They climbed aboard TheMermaidand perched on the deck, leaning against the railing. Fiona gazed at the waves for a while.
“Ye know,” she said at last. “I always knew that my work for the Order was dangerous. Lord above, I’ve been in enough scrapes to realize it, but I never thought it would put my people’s lives in danger. Perhaps that was naive of me.”
Conall laid a hand on her shoulder. “The Order is grateful for all ye have done for us,” he said softly. “But if ye wish to step back, cease yer association with us, nobody would fault ye.”
She looked at him sharply, her eyes flashing. “Ye misunderstand me, Conall. Seeing my people hurt like that has made me realize more fully what is it that we fight for. Who else will stand up for my people if I dinna? We live by our own rules, pay no dues to the king or a lord, but our freedom comes with risks. I understand that. My people understand that. But if we are to stay free, people like our enemy must be stopped and I will do everything in my power to see that happen.”
She glared at Conall, fury burning in her eyes, and Molly found herself doubly glad that she was not this woman’s enemy. Those raiders had made a mistake in hurting Fiona’s people.
“We will stop him,” Conall replied, a trace of anger in his own voice. “We will protect yer people. I swear.”
Fiona stared at him for a second longer and then nodded tightly. “I will send word to the Order, let them know what happened here and once we have returned to Lanwick, I’ll send word to all my trading contacts, see if we canna track down the source of these new weapons ye told us about.”
Conall flinched. “I think I already know what that source is.”
Fiona watched him silently for several heartbeats. “The falcon?”
“Aye. The falcon.” Conall’s voice was heavy.
“Then it’s doubly important I tell the Order,” Fiona said. “The falcon is mighty, the Order will have to send their strength if they are to—”
“No,” Conall cut in. “This is my mission. I will go.”
“But—”
“I said I will go.” His voice was hard and cold, cutting Fiona off in mid-sentence. What was this falcon? And why did Conall look like he’d been punched in the stomach at the mention of it?
“I dinna think that wise,” Fiona said. “After everything that’s happened...”
“Nay, it isnae wise,” Conall agreed. “But it must be done all the same. If what we suspect is true, then it’s my responsibility to put it right.”
Fiona narrowed her eyes at him and then finally nodded. “As ye wish. I’ll gather provisions, make sure theMermaidis well stocked for yer trip—”
“Nay. Ye will keep theMermaid. How else will ye get everyone back to Lanwick? Ye wouldnae get the children and the elderly safely over those cliffs. And besides, he will be watching the sea. It would be better if I approach from inland.”
Fiona said nothing for a long moment. Then finally she blew out a breath. “Very well, but ye will take what provisions and weapons ye need from the cave. It is the least we can do.”
“My thanks, Fi.” He hesitated, glancing at Molly. “There is another favor I would ask of ye. Take Molly back to Lanwick. Keep her safe until I return.”
“Wait a minute!” Molly cried. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
Conall turned to her. “Lanwick is the safest place for ye. I canna take ye back to that beach, not yet.”
“I don’t remember asking you to!” she retorted, crossing her arms. “But if you think I’m going back to Lanwick, you’ve another think coming!”
He scowled. “Lass, there is nowhere else to go—”
“I’m coming with you!”
She hadn’t realized that was her intent until she said it but now she had, she knew it was the right thing to do. The thought of letting him go off alone into god-knows-what while she sat safe and sound in Lanwick, waiting for him to come back was more than she could bear. It would drive her nuts.
“Where I’m going is dangerous,” he said in a low voice.
“Oh, dangerous, is it?” she retorted. “And I suppose everything I’ve done since coming here has been a walk in the park, has it? Getting set on by raiders wasn’t dangerous? Or Lanwick being attacked? Could where you’re going be any more dangerous than that?”
Fiona seemed to be hiding a smile. “She has a point, Conall.”
He scowled at the chief. “Whose side are ye on?”
