The healer scolded him not to talk, but Cailean and Maeve looked from him to Breana, obviously awaiting an explanation.
"Ye found what?" Cailean asked, a sudden flare of hope suddenly so clear in his voice that it made Breana almost want to weep. "Ye dinnae mean…?"
"The convent," Breana confirmed. Sudden exhaustion weighed down upon her shoulders, but she forced herself to remain standing. "We found the convent. Laura and the trainin' Sparrows, they saved our lives. They got a message directly from their agent in Blackthorn Castle, and it confirmed the truth. The False King kens ye're comin'. Ansel Ashkirk is prepared."
Maeve moved forward, offering Breana her arm for support. Breana took it gratefully, leaning against her sister.
"Ye found it!" Ferda exclaimed. "Did ye tell them about Ann? And Morag? And poor Dina?"
"We did, but—" Breana started.
"Did ye findher?" Maeve asked, sounding a little scared of the answer.
Breana saw a look she had never seen before on Cailean's face. He looked so vulnerable, so hopeful and yet pained, as he leaned toward her in search of the answer. She hated that she had to shatter that hope with her next words.
"Neala wasnae there," she whispered.
Cailean looked crestfallen. He turned his back, and Breana suspected he didn't want anyone to see his expression at that moment.
"Is she alive?" Maeve asked.
"She wasnae there because she'shere," Breana explained, not even trying to hide the fear in her voice. "Neala was at Blackthorn Castle this whole time, and now Ansel Ashkirk has brought her here. She is a White Sparrow, a spy, servin' as a maid right now inside that castle."
Cailean spun around, his face drained of all color. "Neala is here? Ashkirk has her?"
"If we attack, she may try tae intervene. She may be hurt in the crossfire," Maeve said slowly."If only there was a way…"
"What if ye're mistaken?" Darren asked. "Or misled? What if the message was intercepted somehow, and Neala isnae even inside?"
"But if sheis,and wedinnaeattack, we must consider she's in danger there too. Every second she spends under them is a second where she may be discovered," Senan pointed out.
"We need tae alter the plan," Ewan said urgently. "Cailean, we—Cailean!"
But Cailean ignored them all. Sword in hand, he was already marching toward the treeline, with a look in his eyes that said he was ready to slaughter anyone who stood in his way.
20
Cailean was already a distance into the trees before he felt a firm grip on his arm and looked down to see Maeve pulling him back with as much strength as she could.
"Stop. Ye have tae stop," she told him firmly. "Ye're a mess. Ye're pale, ye're shakin'. If ye go marchin' in there, ye'll be torn down before ye can take a breath."
"I dinnae care. I dinnae have time tae wait around," Cailean told her roughly. "Mesisteris in there, Maeve. I thought she was lost tae me, and now she's right there. How can I leave her just because it's the sensible thing tae do?"
Maeve met his eyes, her gaze steady, her jaw set. "Dinnae askmethat question. I'm perhaps the only person who kens. But the difference is, I had tae leave Nessa behind, even though it tore me heart apart. Whereasyehave all of our strength behind ye. Ye just need tae be patient and let us formulate a plan with Breana an' Eoin's information."
The inescapable need to keep hurrying forward was strong, but Maeve's voice had the same effect on him that it always did—that strange way of making him stop and listen, even when his blood was a raging inferno.
"Maeve, I…"
"Stop an'think,me love," she urged him. "This isnae just about Neala, nor about ye. Ye're nae just a man. Ye're a king. A leader. Peopleneedye. I need ye. Think of the danger."
"We've faced danger before?—"
Maeve interrupted swiftly. "Aye. Together. But never danger like this, and neveralone. Ye swore tae me we'd stay by each other's side, did ye nae? What use will we be tae the rebellion, or tae Neala even, if Ansel Ashkirk captures ye on sight? It's about all of us. It's about everyone who believes in ye."
Reluctantly, Cailean let his shoulders sag and turned fully back toward her. She was right. He still ached to run into the castle and get to Neala, but there was not much that he could do alone. He let out a deep, shaky sigh, then turned and leaned down, resting his forehead on hers. She touched his cheek gently, offering him comfort.
"What do I do?" he mumbled. "What dowedo?"
