He chuckled sadly. “As ye say, Eithne. As ye say.”
They lay in silence for a bit longer. Soon, sleep beckoned, calling to Eithne across the void. Her eyes fluttered closed, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her ear soothing her. Tomorrow, he would leave, but tonight…tonight she would be with him for as long as she could.
“The worst part is, I’m fairly sure that I love ye as well, ye stubborn lassie,” she thought she heard him mutter, and she snuggled closer just before sleep took her, content for now at least to be safe in his arms. “I just wish that could be enough.”
Eithne was almost lost to sleep by then, but she frowned.
I dinnae really understand why itcannaebe enough, even now.
But she didn’t speak, allowing the darkness to take her, and surrendered to dreams of a future that could never be.
* * *
Ivor woke long before she did the next day before the sun had even adequately risen. He looked at her peaceful sleeping form, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and he sighed. Leaving her would be the hardest thing he had ever done – but he knew he had no choice.
He hadn’t ever expected to tell anyone the truth, not really, but a part of his heart felt freer as he quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. Ivor dressed quickly. He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, but he needed to clear his head.
I’m glad I told her about Iona. I’m so happy that someone, at least, kens the truth.
Ivor walked through the keep. Its stone corridors were still empty so early in the morning. However, he heard the servants' movement as they shuffled about their morning chores in the kitchens below. He had more in common with them than he did with Eithne. He should never have gotten so involved with her.
He made his way up to the roof, emerging into the crisp Highland morning air as the sun started to peek its head over the horizon. The sky was red and pink – beautiful, but an unfortunate sign of rain to come. Considering that today was the day he planned to leave, he would have preferred otherwise.
He heard footsteps behind him and drew his dirk almost casually in a gesture that anybody watching could easily have missed. He didn’t really think he was being attacked, but years of living alone as a mercenary meant that he planned on taking no chances. Slowly, he turned around.
“Have ye killed many men with that dirk?” a young man’s voice asked. It was the soldier, Jonah. Ivor had no idea what he was doing up here so early.
“Some,” Ivor said. “I prefer a fair battle with a sword, though. A dirk or dagger isnae me preference unless I have nae choice.”
A dark look crossed Jonah’s face. “Me faither returned from a journey recently. Or his body did, at least. Someone buried a dirk just like that in his stomach and let him bleed to death.”
Ivor felt the words like a thud. More death. More destruction. “I’m sorry to hear it,” he said sadly. “Me own parents died some time ago. It’s a hardship to live with. Did they catch the murderer?”
“They will soon,” Jonah replied through gritted teeth. Then he sighed. “Ye’re leaving today?”
“I am,” Ivor replied. “Ye’ll stay here with Myrna, I suppose.”
Jonah looked thoughtful. “I was supposed to get married before me faither died,” he said. “To one of his men. They were both slaughtered in the same battle, though, and now his daughter wants nothing to do with me. I thought it would bother me, but I’m glad I got to meet Myrna, at least.”
Ivor could sense that there was something the young man wasn’t saying. It surprised him to hear that Jonah’s father had died that way in battle. Something about it just didn’t sit right. “She cares for ye,” he agreed. “Ye should stay. And I ken I dinnae have a right to ask ye for a favor but help look after Eithne as well.”
Jonah said nothing.
Ivor continued, “I have to leave. She deserves a good life. I ken that Myrna trusts ye, and Eithne trusts Myrna. Eithne is strong, but she needs someone to help her – and I’d like it if it were you. I’m taking the lad with me, and I don’t want her to be lonely. Will ye help me?”
“I—” Jonah started, looking a little lost for words. “I dinnae understand ye, Ivor Sinclair. Ye arenae anything like what ye’re supposed to be.”
Ivor didn’t know what he meant. This was the second time that Jonah had said something like this, and Ivor was no closer to knowing what he was trying to say or where he’d heard of Ivor in the first place. It didn’t seem to matter, though, not right now.
“Ye love her,” Jonah said.
“I do,” Ivor replied. “And that’s why I need to leave.”
“I think I understand,” Jonah replied, but for some reason, he looked even more troubled than he had before. The two of them stood there, watching the sunrise.
Eventually, Ivor said, “I need to get back,” and returned to Eithne’s bed-chamber one last time. He glanced back one last time to see Jonah standing there, peering at the sunset, frowning as if it contained the answer to some puzzle that nobody else could understand.
Chapter Twenty-One
