“The healer?”
Dallan nodded. “Do you recall earlier today, Eva mentioned her concern over my ability to fulfill my oath?”
“Ah, yes,” Finn jested, “Just before you became unreasonably irritable, you mean?”
“Yes,” Dallan ground out. “The healer—” he wasn’t even certain where to begin. He’d never explained his relationship with Niamh to anyone, not even his sister. “I loved her. Deeply.”
“And it didn’t go well.”
“Well, we aren’t married, are we?” he shot back. “I’m sorry,” he added. “I just cannot believe how unlucky I am to see her again. It’s been so long.”
“What happened?”
Dallan took a deep breath, not letting himself feel the memory, telling the story as though it didn’t matter a whit to him.
When he’d finished, Finn shook his head. “You’re looking at it all wrong,” he whispered. “This is your chance. This is the opportunity you’ve always wanted, to get your answers. Play nice with her and get her to finally tell you why she left. Then you won’t have to spend the rest of your days wondering. You’ll be able to let her go.”
He hadn’t considered that.
Finn stood, taking his leave to head out with the search party.
Dallan sat and watched the sunset, pondering his friend’s advice. It was an interesting suggestion, to be sure. But even if he wasn’t still furious with her, he doubted he’d go through with it.
If he found out her reasoning, that would open the door to forgiving her. And if he forgave her, well, what would stop him from wanting her all over again?
Nay, Dallan decided, standing to join the rest of the village in the feasting hall for dinner, he wasn’t interested in forgiving Niamh. He just wanted to avoid her.
Chapter Nine
Not one belltoll later, Dallan stood in a dim corner of the cramped solar at Thurles, glaring at Niamh. He had been unable to avoid her for even that long, which did not bode well for the coming days.
She stared into the leaping flames of the hearth, far too large for a room this size, the warm firelight dancing across her face. His chest ached as he watched her, as though every time he saw her, she broke his heart anew. It hurt even more, he decided, that she was as beautiful as he remembered. Perhaps more so.
Out of morbid curiosity, he tried to spy the ring on her finger again, but her hands were folded in her lap, hiding her fingers.
Cormac stood before the small window, situated on the wall opposite the door, gazing into the cool autumn night. Heavy silence filled the air as they awaited Diarmid and Brona. Cormac had ordered Diarmid to watch the queen, who had proven uncooperative thus far. She tolerated Diarmid, but Dallan wagered she’d soon realize she was being followed, not indulged, if she hadn’t already.
The door flew open. Brona strode in, her shoulders pulled back and head held high. She wore a thin golden circlet atop her dark hair. Diarmid followed her in, looking much in need of a drink.
Dallan could use one himself.
The queen sat in one of the chairs next to the fire, her back straight as a board. “Did we not already meet this morn?” sheasked, looking to Cormac with raised brows. “How can there already be more to discuss?”
“Your villagers are wandering out of the fortifications,” Cormac replied evenly.
“They are rebuilding their homes, taking stock of the wreckage of their lives. You would have them do nothing?”
Cormac walked away from the window to sit in the chair opposite her. “They are going into the forest to collect wood.”
“A necessary step in rebuilding,” the queen shot back.
Dallan hoped that Cormac’s complaint was headed somewhere, for at this point he couldn’t help but agree with Brona’s reasoning. Yet his friend was among the wisest and most responsible men he’d ever met. Cormac did nothing without just cause, especially irritating a powerful queen.
“I agree.” Cormac’s deep voice was guarded. “Even if they were gathering wood for the purpose of building, I would insist on setting up greater measures for their protection. But they are piling the wood atop a small hill along the edge of the village. As though they are setting up a bonfire.”
“Samhain is just over a sennight away,” Brona said. “They are starting the preparations.”
“Do you recall my specific instructionnotto leave the walls of the keep until I can assure the security of the borders? I apologize if the direction was unclear. It was meant for everyone, not just the royal family.”
