He chuckled, but there was little mirth in him. He shuddered to think what Fiona might have brought down on Daire. "Tell me, Lily Fair, whatdo you think it will cost me to pull one small sister out of the flames?"
"A gold bracelet."
Niall jerked around to stare into Caitlin's face. His blood turned to ice. "What the devil do you mean by that?"
Was it possible for Caitlin's face to grow whiter still? "Fiona hid the cow in one of the abandoned rooms in the back of the castle. Gormley found it." She turned away. "I traded my bracelet for Fiona's freedom."
"Tell me he did not see you," Niall pleaded, knowing it was impossible.
Caitlin nodded.
"Nay!" Niall cried out. "I warned you to keep out of sight!"
"I feared that he would kill her. What choice did I have? Even if it costs me everything I have ever dreamed of... a life with you. Your love... even then, I cannot regret what I did. You cannot regret it."
"Aye, I can!" Niall raged. "I can curse the little thief to hell for it! Why could she not have waited? Just one day more—"
"She was afraid. Afraid of losing Daire. Afraid of trusting you."
"And now you—you are defending her?" Niallcried in disbelief. "Can you not see, Caitlin? Your bracelet is gone, the only treasure you had from your parents. But we have lost more than that. We cannot stay here now. If Conn should ever see that bracelet, hear Gormley's story, he'll know the truth. Daire is lost to us."
She reached out, touched his face, her fingers trembling against his skin. "But we still have each other. Fiona will get over losing Daire in time. And your mother will be comforted by her love for you. I meant what I said. I will follow you wherever you lead. Aye, to hell itself, as long as you are at my side."
Niall bellowed a black oath. "You think I would condemn you to such a fate, loving you the way I do? Hunted? Afraid? Chased through the night like a beleaguered doe?"
"But I would not be afraid. I would be with you."
"Nay." Niall drew back, his mind spinning with improbable plans, thick panic roiling in his gut. "There is only one thing to do. I must get you as far from me as possible."
"Nay! I will not—" Caitlin protested, but he scarce heard her.
"Soon as someone sees Fintan's bracelet and hears Gormley's boasting, the tale will travel backto Conn. Conn will know I have lied to him," Niall reasoned. "He will guess I would guard you, defend you. He will still want your death, but he will hunt more fiercely to silence me. Keep me from betraying the truth—that he ordered me to murder you, Fintan's daughter. That he broke his vow to your father. When he finds me, and he will, Caitlin, by your God, he will—"
"Nay! Niall—"
He could feel her shattering inside, whatever remained of the dreams in her eyes turning into sharp fragments.
Out of love, he did what he swore he would never do. He lied to her, his voice gentling. "Perhaps he will not find me. But I cannot let that matter. I will do what I have to do. Take Mother and Fiona north as planned. Settle you in Iona. And then I will do all in my power to lead Conn and his dogs away from you. Leave a false trail to madden them. Then—" He stopped, trying to spare her.
"Then what, Niall?" she quavered.
I will let them run me to ground in some far-off land where they can never find you, Niall thought bleakly.
She clutched at his arm. "Niall, let me come with you! I beg of you. I would wander Irelandwith no other shelter but your mantle and count myself the most fortunate woman on earth."
"Caitlin—"
"I would rather have whatever time God gives us together, no matter how brief, than live to be old without you."
For an instant, a wild, desperate madness took hold of Niall's heart. He wanted to snatch Caitlin up onto his horse, to ride away into the night wind. He wanted to seize the impossibly precious gift of whatever time they had left.
It took more strength than he had ever expended to shove that last chance away. He turned his back on her, unable to bear her suffering.
"It is finished, Caitlin," he rasped. "This is why I never dared to dream. No matter how beautiful, in the end, you have to awaken."
And ithadbeen a dream, more wondrous sweet than anything he had ever hoped to know. Now it was ended. Niall squared his shoulders, resolute.
"You do not know what you are asking of me!" Caitlin cried. "To be left behind by you—to lose you—there could be no pain worse."
