“Okay. I’ll – I’ll see ye later.”
Emily ran out of the room. Sheena, “what has happened?” Her eyes widened. “Did ye receive bad news about Bryce?”
Craig chuckled and Duncan sighed. Truly, all his sister saw was Bryce. “Nae, last I heard, he was on the way.”
“Then what is the problem?” She looked at her brother again. “She asked for Jo.”
“She asked for Jo?”
“Aye.” She gave her brother a pointed glance, “Is there somethin’ between ye and Jo?”
“’Tis an understatement,” Craig quipped. Duncan pinned him with a harsh stare.
“Ye should be at the training ground,” Duncan barked at Craig.
“Nae while ye’re here,” Craig replied clicking his tongue.”
“Ah, gods. Ye’re about tae make our lives complicated, are ye nae?” Sheena said.
“What would ye have me dae?”
“Ye should go and talk tae her. I mean Emily.”
“I already have, and I have decided tae speak with Faither now about the situation. Afterward, I will talk tae Emily again.”
Shaking her head, like she was eliminating a foreboding thought, Sheena said, “poor Emily. Ye ken, she really wanted this. ‘Tis all she can talk about.”
Duncan did not have a reply for his sister. He was, however, rather concerned about what might happen in the courtyard so he sent Craig there. He went to see his father with a heavy heart. He had a plan, but the look of betrayal on Emily’s face had really made him feel awful.
“‘Twas confusing. All that chaos. But I’m almost certain. The warrior closest tae the commander was Bryce.”
“The commander went in a different direction and someone followed him, but I dinnae see who.”
“‘Twas Bryce.”
“Nae, Bryce left him, ‘twas Duncan.”
The three warriors in front of her shrugged, “Hard tae say.” one replied.
Grace plunged on. Their words confused her. “When I was captured, there was a commander who didnae return. I was relieved. I thought Bryce had finished him off. He was a terror.”
With each word, Grace apologized to her father in her head. But all the men were nodding. She shuddered to imagine their perception of her beloved father.
“Bryce was losing men at the time. He had to protect his people. I doubt if he had the time tae-
“Tae dae what?”
Grace whirred around and saw Bryce leaning against the wall. While his voice sounded nonchalant, his eyes could pierce a rock.
“Naethin’, I was simply curious about the battle, and they mentioned the commander. I got interested, since he ordered me capture.”
“Ask Duncan.”
Her hope plummeted, “was he there?” She decided it was best to play stupid.
“At the heart of the battle, he was. Ye three, quit the idle chatter and come with me.”
The warriors dusted off their hands and followed Bryce. Grace hung her head, sadness and guilt rooting her to the spot. She was back where she’d started. Now, she wished there was a way she could erase the past night from her head.
