“Amu'aqqib?”
“An angel, charged to keep you from death until the decreed time.”
“I did not know you believed in angels.”
“The Qur’an says we are each guarded by two angels, one before and one behind.It says they are made of light and can take any form.”Leila smiled at his obvious surprise.“Belief in angels is one of the six articles of faith of Islam.”
“Truly?”His gaze was bright upon her.
“Truly.The word was delivered to the Prophet by Jibril, the angel you call Gabriel.”She lifted her brows.“How could one believe the message and discredit the messenger?”
Fergus chuckled.“True enough.What are the other five articles?”
“That Allah or God is one supreme being, with no siblings or parents.”Leila counted off the six on her fingers as she recited them.“That He sent his message to the prophets, which include Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.That the gospels are His word and revelation, including the Torah, the Gospels, and the Qur’an.That there will be a resurrection and a day of judgment when we shall be judged for our deeds, good and bad.And finally, that Allah knows all, past, present, and future.All earthly life is His divine plan.”
Fergus raised his brows.“It is not that different.”
Leila shrugged.“There is much similarity in our core beliefs, to be sure.”She knew what she had to ask, though it felt bold to do so.“Will you tell me what you see of the future?”
“For you or for me?”
“Either or both.”
“I never see beyond the next instant for myself.The sense that I should step back or turn another way is the sum of my foresight, with regards to my own fate.”
“But it must be useful, all the same.”
He smiled.“I imagine it is responsible for my return home.More than once, I knew we had to take another route or halt an assault.Every time, if Duncan and I had continued, we would have died with others.”A shadow touched his features.
“Do you blame yourself for their loss?”
He frowned.“It is impossible not to do so, yet it would be similarly impossible to halt an army because I had a feeling it should be done.”
“And what of my future?Is it rude for me to ask?Or unlucky?”
“Unusual, at the least.Many people do not want to know.”He eyed her, his gaze dark.“I have seen you with a child, since we left Haynesdale,” he admitted.“A babe, which I know is your babe.Indeed, you look tired in my vision, as if you had just brought the child into the world.”
“Oh!I am glad to know I should survive that.”
A fleeting smile touched his lips.“And you will be gladder yet that the child is a boy.”He lifted his gaze to hers.“And his eyes are clear blue.”
Leila was astonished.“I hope it is your son.”
“As do I.”
“What a wondrous vision for our first night together,” she said, though Fergus did not reply.“How many children shall we have?”
Fergus laughed and shook a finger at her.“My gift is not like that.It reveals what it will, no more and no less.You will deliver of a healthy son with blue eyes.That is all I know.”
“And it should be sufficient.I thank you for such a reassurance.”
“You are joyous in my vision, Leila.Laughing and much enamored with the boy.He looks to be perfect, so your judgment is sound.”He smiled but dropped his gaze.“It is a most pleasing vision.”
Leila felt her cheeks heat and her throat tighten.She fervently hoped this vision was true and that the father was Fergus.“And Duncan?”
“I have seen a gem on his shoulder, holding his cloak.A prize and a mark of status.He stands taller in that vision, like a leader of men, but there are shadows in his eyes, perhaps because of what he has done to achieve his goal.”
“Triumph can demand much of a man,” Leila ceded, wondering what to make of that vision.“Is Radegunde not with him?”
