The Queen (MacBride Sisters Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Kira Freitas

  The

  Queen

  1st Edition

  Mangaratiba - RJ

  MacBride Sisters Trilogy

  2018

  Vanessa Freitas Barbosa

  The Queen

  Book 01 of the MacBride Sisters Trilogy

  For Aideen MacBride, there was no greater pain than the loss of her older sister, after a fateful morning that would be trapped in her memories, until the end of her life. Even her mother's unlovely meal was comforting in view of the fate that awaited her.

  About to lose her younger sister to a marriage arranged with Alistair MacCalister, whose union could put an end to the civil war between the Scottish clans. In the midst of a frustrated escape attempt, Aideen is dragged into the arms of the noble warrior, who, enchanted by his courage, decides to marry her instead of her sister. But Aideen has a secret that could put her life in danger. A dark hole that expands in her chest every day. It will be up to the noble prince to end his torment, before it is too late.

  Index

  The Queen

  Index

  Bibliography:

  Chapter 01

  Chapter 02

  Chapter 03

  Chapter 04

  Chapter 05

  Chapter 06

  Chapter 07

  Chapter 08

  Chapter 09

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  About the author

  Other Works

  Plagiarism is a crime!

  This is a work of fiction. Although places and objects are real, the characters and the story are completely fictional. Any resemblance is merely a coincidence.

  Bibliography:

  Author(s): Kira Freitas

  Edition year: 2018

  Cover designer: Vanessa Freitas

  Diagram: Vanessa Freitas

  Cover Image: Judy York

  ISBN: 978-85-921093-8-7

  Chapter 01

  Alistair

  - Calm down, boy! - I whispered, passing my hand lightly on the back of my horse, Sovereign, when he was frightened and pushed.

  The narrow road leading to Dunhill Castle was slippery from the rain. Walking through the paths between the forests and canyons of the Highlands was not an easy task. Especially for people who didn't know the region like me. The weather was unstable and it almost always rained. When not, in the winter, it snowed rigorously.

  Dunhill was a village that dominated the highlands of Scotland and I had the pleasure of calling it home. He was situated to the east in the lower part of the Highlands. To get to the village it was necessary to follow a trail through a forest that was divided into two paths, which only my brothers and I knew. The castle was centralized on the shores of Lake Duich with a strategic exit to the sea. I'd been traveling back home for three months. I was tired and crazy about a bath and good food.

  As the leader of the troops that protected the Highlands in a war that had lasted too long, and which was made up of men from all allied clans, I spent most of the time away from home. He was long gone because of the threat of Roy MacGregor, Duke of Edinburgh and leader of the Lowlands clans. He'd been trying for years to take my father's crown and unite Scotland and England. On the one hand, it wouldn't be a bad idea, since we've been living in peace for a long time. The problem was that King Phillipe coveted the lands of all the lords and a pretext was enough for him to realize that ambition. I didn't trust him as much as other lords, but it would be great to have him by our side as an ally. With the strength of his army, we would certainly win that war definitively. The question was, at what price? I couldn't keep the siege much longer and Roy knew it.

  Royland MacGregor was a Scottish lord of English descent, but far from the line of succession to the throne. He was Ravenna MacBride's half-brother, having been raised by his parents after being orphaned. He was cruel and bloodthirsty. He'd kill anyone who crossed his path. Some time ago, Roy had ambushed and allowed two of his men to rape and kill my sister Cora. Alec, my younger brother, was accompanying her with an escort and was shot in the chest by an arrow. This started a hunt that turned into a war, because my brothers and I swore vengeance. Each in his own way. He gathered all the clans who were against my father's reign and decided to overthrow him. His power is not as great as ours, but within the Edinburgh fortress, Roy was practically invincible, as she was impenetrable. We had been trying at all costs to find a way to get into the castle or get Roy to surrender, but we didn't have any success in any of the works. He could stay there as long as it took, until we perish. I was committed to not letting that happen.

  My brother Alec did not possess as much skill with the sword as I did. I even doubted he'd get any. He's good at the art of expressing himself and he'd make a great negotiator. It was for this reason, and for other more important ones, that my mother had the idea of sending him to a monastery to study. Alec had entered a catatonic state after Cora's death and my father had not made it easy for him. I was very surprised that he was planning to send you to the front to join the army. I thought that was absurd and I totally disagreed. We had, my father and I, a settled agreement. Our words have always been our guarantees. It didn't make sense for him to miss his word right now.

  My father, Brice MacCalister, was king since our ancestors decided to elect one to command all the clans. Everyone was loyal to him, except those who turned against us. Only Loch MacBride's clan, which was located in Inverness, remained neutral in that crash. I've always considered Loch a coward who took orders from his wife. We thought his lack of involvement in the war was on account of the three daughters, whom he and Ravenna treated as objects. His wife, Ravenna, had always had a strong pulse and controlled Inverness according to her interests and whims. The fief was the only one closest to Dunhill, being a day's ride away. And the MacBride clan had three daughters, Aila the firstborn, Annabel the middle daughter, and Aideen the youngest. They were seen as the "guarantee of a long and prosperous life" for Ravenna, who wanted to become a member of the court at all costs. From a very young age, daughters paraded in banquets offered by their mother. I was introduced to Aila when she was only thirteen. For me, although our customs did not prevent us from marrying at such a young age, she and her sisters were nothing more than mere children.

  Almost three years ago, a mystery hovered over Inverness and to this day no one has been able to explain exactly what had happened. Aila was sent to a convent in Gretna Green for no apparent reason and the other two were confined to the castle. Ravenna's banquets have been suspended and none of them have been seen since then. It was at this same time that Roy was last seen on our land and everything had changed since then. Many speculate to this day what may have happened to the MacBride girls. The hypothesis that everyone very much believes is that Ravenna has discovered that they are actually witches with unimaginable powers. It's a bizarre theory for those who don't believe in ancient magic, but in Scotland, anything can happen. Our country dates back to ancient peoples and pagan traditions. A lot about magic has been taught us. There are those who believe that there are trolls and elves living in the caves near the canyons. As a good Christian I am, stories like that are nothing but superstitions. Not that I don't believe in witches or anything like that, but from there to speculating that someone is a witch because they're locked in a castle, it's too much exaggeration.

  - Do you think he migh
t have gotten sick? - Bruce asked, taking me out of my daydream.

  He was my only cousin and joined the army in order to see Roy's death, as well as many others. Thanks to his ability to infiltrate the leftovers, he was declared the best batsman of the troops and became my loyal companion. Recently, my father made Bruce the captain of Dunhill's guard. He was with me in front of the army and he was escorting me back home. Bruce was overprotective and took care of us since we were children, especially Cora's.

  - I don't think so. - I responded by making a face. - Otherwise, the letter that Alec had sent would ask for a little more urgency.

  My dad had a thing for sending letters since I left for the front. Twice we had to return under the threat of an illness, but when we arrived, we saw that it was just another pretext to get me out of the way of the army and force me to get married. I had no idea why he wanted to crown me king and next to a wife so badly. For months I was able to contradict his ideas using our agreement as a justification, until he stopped requesting my presence. I was on the east front when I received a letter from my brother informing me that my father was requesting my presence. I was afraid this was another attempt to marry someone.

  - Can't you really imagine why my uncle took him off the battlefield? - Bruce insisted on a tone of derision. I turned my eyes to him.

  - You know you do, so stop trying to provoke me. - I said between my teeth, then I sighed. - I just hope I'm really wrong about that.

  Bruce let out a loud laugh, causing his horse to whinny with the fright he received.

  - He doesn't give up, does he? - Bruce fired in an ironic tone, which made me even more angry. - Even though Alec knows that he can occupy the throne in his place, and that this is long overdue, he insists on crowning him king only because he is the firstborn.

  I took a deep breath settling down.

  - I hate those stupid traditions! - I sighed, shaking my head. - I hope he doesn't come with this conversation again and that he doesn't waste my time.

  - Take it, my cousin! - Bruce provoked again. - As the eldest in the line of succession to the throne, he is destined to rule our country, as well as our ancestors.

  Laughing, I shook my head from side to side and faced him with debauchery.

  - You're right! Just don't forget that, besides Alec and I, you're also in the line of succession to the throne. - I fired. - You gonna tell me you believe you're a duke just for luck?

  Bruce locked his face in a frown and snorted. His short, straight hair stubbornly fell into his eyes. That pissed him off even more.

  - Don't talk nonsense! Looks like a witch begging for a plague. - he grumbled and made me laugh. - It's not in me to take the place that belongs to you. It's enough to have a fiefdom to look after.

  Bruce de Dunvegan was the sole heir of his parents, who died in a tragic ship accident. He'd been raised by my parents since he was six. My father was my uncle's older brother. Bruce had won, in addition to the title, the right to be one of the lords of the council in his father's stead. Until he was old, my father ran the place, but now it was Bruce who took care of his land. My cousin lived more in Dunhill than on his land, which he left under the command of a housekeeper because he found it too hard to take care of such a large place.

  Bruce let out a laugh and completed his thought.

  - Besides, I'd never marry knowing there's so many beautiful women in the world. That's your job, my brother, so good luck making the MacCalister house prosper!

  I laughed laughing, finding your words funny, and I shrugged my shoulders.

  - One day, you'll swallow your words. A young woman will still bewitch her heart and mind in such a way that her life will belong to her alone. Just like my brother, who thinks exactly like you.

  - Only your brother and I think this way, Your Highness? - ...returned him in a debauched tone. - As far as I know, until you made the battlefield your wedding bed and declared your sword, your bride, was acting just like us. You think I don't know about your dates with Rose in the bathroom? You broke the poor woman's heart, I heard.

  I turned my eyes when I heard the name of one of the maids at the castle.

  Until I took the head of the army in place of my father, like Alec, I thought only of taking advantage of my life as long as I could. Rose lived in the village and was my greatest companion of fun since she was a child. She became a beautiful woman and my first lover. When he went to work in the castle as a kitchen assistant with his mother, sister and an aunt, we met at the bathhouse and stayed practically the whole night. I always made it clear to Rose that I wanted nothing more than fun and she was never against it. Some time ago I realized she'd changed her mind and I decided to back off. My father would never approve of it, even because of his broad ambition.

  - I didn't break Rose's heart at all. - I answered in my defense. Then I shook the reins so that the horse would finish going down the trail and reach the plain. - She knew from the beginning that I was a prince in search of fun. I've never deluded her with promises of love.

  - Yeah. Yeah. - he replied in a debauched manner.

  - It's the truest truth! - I answered dry. - Rose's problem is that she's always been very ambitious and cunning, so I walked away. Besides, you weren't the only one sharing your bed, were you?

  Bruce rolled his eyes over, shrugging his shoulders. He had also slept with her a few nights, besides my brother Alec. We did not have the habit of sharing a woman, but Rose began to insinuate herself to each one of us and no one became a badass.

  - How cruel you are, my dear!

  - Cruel? I would never be cruel to a lady!

  - Lady? The way you talk about Rose, she's more like a whore.

  - And what's a whore if not a lady in four walls or whatever suits her best?

  Bruce had a laugh.

  - I'll agree just because it makes sense.

  I laughed accordingly. We reached the campina and then set off, passing through the village towards the entrance bridge to the courtyard of Dunhill Castle. It was easy to get there passing through the mountains, but only we knew that way.

  - Wow! Looks like we're having a party! - said Bruce as he dismantled his black stallion, Odin. - That's perfect, yeah, I'm starving!

  I disassembled from Sovereign to laughter. My cousin lived hungry as if he'd never tasted food in his life. He'd eat like a horse whatever was on his table. I didn't know how he hadn't become a fat gnome.

  - You're right! You're right! - said frowning. - Is it someone's birthday I forgot about?

  - Or, they're just happy with our return. - he speculated.

  - Hmm! Knowing my father as I do, I doubt that's the real reason. - I whispered.

  We walked into the castle passing through countless vassals that cut our way, hurried with some task. They stopped just to greet us and headed for their destination.

  - Oh, my goodness! Aunt Lowenna was so capricious in her welcome. - Bruce said by rubbing one hand on the other. - I can hardly imagine the size of the supper.

  - Bruce, you only have size, you know that? - I grumbled. - All you need is a plate of food to make you happy.

  - Exactly! - he responded by raising his index finger. - That's the reason I eat so much.

  I shook my head turning my eyes and walked down the hall looking for my father. He was supposed to be in the throne room, but it was empty. Other vassals greeted us, as did Rose, who blinked boldly at me. Sighing, I shook my head from side to side as a sign of disapproval and continued on my way.

  - I wonder where he is. - I whispered out of the great hall that was being prepared for a huge banquet.

  - Well, he's in the main hall and he's waiting for you!

  My mother's soft voice sounded behind me and echoed down the hall. She approached us with one of her friendly smiles and embraced us one at a time.

  - My children! - Lowenna sighed. - I'm so happy to see you safe and sound!

  We smiled at her who soon came with her zealous motherly exaggerations.

  - Bru
ce, you've grown my son! - she said touching Bruce's strong arms. - As for you, Alistair, you're so thin. What have you been eating to get malnourished like this?

  I turned my eyes and thought it was funny what she said. Both Bruce and I had an enviable physique. We were strong with muscles all over the body.

  - Your exaggeration, my mother! I believe I've gained more body since I left Dunhill.

  - I don't know! - Bruce smiled provocatively and gave me an elbow. - The way you lost that arm fall, and for a girl, I think I'll have to disagree with my aunt and say you're a weakling.

  - I'm not weak! - I replicated by shrugging my shoulders. - I was just a knight and let her win.

  - You fought an arm fall with a woman? - Lowenna asked in amazement.

  Our territory is famous for having women warriors since ancient times. As time passed, this context became outdated and became rare as a woman on the battlefield. Although I didn't like it very much, I appreciated the courage of those who joined us.

  - You're not just a woman, my aunt! - Bruce said with enthusiasm. - She's the most incredible warrior I've ever seen in my life.

  - Well, maybe you'll bring that, "incredible warrior," one day so we can meet her. - Lowenna said smiling. - Who knows, a beautiful union might result from that encounter?

  Bruce swallowed dry making me laugh.

  - My aunt, that's not what I meant! - he justified himself by putting his hand on his chest. - I meant she's just very good at battle and she handles a sword like nobody else.

  - Not counting the bow! - I've completed.

  - Wow! What about those daggers? - Bruce widened his eyes. - Can you imagine anyone else throwing daggers like her?

  - I can't imagine. - I replied thoughtfully. - In fact, where does she keep so many daggers?

  My mother pigmented, interrupting our enthusiastic thinking.

  - I see this warrior has enchanted you both, but I understand your comment. - she paused with a debauched smile. - Of course, knowing my son and nephew, I know they didn't talk about the lady's physical attributes.