?” Cassandra asked.

Duncan turned to Dominic without answering.

“Send for my betrothed,” Duncan said flatly. “The wedding will take place as soon as the Church agrees.”

“What of Amber?” Cassandra demanded.

Duncan rose and walked out of the solar, looking at no one.

“What of Amber!” Cassandra shouted.

Cassandra’s cry echoed through the great hall, following Duncan. Even when the last echo had faded, he heard the words crying within the bleak silence of his mind.

What of Amber?

What of your sacred vow?

Amber.

Sacred.

Amber. Amber. Amber…

There was no peace for Duncan in any part of the keep. The cry was a part of him, as deeply embedded as the pain of his old memory and his new betrayal.

The past turning, returning, tormenting him first with Amber’s voice and then with his own.

Truly I am safe with you.

Always, my golden witch. I would sooner cut off my own sword hand than harm you.

The memory was too sad, too savage. Duncan pushed it away, buried it among the thousand shades of darkness where he could no longer hide.

Cassandra’s voice pursued him, the Learned woman’s words raining down like drops of fire.

To deny the truth of the past or the present will destroy you as surely as cleaving your head in two with a sword.

Remember what I have said when the past returns and seems to make a lie of the present.

Remember it.

Long after others slept, Duncan paced the halls and winding stairways of his own keep. Voices spoke within his silence, words echoing through his seething mind, Amber’s voice describing passion, pride, and honor being used as tools of war.

Erik knew that you didn’t love me. He knew that you wouldn’t marry me if you remembered.

And he knew how much you desired me.

Duncan desired her still. False or true, witch or woman, leman or wife, she made his body burn for her with all the fires of hell. The violence of his need overwhelmed everything.