“Moira does no’ ken Rory.”
“Nay. I ha’ tried to explain to her he is driven and that the chances o’ diverting him from his chosen path—conquest—are no’ great. She seems to think there’s some magic in it.”
“There is a great deal o’ magic here, Farlan. I ha’ fallen victim to it myself.”
Farlan nodded gravely. “Rhian?”
“I canna think for wanting her. ’Tis as if a spell has fallen over me.”
“I am victim to that spell also.”
“Is it the young sister, Saerla, who weaves it? She with the Sight?”
Farlan shrugged. “Mayhap. Or it may come from those stones on the height.”
“I tell ye truly, I ha’ never felt for any woman wha’ I feel for Rhian.”
“And ye, a charmer o’ many a woman.”
“Aye, so.” Leith turned and looked Farlan in the eye. “I ha’ no objection to forging a peace wi’ ye, Farlan. I would do it for her sake alone. But ye and I forging a peace means naught. Rory will ne’er respect it.”
“Aye, I ken. But I believe if ye agree to carry such an offer home, it will get ye awa’ out o’ here with your life.”
Away. Out of here, apart from Rhian, unable to touch her, catch her scent, taste her again. Unable to experience the blinding rightness of being one with her.
“Farlan, I am no’ certain I can leave.”
Understanding flooded Farlan’s eyes. “Aye, I ken. But if ’tis ultimately for Rhian’s good—if we just may achieve an end to all this heartache and strife—”
“I do no’ think we can. And leaving her will tear the heart out o’ me.”
Farlan said nothing. Aye, Leith figured he understood. This was a man who had surrendered his birthright and swum the loch near naked for the woman he loved.
“I ken fine,” Leith burst out after a moment of silence, beginning to pace again, “there is such a thing as the greater good. ’Tis part o’ the reason I never wanted the place o’ chief. For ye ken as well as I, man, I ha’ lived my life for my good, and little else.”
“That changes. All that changes when ye lose yer heart to a woman.”
Magnificent, it was. Terrifying.
“Think o’ it this way, Leith. If we can forge a peace, the two o’ ye will be able to be together. Someday.”
“Someday. I am no’ sure I can live long wi’out her. Besides,” Leith cried in frustration, “I do no’ believe Rory can be convinced.”
“Leith, man, ye ha’ to believe. Ye maun believe in the magic ye say binds ye and Rhian together.”
He did believe in that. Up to a point.
“Me,” Farlan went on, a bit ruefully, “I ha’ been living for the belief that Moira and I are destined to be together. Despite all.”
“Aye.” And that had not been an easy road. “But ye are here wi’ her now. No’ awa’ across the glen.”
“I am here. Hated by everyone. Mistrusted and wished dead. By God, the only time I am at peace is when I am in her arms.”
“I hear that, Farlan.”
How strong was Leith? He’d lived his life lightly up to now, with enthusiasm and laughter. What would he give up for Rhian?
He drew a breath that expanded his chest and looked Farlan in the eye. “Verra well, my friend. Let us talk about a peace.”
