“Particular interests? What are the books about, Father?”
He didn’t bother to look at me as he answered.
“’Tis none of yer concern. Ye would all do best to take account of yer belongings. I doona believe my books can be the only stolen items.”
The meal dragged on at a torturously slow pace. I couldn’t eat another bite. All I wanted was to escape to my room where I could try to come up with a way to prevent my accomplice from being revealed.
Finally, when everyone else’s eating slowed, Alasdair came to my rescue.
“Morna, I brought ye back a gift from my journey. If ye are finished eating, come with me so I may get it for ye.”
Alasdair paused and turned to address our father.
“I’ll join ye here when ye address them if ye wish it. It willna take the two of us long.”
Father nodded, and I was up and out of my seat before he could change his mind. I knew I needed Alasdair’s help, but all I could think of was the weariness on his face. Something had happened while he was away—something terrible.
I didn’t wait until we made it to my bedchamber, instead turning toward him the moment we were a safe distance from the dining hall.
“What is it? Are ye injured?”
“No, I’m fine. What I wish to speak to ye about can wait. What have ye done, Morna? I can tell by looking in yer eyes, ye know of what Da speaks.”
Nearing my room, I reached for my brother’s arm and pulled him inside.
“The books father spoke of—they are Grier’s spells and journals.”
Alasdair’s face reddened and his jaw clenched.
“I will never understand his fear of magic. ’Tis a blessing, not a curse, and ’tis dishonorable for ye to deny who ye are. How did ye learn he had them?”
I told him everything—of Eoin’s discovery, of my pact with Rab, of everything I’d learned in the past weeks and of how I would run away from here before ever going without such knowledge again. When I finished, Alasdair stood in thoughtful silence for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his resolve was firm.
“Go and tell Father that Mae has sent word asking for yer help. He willna like it, but he will allow it. Tell him ye will be gone three days and that Kip will escort ye to the village. Then, go to Kip and tell him everything. Have him prepare three horses and pack enough for a three-day journey. Elspeth willna be pleased that I’m leaving again, but I doona see another way. I’ll see to everything else.”
“We’re leaving?”
“Aye. Rab’s guilt must come to light. Without someone to blame, Father will make life for the servants unbearable. Doona worry, I’ll not allow Father to harm him. One way or another, we will see him safely to another territory.”
“I must get the books hidden away before we leave. What if Father looks for them?”
Ahead of me, Alasdair nodded and shooed me from the room.
“I know just the place. I’ll take them there myself. Go. Hurry. We’ve not much time. This is just the beginning of troubles we must discuss this night.”
Before I could ask what he meant, Alasdair pushed me out into the hall and closed the door in my face.
* * *
“We’ll stop here.”
With the sun just peaking over the horizon, Alasdair abruptly pulled his horse to a stop. Rab and I quickly did the same. We remained a good distance from the nearest territory, and I wouldn’t feel safe until we saw Rab away and settled from Conall land for good.
Alasdair dismounted effortlessly then moved to pull Rab from atop his horse as if he were nothing more than a small child. Confused, I called after him as he led the man away.
“What are ye doing? We should keep going. We…” I was left straddling my horse, Cadha, near an opening in the trees, staring after Alasdair as he attempted to lead Rab away from me.
Gently nudging Cadha, I moved to block their path.
