Isabel turned grave. “Then I do hope Trahern will be able to bring her here, even if it is only for a short while. We have good healers whose knowledge of herbs and medicines is unsurpassed.” The Queen hesitated a moment. “She will be safe, so long as the High King does not know that we helped her leave.”
Taryn nodded, but her mind was more preoccupied with thoughts of Killian. She didn’t know if he would agree to help her anymore, after she had failed to keep her bargain about Carice. Her mother’s pursuit had made it far more difficult, and she did not doubt that Maeve would try to stop her from reaching the High King.
A few minutes later, a servant arrived with a small repast of wine, bread, roasted boar, and cheese. Taryn sat with the Queen and ate while Isabel told her stories of her husband’s encounters with the Norman invaders. She learned that Isabel’s marriage to Patrick had been arranged to keep the peace between theNormans and the Irish. They had begun as enemies, but had ended up falling in love.
“An arranged betrothal can make a good marriage,” Isabel said. “If it is with the right man.”
Taryn knew what the Queen was implying, but right now, her greater concern was saving her father. “I do hope to marry one day,” she said. “But not yet.” There was too much at stake right now. Until the pieces of her life were put back together, she could not imagine another betrothal.
“I understand.” Isabel grew serious for a moment. “But if your father cannot be saved, your family will need alliances to help keep the peace in your own kingdom.”
Taryn didn’t want to even consider that possibility. She had to believe that Devlin could come home again. “Perhaps,” she hedged. Then she said, “I would like to speak with Killian again before I retire for the night.” She wanted to know if it was his intention to leave her behind, once Carice was safe. Though it was likely, she rather hoped he would change his mind.
“I will send for him, if you wish,” the Queen offered. “He is staying among our soldiers.”
“I would be grateful,” Taryn said. Even so, she was wary of treating Killian like a servant, to come at her beck and call. Already he was tense, since Carice had not arrived. He was a man on edge, ready to do whatever was necessary to defend his sister. She prayed that the young woman would arrive here safely.
Isabel spoke to one of the servants and then turned to Taryn. “I will leave you alone to speak with him, but if you have need of me, I won’t be far away.” Her gaze was searching, as if she sensed that there was more between them.
After the Queen left, Taryn paced across the solar. The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and she could hear the low murmur of conversation from the people around them. LaochreCastle was a bustling settlement, filled with Irish and Normans blended together.
The stone rooms were not as cold as she’d expected, for tapestries lined the walls and the hearth brought a sense of comfort to the solar. But there was no peace within her now. She could not set aside her worries about Tara. It would take only two or three more days to reach the High King’s fortress, and she had no idea how to convince the Ard-Righ not to execute her father. A woman’s pleas meant nothing to the High King of Éireann.
The door to the solar opened, and Killian stepped inside. From the moment he entered the room, he took command of the space. There was no deference in him, and the look in his eyes held an intensity that made her uneasy.
“I was wanting to speak with you again,” he said without any greeting at all. In one hand, he held out a wool cloak with a hood. “Put this on and walk with me.”
“We can speak here,” she said. “There is no one to overhear our conversation.”
“There are always eavesdroppers within a castle. Ewan MacEgan, for one,” he said. Then he crossed toward her and placed the cloak over her shoulders, drawing the hood over her face.
It felt as if he were trying to hide her appearance, and she felt a pang of frustration.You’re being overly sensitive, she told herself. It was midwinter and freezing outside.
Killian led her down a narrow hallway and into a room that opened onto the battlements. Outside, the wind roared against the stones, the air filled with cold sleet. She shivered within her cloak, pulling it tightly over her body.
“Is there any sign of Carice?” she asked, when they were alone.
He shook his head. “Not yet. But it’s too soon for her to be here. I trust in Trahern MacEgan—the man will bring her toLaochre as soon as he can.” His gray eyes narrowed upon her, and she had a sinking feeling deep inside.
“Our agreement has changed,” he began. With the words, a chill whispered over her skin, and she knew, without him saying a word, that he was going to leave her here.
“I thought you might say that.” She had hoped he would continue escorting her to Tara, but the look in his eyes suggested that he did not want to anymore. “I am sorry I could not help your sister. But I could do naught to stop my mother’s men from pursuing me.” She was only one woman, and Maeve had no intention of letting her go.
“No,” he agreed. “And they will try to stop you from reaching Tara. It is likely that they will succeed.”
She faced him, staring into his gray eyes. “You’ve given up, haven’t you? Once Carice is here, you would rather walk away from what I have to offer.”
“Not necessarily,” he countered. The coldness in his voice held a ruthless air, and she suddenly suspected that she would not like what he was about to say.
He crossed his arms and studied her. Freezing droplets of ice caught in his dark hair, and she was held spellbound by his iron eyes. This man, though little more than a slave, was accustomed to getting what he wanted. He was breathtakingly handsome, and she had now experienced what it was to be kissed by this man. It had shaken the foundation of her good sense.
“I could take you to Tara,” he said slowly. “And I might be able to save your father’s life. But it isn’t silver that I’m wanting as my reward.”
Her nerves tightened at that. “What is it you want?”
“I want land,” he said quietly. “I want a place of my own in Ossoria.”
For a moment, his words hung within the space. She wanted to tell him yes, of course, she could grant him a place. But shehesitated, needing to be truthful with him. “Land may not be within my power to give. Especially if my father is exiled from Ossoria. I do not know who will become the new king.” Taryn took a step closer and pleaded, “Let me give you silver or wealth. Or you could become one of our tenants with all the rights of a tribesman.”
