‘Some men… attacked me. In a nightclub, with Rose, Cillian’s sister. And these men, they tried to—’ I stop, not really wanting to put the whole thing into words. ‘They drugged us and?—’
‘Did they hurt you?’ Declan asks, sounding deathly calm.
‘They didn’t get a chance. Cillian came and?—’
‘What happened to the men?’ Declan’s voice is like ice, and between him and Dominic, they look like avenging angels. Except that they’re far too late, the sounds and smells of the events of last night will haunt me forever.
‘Cillian killed one, and Vittoria another. Then, I don’t know what happened. There was a knife on the ground. And then it was in my hand. One of them… he fell onto it.’
Dominic gestures at me. ‘Hence, the blood on your dress?’
I nod. ‘Vittoria said that because he was Kin, I had to die. Then Cillian took me into the woods and?—’
‘You killed Kin?’ Dominic says.
‘I didn’t mean to,’ I assure them. ‘I don’t know how it happened. He attacked me and then I was holding the knife and…’
The two of them exchange shocked looks.
‘It is not often I agree with Vittoria Riali,’ Declan says. ‘But you escaped from the Huntsman, so we may be able to help.’ He looks at me expectantly.
I’ve seen Gaelic written and tried to pronounce it before, so it’s unlikely what I remember is anywhere near correct, but I manage to form sounds as similar to the old woman’s words as I can manage. ‘Hor fasgah yov.’
Dominic lets out a long whistle and turns to look at Declan, whose brow furrows.
‘Doesn’t… aren’t you obliged to give me sanctuary?’
The two men step aside and gesture towards the door behind them.
‘If you can open the door, then sanctuary has been granted,’ Declan says.
I walk up to the door slowly, realising that there’s no handle. I look back at the two men, but both are standing with their arms folded, waiting– most likely for me to fail. I place both my hands on the warm wood and lean forward until my lips are almost touching the door. As soon as I whisper the words again, the door swings open.
‘Welcome to St Marnox. I’ll show you to your room,’ Declan says. ‘But it’s not a free ride, for any of us. You’ll need to earn your keep.’
Dominic chuckles, and the sound fills me with dread.
‘Doing… doing what?’
‘We’ll find you an appropriate task,’ Declan says. Dominic smirks, looking me up and down.
‘I can think of?—’
‘Dominic!’
‘If she’s willing, what’s the problem?’
‘I’m not!’
‘No one will touch you without permission, Niamh,’ Declan assures me. ‘We are bound by rules towards the other seekers.’
‘Seekers?’
‘Of sanctuary.’
‘I’m not the worst, Declan,’ Dom says. ‘You know that. There’s never been a woman here before. It’s going to draw attention?—’
‘You can’t harm another in sanctuary, or you’ll forfeit your own place, Brother Dominic.’
