The cold water was a shock, and Myrna opened her mouth to scream. Before she could panic, though, a pair of strong arms were around her, and she was hauled back into the air.
She coughed, clearing the water from her lungs, and looked around wildly. She was suddenly very tall, taller than she’d ever been – and she realized that it was because she was sitting on Killian’s shoulders.
“Looks like ye were wrong,” said another familiar voice, and Eithne was suddenly there too, the water up to her chest as she stood next to Killian. “A lassie did beat ye.”
“Yer right,” Killian said. “I guess I never counted on Myrna.”
“Me?” Myrna asked, astonished.
Killian grinned. “All hail Myrna, the best swimmer in the world!”
Eithne and Killian started to cheer, and Myrna felt warm and happy. She knew that her brother and her sister, no matter how much they bickered, would always be there for her.
Back in the present, a sleeping Myrna had tears running down her face. She’d never see Killian again, never cheer with him, or race him or tease him. She’d never even been able to say goodbye.
But Eithne was alive. She had to be. And if Myrna knew Eithne, she knew that her big sister was doing everything she could to be by her side.
The three of them would never again swim together in a burn, but maybe the sisters could reunite at least.
While Myrna dreamt, her lips moved, and she muttered, “Come back to me, Eithne. Come home.”
Chapter Twelve
The Journey
Mrs. MacRyver waited another few days before she declared that Ivor was fit enough to travel. Although Eithne was impatient to get back to her sister, she found that she didn’t argue too much with the woman’s insistence.
More time here is more time with Ivor.
But then the morning came, and it was time to leave. She had no reason to refuse – why would she refuse? – and they ate a final breakfast with Mrs. MacRyver and her sons in low, gloomy silence.
“So,” the widow said, “I can loan ye one of me lads to drive ye the two days to the central clan if ye like. Ye’ll be reunited with yer sister in nae time.”
Eithne’s stomach roiled with her conflicting emotions. Two days until she saw Myrna again! It was almost too much joy to bear. But…it also meant two days until she never saw Ivor again. She wondered if she was selfish to hesitate while her sister awaited her.
“I—” she started.
“We thank ye for yer generous offer,” Ivor interrupted, his gaze carefully focused on his porridge. “But Eithne and I were discussing this last night. We’d prefer to keep traveling with our own horse and alone. It might take us an extra day or two, but it feels right to end the journey how we started it.”
Mrs. MacRyver looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Is that right?” she said in a very neutral tone. She turned to Eithne and said, “Ye’ve discussed this, have ye?”
Eithne’s heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. She and Ivor had discussed no such thing. Was it wrong of her to long for just one or two more days with him? Was it so wrong to accept what he said?
“Aye,” she lied. “We discussed it.”
Mrs. MacRyver gave her a knowing, sympathetic smile. “If that’s what ye want, lass,” she said. “I’ll get ye some food and supplies for the rest of yer travels, then. Make sure ye come back and visit sometime, aye?”
“I will,” Eithne said, and she meant it. “I’ll speak to me uncle about getting some education sorted for wee Tam.”
“That’d be kind of ye, Miss,” Tam said, blushing a little.
Eithne smiled at him, but her eyes sought Ivor next to him. Ivor’s gaze met her own, and she shivered. Yes, an extra day or two was worth it. She’d move heaven and earth if only it meant looking into his eyes for one more second.
The two of them set out the very next morning, both riding Aibreann as they waved goodbye to the kind MacRyvers. Eithne promised that she’d send a note as soon as she arrived at the keep to let them know she’d arrived safely. While Ivor held the reins, Eithne continued to wave back at the widow and the boys until they were out of sight.
“So,” Ivor said after a couple of moments when they were at last on the road alone again. “The map Ryan gave me showed two possibilities. We can either stick to the path and go through the town, which’ll take us about three days, all told…”
“…or?” Eithne asked.
