Kendrick ignored her. “Nephew, perhaps ’twould be best for yoursel’ and all concerned if ye went back home as soon as possible. As soon as this rain passes, mayhap. It should clear by morning.”
For reasons unknown to him, Adair looked at Bradana. Their gazes met and tangled for the briefest moment before she looked away.
“Uncle.” Adair returned his attention to Kendrick. “I cannot leave wi’ my father’s business unspoken.”
“In the morn,” Kendrick declared. “There has been enough, nephew, for one day.”
“As ye wish.”
Bradana left soon after, saying she must change into dry clothing, taking the hound with her.
Though Adair sat till his own clothing dried, she did not return.
Chapter Nine
“Ithought yewould want to know,” Kendrick said heavily, “I ha’ spoken wi’ my twa sons. Last night, after ye went to your bed.”
Morning had arrived. Contrary to Kendrick’s prediction, the weather had not cleared. Instead, a heavy mist cloaked the settlement and the rocks of the shore.
When Adair had walked out from his quarters, it collected on his hair and clothing like so much light rain.
Not at all a good day for travel, if Kendrick dismissed him.
He had not slept well last night—too many things crowding his head, and scenes that replayed continually. His two accursed cousins. The encounter with the stag. That incredible moment when Bradana snagged his hand.
He was able to ponder out what two of these meant. His cousins wanted shed of him. He’d somehow encountered the magic of Alba, there in the clearing while facing the stag.
But Bradana? He could not imagine.
She meant nothing to him. A chance encounter here in a strange land. She was not even of his blood. Beautiful, aye. But she meant naught to him.
Still and all, he half hoped she might be at his uncle’s fireside when he arrived. Not that he needed her there. Hewantedher there.
She wasn’t present, though. Rather, he found Kendrick alone, with breakfast laid out before him.
“Uncle.”
“Come. Eat.”
Adair did, his appetite ferocious. He listened as Kendrick once more made excuses for his sons. Heard of their chastisement. “And did my cousins admit why they tried to strand me in the forest?”
“Admit?” Kendrick did not like the word. “’Twas accidental, they say. One moment ye were there, the next gone. They thought ye stepped out after game. They called to ye—”
Adair looked Kendrick in the eye. “Uncle, they did no’.”
“Are ye calling my sons liars?”
“Are ye callingmeone?”
Kendrick visibly considered making a fuss of it, and then backed down. “Aye, well, an unfortunate occurrence and no mistake. Ye will no’ go out alone wi’ them again.”
“I will not.”
“In fact… I think, ye being a reasonable young man, ye will agree that, as I said last night, the very best thing ye can do is go back to Erin.”
“I cannot, Uncle. No’ before presenting my father’s arguments for his claim.”
“Do so, then.”
