Chapter 1
His aim was steady; posture relaxed, but secure, eyes on his prey.
The forest was quiet, only the soft breathing of those with him could be heard.
Even they knew the rules for hunting, motionless and no talking when someone was to take aim.
The hiss of arrow felled the hare as it tried to scurry across the small clearing.
His aim was true, the hare died instantly.
He couldn't see the faces of both his sons, but he could almost feel the grins upon their faces.
The younger one, he knew that he would be shifting from side to side wanting to rush over to inspect their prey to make sure it was dead.
Walking over to his catch, Clyde leaned over and grabbed onto the arrow.
He looked over his shoulder and nodded to Eddie, who was waiting patiently by his Grandda's side.
Approval from his father sent him rushing over and leaning over to poke the hare.
"Twas a fine shot, Da," Eddie grinned as he leaned into his father's shoulder and nudged him gently.
"Aye, ye watched as I stood there.
Nary making a sound, or even moving.
Tis when ye catch them off guard," Clyde explained to his youngest.
Grabbing the arrow and swiftly removing it, he placed the hare into the bag with the others they already caught.
They road quietly back to the castle, the rabbits will make a fine stew for supper.
Next time, Clyde thought to himself, he'll allow George and Eddie to try with the bow and arrows.
He and Joaquin had been working with the lads for several weeks now, but still didn't think that they were quite ready yet.
"I cMallory believe ye are not cold, Clyde," Joaquin grunted as he pulled his cloak tighter to fend off the bitter wind.
There was a light dusting of snow in the Greyfen, but nothing like Clyde remembered when he lived at home.
Home, he thought again as he got this aching feeling in his chest.
His heart constricted, his breathing became laboured, an awful feeling that he couldn't shake.
He sighed and puffed out a deep breath that turned into tiny ice crystals.
He turned in his saddle and looked longingly towards the north.
For two weeks now he's had a nagging feeling as though something was amiss at home.
No word from his brothers to suggest otherwise, so he continued to think positively, that all was well.
Clyde had no regrets.
He married his one and only love, Celeste who gifted him with his three sons, George, Eddie, Alfred and his treasure, Lenora.
His sons resembled the Stafford's, medium brown hair, much like Clyde and Oliver's, light brown eyes.
Lenora was a Nichols with fiery red curls and blue eyes like her mother.
His daughter will be a beauty and Clyde knows that one day the castle will be swarming with suitors wanting to claim her hand.
"Tis no cold, Joaquin," Clyde grunted at his father-in-law's proclamation.
"Until ye winter in the Dunhollow, this is nothing."
Clyde was riding without a cloak, only his shirt and his Nichols plaid.
He made sure that both his sons had cloaks on or Celeste wouldn't allow them to leave the castle without them.
Clyde had agreed with her, for his sons were seasoned Greyfeners and didn't have the harsh winters as he experienced in his youth.
"When will the Robinson's visit, Da?" George looked over at his father pleadingly.
"I'm not sure perhaps we can send a messenger over and extend a visit for Manuel and Teo.
Would you like that?" Clyde replied knowing that his sons would enjoy that immensely.
There weren't many children who lived in the castle with them, so most of the time his four relied on themselves to play with.
"Don't forget Samantha and Noelle for Lenora to play with, Da," Eddie piped up as he turned his head and looked up at his father.
Eddie wasn't allowed to ride on his own horse yet perhaps by the time spring came around, he would be more confident.
George was riding on his own horse and had been for the last year and a bit.
"Aye," Clyde chuckled.
"I cMallory forget the lasses, for Lenora willna speak with me for a week."
The castle approached as the last rays of the sun were going down.
He could see Celeste with Lenora and Alfred beside her, waiting for them to return home, to see if they brought supper with them. Alfred was still too young to hunt, next year Clyde knew that he would be old enough to learn. He was eager to catch up to his older brothers.
"Papa, Papa!" Lenora shouted as she barrelled down the castle steps.
She was running towards them now, he could hear Celeste shouting at her to slow down.
The light dusting of snow made the courtyard slippery.
His sons called him Da, but Lenora heard her mother refer to Joaquin as her Papa and Lenora followed suit.
It didn't bother Clyde at all it made him feel an extra special bond with her that only she called him Papa.
"Dinna move anymore, sweeting," Clyde shouted back to his daughter and watched her stop in her pursuit towards him.
She knew not to disobey his command, when he told her to do something, she did it.
"Tis slippery, ye will wait until I come for ye."
She nodded, her curls bouncing around her small face, she smiled up at him with adoration as he came to halt beside her.
The little puffs of her breath, with her wide toothless grin only made Clyde's heart constrict even more.
He lowered Eddie to the ground and watched the same routine that played out almost daily.
Lenora held out her arms and Clyde lower himself to reach for her.
She cuddled with him instantly, kissed him on the cheek and rested her cold nose against his neck as they rode to the stables.
Lenora loved the horses and whenever she was allowed in the stables, she remained as long as she could.
A foal was born last spring that Clyde knew would be docile and perfect for her.
Celeste and Clyde planned on gifting the foal to her for Christmas this year.
In his chamber, Clyde washed up after the hunt and sat gazing out the window.
The last remaining rays of the sun had gone down darkness enveloped the castle, only the torches could be seen as the sentries went along lighting them.
Clyde clutched his chest, over his racing heart as he looked out into the darkness.
He didn't need the daylight to know that he was looking north towards home.
Warm arms circled him from behind as a kiss was placed in the middle of his back.
Lifting up one of his arms, Clyde pulled Celeste around to his front and bent low to kiss her.
What started off as a light brush of his lips onto hers, quickly turned into him cupping her face and deepening his kiss.
A sense of urgency overwhelmed him and he couldn't stop, wouldn't stop kissing her.
He knew he needed to stop because most likely Celeste came to tell him that supper was ready.
The longer he kissed her, he knew what that would lead to, and he wasn't in the mood for a quick tumble.
The feelings that Clyde was having at that moment, if he was to make love to his wife, he wanted to savour every inch of her, make her feel cherished, to show her how much she meant to him.
"Clyde," Celeste whispered into his chest as he cradled her closely to him.
"Is something amiss?"
"Nay, love," Clyde placed a quick kiss on the top of her head and pulled her even closer to him, if at all possible.
"Papa said ye were verra quiet while ye hunted," Celeste whispered back.
"What is bothering you?
Ye have not been yourself for the past sennight." She looked up at him now, love shining in her eyes, and he couldn't keep anything from his wife.
"Tis a feeling that I have, a feeling that something is wrong at home," Clyde told her.