The use of her name—casual, familiar—caught her off guard. Made something warm unfurl in her chest despite the cold still clinging to her bones.
"Alright," she heard herself say. "I will."
Harald nodded once, then turned and walked away, leaving Enya standing in the corridor wondering why she suddenly felt more unsettled than she had facing down the ambush.
"Ye're broodin'."
Harald didn't look up from the maps spread across his desk. "I'm thinkin'."
"Ye're broodin'," Leo repeated, settling into the chair across from him with the easy familiarity of a man who'd earned the right. "I ken the difference. What's rattlin' around in that head of yers?"
"The ambush was too organized." Harald traced the route they'd taken earlier, marking where they'd found Enya's escort. "Too precise. They were waitin' fer someone specific."
"Aye, I thought the same." Leo leaned forward, studying the map. "Question is, were they waitin' fer the Cameron bride, or just any rich target that came along?"
"If they wanted just any rich target, there are easier roads to watch. Safer ones." Harald's jaw tightened. "They were on the most dangerous stretch, at exactly the right time to catch someone comin' from the Cameron lands tae Lewis."
"Could be coincidence."
"Could be." Harald didn't believe in coincidences. "Or it could be that someone kent she was comin' and wanted tae make certain she never arrived."
Leo was quiet for a moment. "Ye think her braither set her up?"
"I think her braither sent his only sister through hostile territory with four guards and nay proper escort." Harald's voice was harder than he intended. "I think he established camp instead of deliverin' her safely tae the castle. And I think when I asked her about it, she lied."
"She was frightened."
"She was protectin' him." Harald looked up, meeting Leo's eyes. "There's a difference."
"Maybe." Leo sat back, crossing his arms. "Maybe she's just loyal tae her family. That's nae a crime, Harald."
"Nay, it's nae." But it complicated things. Everything about Enya Cameron complicated things. "The king's men are already breathin' down me neck about this marriage. The last thing I need is a bride who's keepin' secrets."
"Everyone keeps secrets." Leo's expression turned thoughtful. "Even ye."
"That's different."
"Is it?" Leo's eyebrow rose. “Want tae tell me what ye're really broodin' about?"
Harald's hands stilled on the parchment. "She tried tae run from me."
"Aye, she did. Straight into a pond." Leo's mouth twitched. "It was almost impressive, really. I've never seen someone flee a rescue quite so dramatically."
"It's nae funny."
"It's a little funny."
"She was terrified, Leo." Harald's voice dropped. "Terrified of me. She took one look at me covered in blood and decided I was more dangerous than the bastards who'd just tried tae kidnap her."
"Can ye blame her?" Leo's amusement faded. "Her father was killed by Norsemen. Her braither's probably been fillin' her head with stories about savage raiders fer years. And then ye appear out of nowhere, cut down half a dozen men in as many seconds, and expect her tae trust ye?"
Harald knew Leo was right. Knew it was unreasonable to expect anything else. But something about her fear had cut deeper than he wanted to admit.
"She looked at me like I was a monster," he said quietly.
"Aye. And then she looked at ye like ye were a puzzle." Leo leaned forward again. "I saw it, Harald. When ye were talkin'tae her by the pond. She was curious despite herself. Interested, even."
"Ye're seein' things that arenae there."
