Eva shot him a dark look. “At least then he’d be doing it for the family,” she argued. “Now if he dies, it will be because of me.”
Finn shook his head. He knew she wanted to protect her brother. He understood that. He had siblings and he would die for any one of them. But he also didn’t want this self-imposed yoke to weigh her down for the rest of her days. For, in all likelihood, Dallan would manage to pass all the trials. He was easily among the best men competing.
“Nay,” he pressed, not wanting to argue but knowing its necessity. “It will be because of him. Dallan made the decision. He made it because he loves you, but it was his to make.”
Just as Finn had come here to help his own sister live a better life, free from fear. He knew it was a risk, but it was a risk worth taking.
“Why did you come here?” Eva asked, her eyes searching his own. “I know Ethlinn was attacked, and I suspect you were rejected by the bardic masters as an apprentice for some unholy reason, but what actually made you come here with my brother? What pushed you to risk so much?”
Finn smiled softly. “I’ve often wondered the same myself,” he replied. “At first, it was anger. I felt such rage that Ethlinn had been beaten and my family could do nothing to protect her because of our standing, our lack of money or power. I was angry that I had been cast aside after eighteen years of study because my father was an Ostman…”
Eva gasped at that, fully interrupting him and not looking the least contrite. “Thatis why they rejected you?” she shouted, her fists clenching. “Because of your parents?”
“‘No king will want a bard who’s heart lay with the enemy,’” he repeated the master’s frank words. “He was convinced I’d never be accepted as an advisor, which meant apprenticing me would be a waste of effort and resources. The worst part is that I couldn’t tell my family that. I couldn’t go home and say that to my father.”
Eva’s lips parted as understanding dawned. “That was when they gave you the harp,” she thought aloud. “Just before they believed you’d be leaving to apprentice.”
Finn nodded, “And just before we realized we needed those funds for Ethlinn.”
No one—not Ethlinn, not even Dallan—knew the entirety of what had happened. Dallan knew he’d been rejected, of course, or he wouldn’t have approached him. But he hadn’t been privy to Finn’s quiet conversation with the master. Only Eva knew what had really happened that night. Finn trusted her, with his heart and with his secrets.
“I can’t help those fools see what they’ve lost in passing you over,” Eva told him, righteous fury overtaking her angelic face, “but I can try to help Ethlinn. No matter what happens over the next weeks, I will do my best to ensure Ethlinn is safe.”
“You can?” Finn didn’t ask why she hadn’t mentioned this earlier. It didn’t matter. “How?”
“You may not have any connections or wealth, but Dallan and I both do. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.” She started pacing the room, clearly running the possibilities through her mind. “Let me think on it more. It’s not for certain, as I am somewhat limited in my reach currently. We can discuss it tonight after dinner.”
Her simple green gown swished about her as she walked, accentuating the many curves with which Finn was now intimately familiar. She worried her bottom lip temptingly as she went. Finn couldn’t take much more torment. He could sneak a kiss before he left. He took a step toward her.
“Where’s the food?” Finn and Eva both jumped when Dallan appeared in the courtyard behind Finn. He grinned when he saw Eva’s harp. “Was she playing?” he asked Finn excitedly.
Finn laughed nervously. Gods, he’d been about to kiss Eva. He let his head fall back a moment, grateful Dallan hadn’t walked in on Finn kissing his little sister, guilty that he kept such a big secret from his friend. Hopefully, Eva spoke with Brian soon.
He couldn’t take much more of this.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Finn sat onthe hilltop, along the edge of the field where the men had been training for months, resting after a grueling afternoon of more sprinting through the forest. The warm breeze carried birdsong up the hill. The sound of footsteps told him he was no longer alone.
Turning, he watched Dallan stalk toward him, a dark look on his face.
Finn’s stomach flipped. Had Dallan discovered his relationship with Eva? What would he say when Dallan inevitably confronted him? Each breath came more rapidly than the last as Dallan neared.
“You’re no fool,” he declared, finally reaching Finn but not sitting to join him.
Finn swallowed, trying to remain calm until he knew for certain what had Dallan so riled. “Thank you?” he replied, unsure what to make of Dallan’s odd statement.
“I’m aware that you followed me here, knowing you didn’t have the whole of my story and motives. But, as a true friend, you never pressed me for them. I know, in part, it was because coming here served your purposes as well. Today I will tell you everything, I swear it. But first, I must ask one more favor of you.”
Finn stood. He’d never heard Dallan speak in such a manner, serious and straightforward, no hint of guile or amusement. “I will do anything you ask.”
Dallan placed a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I knew I could count on you. Truly, you are a great friend.” He nodded in the direction of the fortress. “Follow me.”
A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach nearly had Finn confessing about Eva. He realized this was not the right moment, that Dallan was not in the best place to learn such news. “Will you tell me where we’re going?” he asked instead.
“My cousin, Baeth, is in Cenn Cora. He’s as bloodthirsty as they come, and he’s demanded an audience with me. He refuses to allow any of Brian’s men inside, because he obviously is trying to start a rebellion, so Cormac has allowed you to stand in their place. Plus, I need a witness in case I have to kill him.”
“Kill him?”
