Rhian went silent. Saerla could feel her thinking. Not a stupid woman, she leaped to it. “Ye ha’ Seen—Seen the death o’ someone ye love.”
Saerla stopped breathing.
“Who, sister?”
“Please do no’ ask.”
“But I need to know.”
“Please.”
“Saerla, if ye ha’ Seen somewhat terrible, we may be able to send a warning.”
“How? I am a prisoner, and ye, in truth, little more.”
“Leith will help if I ask. Send a letter to Moira.”
“How?” Saerla asked again. “How might he get that to her?”
Rhian went suddenly still.
“Rory MacLeod,” Saerla said in a rush. “He bade me send a letter to Moira—one urging her to accept his terms for my release and surrender to him all our holdings. I might tell him, now I am willing to tak’ him up on that.”
Rhian drew a breath. “Ye would no’.”
“Nay, but if I could include some hidden message, one only Moira would understand—I might prevent her attacking.” She might prevent what she’d Seen in that terrible Vision ever happening.
Another path for her to choose.
“Sister, ye maun tak’ a message to him for me. To Rory MacLeod.”
“Saerla—”
“Bid him here to me.”
“Nay.” Rhian sat upright, tears standing unshed in her eyes. “I want him nowhere near ye.”
And what would Rhian say if she knew Rory had been as close to her as any man could be? Right here in this very bed. Too many secrets for her to keep.
“Rhian, ’twas no’ Rory who felled me out there on the grass, but the Vision.”
“He had his blade to yer throat! He hauled ye out o’ here like—like a common thief. My sister!” Rhian struggled visibly to get hold of herself. “I thought I would see ye die.”
“I ken. I ken.” Now Saerla comforted Rhian with her arms fast around her.
“I do no’ want him in the same chamber as ye.”
“No’ even if it might save the lives o’ those we love?”
Rhian raised her head from Saerla’s shoulder. They gazed into one another’s eyes.
“Those we love?” Rhian repeated the words, horror-struck. “More than one?”
“Aye, sister. I pray thee, tak’ him the message.”
“Ye be no’ strong enough. No’ strong enough yet to face that monster. Ye ha’ no’ even been up on yer feet.”
“Help me, then.”
