Later, when thesun rose and Rhian went out about the stronghold to perform her duties, she could feel Leith yet. She could, in truth, feel the both of them. The lad who nestled like a spark within her, and his father, anchored to her heart.
She could not help wondering how it would be if the council or Alasdair did insist on sending Leith back to MacLeod. Would the bond that connected them stretch so far? Would she feel it clear across the loch?
Halfway through the morning, Saerla found her. Rhian had gone to the infirmary for supplies and discovered her sister waiting when she emerged.
The sight of Saerla made Rhian’s heart leap alarmingly. Had she received another Vision? Did she come with some dire warning? Aye, and she appeared grave enough for it.
“Saerla? Wha’ is it?” Rhian clenched the handle of her basket in a death grip.
Saerla inspected Rhian carefully. Did that gaze linger a beat too long on her belly? “I wished to see how ye are. Ye look better.”
“I feel well.” It was true. The child within her seemed to lend a strength.
“We maun talk, sister.” Saerla glanced around. “No’ here.”
“Ha’ ye Seen somewhat?”
“Nay, not that.”
“I ha’ no’ the time now, Saerla. I am busy.” How long before this sister who Saw so much guessed the truth? Or received the information in a Vision? But surely Rhian could trust Saerla, of all people.
“We will speak later,” she said hurriedly, turning away from Saerla’s searching gaze.
“But—”
“Sister, I ha’ wounded to tend.”
“Aye.” Saerla nodded. “Come to my chamber tonight. We will speak together there.”Come to my chamber. Where ye should ha’ been last night. Rhian heard the words Saerla did not speak.
The next person she encountered was Alasdair. She nearly bumped into him when he came down the stone steps from the ramparts. He halted abruptly and glanced at her. “Mistress?”
“Master Alasdair.”
“How fares the prisoner?”
And here it came, so soon. The need to lie. Aye, they had lied to the whole clan, the five of them, when Da died. That had been for the greater good.
This was not. She lied because should something happen to Leith, she did not know whether her heart could continue beating.
“No’ so well.” She shook her head sorrowfully. “Each time I think I ha’ got that stubborn wound to close, it opens up again.”
Alasdair scowled harder. “I ha’ been thinking. Mayhap he could be littered back to MacLeod lands, rowed across the loch. Once he be there, I do no’ care wha’ happens to him.”
Rhian’s heart began to pound. “And should he die?”
“Eh?”
“If ye take and abandon him there on MacLeod soil and he perishes, what’ do ye think Rory MacLeod will do?”
“Rory MacLeod,” Alasdair pronounced with some satisfaction, “lies wounded still. No’ to the death, so Mistress Saerla insists. At least, no’ yet. Wha’ can he do?”
“Rise up in vengeance? Come to mak’ answer for the death o’ his cousin and heir?”
Alasdair straightened. “I do no’ ken if ye ha’ noticed, Mistress Rhian, ye bein’ situated as ye be on the healing side o’ things. Every time yon Rory MacLeod has sought to attack us, he has failed and gone awa’ whimpering.” He leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “I believe there is some magic in it. I even begin to believe that Chief Iain, up there at his cairn, is giving us these victories. Let Rory MacLeod come if he is able. Let it be done.”
Rhian caught her breath. “That is why ye want to kill Leith, or see him die one way or another. Ye seek to provoke Rory.”
“It maun end, mistress. This feud maun end one way or another. We canna go on so forever.”
