“Not too far. Ye nearly made your own way back. How, I canna imagine.” They moved off.
The smile came slower this time. “If I told ye, ye would not believe me.”
“I might.”
But he only shook his head and stole a look over his shoulder. “’Tis a strange place, this Alba.”
“’Tis a wondrous place. A magnificent place. A fierce and ancient one.”
“Ye love it.”
“Down to my bones,” she admitted. “As, I will suppose, ye love Erin.”
“So I do.”
It rained in earnest now. The drops hit Adair in the face and ran down—struck all four of them hard.
“Then why did ye leave there?” she asked him.
“I did no’ want to. I was sent.”
“D’ye always do as you’re told?”
“Nay. D’ye?”
“Very seldom do I do as I am told.” She thought of Earrach, and the arguments Kendrick had put forth for her to wed with him. Whether or not she would prove obedient in that—well, they would have to see.
“Come along.” She hurried now, but not because she wanted shed of Adair’s company. Nay, not that.
When they emerged from the trees, the settlement lay before them to the south. The sea stretched out angry with big, dark blue combers rolling in. The buildings seemed to huddle against the storm.
“Come,” she urged again, and reached out to snag his hand.
The instant their fingers met, skin to skin, she received a vision. Swift and hard it came, blotting out all that lay before her and allowing her to see instead—
A man—nay, not this man, but another just as beautiful in his way. A mane of auburn hair and a pair of hazel eyes that anchored her soul. He leaned in and kissed her softly, bestowing the caresses first to the palm of each hand, then at either corner of her mouth, both cheeks, and her forehead. A blessing.
“Mistress Bradana? What is it?”
She had stumbled. Adair’s grip kept her from falling.
“Naught. It is all right.” Only it was not. Something grave, terrible, and wonderful came at her. From him? From the past, mayhap.
Other figures emerged from the forest also on their way back to the settlement, fleeing the hard rain. They included Kendrick and one of his advisors. The chief looked immensely relieved to see Adair.
“There ye be!” he cried, as Bradana had. “By the Dagda, I did no’ want to have to send word back to yer father that ye were lost. Anlon”—he turned to his companion—“take the pony, will ye, and see him tended.”
“Aye, so.” The man moved off.
Kendrick fixed Adair with a hard eye. “Ye can come wi’ me.”
*
Mistress Tavia hada good fire burning, and Adair availed himself of its comfort. His uncle’s wife bustled about, giving Adair a cup of warmed heather ale. He drank while keeping an eye on Bradana.
He figured she would leave now, go off to at least change into dry clothing. Her things clung to her, and her hair hung down, dripping and turned amber-dark with the wet.
He did not want her to leave. Just as he had not wanted to let go of her hand. But she had cast his fingers off as soon as Kendrick appeared from the forest.
