“Darlei, I will no’ surrender the belief that we are meant to be together.”
And she could not quite surrender the idea that he might die for her sake—this strong and humble man she adored.
To leave him would half kill her. To live knowing she was responsible for his death…
Nay, not that. Better todree her weird, accept her fate, if only for his sake.
Turning her back on the very idea of him risking himself for her, she turned for the settlement.
“Darlei.” She thought she heard him whisper her name as she started off back up the shore. But she ran on.
*
The mood inthe great hall that evening was strained and grim. Few of the clan’s folk were in attendance, and those of them that were—MacMurtray’s own advisors and senior members of the guard—clearly saw no cause for revelry.
Deathan’s father made a speech about how his wife had hoped to attend a gathering before the Caledonian party had to leave, but her illness still forbade it.
Mam.Deathan would have to make a few moments to see her before he followed Darlei’s party.
For hewouldfollow. He could not simply stand and watch her ride out of his life.
It would mean breaking ties with those here. If he interfered with the king’s wishes, his father might never forgive him. It could mean being loose in Scotland’s wilds.
He did not care. This land he loved would provide for him, and for the woman he loved.
But he had not much time to prepare. Just tonight and tomorrow, when the farewell feast would occur. The Caledonians would leave the following morning, and he must have all he needed to take with him packed and ready.
Rohr, in forced attendance here and looking far happier than he had, sat looking at no one and did not notice when Deathan rose from beside him early to leave the gathering. But Urfet did and gave him a long, thoughtful stare as he slipped out.
Urfet. Would he be a problem? Darlei seemed to think so. She did not believe Deathan could best her father’s champion, if it came to a fight.
She did not yet realize he could do anything,anythingfor her sake.
He was packing up a leather bag when he heard a sound at his door, no more than a scratch upon the wooden frame. Darlei came slipping in.
So stirred were Deathan’s emotions, he scarce knew how he felt to see her. She had no doubt come to continue the discussion they’d had on the shore, to try to dissuade him from following after and risking himself for her sake.
She’d clearly come straight from the hall, with her hair all dressed, wearing an amber-yellow gown. She looked so beautiful, it fair stole his breath.
“Darlei,” he said, “I do no’ wish to spend more words in—”
“Nor do I.” She came to him, having closed the door carefully behind her. “No words. No more.”
She moved into his arms and pressed up against him. Her eyes made two bright silver shields, holding hard to her emotions, but he could see…he could see her desire, and it made him weak, as his own longing rose to meet hers.
“Darlei.”
“Hush. Please, Deathan.Please.Love me. Because, well, I may be able to bring myself to leave you, but not without”—light and darkness flickered in her steady gaze—“not without lying with you first.”
The emotions that poured through him then near took him to his knees. “We canna.”
“Are ye not listening? I cannot leave you unless we do.”
“Then do no’ leave me.” If she could beseech, he could also. He buried his hands in her hair. “Come awa’ wi’ me now. Tonight. I am more than half packed—”
“And if I do, and they come after us? If they catch us, and it costs your life? Deathan, I fear this has happened before between the two of us. I know not where or when. But the fear inside me is so bright, I would do near anything to escape it. Though,” she added softly, “I will have you first.”
“Darlei, I believe, aye, we are stuck on the wheel o’ time. That does no’ mean each turn o’ it will bring us to the same events. We maun be meant to learn something.”
