Touching her sister's hand, Maeve asked, "Is it so painful as that? Ye've been cryin'."
Breana swallowed. "It isnae the pain, Maeve. I'm scared. Now that I'm a woman, Father can marry me off if he likes."
"Marriage? But ye're still half a bairn," Maeve protested. "Most lassies dinnae marry so early. Father wouldnae…"
"He would if it secured somethin' for him," Breana replied. She wiped her eyes. "I ken I'm a disappointment tae him. I just want tae be here tae protect ye." She turned to face Maeve fully then and gasped. "Oh… oh, Maeve, did he hurt ye again? Yer face is bruised!"
"I fell," Maeve lied, though she knew that Breana wouldn't believe it.
The sisters embraced, not speaking again for a while.
"Me poor, brave girl," Breana said at last. "I'm sorry I cannae keep ye safe."
"We'll keep each other safe," Maeve told her. "I'll make sure he doesnae get ye married until ye're good and ready. We'll find ye a kind man, like in the stories."
Breana smiled, stroking Maeve's hair. "And I'll do what I can tae make sure he never hurts ye again. Deal?"
"Deal!"
* * *
To this day, Maeve didn't know what Breana had said or done, what she'd cajoled or bargained or threatened, but her father had never physically raised a hand to her again. He'd hurt her in other ways, and he'd ignored her, but the beatings had stopped after that moment. Somehow, Breana had faced down the great Laird O'Sullivan and won on her sister's behalf.
It had been one of the reasons that Maeve had been able to accept her dreadful marital fate. But now… now it seemed she'd failed, and Breana had been married off anyway to an even worse man than Maeve had been sold to herself. Maeve had failed.
"No," she said quietly into the night air. She remembered Cailean's words about innocents lost. If it was true, if what those men had taunted was what was really happening, did it mean her own sister, her only real family, was now one of them? Maeve couldn't even begin to consider it or what it would mean.
Cailean's footsteps sounded across the hard ground, and a moment later he returned to the horses. "It's done," he told her. "Come. Let's get back tae camp."
Maeve opened her mouth to tell him about her sister, but closed it again. Now wasn't the time to be asking for favors. After all, this return to her new home might be the last time she was ever there again. If they voted against her, which they might, her only hope was that they did not keep her as a prisoner. She would beg them for exile instead.
If they cast her out, she'd be alone again, lost and scared and without anything, and the idea terrified her. But at least she'd be free. And Breana would be waiting.
* * *
Cailean didn't try to speak to Maeve for the rest of the journey back to the camp. He wasn't sure what he could bring himself to say to her even if he did. The story of what she'd been through had moved him more than he knew what to do with, and the way they'd fought together had stirred something in his heart that had been asleep for so long that he'd thought it was gone forever.
But she'd still lied to them. She was still the daughter of one sworn enemy and the widow of another. Cailean believed her that she hadn't killed Malcolm Darach, but that did not mean that she was an innocent. In fact, it might even mean that she was more guilty; if she didn't kill Malcolm, then couldn't she have loyalty to him? He was her husband, after all.
Cailean shook his head. He didn't believe that. He believed her, but he couldn't get over the sting of the betrayal just yet.
"There ye are, ye big pillock!" Darren's voice called out over the crowd that swarmed to meet them. "We were beginnin' tae think somethin' had happened tae ye. There were rumors of Darachs in the woods."
Cailean slipped off his horse and moved to Darren's side, weaving through the other rebels who had swarmed close to greet them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw several people gathering around Maeve to make sure she was alright — though of course, they would be calling herMary. That made the sting feel fresh again. She'd lied to all of them, and worst of all, he could understand why. It was confusing to see that his fellow rebels had clearly come to care for her and maybe even love her like family.
How would they feel when they knew she'd lied to all of them?
"What's wrong?" Darren asked immediately when he spotted Cailean's expression. Then he swore. "That's blood on ye. Bastards. Ye got caught up with them, aye?"
Cailean nodded. "They're all dead. The villagers are dealin' with the bodies, but we should send a few men tae help."
Darren gave his assent and called a few words out to some men nearby. After that, he turned back to Cailean and looked him up and down. "Are ye hurt? Should I fetch a healer?" He glanced over Cailean's shoulder. "What about Mary?"
His stomach clenching, Cailean forced himself to remain calm as he replied. "We only got minor injuries. We'll see the healers after we've talked tae the council."
"She fought with ye?"
"Aye." Begrudgingly, he added, "And she fought well. I'll tell ye all about it later, but for now, I need tae speak with the elders. At once."
