Dread crawled up her spine, making it difficult to breathe. She could not live without him.She could not.
Even if she could never lie with him again, hold him to her, or kiss him, sharing this world with him might be just enough. If she lost him from it—
No reason to go on. The man she’d believed a traitorous serpent had become important to her existence.
A member of the guard passed, a man she knew named Muirin, husband to one of her friends. She ran forward.
“Muirin? Ye were on watch, were ye no’? Was all quiet?”
He was wet to the skin and looked at her with a hint of impatience. He must want to get home. “Aye, Liadan. Though—” His gaze became haunted. “There is somewhat—just hanging out in the dark, ye ken? No’ being able to hear above the rain made it a bad night.”
“Aye, so. Did ye see Ardahl MacCormac there?”
He shook his head. “His post is no’ near to mine.”
“But did he come in wi’ the rest o’ ye? He has not reached home.”
Muirin’s eyes sharpened. “I have not seen him. Have ye reason to worry for him?”
She shook her head, and he went on his way. Liadan stopped others, asking each the same in turn.
At last one man told her, “I think he has gone off to the chief’s place.”
“Fearghal’s? Why?”
“Summoned there, was he no’?”
He hurried off also, and she directed her steps to the former warriors’ hall, which lay just beyond the spring. People went in and out, but she did not see Ardahl. She wanted to push her way in, to set eyes on him if he were there—if only to reassure herself he was well. But she dared not make her interest too plain.
One of Conall’s former friends stood at the door. He had always shown an interest in her, and smiled when she stepped up to him.
“Good morning, Brecad.”
“Mistress Liadan.”
“Is Ardahl within?”
His smile faded. “He is. Summoned by the chief. There is a meeting going on.”
“A meeting?”
“Aye, so. The chief, some of his advisors, the druids.”
The dread in Liadan’s stomach stirred and grew claws. “Aye, then. I will wait.”
He looked curious but asked nothing. Everyone knew Ardahl had taken Conall’s place.
She kicked her heels near the spring, keeping an eye on the hall. The area still served as a gathering place for those with no roofs, though construction went apace. They looked wet and miserable.
At last men began to leave the hall in ones and twos. The two surviving druids together. Other advisors. Cathair.
Another prick went up Liadan’s spine. What was he doing there?
Finally, Ardahl and Dornach appeared together. Ardahl with his weapons still on his shoulder. She waited till the two men parted with a few words spoken, before she fell into step with Ardahl.
He shot her an assessing look, and she another right back at him.
“What happened? Ye did no’ come home. I thought—well, I do no’ know what I thought.”
