“Ye do nae look away,” Alina said silently. “Ma believes ‘tis her news, but I do nae believe it. Ye wouldnae hide a secret from me, would ye?”
Ceana froze. Could she lie to her sister? No, she said to herself. Alina was her confidant. It was one thing to omit a truth, and it was another to lie blatantly.
“Ceana?” she pressed.
But how could she tell Alina that she had been seeing Torcall? Alina wouldn’t tell on her, but she would not let her see him again. At least, not without a chaperone.
“Ceana!”
“Do nae shout so,” Ceana said.
“What have ye nae told me?”
Ceana sighed. “Ye have to promise nae to tell ma.”
Alina looked hurt. “Do I e’er tell yer confidences?”
“Na,” Ceana shook her head quickly, hating to have offended her sister. “I only ask for ‘tis a bit thin’.”
Alina leaned into her sister. “Tell me, then.”
“I snuck out of our home last night.”
Alina gasped. “Ye what!”
“Shhh!” Ceana said hurriedly, looking around.
“I am sorry, but why?” Alina asked in a hushed voice.
“I fancied a horse ride, and I have ne’er done it before.”
“Ye should nae have. I cannae believe ye did that! The lands are nae safe.”
Alina looked frightened.
“I ken. ‘Tis nae somethin’ I would repeat,” Ceana promised.
Alina had a look of fright on her face. “Promise me?”
“I promise that I will nae go out at night by meself e’er again,” Ceana promised, picking her words carefully.
Alina looked mildly sated but still upset. “Was that why ye fainted?”
“Nay,” Ceana said, swallowing. “‘Tis worse.”
Alina said nothing.
“I saw the dead woman,” Ceana.
Alina turned white as a sheet. “Ye saw the corpse?”
“Aye. There were people gathered, and there was naught that I could do. ‘Twas horrible. ‘Tis why I felt so dizzy and passed out.”
Alina said nothing still. Ceana watched her sister intently, trying to predict her next reaction.
At long last, Alina sighed deeply. “I shiver to think about what might have befallen ye. I will nae ask ye about what ye saw. It must have been deeply upsetting for ye.” Promise me ne’er to do it again,” Alina said and took her hand in her hers.
Ceana nodded. “Aye. I promise. I will nae go out at night by meself e’er again,” she repeated.
