Five men to lead a group of thirty sounded far too high. There must be more men waiting, possibly as many as seventy. Kieran held little optimism for this fight.
“We’ll convene a council and decide what to do.” Davin dismissed the messengers, instructing them to get food and to rest from their journey. One by one, the others followed until only Kieran and Orin remained behind.
Davin’s face held irritation at being interrupted. “What did you want?”
“The likeness of my brother. Then the dower chest. I’ve finished my part of the bargain.” He passed Davin the cloth-wrapped figurine.
His master unwrapped the linen and studied the figure of Iseult. For a long moment, he said nothing. Kieran did not fear Davin’s lack of reaction, for he knew he’d done his best work.
“It is her,” Davin agreed, finally lifting his gaze. “By God, it’s her. I wouldn’t have believed it possible.” Carefully, he covered the wood and tucked it away. “The figure of your brother is at my home. Come, and I’ll return it to you now. We’ll arrange for the chest to be brought later.”
They started to walk back to the ringfort, but Orin remained where he was, a hopeful smile playing on his face.
“What is it?” Davin asked.
“It’s a fine day, my foster-brother. The sea is calm and the skies are perfect.”
“I know what you’re thinking.” Davin clapped a hand on his foster-brother’s back. “Gather your supplies, and I’ll arrange for the boat.”
Kieran started to continue on without them. Though he wanted to begin work on the chest, Davin had other plans. He was beginning to understand what it meant to be a slave, and it vexed him to be at the mercy of another man’s whims.
“I think Kieran should come,” Orin added. “Else we won’t catch any fish. He brought us luck on the last hunting trip.”
“What say you, Kieran?”
He stopped in his tracks, acknowledging Davin’s request. Or was it a command? The lack of control over his own decisions made him want to refuse. But then, the thought was tempting. He hadn’t been out sailing in over a year. The taste of the salt, the feeling of absolute freedom, lured him beyond measure.
“We’ll take the boat out and try our luck with the sea,” Davin continued. He mounted his horse, and glanced out at the gray ripples of foam.
Then there was no other choice. Kieran shrugged. “If you have need of me.”
“A fitting reward, for such fine work,” Davin said, touching the figure of Iseult. “This might be a last chance to go out sailing before the invasion. And,” his dark blue eyes sparked with teasing, “you may keep whatever fish you catch. My mother won’t have anything except what Orin or I bring back.”
“As you like.” The unexpected invitation sent a lightness through him. It had been a long time since he’d had anything to look forward to. He followed the men back to the ringfort, grateful that he would receive the figure of Egan back again. Though his brother no longer lived, at least he would have this reminder of him.
Anhourlater,Kieranwalked down to the shore where he found Davin, Orin, and Iseult waiting. He’d tucked a few bits of metal into his mantle, after scouring the hut for fishing supplies. Davin and Orin were loading a net and long fishing poles into the vessel while Iseult carried two baskets of what he presumed was food and drink.
He hadn’t expected to see her. But then, she was Davin’s betrothed, so likely he had invited her to come. Davin’s hands spanned her waist as he lifted her inside the boat. The dark gray overdress and lighterléineshould have been unattractive, but it only highlighted her beauty. His touch lingered upon Iseult, and Kieran looked away, uncomfortable at the sight of them.
She was just another woman. It shouldn’t matter if she joined them, should it? She belonged here, at the side of her betrothed husband. And yet, her presence made him feel even more like an outsider.
She didn’t look happy about joining them. Almost as if she were forced to come and didn’t want to be here. He felt the same way.
Kieran grasped the stern of the boat and helped the others shove it into the shallow waters. Iseult gripped the sides, keeping her back to them.
The icy chill of the sea soaked through him, and when they were far enough out, Kieran climbed aboard. He picked up an oar and they rowed out into Brandon Bay.
Iseult’s long golden hair streamed behind her, wrapping around her throat as the wind increased. The waves rocked the vessel, and she held on to the wood to keep her balance.
Davin sat behind Iseult, and in every nuance of his body, Kieran could see how much the man cared for her. Her betrothed watched her, as if fearing she would somehow disappear.
Kieran stared out at the gray waves, sorry again that he’d agreed to come. Though this was meant to be a reward, he didn’t see it as such. For a fleeting moment, Iseult glanced back at him. Misery dulled her eyes, and he had a sudden vision of her holding a child in her arms. Laughing with a young boy, teaching him to hold the pole. Sharing in his excitement when he caught his first fish.
And now the boy was gone.
How? When? The answers didn’t matter, because she was still hurting. And Davin appeared completely blind to it. He was teasing, leaning forward and whispering in her ear. Though Iseult forced her lips to curve upward, it wasn’t a true smile.
Kieran looked away, adjusting the ropes of the sail. This wasn’t his business. She wasn’t his betrothed wife, and it wasn’t his task to help her. But the urge to protect was not easily subdued.
