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“He will not. My men are loyal, and those who sympathize with men like Blackburn have long been weeded out, Reina. Borderers have always fought for themselves and their families first. It will continue to be this way.”
“Do you know of the passage?” she asked.
“I do.”
“Does the Earl of Kenshire and his family know that you are an ally?”
“Aye,” he answered. “I have been selective with the knowledge, but all who live along the border are either allied, or enemies, to the Waryn family. I’d not be so foolish as to be the latter.”
He stood.
“Shall we break our fast? ’Tis a long journey back to Anbarth.”
It was as if someone had taken a knife to her heart, how keenly did the sharp pain at his words come. The idea of returning home, never seeing Galien again.
She knew last eve he would choose Wallace. But still, to have left without saying goodbye. . . Perhaps he thought it best this way, that goodbyes were too painful. Perhaps he’d simply not arrived in the hall yet.
A hope that was dashed a moment later.
She’d heard Wallace, who had apologized for his advances toward her, tell one of his men they left at dawn. Clearly Galien had gone with him. Mayhap he left a missive behind, explaining. Or mayhap she would never hear from him again.
But one thing was clear. As conversation swirled around her, Galien was no longer at Bristol. Oriana sat with her parents on the dais, having waved to her when Reina first entered the hall. But after that, the woman who she’d formed a quick bond with avoided her eyes for the remainder of the meal. In fact, it seemed all of Galien’s family avoided looking at her despite that she sat just below them as an honored guest.
She ate, but did not taste the food. Reina’s heart was broken. She’d freed Galien to find answers, which she had, though not in the way Reina had expected. It was time, it seemed, to return home.
Enlightened in more ways than one. Entirely devastated in all the ways that mattered.
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The meal was over.
Reina turned to ask her father if they would be leaving for Anbarth soon. But he was looking at the entrance to the hall. He nodded, once. Reina followed his gaze.
There, in the entrance, was Galien.
He held the plaid she’d worn after leaving her gown behind. It was folded in his arms as he stood there, watching her. Tears sprang to her eyes.
“Go to him,” her father whispered.
Reina stood, her heart hammering in her chest at the thought of telling him what she wished she had before. That she hadn’t fought harder for him to stay because she knew his honor, his vow, meant everything to him. When she had nearly reached him, Galien moved away, nodding toward the very alcove she’d spoken to her father inside earlier.
“I thought you’d gone,” she said, still unable to believe Galien was standing in front of her. “With Wallace.”
“I was with him this morn, aye. But he and his men have gone.”
Reina wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly. Galien was still here. Did that mean. . . “When we spoke last night, it felt as if,” she swallowed, “it felt as if you were saying goodbye.”
“Reina,” he started. And then stopped, taking a step toward her. “I wish I could tell you, lass, that I’d not considered it. In fact, the question of leaving with William has been one plaguing me since I realized I’d fallen in love with you. One I’ve been pondering for some time.”
She had to say her piece before he continued. “And I love you, Galien. You asked me once if I regretted saving you. Putting myself at risk. I said it was too soon for me to answer that. But nay, I do not regret having met you even if you will leave to follow Wallace and his men. I could never regret loving you and wished for you to know that.” She nodded, satisfied. At least Reina had shared her heart with him. She had no regrets now.
“I am not leaving to follow Wallace, lass. This is my fight, aye. And I will continue to do so, as my family does. As your father does. But I cannot, will not, give you up to do it. Please do not think less of me, Reina. But I love you too much to let you go.”
This was not at all what she’d been expecting. How could he possibly say such a thing? “Less of you? Galien, there is no better man in the world than you. Surely you must know that?”
His smile was too much to bear. The tears that had begun to form fell now. She wiped them away quickly as he held the plaid out to her. “I gave you this once and offer it now again to wear. . . as my wife.”
Surely he did not say what she thought he said?
