"Nay," Neacal said. "Colin wouldn't want you to feel that way. I'm going to take a couple dozen men and see if Colin needs my help in finding the blackguard."
"He helped both of us. We want to come with you," Anna said.
"Nay." His tone was firm. "'Tis not safe. Holme has not been caught. He could be lying in wait along the road."
Anna turned. "Kristina, we need to tell him."
Knowing Anna was right, she nodded. 'Twas time to reveal to all she could see. And to apologize to Colin and help him in any way she could… whether he forgave her or not.
"Tell me what?" In the silence, Neacal glanced back and forth between them.
"Kristina's vision has returned." Anna smiled. "And she has changed her mind about marrying Colin."
"Anna! I did not say that… yet." Kristina's skin burned from the top of her head to her feet. Although she did want to marry Colin, she didn't know if he would want her now.
"Saints! You can see?" Neacal faced her. "When and how did this happen?"
"'Tis a miracle," Kristina said. "Or 'haps because of that last time Holme struck me in the face. I noticed my sight returning a few nights ago. Everything is still a blur, but I can see well enough to walk alone now."
"This is indeed good news," Neacal said with excitement. "Colin will be happy to hear it."
Kristina assumed either Colin or Anna had told Neacal of the marriage proposal. "I want to tell him I'm sorry, but I don't ken if he will ever forgive me for the pain I've caused him. You have known him the whole of your life. What do you think?"
After a moment of contemplation, Neacal said, "I cannot speak for Colin, but I'm certain he would love to see you. I've always found him to be a forgiving person."
Tilting her face down, she stared at her lap. "Besides that… even if I can see again, I still have this awful scar on my face. Naught will ever change that."
"'Tis not so bad," Neacal said. "'Haps you have not yet seen the scar on my face." He moved forward and knelt before her in the sunlight. "Do you see?"
Though her view of him was fuzzy, she was seeing Neacal for the first time, close up. He was a handsome man with long, brownish-black hair and blue eyes. But he did indeed have a jagged scar, larger than hers, on one side of his face.
"For a man, a scar is a badge of valor and courage," she said. "For a woman, 'tis but an ugly mark. Unfortunately, women are judged on beauty or lack thereof."
Neacal shook his head. "Colin told me he thinks you are the most beautiful woman he has yet seen, scar and all."
"When you love someone, scars don't matter." Anna laid an affectionate hand upon her husband's shoulder. "Neacal's scar only makes him dearer to me, and I'm certain Colin feels the same way about you."
Neacal stood, pulled Anna close and kissed the top of her head.
"Imagine the situation reversed," Anna said. "What if your face was unblemished and Colin's was scarred? Would you love him any less?"
"Of course not," Kristina blurted. She did not have to think on it.
"I understand how you feel," Neacal said. "There was a time when I presumed Anna would not want to look at or touch my scarred face and body, but then she showed me that my worries were for naught. Colin has always had a deep concern and compassion for you, even from the first moment I told him of your situation."
"Aye, and he is already used to your scar, as we discussed," Anna said. "So I think we should go to Rhodie now, before the autumn snows begin. Otherwise, we'll have to wait until spring. Besides, we need to go to his father's funeral."
Frowning, Neacal let out a tense breath. "I will have to think on it and make certain I can protect you both."
"With two dozen soldiers serving as guards, surely we would be safe. Do you have such little faith in your men?" Anna asked.
"Of course not. I simply don't wish to put either of you at risk. With the last contact Kristina had with Red Holme, he was bent on kidnapping and hurting her."
"'Tis true." Anna hung her head. "And I would not wish to put her in any more danger. I'm just concerned that since Colin is now chief, his clan will pressure him into marrying soon, just as your clan urged you to marry quickly once you became chief. If we wait until spring, it might be too late."
"She could scribe him a missive and I'll deliver it to him," Neacal suggested.
That was true, but Kristina could not imagine how she would express her deep regret in rejecting Colin's suit, and also her heartfelt condolences on the loss of his father. Words on paper seemed a cold, lifeless substitute to touching him or holding him in her arms.
