“I am feeling much better,” Heather frowned. “But you do not look well, Nessa, is something wrong?”
Nessa retrieved the tankard and handed it to Heather.
“Sit and talk with me, Nessa, till I fall asleep.”
Nessa sat, a tear stinging the corner of her eye until it finally fell down her cheek.
“Talk to me, Nessa,” Heather encouraged.
“Everything changes, my lady,” she said, sadness filling her face. “Two of the original McComb clan disappeared last night. Seamus, me, and his family are the last of the Clan McComb and Seamus is sure the Dragon plans to get rid of us.” She wiped away her tears. “I spoke with Pitt. He talks with me often and I must say he is more thoughtful than I thought. He tells me not to worry that all willbe fine, but how can I not worry when all who I know are disappearing?”
“As soon as I am well, we will be leaving for the Macinnes keep and I shall take you with me,” Heather said. “I will not let anything happen to you.”
“Truly, my lady?”
Heather reached out and Nessa quickly took her hand. “Truly, Nessa. When I arrived here, if it were not for your kindness and help, I do not know what I would have done.”
“I would be only too pleased to serve you, my lady.”
“Then after I rest you may return and start packing my chests and be sure to start gathering your belongings.”
Heather fell asleep wondering what her husband had planned. Usually, she would sneak around and try to find out, but now, she would simply ask him.
* * *
Rhys watched his wife sleep.It was growing late, not only the day but the time they had to leave here. Haidar would regroup and return with all his men and from what Rhys’ men were reporting to him, Haidar was doing just that.
The last of the McCombs would be taken tonight, except for Nessa. Pitt, to his own surprise, had grown more than fond of her and with howmuch his wife seemed to favor Nessa, he planned for her to come along with them to the Macinnes keep.
He could not wait any longer. The day after tomorrow they would leave. He would have a cart made ready to accommodate Heather and they would go, never to return here again.
He leaned over and kissed her brow. “Sleep well, we leave for home soon.”
* * *
Heather wokeand to her dismay saw that it was night and that she was alone. She could not tolerate sleeping so much or lying abed for so long. If they were to leave soon then things needed to be done.
She swung her legs off the bed, the pain brief and tolerable. It was when she stood that she had the problem. Her feet were still a bit sore and her legs weak from spending far too much time in bed. She slowly made her way across the room, leaning on whatever she could along the way. She pulled a skirt and blouse from the chest and slower than she would have liked got dressed.
By the time she was done, she was feeling better from moving around, but when she went to put her boots on, the pain had her hesitating. Her feet were not ready for them. She sat feeling defeated, but only for a moment. She recalled seeing sandals in the chest Rhys had sent to theroom for her. She smiled with glee when she found them and slipped them on, tying them around her ankles and up along her legs.
Now she needed to find her sisters and have them help her.
Heather realized how late the hour was when she entered the Great Hall and found it deserted. Not even the servants lingered about. She thought of going outside, but it would be foolish of her to do that. With it being so late and the night so quiet, there was always a chance of her being abducted again and she would not chance that.
A noise in the shadows had her stilling and looking around.
“Lady Heather.”
Heather turned with a start, her hand going to her chest, her heart pounding so hard she thought it would burst, to see Seamus emerge from the shadows. “You frightened me, Seamus.”
“They are coming, Lady Heather. I heard the cart rolling through the village. They have come to take me away, never to be seen again.”
Tears started rolling down the old man’s cheeks and Heather went to him, slipping her arm around him. “I will not let them take you, Seamus.”
“You cannot stop them, my lady. Everyone in the village is preparing to leave. The word is that the Dragon intends to burn the whole village and the keep to the ground.” He wiped at his tears. “It has been my home since birth, and he is going to destroy it.”
“It is your home no more and what are you doing out of bed, wife?” Rhys asked, stepping out of the shadows.
