Darragh took her into a close embrace. “Shh. Ye’re fine now. And ye did get out from under him.”
“Aye, and that was when I saw Seigine watching me.”
He pulled back to look her in the eye. “So ye stabbed the man and he stilled right away?”
“No. He pulled back to glare down at me as if he couldn’t believe I had stabbed him. He was about to cut my bindings and I was so afeared of what he might do to me if he realized I was a woman.”
“And when he looked at ye, what did ye do?”
“I jabbed the dagger deeper into his side, until I came up against his ribs and it would go no further.” She covered her mouth. “His blood leaked down my hand and the disgusting sound of his flesh being severed filled the air.”
“One wound? That was all?”
She nodded, dropping her hand, a curious expression on her face. “I must have injured an organ. He died quickly.”
Darragh walked toward the single arrow slit that showed the night sky outside his room. The crickets sang their farewell song in the distance, and the music carried to him from below. The feast to celebrate their return had commenced.
With a wide smile, he turned to face her. “Cathair was stabbed fourteen times.”
Her mouth dropped open before slamming shut. “I do not understand.”
“The wound ye inflicted was not mortal, but he may have passed out from the pain.” He closed the distance, taking her hands in his. “It was Seigine who stabbed him the other thirteen times. My guess is that he watched to see what would happen. Mayhap he even believed ye had managed to kill him. When the man came to, Seigine was so incensed to find he wasn’t dead, he took the knife to him in a rage.”
She moved closer. “Then I did not kill him.”
“It does not appear so to me.”
Brighit eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she remained quiet, no doubt thinking through the implications.
“Now all we have to do is prove it.”
Tadhg was seated beside his wife, the music filled the great hall, and Brighit’s hands were damp with sweat as she stood in the threshold with her husband.
“I do not know if I can do this.”
Darragh turned to her and they locked eyes. “I know that ye can.”
“Ye know that I can sit there and lie through my teeth?”
“Through yer teeth, around yer teeth, and out yer ear if need be.”
She dropped her brows for a fierce frown. “’Tis not humorous.”
Darragh kissed the tip of her nose. “It is. Relax. Work yer wiles.”
She pursed her lips as they entered the hall, her hand resting on his arm as he led the way to the head table. No applause but an appreciative smile from Tisa since Brighit had taken the time to change into an acceptable gown.
“Tisa.” Brighit inclined her head to the woman as she passed in front of her to sit on the opposite side of her husband. Tadhg leaned in to kiss his daughter-in-law’s cheek once she was seated beside him. Darragh took his place next to her, nodding his greetings.
“Now Darragh,” Tisa’s scolding tone grated on Brighit’s raw nerves, “have I taught ye nothing about a proper greeting?”
Brighit dropped her hand into his lap and squeezed his thigh, which caused him to smile.
“Forgiveness. Good eve, Mother, Father, Seigine.”
The odious man sat on the far side of Tisa as if he were a favored guest.
“Darragh.” Seigine turned a bitter smile toward Brighit. “Brighit.”
