By the time they returned to their seats, Helena felt a deep sense of fulfillment. These were her people now, and she would do everything in her power to ensure their well-being. Alexander, too, seemed content, his arm resting lightly across the back of her chair.
As the morning drew on, Helena glanced toward the windows, sunlight streaming in through the tall panes. “It’s a fine day,” she remarked.
“Aye, it is,” Alexander agreed.
Felicia leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But let’s hope it stays fine after ye head out to the courtyard, Alexander. Ye have a knack for findin’ trouble.”
Helena laughed, nodding in agreement. “Maybe we should tether ye to the castle walls, after all.”
.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“I’m glad ye’re doin’ better,” Michael commented, sitting astride his brown stud.
The morning mist clung to the rolling hills as Helena and Alexander rode side by side, the clip-clop of their horses’ hooves echoing softly along the dirt road. Helena had insisted on riding her own horse, and Alexander, knowing her spirited nature, hadn’t put up much of a fight. He couldn’t deny that seeing her astride her dappled-gray mare, her dark hair pinned loosely beneath her hood, made the ride all the more enjoyable.
Michael rode slightly ahead on his stallion, his broad shoulders swaying with each step of the animal beneath him. At his side was James. The two men exchanged jests as they led the way toward the meeting place, a crumbling ruin at the river’s edge, where the truce would finally be signed.
“I’ll admit,” Michael called over his shoulder, glancing back at Alexander, “ye’ve gotten yer strength back quicker than I expected, but ye still cannae best me in a proper bout.”
Alexander snorted, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. “Is that so, Michael? Seems to me ye’re forgettin’ who knocked ye flat on yer back just two days ago.”
“That was luck,” Michael shot back, laughing. “If ye think otherwise, we’ll settle it when we get back.”
“Settle it? I’ve already settled it,” Alexander snorted.
Helena glanced between them, a wry smile playing on her lips. “If I didnae ken better, I’d think ye two were lads again, fightin’ over who’s the strongest.”
“Lads at heart, Me Lady,” James chimed in, grinning. “Though I’d wager Michael here is just bitter that ye’re watchin’ Alexander’s victories instead of his.”
Michael scoffed, though his grin betrayed his amusement. “Aye, well, I’m nae the one who needs to prove himself in front of his wife.” He looked at Helena, shaking his head. “Ignore them, lass. They’ve nothin’ better to do than try to rile me up.”
“Oh, I think they’re doin’ a fine job of it,” Helena teased, her doe eyes sparkling with mirth.
The ride continued in easy camaraderie. They passed a few farmers along the way, some dragging carts laden with goods for the market, others tending to their fields. A pair of traders nodded respectfully as the group rode by, their ponies saddled with sacks of grain and bolts of fabric.
The hum of everyday life gradually faded as the road narrowed and the trees thickened, their branches arching overhead to form a canopy.
Before long, the sound of rushing water reached their ears, the river announcing their approach. The ruin came into view as they crested a low hill, its weathered stone walls rising like a ghost from the mist. Once a grand fortress, it now stood in decay, its towers crumbled, its windows empty voids framed by sagging arches.
Helena pulled her mare to a halt, her gaze sweeping over the ruin. “It must have been magnificent once,” she murmured.
“Aye,” Alexander agreed, his tone thoughtful. “A castle like this would’ve been a stronghold—a symbol of power. Now, it’s nothin’ but stone and memories.”
Helena tilted her head, studying the broken vaults and the jagged edges of the towers. “I wonder who lived here, what their lives were like. It’s strange to think somethin’ so grand could turn into this.”
Michael turned in his saddle, resting a hand on the pommel. “It’s a reminder, is it nae? That nothin’ lasts forever, nae even power.”
James nodded, his expression somber. “Aye, though it makes a fine meeting place. Neutral ground, far enough from both clans to keep the tension low.”
As they rode closer, the mist in the air began to turn into a gentle rain, the droplets cool against their skin.
Helena pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, her thoughts drifting. “It’s strange, though,” she said after a moment. “Me faither was so adamant about continuin’ the war just weeks ago. Now, he’s agreed to a truce. It feels… sudden.”
Michael exchanged a glance with James before responding, “Maybe it’s because of ye, Me Lady. Ye’re part of Alexander’s clan now. Bein’ at war with us means bein’ at war with ye.”
Helena considered this, her brow furrowed. “I suppose that’s true. But it’s still unlike him to change his mind so quickly.”
