Ferda grinned and stepped out of the group. One of her arms was bound in a sling, but she hugged Maeve with the other, then pulled back, looking her up and down. "Ye're lookin' queenly, me friend," she said. "I'm sorry I wasnae here for yer handfastin'. I kent it was only a matter of time. I hope me cousins havenae been annoyin' ye both too much."
"They've been sendin' us half tae madness, especially Darren," Cailean replied with a little laugh. He, too, approached, and gave Ferda a quick, friendly hug. "It's good tae see ye back amongst us."
"I wouldnae be if it werenae for Eoin," Ferda admitted. She nodded down at her arm. "This could have been much worse than just a broken arm. I was attacked on me way back, and,well…" She shook her head. "They're merciless, these people we're up against."
Breana squeezed Eoin's hand. "Thank God ye were there."
Eoin shook his head. "Ferda was the brave one. She was hurryin' back with the message and came across the refugees. She was fightin' tae protect them. It was just luck that me and the other scouts happened tae come across them."
"Ye've both done wonders," Maeve assured him. "Thank ye. All of ye."
Cailean was shifting from foot to foot, uncharacteristically nervous. "I… Ferda, may I ask ye a question? Are ye well enough?"
"It's just a broken arm," Ferda insisted, though her expression took on a much grimmer tone that Maeve was not used to seeing there. "I've much tae report, Cailean, but… I dinnae ken that it's much ye'll want tae hear."
"Ye went lookin' for the White Sparrows. Did ye–did ye find them? Did ye find their base?" Cailean asked. He sounded so nervous, so hopeful, that Maeve had to reach out and take his hand. "Our usual contacts have gone quiet, and we need tae find… I mean, there could be someone…"
"I went lookin' for Ann. She's the Sparrow I ken best, and we had a standin' agreement tae meet in a certain place," Ferda said. "I intended tae ask her for more information from there, but—" She stopped, glancing left and right. "I think… I think this conversation is best taken inside. Me uncle and the other councilmen should hear what's happened."
Alarm shot through Maeve at the words. Cheerful, talkative Ferda was never the type to equivocate around her speech, and if she wanted to call an official meeting, whatever was about to happen was going to change their world again—and Maeve had the feeling that it wouldn't be in a good way.
"Lady McKenzie is here with the council now," Maeve reminded Cailean. "Should we finish up with trainin' then call them together afterward?"
"If I may…" Ferda interrupted, chewing on her lip in an uncharacteristically nervous way. "I dinnae think that this should wait. I think we should interrupt them. Now."
Maeve and Cailean looked at each other once more, and Maeve saw the fear and uncertainty hiding behind her beloved's eyes. Yes, something huge was coming.
But they both knew there was no running away. Not now.
Cailean turned and went back to the training group and exchanged a few words with them. He returned with Darren at his side a moment later, and the rest of those who had been training in both Cailean and Maeve's groups dispersed to the rest of their duties in the castle. Darren hugged his cousin, a rare moment where the two were not good-naturedly bickering, obviously just relieved to see that she was alive.
The rest of the scouts who had come with Eoin left too at Maeve's instructions, leaving Darren, Eoin, Maeve, Cailean, Breana, and Ferda standing there on the brink of whatever was about to happen next.
"Let's go, then," Cailean said, his voice tired but determined. "And hear this news."
And the small group walked inside the castle toward the next step of their destiny.
2
Cailean's mind was reeling. He did not speak much as he and the others made their way through the hallways of Bruce Castle toward their war room. Kier, Senan, Ewan, and Hamish rarely left the hall these days, constantly strategizing and debating and considering every option that was left to the rebels as they faced the impossible task that lay ahead of them. Lady McKenzie had arrived once more a few days before with news of Neala, and it had launched a whole new range of issues to solve and potential dangers to avoid, as well as several discussions of their strategies for the next moves the rebellion could take.
What could Ferda have found that was so grave that she could not just tell them there and then? He couldn't imagine, and it filled him with a kind of dreadful fear he wasn't used to. And what about Neala? If Ferda hadn't found the White Sparrows' base, did that mean there was still a chance that his sister was there and alive? Or… His blood ran cold at the thought. Couldthatbe why Ferda was being so secretive? Had she somehow discovered Neala, and she was… She had…
His head was still spinning as they entered the war room, and all four of the elders and Lady McKenzie looked up from what was clearly an intense discussion. Lady McKenzie looked tiredbut still as regal as ever, obviously working hard to reclaim the life that her murderous brother-in-law had stolen from her until Cailean had managed to set her free. The four councilmen were listening to her with the utmost respect, treating her as their equal, but they all fell entirely silent as they saw the others enter.
"Cailean. Maeve," Senan greeted in his usual unperturbed manner. "We werenae expectin' ye. Have we forgotten a meetin'? We were gonnae bring ye in and report later after yer trainin'."
"Eoin returned. And he's brought…" Cailean started, then shook his head and simply stepped aside.
"Ferda." Kier's gruff voice raised in unexpected surprise and pleasure, so different from the way that he usually spoke. He stood from his seat. "Me niece. Ye've returned. Are ye well?" He frowned. "Ye've been hurt. Are ye?—"
"Uncle," Ferda interrupted. "Councilmen. Me Lady. Forgive the interruption, but… I come bearin' news. Important news."
Lady McKenzie tilted her head, eyes narrowed, as she considered. "Ye're a scout, aye?" she asked. "Come, then, lass. Tell us what ye've discovered. The ruminations of the old can pause for a moment while we listen tae ye."
Cailean nodded to the others, and they all went to their places—Cailean in the center, Maeve and Darren at his side. Eoin and Breana found seats where advisors would usually go, and Ferda stood at the head of the table, commanding everyone's attention with her stance. Cailean leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say, but almost dreading it too.
"I was sent tae liaise with the Sparrows," Ferda announced. "We ken that there are many with whom we are in contact and many more who are kept back from the main action of the rebellion, and with good reason. With how things are changin', we kent we needed tae bring our groups closer together and gather any information we can as the fight ahead looms deadly and sure."
