“That sounds like Jonah,” Ivor said. He sounded proud, almost like an older brother might. “Dinnae worry, lass. He’ll pull through.”
“I ken,” Myrna replied.
“Nay, really,” Eithne assured her. “I’ve seen Ivor in worse straits. Our lads are made of strong stuff.”
“Aye,” Ivor said. “But nae as strong as our women.”
Eithne laughed, and Myrna felt another smile flit across her mouth as she realized how much the two of them adored each other. It was a horrible way for it to have happened, and yet Myrna couldn’t be more pleased that her sister had finally found the love she’d been searching for.
“What now?” Eithne asked.
“Now, we sleep,” Ivor said. “Myrna, lass, get some shut-eye. I’ll keep an eye on the lad and wake ye if there’s any improvement. Eithne’s exhausted, and she could use yer company.”
Myrna wanted to protest, but bone-deep tiredness filled her then. She couldn’t stifle a yawn, and soon she nodded, leading Eithne over to the bed in the corner. The sisters climbed in together, cuddling tight like they had when they were small.
As they were falling asleep, Myrna whispered, “What now, Ennie?”
“Freedom, Myrna,” Eithne told her. “Freedom. At last.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Thanks
MacDuff’s men found them early the next morning, but Eithne was not worried. These men looked almost relieved. Perhaps the whole world was relieved, now that one of its deadliest diseases was gone.
Now that I killed him.
She didn’t know how long it would take to get used to that. She found it odd how little she actually minded. It had been a shock yesterday, of course, and Eithne would prefer to go her whole life without taking another’s again, but she did not consider it a crime.
“Ye’re a hero,” Ivor had said. Eithne didn’t know for sure that this was true, but she could not help but feel a sense of justice.
“What can I do for ye, lads?” she asked, letting them in.
The soldiers seemed almost surprised by her tone. One of them kept glancing at her hands, perhaps looking for the blood of his late Laird.
Ivor, sitting in a corner, grunted. He was sleeping, but Eithne knew he’d be by her side in seconds if they tried anything.
“Myrna…” a voice mumbled, and Eithne glanced behind her. It seemed Jonah had chosennowto wake.
“Lady Kinnear,” one of the soldiers stammered. “I, we…we’re nae here for ye.”
“We’re here for him,” the other soldier added a little more confidently.
For a moment, Eithne thought they were referring to Ivor, and she prepared to fight. It had taken long enough to get him back. She would not be letting him go again now. But then she noticed where the soldier pointed – behind her, to where Jonah was stirring.
Of course.
“Ye’re here for yer new Laird,” Eithne surmised. “Well, he’s in a bit of a state, as ye can see.
“New Laird?” asked a mystified voice. Eithne hadn’t realized that Jonah’s sister was also awake, but Betty stepped forward now, clutching her child close. “What do ye mean by the new Laird?”
“Jonah was Laird MacDuff’s heir,” the stammering soldier said. “And now that we’re free of him—er, I mean—”
Free of him. So, I helped these men, too?
The thought made her smile, calming the raging tempest within a little more. MacDuff had been a tyrant, and it seemed like nobody would suffer from his loss. To kill was hard, but to allow a predator to live and prey on the weak was much, much worse.
“It’s true, Betty,” Eithne assured the woman gently. “Jonah’s Laird of MacDuff now.”
