Aimil suddenly shivered. She tried to tell herself that it was cold in the hall, but she knew she lied. The chill had come from deep within her. All she could think, despite her efforts to shake the image, to resist superstitious fancy, was that some dark, foreboding shadow had briefly covered her soul, that some evil had reached out to touch her with its icy fingers. It took all her willpower not to cry out her fear.
“Are ye ailing, Aimil?” Giorsal murmured. “Ye have gone verra white.”
“A goose walked over my grave, ’tis all.”
“Dinnae say such things.” Giorsal shivered. “Come, let us go for a walk outside, away from all this talk of old battles. ’Tis most like the tales of blood and death that have turned your humor dark.”
Lagan trailed them as they went out into the bailey. He did not stay on their heels for there were many eyes to watch them besides his own. Giorsal was glad that she and Aimil would be able to talk freely as they strolled arm in arm.
“How fares Jennet? She must be far along with child now.”
“Aye, Aimil. The bairn should make his or her appearance at any time. She fares weel though ’tis tired she is.” She looked closely at Aimil. “I will ask it again. How fare ye, Aimil? Ye cannae tell me the man’s nae touched ye. I have eyes.”
“Do ye think Papa has seen it?” Aimil asked in sudden panic, not even attempting to deny anything to Giorsal.
“Nay, it seems not. I think I wouldnae have seen aught save that, weel”—Giorsal blushed—“Iain and I are much closer now.”
“Oh? How did this come about?”
“Ye mean ye kenned there was a fault in my marriage?”
“Nay, not a fault, just nae a loving or a close bond.”
“And that is nae a fault?” Giorsal drawled. “I didnae want to wed Iain. I thought him a plain, rough man. I held that feeling since the day we were wed. Now, I didnae deny him or betray him, but I gave him little. T’was after ye were taken. I took a close look at the man ye were going to have to wed and I opened my eyes and looked at my own man. ’Tis a fool I have been. For all my coolness, the man has never strayed, and for all he is rough, he has never been cruel. Weel, I said a few sweet words and put myself in his bed where I belonged instead of making the man come asking and ’tis love I have found now.”
“T’was there all the time, Giorsal.”
“I ken that now, but my eyes were long turned inward, seeing only my disappointment and that the choice wasnae my own.”
Aimil hugged her sister. “I am verra happy for you. Aye, and for Iain. He is a good man. A lot of his roughness is only shyness.”
“Aye, I see that now. ’Tis to my shame that my wee sister saw it before I did. Now, tell me of ye and the Black Parlan.”
“Are ye going to insist upon it?” Aimil discovered that she really did wish to discuss Parlan with her sister.
“Aye, verra firmly. He hasnae hurt ye, has he?”
“Nay, he hasnae. He wanted Elfking and gave me a choice. If I came to his bed, he wouldnae take my horse. I have shocked you.”
“A bit.” She shook her head. “To do thus for a horse. ’Tis not a thing I can understand, but I am little surprised that ye did it.”
“Weel, I think the rogue tricked me, but it matters little. I will shock ye more by saying I enjoy being in his bed, that I didnae put myself there for Elfking alone. I tried but I could-nae feel guilty or ashamed. All I could think on was that I am to be wed to Rory Fergueson.”
“So why not take pleasure while ye can, where ye can.”
“Aye. I grasped it with both hands. Of course, Parlan says I willnae wed Rory though he doesnae say why he is so against it or how he could stop the marriage.”
“If he does, ye must tell me. ’Tis sore eager I would be to hear it. He is such a big man,” she added, frowning.
“Oh, aye, he is,” Aimil agreed meaningfully, then giggled when Giorsal gasped and blushed.
“Wretched, wretched girl. I didnae mean that.” She frowned. “I cannae fault ye for what ye do but tread warily, Aimil. The Black Parlan looks to be a man to make a lass lose her head. Ye cannae have any more than ye have right now and to long for more will bring ye naught but pain.”
“I ken that weel, Giorsal. Dinnae fash yourself.” Aimil wished she could put more confidence into her words.
“Ye said ye think he tricked you. How so?”
“He has been wooing Elfking, winning the stallion’s favor. He doesnae even try to hide it, the rogue.”
