She ducked under the halberd and ran before the man had the chance to react. She burst through the doors, skidding to a halt in a cavernous hall flooded with light from windows near the ceiling.
Numerous tables filled the space although they were mostly empty but for the big table by the fireplace where a young dark-haired boy sat with a woman dressed as a servant.
“Rory!”
He looked up at the sound of her voice and his face lit up. “Mama!”
Then she was running towards him, and he was running towards her, and he was in her arms, and she was holding him tight, smelling his smell, ruffling his hair, and relief washed through her like a flood.
“Oh, Rory,” she whispered into his hair. “You’re all right. Thank God you’re all right.”
“Mama,” Rory said, his voice muffled by her shoulder. “You’re squashing me.”
She loosened her hold a little. “Sorry, sweetie. I was just so worried about you. But it’s all right now. Everything is going to be all right.”
DERYN WATCHED MADELEINEfrom the depths of his hood. He’d been careful to not let anyone see his face as the last thing he needed was to be recognized, but he couldn’t help watching Madeleine with her boy. It stirred something in him, a longing he’d thought left firmly in the past.
Deryn took a step towards them, but a halberd suddenly blocked his way. One of the guards standing beside him.
“I dinna think so,” the man said. “Time for ye to be going.”
Deryn bit back his annoyance. If he thought he’d get thanks from Rodric MacKay or his men for bringing back his wife, it looked as though he was going to be disappointed. Still, he hadn’t done it for thanks or recognition. He’d done it because Madeleine had needed his help. He’d done his duty. She had found her son, been returned to her husband and home, and there was nothing further for him to do here. It was time he took his leave.
He nodded. “Lead the way.”
As he followed the guard, he glanced over his shoulder, hoping to say goodbye to Madeleine, but her attention was fixed on her son, and she didn’t seem to notice him.
The serving girl, who Deryn guessed was acting as a minder to the lad, walked over to them and took hold of the boy’s hand.
“It’s time for his nap now.”
“Take your hands off my son!” Madeleine snapped. “I’ll decide when it’s time for his nap.”
“But the laird instructed—”
“I don’t care what the laird instructed! Where is he anyway? Hiding away somewhere? You can tell him from me, this isn’t over! I’m going to get him thrown in jail for this!”
As the door began to swing shut behind him, Deryn caught a glimpse of more guards converging on Madeleine.
“Get away from me!” she shouted. “We are going home!”
Then the door to the great hall closed with a boom. He hesitated, staring at the thick iron-studded wood.
“What are ye waiting for?” the guard snapped. “Follow me.”
Deryn didn’t move. He thought he’d heard something in Madeleine’s voice, something he didn’t like the sound of. Fear.
“Friend,” the guard growled, his grip tightening on his halberd. “Dinna be stupid. Ye have delivered the woman to her lord. Now be on yer way. None of this concerns ye.”
Deryn took a breath. The guard was right. What went on between Madeleine and her husband was none of his business. He nodded and followed the guard out of the castle.
It was time to go home.
