The issue with the Grants was the most concerning, however.She decided to mention as much to William, who bowed his head and pressed his forehead close to hers as Teagan wrapped his knee in fabric torn from Ailith’s linen shift.
“I dinna know,mo ruaidh.Naught seems certain right now.”He paused, as if he had something more to say, then took a deep breath.“I nearly expected ye to be fighting with a Grant when I arrived,” he said in a low voice.
Ailith shifted, feeling the warm, comfortable weight of her knife against her thigh.
Should I tell him about the dreams?Nay, no’ yet.No’ after all this,she thought.
He had just fought and killed his friend for her innocence, and her dreams made her seem more like a pagan witch than any of Grants’ or abbot’s accusations.
Using that reasoning, she averted her eyes.
“I did no’ believe that fighting on my own behalf would go far in convincing them that I was no’ a witch.”
William brushed his finger along her cheek.“Wise decision.”
They were alone in the village now, with only her brother and Daniel with them.The man who rode in with William, Iain, had been sent back to Drumoak to let them know all had been resolved.Teagan had finished attending to his wounds and stepped back to Bonnie Bride.After Betris had been escorted away, the abbot had ordered Eoghan’s body removed, and the rest of the crowd departed as well.
Seocan must have overheard because he spoke up.“Ye will always have the alliance of the Gordons.And dinna presume the rest of the Grants believe the same as these few.Ye canna let one man with crazed thoughts speak for a clan.James Grant was no’ present to authorize any of this ill will, and I’ll have a few words with James on the matter, especially regarding his overreaching abbot.He likely does no’ know what the abbot or Eoghan were doing.”
William’s head snapped up.“The accusation occurred in the absence of their chieftain?How did this all transpire?What were they thinking to take such an unsanctioned action?”
To Ailith, Eoghan and the abbot’s accusations and bold deeds were understandable.The cat was away, so the mice decided to declare witchcraft.
“Eoghan managed to convince a few other Grants and, with his sister, spoke to the abbot who sanctioned this,” Seocan explained.“Cormag and I will speak with James.He will side with us, as he is tired of those trying to drive a wedge between the clans.If anything, this was an affront to us more than Eoghan’s death is an insult to them.Ask any man here, Grants included.Which man here would no’ have done the same in defense of his wife?”
Daniel nodded as he stepped away to retrieve their horses.
Seocan paused and rested his hand on William’s shoulder.“I am sorry for the loss of your kin and how it transpired.No man should have to do what ye have done this day, though we all would have done the verra same.”
William accepted Seocan’s condolences with a nod, and Seocan turned to Ailith.“Mairi will want to speak with ye.She regrets any words she spoke that struck this sour note in Betris or anyone else who might have heard such rumors.She has much to atone for.”
The mention of Mairi made Ailith’s stomach sink.She gathered the filthy plaid more tightly around her but did not know what to say.If Mairi hadn’t intentionally meant any harm, then Ailith could easily forgive her for any misunderstanding.
If she had meant it intentionally ...
Ailith shook the thought from her head.As she had told herself far too often as of late, that was a tomorrow problem.She inclined her head to her brother.
Seocan embraced her in a tight, bear-like hug that only a brother can give before grasping William’s forearm in farewell, then turned to his horse.“We will escort the woman from Eire back to her house.Ye take our lass home,” he instructed William.
Ailith’s lips curled at the reference to Teagan as the woman from Eire.If only ye knew where she really came from…
Then Ailith sighed in a weary breath.Home.That word sounded so good.She brushed her mud-caked hair off her face – homeanda bath.
Daniel approached her for a fatherly embrace and leaned in close to speak to her quietly.
“This should no’ have happened, but ‘tis fortunate William fought for ye this time.Yet, dinna let your skills fade.I, for one, think shieldmaidens pale in your shadow.Keep your chin up, lassie.”He patted her upper back and joined Seocan at his own steed.
Leave it to Daniel to defend my modern behaviors, she thought.
The dream woman had been right about not fighting.Daniel’s comment reinforced the sagacity of her advice.Ailith offered up a quick prayer of thanks.
Thank ye, Dream-Eladon, or whoever ye are.
Ailith turned to Teagan, who followed behind Daniel.
“Thank ye for bringing him here,” Ailith told her, meaning William.Teagan was no horsewoman, and that ride must have been a trial for her.
Teagan wrapped her thin arms around Ailith.“‘Twas the least I could do for all ye have done for me.I canna fight as ye can.So I brought the man I thought could fight the best for ye.”
