“I should ha’ known then that I would be chasing that moment for the rest of my life.”
My eyes bounce between his, trying to glean his meaning. “What? Us getting into trouble?”
His throat bobs with a swallow, his gaze darkening as he traces a thumb over my bottom lip. “Nae—getting to rescue ye.”
A smile blooms on my face, and he leans down to touch his forehead to mine.
“Ye make it too easy when ye go off petting dragons.”
“I’ll be more careful in the future,” I whisper.
“No ye willna.”
The sun sinkslow on the horizon when we make it around the north side of the island and begin our approach to the fjords on the west side. The water seems different on this side of the island. It’s smooth, but not complacent, like it lies in wait.
Under the surface, the current is raging. The hair on the back of my neck rises and the sinking feeling of anxiety churns in my stomach. I scan the horizon for any sign of trouble, but there is none.
Just the obelisk, its strange green light piercing the shadows that have grown in the graying light.
“We’ll have to unload your supplies in trips. The ship can’t get any closer to the shore and the birlinn can’t carry everything in one go,” Dragut calls from the helm, pointing a long finger at the fjord.
A short while later, Lachlan, I, and the smaller of the two horses, but still a fairly large grey-dappled beast, make way for alanding spot near the Wayfinder. The stone was easy to keep track of in the dimming light.
As we creep by it, we get close enough to see that where the water touches the stone, it froths. My eyes narrow at the atrocity before I lean away from it. How did she get away with this for so long?
Not her—Julius. The mastermind behind the treachery.
I focus on the land before us to ease my growing anger. A small alcove of a bay is where we’re heading. But just beyond it is the edge of a forest. Cedars tower over clumps of ferns and other bushy mounds.
It reminds me of the woods at the Hall. I’ve been cooped up on boats too long, my legs itch to hike and explore. The mountain that Boudicca explained would have the cave is the closest. The base of it stretches into the water around us. Its summit rises in jagged peaks and I pray the cave entrance is on this side, like it’s claimed to be. Gray clouds meld with the gray stone of the mountain as if it’s swallowing up the sky.
The sight is glorious. I want to climb it, to claim it.
“I’ll unload the horse, ye and the packs, before I go back for the other horse. Stick to the alcove here, please.” He walks across the small birlinn. “Key, do not go exploring.” Lachlan’s eyes narrow on me from the mast as he unties the sail.
When I don’t respond, his gaze sharpens. “Did ye hear me? Do nae wander off.”
I roll my eyes. “Is this because of Boudicca’s stories?”
“Nae. Ye dinna ken the land here, and I dinna want ye getting lost.”
I grumble, crossing my arms. “I won’t go anywhere, but not because I’d get lost.” I stick my tongue out at him. “But because I don’t want the horse getting fatigued. We need to get that stone and get back as soon as possible. I want to check on Tane.”
Lachlan nods, his gaze turning a shade softer. “I’m sure he’s okay.”
I shake my head, biting my lower lip. “Would you be?”
I think back to how he was before. Tane always thought he wasn’t worthy of Mathilda, of being here—in a way. He was the only one who was ever a match for her, and yet he still felt unworthy.
How’s he going to feel now that he’s been maimed?
“I would be if I knew ye were by my side,” Lachlan answers. His words bring my attention back to him.
“Of course, I would be by your side, always.”
Lachlan smiles, but his shoulders sag with the breath he releases.
“Wait—you think I wouldn’t be?” My anger rears its head again and I squeeze my hands into fists at my side.
