She nodded. A belief she shared.
“Nor do I like Lord Ardgar’s master-at-arms,” the earl ground out. “Sir Feradach O’Dowd is an evil man, one with a vile reputation for enjoying bringing misery to others, brutality he served to your father.”
She nodded. “Aye, he is a despicable man. Sir Rónán loathes Sir Feradach as well.”
Lord Torridan paused. “I didna realize Sir Rónán knew him.”
In brief, she explained how the ruthless man had adopted Rónán, not out of love but to do his bidding, and of his abusive treatment.
“The cur! I had already planned to lay siege to Murchadh Castle and end the Earl of Ardgar’s support of the English. Once your father has fully recovered, ’twill be a pleasure to join forces with him to serve just punishment to Lord Ardgar as well asSir Feradach.”
“My lord, I ask that you dinna informRónán that you know of his past.”
“Nay, lass, and I thank you for explaining. Sir Rónán seems like astalwart man.”
“He is.”
The uneven tap of steps sounded from the hallway, mixed with the clack of wood. Warmth touched her heart. Her father.
A soft scrape sounded as the door opened. Face grim, Lord Sionn shuffled his way across the chamber.
At the seriousness in her father’s expression, she tensed. “What is wrong?”
“Several knights who stayed behind with Sir Rónánhave arrived.”
Lord Torridan stepped forward. “How many?”
Her father’s mouth tightened. “Four.”
Why hadn’t he said Rónán’s name? Lathir fought against a burst of fear. No, she was wrong. Rónán had come back with the men, a fact her father was about to share. “Sir Rónán?”
Her father shook his head. “One of the knights in his small contingent explained that Sir Rónán ordered them to leave, and that after he’d created a diversion, he would join them. So,they departed.”
Tense silence filled the chamber.
Panic clawed through Lathir. She didn’t want to ask, prayed she was wrong, but needed to know. “And Rónán?” she rasped, her entirebody trembling.
Regret filled her father’s eyes. “I am sorry, lass. They believe he is dead.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lathir’s body began to shudder, and tears burned her eyes as she fought to breath. Rónán was dead?
Nay, he’d promised to return.
Sworn to come back to her.
Vowed to—
“Lathir.” Her father’s voice seemed to come from faraway as the room blurred around her. Strong hands caught her, helpedher to a chair.
“I am so sorry,” Lord Torridan rasped.
Her heart lay cold and heavy in her chest as she stared at the flicker of flames in the hearth. A spark popped into the lazy stream of smoke, faded to a smear of black. A sob came forth,then another.
Her father drew her into his arms. “Let the grief come, lass.”
How long she cried she wasn’t sure, but when no more tears would come, and her heart-wrenching sobs grew silent, she rested against her father, thankful for his presence, that as she faced this horrendous loss of a man she would love forever, she wouldn’t be alone.
