“’Tis meant to be a rescue. We are to go in and find the boy. Get him away.”
We. Fearghal had, aye, included Ardahl in this terrible plan. Horror stopped Liadan’s breath entirely. For an instant, her heart faltered.
“’Tis madness,” she whispered when she could. “To go into Dacha’s lands. ’Tis certain death.”
Ardahl’s lips twisted in a wry grimace. “Mayhap not. Brihan has some o’ his own men there at Dacha’s holding, negotiators. One o’ them has been working on this scheme to free the boy. A small force, so he believes, can get in and out wi’ the lad, if that force be quick and careful enough. If no one knows we are there.”
“Fearghal chose ye to be part o’ this because he thinks ye will be quick and careful enough.”
“Aye.”
“Ye and who else? Will Fearghal go?”
“Nay.” Ardahl’s lips twisted again. “No’ this time.”
“Nay! Because he knows it is too risky.”
“His people need him, Liadan.”
She took a moment, the space of twenty heartbeats, before she said, “I need ye, Ardahl. Ineedye. Like breath. More than that.”
He slid his hands up from her fingers to her shoulders. Seeking to lend comfort.
“’Tis to be a small party that can travel under cover. Dornach claims he is well enough to go.”
That was good. Dornach, a fierce fighter, also favored Ardahl.
But against Dacha’s whole clan? “Who else?”
“Cathair.”
“Cathair! But he—” Once again she momentarily lost the capability for speech. “He threatened ye.”
“Aye.”
“What better opportunity for him to put a knife in your back? Claim it happened there by an enemy’s hand.”
Ardahl said nothing.
“Ardahl—” She scuttled still closer, captured his face between her hands. “Ye canna do this. Ye canna risk yourself this way. It is madness.”
“I have no choice. No choice, Liadan. I am sworn to Fearghal.”
“And does that mean ye must offer yourself up for certain death?”
“Aye. If he asks it, it does.”
“Ardahl. My darling.” She had never before used such a name to address him. “I admire your loyalty. Your courage.”
“’Tis somewhat beyond loyalty, Liadan. It is fealty. A sacred vow.”
“And if Cathair does no’ hold his duty as sacredly? If he sees this as an opportunity to be rid o’ ye? Or if—if this negotiator Brihan has there wi’ Dacha betrays him? If Dacha has turned the man either through bribery or threat? If he tells Dacha of the plan, that ye will be coming?”
“Aye. There are a thousand ways it can fail.”
“And but a thin chance it will succeed.”
She crawled onto his knees, right up against him. Should someone come into the hut unexpectedly, it would cause outrage.
