"Ye have a way of quickly wearing your welcome thin."
"Why? Because I pay heed to your wee wife as ye ne'er do?"
"Ye enter into what isnae your concern."
"Ye are a fool, Iain MacLagan. Ye turn aside that which many a mon craves."
"I must. There is an axe hanging o'er my neck. She could be made a widow at any time, but I will at least leave her heart free."
"What heart is left after ye toss it about. We all have an axe hanging o'er our necks, my friend."
"Aye, but we dinnae all ken when it will drop nor who will wield it. I do. T'will be soon and t'will be MacLennon."
"How can ye be sure t'will be soon?"
"Because the mon lurks near as he ne'er has before. He is hunted as he ne'er has been before too, and is pressed to move fast. My allies draw ever nearer to him. Aye, he has to strike soon for he is but a step ahead of a sword himself."
"That doesnae mean ye will die."
"'Tis a great possibility and weel ye ken it. At least I can save Islaen from too much grief."
"But is that your decision to make? ‘Tis her heart. She might feel the chance is worth taking."
"'Tis my place as her husband to protect her from hurt. I am doing so."
"Are ye? Or, are ye protecting yourself? Do ye ken what I think ye do?"
"Nay, but I ken ye will tell me for all that."
"Aye, I will for I feel ye ought to think on it. ‘Tis not just her grief ye try to prevent but your own. Ye hold her away because ye dinnae want to ken what ye can have with her, thus what ye can lose if ye lose her or ye die."
"Really?” Iain said tightly. “Say ye are right. What would ye, in all your great wisdom, suggest I do?"
Ignoring that sarcasm, Alexander replied, “Stop this game. Ye have no marriage. If God means to take ye, He will. Ye cannae stop that. Do ye mean to waste the time ye have? ‘Tis what ye do now. And Islaen's. Ye keep her locked in a barren marriage thinking to protect her, yet, if ye but asked, ye would ken weel that isnae what she wants. She wants to enjoy what she can while she lives, not shut herself away from life and love because she might die tomorrow. ‘Tis what ye should do."
Alexander's words struck deep and Iain could find no response. Uttering a harsh curse, he left Alexander, left the hall and retreated to his chambers. He did not want to think on all Alexander had said, wanted to deny it and forget it, but the man's words pounded in his brain demanding attention. With a soft curse, he decided it would be a long night.
Balancing Morogh on her hip, Islaen watched Iain prepare to leave, checking the cinches on his saddle. Her brother went with him and Alexander had been asked but had refused. She supposed she ought to be glad that Iain was always so well protected but she really wished that someone would stop him from leaving at all. If he were to be made to stay home they might just be able to lessen the chasm that now seemed to yawn between them.
"Muircraig must be near done,” she murmured when he stopped before her to give her a kiss much like the ones he bestowed upon the children, a cool kiss upon her cheek.
"Nearly. We will winter there, I am thinking."
'And then I shall truly be alone,’ she mused silently but said, “Weel, take care, Iain."
"Aye and ye.” He found it difficult to turn from her but hurried away from her before he weakened and stayed.
Islaen sighed, waving half-heartedly as Iain and the others rode away. It would be good for them to go to Muircraig but she also knew it could be disastrous. If he found a way to avoid her there, a way to cut her out of his life, she would truly be alone. At least at Caraidland she had friends, people who honestly cared about her. They could never make up for the neglect of the man she loved but they did help to ease the loneliness.
Taking Padruig from Grizel because Liusadh was tormenting him, Islaen started toward the nursery where she knew she would find Storm. She was a little dismayed to find Alexander there too. When she managed to get Storm away from the children, Alexander followed. She finally decided that it did not matter if he heard what she had to say. The man knew what troubles she had so there was little point in being secretive. She often felt that all of Caraidland knew.
"I have given Iain his chance, Storm,” she said as they retreated to a deserted corner of the hall.
"Aye, ye did.” Storm sat down on a chest next to Alexander.
"And ye saw what he did with that chance."
"Aye, I fear I did,” Storm said with a sigh.
