"After," he promised. "After I'm certain everyone's safe."
Mhairi looked like she wanted to argue, but she just sighed and nodded. "Then I'm stayin' with ye."
"I wouldnae have it any other way."
They moved through the village together, and through it all, she stayed close to him. Her presence was a constant comfort, a reminder of what they'd fought for.
What he'd killed for.
Ashcombe's face flashed through his mind. Those cold eyes going empty. The weight of him as he fell.
Alpin had killed before. In battle, in defense of his people, in moments where it was kill or be killed. But this was different. This had been personal. This had been for Mhairi.
And he didn’t regret it for a second.
The villagers were starting to settle now, the immediate panic fading into exhausted numbness.
Alpin's chest felt tight, his throat thick with emotions he couldn’t afford to feel right now.
"Alpin." Mhairi's hand touched his arm. "Look."
He followed her gaze and saw Kenina walking toward them, her dress covered in blood and dirt, her hair falling out of its pins. She looked like she'd been through hell.
But she was smilin'.
"The healer says all the wounded will live," Kenina said when she reached them. "None of the injuries are fatal. We'll lose nay one else today."
The relief was so sharp it hurt.
Alpin felt his knees nearly buckle, but he locked them and stayed standing.
"That's... that's good news," he managed.
"More than good." Kenina's smile widened. "It's a bloody miracle."
Mhairi let out a sound that was half-laugh, half-sob and threw her arms around Kenina. The two women held each other, both of them shaking, both of them covered in the evidence of what they'd survived.
Peadar limped over, his side now properly bandaged, though blood still seeped through the white cloth.
"Ye should be restin'," Kenina scolded, pulling away from Mhairi to glare at her husband.
"I'm fine."
"Ye're bleedin'."
"Just a scratch."
Kenina looked like she wanted to throttle him, but instead she just shook her head and took his arm, supporting his weight. "Men. Always pretendin' they're invincible."
"We are invincible," Peadar said with a grin that was more grimace. "We're just also occasionally stabbed."
Despite everything, Alpin felt a laugh bubble up in his chest. It came out rough and broken, but it was still a laugh.
Mhairi was watching him with soft eyes, her hand reaching for his. He took it, threading their fingers together, and for just a moment, let himself feel it.
"We need tae leave," Peadar said, his voice turning serious. "Graham's still out there, and he'll have sent word tae his allies. We need tae get these people somewhere safe before reinforcements arrive."
Alpin nodded.
