Neala gritted her teeth. "There must be another answer," she insisted.
Cailean groaned and ran his hand through his hair, obviously irritated now. He got to his feet, and his voice raised a little. "Neala,enough. Enough! Ye've spent yer life as a Sparrow. How can ye be such a fool?"
"It isnae foolish tae hope for the best in people," a new voice interrupted them quietly. "Ye all are the ones who've taught me that. She may be wrong in her hope, but that doesnae make her a fool."
Both Cailean and Neala looked up to see that, of all people, Nessa O'Sullivan was approaching. Neala's wrongfootedness grew worse at the sight as she tried to understand what was happening now. Of all the people in the castle who might defend her, Nessa was the last one she had expected. After all, Neala had been hostile toward the girl at first and indifferent to her eversince. She hadn't meant to act that way, but every time she saw Nessa, she pictured Ansel. It hurt more than she'd ever be able to explain.
Cailean blinked a few times, then nodded his head. "As ye say," he agreed. "Though I will add that hope cannae work miracles." He sighed. "Neala, I'm sorry for speakin' harshly. I dinnae understand the draw ye have tae the prince, but I need ye tae understand he is the enemy."
"Nay," Neala replied, getting to her feet too, her eyes now on Nessa. "Forgive me. There's nae need tae talk about it more."
He was right. Anselwasthe enemy. No matter what she wanted to think. And yet, those words had triggered something in her mind, something she couldn't quite reach.
Cailean gave her a swift, sad smile, then addressed Nessa. "Did ye come lookin' for me?"
"For Neala, actually. Darren and I were with Ann and Ferda just now, and Ann was askin' for her. Will ye come?" Nessa directed the last words to Neala.
"Go," Cailean said. "And thank ye for talkin' tae me. It means a lot, even when we disagree."
Neala nodded and squeezed his hand before passing and moving to Nessa's side. The two girls walked away, and only when they had left Cailean out of earshot did Neala speak.
"Thank ye," she said. "Ye didnae need tae intervene in me defense. I've hardly earned it from ye, the way I've acted."
Nessa nodded stiffly. "As I'd hardly earned yer trust at first. We should put our differences in the past where they belong. Breana says she suspects we could even be friends."
Smiling slightly, Neala said, "One step at a time. But perhaps one day."
Nessa smiled back. They entered the castle again and both took a minute to shake the snow and damp from their clothing.As they did, Nessa hesitated then leaned close. "Ye're right, ye ken. About Ansel, I mean. He's nae a monster."
Neala's heart stuttered. She looked around them, making sure they were alone. Finally, at long last, she could know the truth—but now that it was here, she wasn't sure she wanted it. "Were… were ye courtin', before yer engagement?" she asked. Hastily, she added, "Ye neednae tell me, of course. I just?—"
"I met Ansel Ashkirk when I was a bairn, but he never showed interest in me, nor in either of my sisters," Nessa interrupted. "Apart from official dinners with the king—theFalseKing—we only properly met again the day that our betrothal was announced."
Neala's throat burned, and her eyes itched. She didn't know if she wanted to cry with pain or with relief. "And in the month ye were together…"
"We barely spoke." Nessa gave her a curious look. She looked around her carefully, then took a step closer to Neala, lowering her tone until she was nearly whispering. "Why are ye askin' these things? What do ye hope tae hear?"
"I…" Neala stammered, cursing herself for getting so caught up in the moment. "I…"
Nessa held up a hand, stepping back. "Nay. Dinnae tell me. I dinnae think I should know." She paused then added, "But… for what it's worth, Neala, there comes a day we all need tae decide where our allegiances lay. I've finally found mine, unbelievably, here amongst Cailean's people. What will ye do when it's time tae choose yers?"
When they entered the room that had been granted to Ann for her recovery, Neala was horrified to realize that they hadstepped directly into the middle of a serious conversation. Ann was fast asleep in the bed, as she often was these days, while Darren and Ferda were exchanging heated whispers near the door.
"...sure about this?" Darren asked. He didn't sound angry, but his tone was definitely stressed. "Ye've nae idea how hard it's gonnae be for ye."
"We've been through hardship. We grew up movin' from rebel camp tae rebel camp. We lost our family. I've kent difficulty since I was born. This is nothin' compared tae that," Ferda replied. "I've made me decision."
Nessa gently pushed past Neala and moved to Darren's side. Neala noticed how natural it seemed as Nessa took Darren's arm. "What's wrong?" Nessa asked. "What's happenin'? I thought Ann wanted Neala tae help her write a note tae the Sparrows."
"She fell asleep," Ferda said. She glanced at the sleeping woman in the bed, and her whole expression changed to something soft. "She still sleeps a lot. It's been months, and she's gettin' better every day, but…"
Neala shivered lightly. Ann's condition had been so bad that she had slipped into a long sleep for weeks after arriving at McNair Castle. Most of the healers had written her off as about to die, but Ferda had sat next to her bed day and night, ensuring she got water and sustenance, mopping her brow, doing whatever she could. Ann had eventually woken, but she'd left something of herself behind. Even now, three months after her arrival, her legs would not move at all. Neala had heard the healers whisper that she would never be able to walk again.
"I'm sorry," Neala said. "We're interruptin'. We'll come back later."
"Nay," Ferda said. "Nay. Darren is just bein' protective, but I've already made up me mind. When this is all over—whenwe've won—I will take Ann across the sea tae Spain or even Italy. I've heard there are remarkable healers there, men of learnin' who can work wonders. Even if she never walks again, they may be able to help her live well."
"Who kens how long that will take?" Darren asked anxiously. "I care about Ann as well, deeply, but what ye're proposin' is goin' tae be difficult enough for a woman on her own, never mind one with an invalid who cannae walk. Who kens if it'll even work?"
