“I dinna thinkthatis the problem.”
She’d heard him discussing their journey to Restenneth Priory with Niall and Aldred, making their plans, but Lachlann had shared none of it with her. There could be only one reason for that. He had changed his mind about her going.
“If ye prefer to leave me here while ye bring the silver to the nuns, I will.”
He stilled before answering. “Nay. I said I would not leave ye behind, and I will not. We are merely waiting for the solstice before we leave. The daylight will aid our journey, give us more time to travel before we need to stop for the darkness. Why would ye think I would leave ye now, when I’ve become so accustomed to ye?”
His words came with a gentle squeeze. Her fears set aside, she closed her eyes, but his words echoed in her mind. The solstice. That had been when she planned to be gone from the caves.
Disorientation washed over her.
The solstice was always an important date for Aidan, the day he planned his most elaborate observances.
She is named for a princess and will be offered at the solstice observance.
“What is amiss?” Lachlann asked, clear concern in his question. “Ye’re so pale, Ethne. Sit down.”
“Nay!” The memories of past sacred observances carried out on the solstice crowded her mind. This year would include many others. A chance to become powerful again. Performing the rituals exactly correct.
They practiced human sacrifice.
Ethne gasped. “Human sacrifices.”
“What about them?”
“Oh, God in heaven!” She stood on shaky legs. “We have to get to the children. We have to save them.”
“What? I dinna understand.”
“I think they’re going to kill the baby, little Mongfind. That’s why Domelch was so adamant that Mongfind could not die and then gave her no attention.” Ethne started toward the stables at the back of the bailey. “Mayhap even Finn.”
Lachlann managed to keep up with her. “Why would they do that?”
She stopped and stared at him with wide eyes. “Because Aidan wants power!”
“Power? How?”
“To appease their gods!”
Lachlann helped her get the blanket on the horse, but urged her back when the young stable boy hurried over to assist. Clearly, they’d awakened him, and he seemed quite insulted she would try to equip the horse on her own. She started rocking uncontrollably while she waited. Thoughts of Finn’s laughter, the baby’s cooing, and their little faces shot pain across her chest.
“I should have never left them there. Those people show no regard for each other. And Malcolm? He never used to drink as much as he does now. He seems so unhappy.” She covered her mouth.
“We will go and see, but ye may not be correct about this.”
She took her hand away. “When is the solstice?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Then they’ll be at the large cave, Goat’s Cave. And others are coming. People they do not know. Aidan contacted Picts from far away. We must hurry.”
“Wait, Ethne.” When Lachlann took her hands, she finally focused on him. “If that is true, we canna just ride in ourselves. I need to tell Brian. We need to go with others.”
She grabbed at him, her fingers jabbing into his chest. “But the baby, Lachlann. We canna let her or Finn die. Please!”
“I will not let that happen, but we need to plan what to do. Tell me what ye remember. Everything.”
After she told Lachlann the few details she could remember, he brought her to the Great Hall where she repeated it to the warriors gathered.
