“Adair and Wen rescued me. ’Tis only by their wit and courage that I am here.”
Rohracht cast a look at Adair and the hound. “I am that grateful, I ha’ no words. But ye, lass”—he cradled Bradana in his arms—“’twas a foolish, foolish thing ye did turning yersel’ over that way. Did ye think we would no’ defend ye?”
“Just what I asked her,” Adair said softly.
“I did no’ want it to cost ye,” Bradana told the old man, “and cost ye dear.”
“Aye, well, one fights for what is precious. Ye maun promise not to do that again, Granddaughter.”
“I am not sure I can.”
“Stubborn as well as true-hearted.”
“Chief Rohracht,” Adair told the old man, “he will be coming after us—Mican.”
“Aye, no doubt he will. We maun ha’ some time, though, for I do no’ doubt he will go home first and raise an army. No matter, we will be ready for him.”
Would they?
“For now, go and get yoursel’s some dry clothing, rest, and take something to eat. We shall have a war meeting anon.”
“Only if ye will rest also, Grandfather.”
“Just wha’ I ha’ been telling him,” Morag put in.
“I can rest now I know ye are safe. Help me up, Morag.”
He went off to his chamber, and Bradana and Adair, with Wen, repaired to their own.
Once she wore dry clothing, Bradana stood at the door trying to listen for sounds of an alarm above the crashing of the rain. They would come from the south. The only question was when.
Adair sprawled on the bed, watching her.
“D’ye think Grandfather is right and Mican will go home for an army? Have we some time?”
“He canna hope to defeat us wi’ the number o’ men he had with him this time.”
Bradana turned her head and looked at him. “Are ye prepared to fight?”
“I am,” he answered, his eyes steady upon her.
“Even for this place no’ your own?”
“There are good people here. Strong people. They deserve better than to live beneath Mican’s thumb. Besides—if ’tis your place, this, is it no’ also mine?”
“Aye.” She came to him swiftly, put her knee on the bed, and crawled up next to him. “For everything I am is yours.”
He gathered her in to lie beside him. Once more, despite the fear and the doubt, her world came right.
“What your grandfather said,” Adair whispered after a moment. “Ye must promise never to do that again—sacrifice yourself. Ye have no idea how I felt knowing ye were in his hands and prey to whatever he might decide to do.”
Bradana drew a breath. “As I told Grandfather, I canna make that promise. If there’s ever aught I can do to spare or save ye, I will do it.”
“Bradana—”
“’Tis the other side o’ love, is it no’? A love such as we share. Fear. The fear o’ loss. Of parting.”
Adair did not speak, though once again she could feel the emotions moving through him, surging.
