“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I would prefer to go with Raine. It means that none of your men would be held responsible for my disappearance.”
The queen’s look grew discerning, her lips tight with worry, though she said nothing.
“If I take her alone, it is easier to remain hidden,” Raine said. “But in return, I would ask that you let others believe that I am still your captive.”
“Then your commander would not hold you responsible for your absence.” Patrick exchanged a glance at Isabel, but the queen’s attention was upon Carice.
“Is this what you want, Lady Carice?” The woman’s face had grown serious, almost as if she wanted the answer to be no.
“I trust Raine,” Carice said, braving a slight smile. “He will not harm me.”
At her words, the burden of lies grew heavier. He intended to use Carice, delivering her into the hands of her greatest enemy. She would never forgive him for this. But perhaps when the Ard-Righ was dead, he could bring her to the sanctuary she wanted, as a means of atonement.
She will never trust you again, his conscience asserted.She would rather die than travel at the side of a murderer.
He vaguely heard the voices of the king and queen mingled with Carice’s as they spoke of the journey. But when he looked upon her beautiful face, he remembered the stricken faces of his sisters.
“Raine, don’t let them take us,” Elise had begged. Her eyes were shining with tears as the soldiers had seized her and Nicole. “Please.”
He’d lowered his weapon, staring into the eyes of the Norman commander. It was Sir Darren de Carleigh, and there was no sympathy in his expression.
Raine hadforced himself to step over his parents’ bodies. “My sisters are innocent of this,” he told Sir Darren. “Let them go.”
“Your father was a traitor, and the king has given his orders for all of you to be taken and questioned.”
King Henry had already left, only moments ago. Undoubtedly, he would expect to see them all executed, innocent or not. A chill washed over Raine at the thought of his sisters being violated and killed.
“They are women,” he said slowly. “Elise is only four and ten. What harm could they do to anyone?”
“My orders are—”
“Your orders be damned.” Raine moved forward, using his height to intimidate the commander. “Take me in their place.”
“All of you will be prisoners of the king,” Darren repeated. But a flicker of distaste came over him. He lifted a hand. “But there is something you can do to protect them.”
The words were a salvation he’d never expected. “Name it.”
“You are a man of strength, a better fighter than I’ve ever seen. Become one of our soldiers, under my command. So long as you fight for us and give us your loyalty, your sisters will live. And no one will touch them.”
At the time, he hadn’t understood why Sir Darren had wanted a traitor’s son to join Henry’s forces. Now, he knew what they’d wanted—a man they could manipulate, someone to fulfill the tasks they could not. A murderer.
From the moment he’d set foot on Ireland’s shores near Wexford, over two years ago, he had obeyed Sir Darren’s orders blindly. He’d fought with the Norman forces, attacking the Irish throughout Leinster and proving that he would follow their commands without question.
He sobered at the memory, for it was the first time he had encountered the MacEgans. King Patrick did not remember him, for Raine had been only one of many soldiers fighting that day. He’d watched Patrick and his brother Bevan kill men Raine had fought alongside, their swords striking down their enemy. He knew the strength and courage of the MacEgans.
And he’d witnessed their fury and anguish when their eldest brother Liam had died that day.
The Irish had long memories and would not forget what was done. Despite the fragile peace, the death of the Ard-Righ would upset the balance. And Raine would be responsible for it.
They were interrupted by two guards approaching the dais. One raised a knee in deference to King Patrick and said, “Forgive me, my king, but Brodie Faoilin has arrived. He wishes to know if you have located his daughter.”
The king raised a hand. “Do not let him in yet. Keep the gates closed for the moment.” To Carice, he turned and remarked, “I cannot refuse him the hospitality of Laochre. What do you want to do?”
Raine was startled when she stood from her place and went to stand beside him. “We will leave now and travel while my father and his men are inside. You may tell him the truth—that you gave me a place to stay before I left.” Sheunsheathed a blade from her waist. “Raine has told you everything. Now I ask that you let us go.”
The king’s expression grew serious as he turned back to Raine. “You would not have spent the night as our prisoner, had you spoken the truth.”
He believed that, but he hadn’t known what answers to give. Then, too, he didn’t deserve to spend the night in comfort, after all that he had done—and for what he was about to do.
