He’d never expected to face some challenger in earnest, especially for such a reason.
What sort of opponent would Earrach make? A fierce and brutal one, no doubt. A big man. Earrach had something merciless about him.
Adair could not leave the woman he loved in the hands of such a man.
When he went out into the morning, the sun just peeked over the eastern rise. No sign of Bradana or Wen anywhere. And there had been no outcry. He could only imagine she’d got back to her room without being seen.
He walked down to the shore where his boat was situated. The small craft had been hauled well up onto the shingle and the two men who had sailed with him, Flynn and Nolan, had made a camp.
They were just rising when Adair arrived. Nolan, the leader of the two, gave him a swift look.
“Young master, are we leaving today for Erin?”
Adair heard hope in the man’s voice, and Flynn looked up sharply. They must be bored near mindless here and anxious to go.
“Aye. Be ready to leave by tonight. At short notice, if need be.”
“Aye, so. Have ye then accomplished what your father sent ye to do?”
He had not, and facing Father would be hard, especially if he brought retribution on his heels.
“In truth, nay. But there may be trouble this day.”
They exchanged a swift look. “What sort o’ trouble?”
“The kind that will require a fast departure. Are ye both armed?”
Now they appeared startled. “Aye, but we are guests here, surely.”
“Unwelcome guests,” he reminded them.
“Aye, but there are laws o’ hospitality,” Nolan said.
So there were. They extended only so far when it came to bloodshed.
He told them, “If somewhat should happen to me”—if Earrach proved a better fighter than he could handle—“get yourselves away, hear? Do not wait back.”
“And go home to your father without ye? His favorite son?”
“I am far from that.”
Flynn snorted. “I’d sooner lose me head.”
“Still and all.” Adair looked them in the eye, each in turn. “I do so order it.”
They exchanged another look. “Aye, so, let us hope it does no’ come to that.”
There was always hope.
*
To Bradana’s alarm,she found her mother’s woman looking for her when she reached home.
“Mistress,” cried the distressed Genna, “where were ye? I began to think the worst.”
“The worst?”
“That ye had fled.” Genna bit her lip. “I have not missed the fact that ye be no’ overanxious for this handfasting.”
