"But you ride about. The great and powerful warrior. Surely, people would realize who you were long before they noticed me. What difference could it make if I—"
"I am supposed to be riding the hills alone on my last quest—one no one can even guess at. Even if someone should realize who I am, it would matter little, while anyone identifying you would bring disaster."
"How could anyone possibly know who I am?" Caitlin snapped. "There must be hundreds of dark-haired girls in Ireland!"
"Not with a face beautiful enough to drive any man to madness. Conn's warriors would guess your identity in a heartbeat!"
He had called her beautiful, Caitlin thought with a shiver, yet he spat out the word as if it were a curse.
"Niall, do not be absurd. I—"
"Conn must believe you are dead if you are to be safe. I have sent a message to the chieftain claiming I have carried out his orders."
Caitlin knew how much such deceit must have cost him. "Niall—" She stopped, knowing nothing she could say would ease the guilt he felt over what he had done. She saw something flicker in his eyes, knew he saw the pity and regret she felt for him.
"Do as I command you, Caitlin," he snapped, obviously angry that she had sensed his vulnerability. "Let no one see you, or God alone knows what hell you may bring down on all our heads. Aye, and this is another order. Do not fly about, scrubbing and sweeping and casting heather about the floors here."
No one had ever raged at her this way, ordering her about as if she had not a will of her own! Perhaps she had said things he wished she had not. Made him consider things that were painful. But she had only spoken the truth!
Her cheeks burned with irritation and hurt. "It made your mother happy. And the saints know there is nothing else for me to do while I wait to be hunted down by your precious chieftain! Whyshould I not clean every stone of Daire if I wish to?"
"Because it will only make things harder. As soon as I can arrange it, my mother and Fiona will be leaving Daire forever. We will have to alter the course of our escape a bit, take them to my uncle's, where they will be cared for."
Caitlin's mouth fell open in dismay. "I cannot imagine your mother ever leaving this place! It would destroy her! And as for Fiona, I think she would rather die than step a foot beyond Daire's boundaries."
"That may be so, but I will not let her get herself killed because of it! They cannot survive here alone, and there is not enough time for me to make things right so that they can stay."
"Fiona spoke of a cow. Perhaps—"
"Curse that infernal cow! Aye, and my sister with it! Can neither of you understand? There is no time! If I were to wager, knowing Conn as I do, I would bet that by the time the full moon rises again, the chieftain will realize something is amiss. He is more clever than you know. I have fought my whole life to win this new name. When I do not return to Glenfluirse to claim it, Conn will grow uneasy. Conn might send the warriors out in peace to find me, or he mightentrust them with the quest I was on—tell them of you, that you are supposed to be dead. Which, I cannot say. But he will send his warriors out to search. Men who have secretly hated me. Envied me for years because the chieftain showed me such favor. If a band of those warriors finds us here, Caitlin, do you know what would happen?"
Her shoulders stiffened. "I am not a complete innocent!"
"You think not? I promise you, sheltered and beloved as you were, you cannot even begin to imagine what vengeance they would take! On my stubborn curse of a sister. On my mother, even dazed as she is. Aye, Lily Fair, and on you. Especially upon you."
Ice flowed through Caitlin's veins. "Nay," she whispered, shaking her head. "I cannot believe—"
"I thought you trusted me."
She winced at the bitter edge to his voice.
"If ever once you have believed me, lady, believe me when I tell you this." Niall's eyes narrowed. "There are things far worse than the quick, clean blow of a sword. And if one of those men—just one—guessed what you have made me feel—" His mouth twisted with a pain that surprised her. He spun away, trying to hide it.
What had she made him feel for her? Compassion?Pity? Or had the passion that swept through her affected him as deeply? A tingling sensation started in her chest, terrifying and delighting her. She dared to lay her hand upon the rigid muscles of his back, felt the heat of him, smelled the wild fragrance of meadow wind and horse and a slight tang of sweat.
"Niall, I am not afraid."
"I am afraid for you!" He wheeled, his hands driving back into the curls at her temples, his eyes afire. He was close, so close his breath heated her lips, and she could taste the wondrous flavor of them, hot with barely leashed passion as they had been the night he had kissed her.
Hunger pulsed through her, and she waited, breathless with the need for Niall to close the space between them, take her mouth with his. His eyes should have burned her, his lips parting, moving ever so slightly toward hers, but at the last instant, he jerked away with a savage curse.
"Do not look at me like that! As if I could tame every dragon that ever breathed fire! Can you not see your own future now? You will be hiding from Conn forever, looking over your shoulder, wondering who might be carrying his blade to kill you!"
"As long as you are with me, no blade will ever strike."
"I cannot hold back an army, Caitlin, even if I wanted to!" His face contorted. "When Conn learns the truth of what I have done, being with me might put you, my mother, and Fiona in even greater danger!"
"What do you plan to do?" she asked.
