“Alina?” her eyes brimmed with tears, “Please. I cannot lose you too.”
It was then that Alina faced her sister. Her eyes were full of tears and yet carried the dead look that was threatening to become normal.
“I need to be alone, please,” she said. “I need to remain alone.”
Never had Alina requested space from her sister, and Ceana found that the rejection hurt. However, she nodded. As she walked out, she reminded herself that it wasn’t about her. Her sister needed to be alone, and she needed to respect it. She walked down the stairs and out of their house.
“Where are ye off to?” Regina asked her. Her eyes were still red, but she wasn’t crying anymore.
“The loch ma,” she answered, hoping that she would not be stopped.
Luckily, her mother didn’t stop her. She seemed to understand her need to move out of the house.
“Be safe. Will ye take the carriage?”
“Nay,” she replied. “Just me horse.”
“Do nae stay out until dark,” her mother warned.
“Aye.”
* * *
Ceana rode faster than was normal for her. It wasn’t easy, considering that she had to sit sideways on the saddle. However, she did because she enjoyed the breeze on her face. It helped clear her head, and she was grateful that her mother had let her.
Once she arrived at the loch, she slowed down her horse. The cool breeze, the large rocks, green grass, and clear water seemed heavenly compared to the turmoil that was in her. She dismounted and moved to the water. Dipping her hand in, she let the cool water run over her fingers. It was soothing, and suddenly, she wished she had come dressed for a swim.
She contemplated taking off her dress and taking a quick dip in the loch, but she paused. What if someone came?
It was safe, she told herself. There was none around to see her. To prove her point, she looked to the right and then to the left. The loch was calm as it always was. There was a serenity about it.
Just when she was about to take off her clothes, something caught her eye. Under the large trees was a figure, sleeping peacefully. Glad that she hadn’t decided to swim after all. Ceana decided to leave the loch. However, just before she did, she glanced at the sleeping man again. Her heart began to beat faster.
Not believing her eyes, she walked closer to the man, inching carefully lest he wake up before her arrival.
When she was close enough to get a look at his face, she gasped. It was Torcall. What was he doing sleeping outside? It wasn’t safe. Not with a killer on the loose. She wondered if he hadn’t heard about poor Bridget. Her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill over, but she pushed them back. She would not cry outside and especially not in front of Torcall. She turned back and moved to leave.
“Turning back so soon?” he asked.
Her neck turned back so fast that it almost snapped. Torcall was still lying down with his eyes closed, but she had heard him speak.
“Ye didnae come all this way just to go back, did ye now? If ye are nae a coward, stay and let me fell ye with me sword.”
Ceana gasped, and his eyes snapped open.
“Ceana!” he said. “I didnae ken ‘twas ye. I heard ye sneak up on me, and I thought it was a man.”
“Ye have been awake this whole time?” she asked, shocked.
“Of course,” he said. “What kind of warrior would I be if a man—or woman—could sneak up on me?”
Ceana nodded. It was then that she noticed the dagger he held in his hands. She gasped again, and hurriedly, he put it away.
“I am sorry about that,” he apologized.
Ceana nodded but said nothing else. She hadn’t planned to see him again. Not so soon after, she had tried to kiss him. She had nothing planned to say, and the shyness she always tried to fight pushed in.
“Why are ye out here alone?” he asked cheerfully. “A lass like ye could get hurt alone.”
