“Man, ye’re running wi’ blood!”
“There’s work to be done.”
Cullan stepped closer. “I ha’ never seen anyone fight so. How many did ye kill?”
Ardahl shook his head. It was a blur. He did not remember.
“Come, let the healer look at ye.” The healer’s apprentice, it was, no more than a young lad. The tribe’s healers were far too valuable to risk in battle.
“Not now. Mayhap later.”
Dornach appeared beside them. It seemed to happen almost magically—not there one moment, there the next. He eyed Ardahl with a measuring stare.
“Did ye see him, master?” Cullan asked. “Did ye see him?”
“I did. Ardahl, go get your wounds tended.”
“I am no’ bad hurt. There’s still the dead and wounded—”
“Will ye offer me disobedience?”
“Nay, Master Dornach.”
Cathair appeared beside them. His pale-blue gaze flicked over Ardahl with disdain before he turned to Dornach.
“Master Dornach, we have located a wounded man—Chief Dacha’s brother, so we think. D’ye want him slain?”
“No’ yet. Bring him back wi’ us. And Cathair—ye fought well.”
Cathair’s gaze flickered over Ardahl again. He nodded.
Numb to the bone now, Conall’s sword still dangling from his hand, Ardahl stood where he was.
As it had back on the training field, Dornach’s hand descended on his shoulder.
“As for ye—I will speak wi’ ye anon, back at the dun.”
“Ha’ I done somewhat wrong?”
“Ye? Only turned the battle. Ye’re the blessed hero, ye are.”
Chapter Sixteen
As their warriorsfought at the border, Liadan warred within her own heart.
She did her best to keep busy at her fireside. To tidy the hut and look after Mam, who once more stirred before falling into what seemed a more peaceful sleep.
Flanna came home, pale-faced and worried. They were used to fretting for Conall at such times as these. They did not need to fear for him now, but the habit died hard.
Liadan would not worry for Ardahl MacCormac.She would not. But watching him wheel away in the cart had tugged at her heart. Only because he wore Conall’s armor and carried his sword.
Habit.
“Come,” Flanna bade her. “Let us see what the women are saying.”
“The women know nothing. And Mam—”
“She is safe asleep.”
