She despised him. Thought the very worst of him.
Yet that did not tell in her touch. Indeed, it must be his maddened imagination that made it seem she touched him with something other than hate.
By the time she finished, both her mother and sister slept there beside the fire. Liadan went and gently roused them, sent them off to their beds. When she came back, she brought Ardahl a blanket.
He looked up at her, questioning the action.
“At least ye will no’ be cold,” she explained.
Another kindness. He barely dared breathe for his surprise. Even more so when she sat down beside him, leaning her back against the outer wall next to his.
“Mistress, ye will be better off in your bed.”
“I cannot possibly sleep, waiting for another attack.”
So she meant to sit here with him? Keep him company as a friend might?
“It is quiet out there.”
It was, save for a few calls between the guards at a distance. Dornach would have a heavy presence around the settlement this night. One of which he should be a part.
But nay. His place was here. Defending Liadan.
“I am worried for my mam,” she whispered.
“She no longer weeps.”
“Nay. But such a sudden change—”
“Perhaps the fright shook her.”
“I do no’ doubt that. But there is an emptiness. One I do no’ like.”
Not only did she keep him company, she confided in him. What had altered between them?
“Try no’ to worry for it now,” he bade her. “Let us merely get through the night.”
“Aye.” She stirred and moved just a little closer. For warmth, he told himself. “Aye.”
They fell silent, listening hard to the night.
Chapter Twenty-One
Liadan dozed, andwhen she dozed, she dreamed. Mere flickers of scenes, those dreams were. Like glimpses from the past. Memories both distant and closer at hand.
The group of them up on the hillside, watching the settlement burn. The chief speaking to his people, trying so hard to be strong and reassuring. Conall, speaking to her on a warm day, the sun lighting his hair to gold.
She could not hear what he had to say, because every time a sound reached her from outside, she came awake again, all her senses alert, fear pounding up through her with every heartbeat.
If another attack came, could she get her mam and sister away in time? It all depended on her. On her, and the man beside her.
He did not sleep—at least, she did not think he did. Whenever she roused in fear, his voice was there to soothe her.
“All right. That is but the guard calling. It is only a stag in the hills. A dog barking.”
He held Conall’s sword in his right hand. She could see the gleam of light that rode its keen edge, reflected from the dying fire.
The knowledge that he was there let her go back to sleep, time after time.
