"Nay, thank God. Though a few came close."
"But they didnae, because ye got there in time and did the right things." Mairi returned to her grinding. "The laird spoke well of ye this mornin'. Said ye'd proven yerself capable."
Ada felt her face heat. "He said that?"
"Aye. And Magnus daesnae give praise lightly." Mairi glanced at her, something knowing in her eyes. "He also said I should teach ye whatever ye want to learn. That ye're to have full access to me supplies and me knowledge."
Ada's breath caught. "He also did?"
"Aye. So." Mairi gestured around the chamber. "What would ye like to learn first?"
Ada looked around at the shelves full of herbs, the mysterious tinctures, the tools she didn't know how to use. Everything she'd ever wanted to learn, right there within reach.
And Magnus had given her permission. Had told Mairi to teach her.
Because he valued her skill. Because he wanted her to be more than just a decorative wife sitting in the solar doing embroidery.
"Everythin'," Ada said, her voice thick with emotion. "I want tae learn everythin'."
Mairi's smile widened. "Then we'd better get started. We've a lot of ground to cover."
And for the first time since arriving on Barra, Ada felt like she'd found exactly where she belonged.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Magnus lay, still in his clothes, on top of the bed with a blanket
"Magnus, ye barely slept last night. Why dinnae ye get more comfortable?"
"I've slept in worse ways. Get some rest."
Ada was quiet for a moment. "Ye're stubborn."
"So are ye." Magnus settled, stretched his legs out. "Goodnight, Ada."
"Goodnight."
He listened to her breathing gradually even out, watched the candlelight flicker across the stone walls. The keep was quietaround them—just the usual night sounds of guards changing shifts, the distant crash of waves against the cliffs.
Magnus closed his eyes. Tried to ignore the warmth of bed under the sheets, and the woman in them who was slowly becoming more than just his political obligation.
He must have dozed eventually, because the next thing he knew, alarm bells were ringing.
Magnus jerked upright, instantly awake. The bells continued, urgent, insistent. Fire. The pattern meant fire.
"What—" Ada sat up in bed, her eyes wide. "What's happenin'?"
"Stay here." Magnus was already moving, grabbing his boots, his cloak. "Lock the door behind me. Dinnae open it fer anyone but me or Torvald."
"Magnus."
"Stay here, Ada.”
Without waiting for her response, Magnus ran.
Down the corridor, down the stairs, out into the courtyard. Even before he reached the outer yard, he could smell it—smoke, thick and acrid. Could see the orange glow against the night sky.
The storage shed.
