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She smiled slowly, though he saw that sadness still tinged her blue eyes.
“No time beyond this time,” she repeated softly.
Again a pain struck his heart and he worried, for what if it was the old god’s love arrow piercing his heart? What if he was falling in love? What if Terese was the woman meant for him? He had no idea what he would do.
They talked as they did each morning, debating opinions, laughing and kissing and deciding that they would share a private noonday meal and later, much later they would share much more.
With promises and plans made, they parted to see to their responsibilities. But noon brought a far different plan then either of them had expected.
Terese was ready and waiting for Lachlan well before the assigned time. Rowena had packed a generous food basket and Terese knew the perfect spot to take him. It was near the stream but secluded. The sun had remained bright in the sky and her cheeks flushed pink with the thought of spending time alone with him.
No time beyond this time.
Terese intended to remind herself often of those words, to simply enjoy the here and now and not worry beyond the moment. She deserved this time, this pleasure and she would have it without regret, though guilt was another matter.
They were friends who could trust as he had reminded her again and again. But she wasn’t being completely honest with him and that bothered her. She had rationalized the situation over and over, and concluded the same each time. There was no way she could confide the truth to him. She would lose her freedom and that she refused to do.
No time beyond this time.
Those words would be her saving grace, and she would think on them often and long after he had gone.
Shouts and cries startled Terese out of her musing and she rushed out the door of the common house to see everyone running to a group of people entering Everagis. Terese quickly joined them.
“These people are fleeing the battle between the clans and the mercenaries,” Megan explained quickly when Terese caught up with her as Megan helped a partially crippled old man to the common house.
Andrew appeared and took charge of the old man. “Where do you want him?”
Megan pointed to the large tree near the common house and then turned to Terese. “There are about five who have injuries. The others are exhausted and hungry.”
“Then let’s take care of them,” Terese said, but before she reached anyone Piper popped up in front of her looking fretful.
“One of the mercenaries has been injured,” Piper whispered. “Septimus and a few of his men wait in the woods for us to tend him.”
“Wait for me in the usual spot while I gather what we need,” Terese instructed and looked around for Rowena. She would need one of Rowena’s healing baskets to take with her and while all looked to be in use, one would need to be spared.
Lachlan’s unexpected approach and battle-ready expression stopped her in her tracks.
“I leave Andrew and most of the other warriors here to protect everyone. Boyd and Evan go with me,” Lachlan said.
“Why?” Terese asked. “The battle doesn’t concern you, and what can three men do against so many?”
Lachlan ginned. “Such confidence you have in me.”
She bristled, knowing full well the sizeable force of the mercenaries. “It is concern I have for you.”
He took her hand. “I am not foolish. I wish to track the mercenaries and see if I can find their camp and hopefully spy upon it.”
“This is about your brother Ronan, isn’t it?” she asked.
“I need to know if he is among them and needs freeing.”
“If he is?” she asked, shaking her head. “You have so few men to be able to help him.”
“Again, I am not a foolish warrior,” Lachlan reminded. “I have coins to offer for his release and if not…” He shrugged. “I send word to my brother Cavan and he will lead a force of men here to free our brother. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of Angus Bunnock’s men joined him. It would be his way of showing gratitude to our clan for helping him and having his own men ascertain that his daughter was dead and buried on hallowed ground.”
Terese blanched and her legs grew weak. That couldn’t happen; her father’s men would recognize her and forcibly return her home.
Lachlan slipped his arms around her. “You pale and shiver. What—”
She hugged him tight. “I don’t want anything to happen to you…to us.”
He kissed her gently. “Nothing can ever happen to us. I promise you that.”
She watched him disappear among the mayhem and knew he had given her a promise that he didn’t know he would not be able to keep. If he ever discovered the truth, they would no longer be friends.
