“Come here,a chara,“ Muirne urged. She held up a comb carved from bone and bade her sit down. “Let me arrange your hair for you.”
Iseult relaxed while Muirne combed her hair and braided it, chattering about all manner of things. She spoke of everything from the baskets of bilberries they’d picked, to the long walk up the mountain to bury a few ears of the first harvest corn for the gods. The interior of the hut smelled delicious from the bread they had baked, using the first grains of the season. It would be given as an offering tonight.
Although the celebrating and feasting had been going on all day, and the folk had already driven their horses through the river for the Lughnasa ritual, Iseult had kept to herself during the festivities. The weariness of pregnancy was taking its toll although none of the people, save Davin, were aware of it.
“There. Now you look like a bride.” Muirne beamed and hugged her. “And your gown is perfect for the occasion.” Iseult raised a hand and touched the intricate braids which wound around her forehead and nape into a crown. Her long hair spilled down her back, and she wore a violet silk overdress and a creamléine. They had been among the garments Davin had given as part of her bride price. She had asked Muirne to choose a gown, for she’d been unable to look at the carved dower chest without her emotions spilling over.
A slight knock at the door caught their attention. Young Bartley burst in with garlands of flowers in his hands. “Davin sent these!” the boy exclaimed, shoving them into Iseult’s hands.
Muirne swatted her foster son away, laughing as Bartley tried to snatch a crumb from one of the fresh loaves. “Go on with you.”
Iseult lifted the garland of summer wildflowers, yellow gorse and purple heather, and set it upon her hair. When the last touches were finished, Muirne took her hands.
“You don’t look very happy, Iseult. Are you remembering the wedding with Murtagh?”
No. She’d been thinking of Kieran. Wondering if he had gone home again or whether he’d kept his vow to find Aidan. She had begged Davin to send men to the place they had searched before, but they’d found nothing. Not a trace of her son.
Just accept it. He’s gone. You’re not going to find him, and you may as well start a new life with Davin.
A heaviness rested within her heart, but she believed she was doing the right thing by marrying Davin. He had promised to take care of them. And, in turn, she promised herself that she would try to be a good wife to him.
“I’ll be all right,” she whispered to Muirne. And she would. Davin knew about the baby and wanted her in spite of it. That was good enough—it had to be.
“Let us go.”
“We’renotstopping.”Kieranurged the horse as fast as it was able, while Shannon begged and pleaded.
“I have to. Or I’ll wet all over my gown.”
“Don’t you dare.” He tightened his grip around both children, wishing to God he had left them with Rory so he could ride to Lismanagh at a faster pace. But in his mind, he’d always imagined meeting Iseult with Aidan in his arms. He didn’t want to go to her empty-handed, not after he’d sworn to find the boy.
Now he regretted his decision to send Rory on ahead to try and stop the wedding. He should have gone himself.
“Kieran, please.” Shannon gripped her knees, her voice quivering.
“We stopped at the noon meal. You should have taken care of matters then.”
“I didn’t have to go, then,” she whimpered.
Damn it. He didn’t have time for this.
“Make it quick,” he barked, slowing the horse and letting her down. Shannon raced toward the woods, disappearing into the thicket.
The sun was already sinking lower onto the horizon. It had taken all of yesterday and all of today to make it this far.
And the wedding would happen within hours. Kieran gritted his teeth, wishing to God there was a way to travel faster. For all he knew, he might already be too late. When at last Shannon returned, he urged the horse faster.
As if to mock them, the skies released a downpour. Heavy rain beat down upon them, muddying the grass and soaking their clothes. The day just couldn’t get any worse. His only consolation was that no one else would be celebrating in this weather.
Both children howled at the weather, and he removed his cloak. Keeping his arms tightly around them, he gave Shannon the garment to raise over their heads.
“Why are we traveling so fast?” she complained.
“Do you remember the story I told you, about the warrior and the princess?”
“That wasn’t a story at all.”
“The princess is about to marry someone else. This warrior has to go and stop her.”
