"They caught someone," Magnus said. "A man poisonin' one of the wells."
Ada's face went pale. "When?"
"This afternoon. The guards brought him straight tae me." Magnus gestured to where the prisoner had stood. "He willnae talk. Willnae say who sent him or if there are others workin' with him."
"Did he—" Ada's voice caught. "Did he say anythin' at all?"
"Nae a word. Just stared at me like he'd rather die than speak." Magnus's jaw tightened. "But someone's still out there, plannin' more attacks."
"What are ye goin' tae dae?"
"Question him. Tomorrow mornin'. Until he tells me what I need tae ken." Magnus's voice was flat. "I willnae be gentle about it."
"I wouldnae expect ye tae be." Ada moved closer, caught his hands in hers. "But right now, ye need tae stop thinkin' about it. Stop lettin' it consume ye."
"How can I stop? Every moment I'm nae workin' on this is a moment someone could be plannin' the next attack."
"Magnus." Ada's voice was firm. "Ye've been workin' on this all day. Ye're exhausted. Ye need rest."
"I need tae keep ye safe."
"I am safe. I'm right here with ye." Ada pulled her hands free, cupped his face. "And right now, what I need is for ye tae take a breath. Tae step away from this fer just a few hours. Please."
Magnus stared down at her, saw the worry in her hazel-green eyes. The fear not for herself, but for him. For what this constant vigilance was doing to him.
"I dinnae ken how tae stop," he admitted quietly. "I dinnae ken how tae just... let go."
"Then let me help ye." Ada's thumb brushed across his cheekbone. "Come ridin' with me. Just fer an hour. Show me more of the island. Let yer mind rest."
"It's almost sunset."
"Which makes it the perfect time. The light's beautiful right now, and the air's cool." Ada smiled slightly. "And if ye say nay, I'm goin' tae start naggin' ye about eatin', and I promise ye'll find that much more annoyin' than a simple ride."
Despite everything, Magnus felt his mouth twitch. "Ye wouldnae dare."
"Try me." Ada's smile widened. "I ken at least a dozen ways tae make a stubborn man dae what's good fer him."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a promise." Ada took his hand again, tugged gently. "Come on. Before ye think of another excuse."
Magnus looked at her—at this woman who'd somehow wormed her way past every wall he'd built, who saw him at his worst and still chose to stay.
Maybe Torvald was right. Maybe it was time to stop waitin' for disaster and start believin' that good things could last.
"All right," Magnus said. "But just an hour. And we stay close tae the keep."
"Deal." Ada was already pulling him toward the door. "And ye're bringin' that smile I just saw. I like it when ye smile."
"I didnae smile."
"Ye just did. I saw it. Dinnae try tae deny it now."
Magnus found himself almost laughing as they made their way down to the stables. Ada kept up a steady stream of chatter—about Mairi's latest attempt to teach her about obscure herbs, about the kitchen cat who'd somehow gotten into the solar, about absolutely anything except poisoned wells and captured prisoners.
And slowly, incrementally, Magnus felt the tension in his shoulders begin to ease.
The stables were quiet at that hour, most of the horses already settled for the evening. Magnus saddled his stallion while Ada prepared her mare—the same gentle horse she'd ridden before, her leg fully healed now.
