Trahernreadiedhishorse,tying the supplies of food and drink from the Dalrata tribe members after the chief had provided the promised goods. Four men, including Áron and Gunnar, had decided to join him.
It was mid-morning, but Trahern was surprised to see Morren approaching with a horse. From the reins she held in her hands and the pack of supplies loaded onto the animal’s back, he recognized her intentions.
He crossed over to her, taking the reins of her mare. “No.” There was no chance he’d allow Morren to travel with them. It wasn’t safe.
She ignored him and boosted herself up onto the horse’s back. “These men can’t identify the other four. I can.”
“Do you believe I’ll let you come to harm by traveling with us?”
“No, I don’t. I know that you’ll guard me. And after I’ve helped you find the men responsible, I’ll return home.”
He saw no point to her defiance, and he reached up to lift her down again.
Morren gripped his hands to stop him. “I’m a grown woman, Trahern. I make my own decisions.”
He lifted her down anyway, keeping his hands around her waist. Leaning in, he said, “You’ve a sister to look after. Or have you forgotten?”
“Katla has promised to guard her. I believe she will.” Morren rubbed her arms, “And Jilleen wanted to remain behind with the others.”
He was about to deny it again, but she touched her hands to his. “You’re not the only one who wants vengeance, Trahern.” Her voice had grown hard, reminding him of her rage last night. Lowering her voice, she said, “Every time I see a child’s face, I think of those men. They stole that from me.”
Her blue eyes stared into his. “I don’t sleep at night, because I see their faces. I remember what they did, and I relive it every day. I want it to end. I’ve had enough.”
When he looked into her blue eyes, he saw the same darkness that had haunted him over the past few months. The same despair that had torn him down, breaking his spirit into pieces.
He didn’t want that for Morren. He wanted her to remain with her family, safe from harm. But then, hadn’t he tried that himself? He’d lived with his brothers, trying to forget about Ciara. All it had wrought was madness.
Morren returned to her horse. She mounted the mare, sitting squarely upon the saddle. Her expression held determination and not a trace of fear.
Trahern swung up onto his own horse Barra and brought the animal alongside her. Morren stared straight ahead, pretending as though he weren’t there. “You’re going to stay with me,” he said. “In my tent. I won’t allow any of these men to come near you.”
She paled but jerked her attention to him, suddenly realizing what he meant.
“They’re going to think we’re lovers,” he said sharply. “And even if I deny it, it’s what they’ll believe.”
“I don’t care what they believe,” she insisted, her voice almost inaudible. “I trust that you’ll keep me safe. And that you won’t . . . touch me, either.” She looked away, an awkwardness suddenly lacing her tone.
He rested his hand upon Barra’s mane. Though he wanted to make the promise, to vow that he wouldn’t set a finger upon her, he couldn’t speak the words.
In the end, he admitted the only truth he could, “I would die before hurting you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Theytraveledfromdawnuntil dusk that day, hardly speaking. Morren kept to herself, half-afraid Trahern would change his mind about bringing her along. The other men stayed away from her—partly out of respect, but mostly because of Trahern’s fierce glare.
She studied him closely, realizing that he hadn’t shaved his head since they’d left the abbey. A light layer of hair was beginning to cover his scalp, and it was dark in color. Would it be softer now?
She shook the thoughts away, warning herself not to think of him in that way. They were friends. Barely that, for he kept his emotions and thoughts so tightly guarded, she hardly knew him. The only time he released a part of himself was through his stories.
He became a different man, then. Teasing, soft-hearted. A kindly giant of a man who knew how to make a crowd of people leave with a smile.
He brought his horse closer to hers. “You’re staring at me. What is it?”
She shook her head. “Nothing, really. I was just wondering if you would tell another story tonight.”
The shield came down over his face. “Not tonight.”
And just like that, he’d grown distant again. Her attempt at friendship seemed to shrivel up in the face of his cool demeanor. Morren gripped the reins of her mare, pretending as though it didn’t bother her one way or another.
