At last, he turned back to the Normans.‘What does the earl want from me?’
‘Lord Beaumont wants to know you,’ Sir Edward answered.‘To offer you the chance to return to England.’
Balor knew he ought to be grateful for the offer, but all he could think of was the powerful earl who had turned his back on the woman who had once loved him.‘Why would I want to know a man who abandoned us?’
The knight exchanged a look with Gerald.‘He didn’t abandon you.When he returned for Orla and learned she had gone to Dunmalus, Fergus told him she was dead.’
That part seemed probable.The chieftain would have lied to a Norman soldier, especially if he believed the man was responsible for attacking her.
‘The earl came back to England and grieved the loss of her,’ Sir Edward continued.‘Lord Beaumont only learned Orla was alive just after you left her ring behind at the estate.The moment he realized who you were—he sent us to find both of you and bring you back.’
The knight added, ‘After you’ve recovered, you should return with us to England.The earl would welcome you as his son.’
Maybe.But if that were true, why hadn’t Lord Beaumont travelled here himself?
And yet…he couldn’t reject the offer.As the bastard son of an earl, it increased his chances of winning Mairead’s hand in marriage.Only a little, but if the earl allowed him to stay at Beaumont, it was possible that Balor could at least give her a home.
A sense of determination caught him, and he told the knight, ‘Before I would consider travelling to England, there is something I need to do first.’
‘And what is that?’Sir Edward asked.
‘I need to free thetánaisteand bring him back to Laochre.Then, if she is willing, I intend to take King Patrick’s daughter as my bride.’
Gerald exchanged a look with the knight.‘Ambitious, aren’t you?’
‘If I free Liam MacEgan, her father might consent to the marriage,’ he answered.
‘It’s not a good idea,’ Gerald countered.‘Liam will be heavily guarded at Blarnan.King John will want to use him as leverage against King Patrick.’
Outside, there came the sound of approaching horses, and Balor suspected his time was running out.‘We have to leave.’He struggled but managed to stand up.Dizziness flooded through him, and he stumbled forward a step before Gerald caught him.
‘You’re not strong enough to walk yet.’
Not yet, but he would regain that strength after he healed.Beneath his breath, he muttered, ‘Take me to Blarnan and imprison me with Liam.Then I can break him out with your help.’
After a pause, Balor added, ‘And in return, I’ll go back to Beaumont with you.’
* * *
Balor sat in the darkness, alongside Liam.Sir Edward and Gerald had followed his request and had brought him as a prisoner to Blarnan at nightfall.He’d already given his share of food and water to thetánaiste, for he still appeared weak and hungry.
‘Where is my sister?’Liam asked.His voice was hoarse, revealing his exhaustion.
‘I sent her to Banslieve, to her uncle Connor,’ Balor replied.‘She’s safe.’
‘Thank God.’For a long moment, Liam waited.Then he added, ‘You should know that we’re very protective of her.’
‘As Mairead deserves,’ he answered.A woman like her, one who viewed the world with a generous heart, was worth guarding with his life.
‘Were you hoping she would choose you at theaenach?’Liam ventured.
Balor didn’t miss the veiled threat from her older brother.‘I knew she wouldn’t.Not when the king has already chosen her betrothed husband.’But that didn’t mean he intended to stand aside and let that happen.He turned towards Liam and added, ‘Mairead deserves the freedom to choose any man she desires.’
Thetánaisteseemed to silently agree with him.Then he asked, ‘Why did they capture you?’
Balor understood the unspoken question.‘You mean why did they bother bringing me here when they could have killed me?’
A faint smile tugged at Liam’s mouth.‘Just so.’
