Noah’s gut churned. “And if they cannot?”
With obvious difficulty, Skye gathered her resolve before meeting his gaze. “Then you must accept that some battles cannot be won.”
“No!” Accept Emily’s death? “Never.”
Though her face revealed the toll her harsh words had taken, he couldn’t afford to feel compassion for her. He must only consider Emily.
“Our healers will do all they can, but…” She paused, shifting her attention between the three of them. “…there are conditions. If you choose to bring Emily back, my father requires assurances.”
“What assurances?” Taran queried, not quite hiding the dread in his voice.
“Now that you know of this place and have been inside, my father will not take the chance that all this is naught but a ploy. A discovery expedition of some kind. So, to assure your peaceful intentions, one of you must stay behind. As our guest, of course.”
“A prisoner, you mean,” Finn stated tersely.
Skye’s eyes narrowed. “Call it a gesture of goodwill. Like the one we’re extending to Emily.”
“Wait,” Taran stated uneasily, “my wife and son will be wi’ us when we return. Paige is the only person who kens anything about this disease. ’Tis critical she stays wi’ Emily. But she willnae leave our young son behind. Nor will I.” He stepped up to Skye and held out his hand. “But ‘twill be no others. Ye have my word.”
She hesitated for a moment before sliding her hand into his. “It is agreed.” After a furtive glance at Noah, she focused her attention once more on Taran. “Which of you, then, will remain as our guest?”
“Guest, indeed.” Noah heard Finn’s muffled grumble behind him.
“Please,” Taran stated, his voice thick with resignation. “If ye will allow us a moment tae discuss.”
Skye nodded. “Of course. I’ll await your decision outside the door.”
She turned to leave, then paused. “For what it’s worth, I wish the portal you seek could have been real. For Emily’s sake, at least.”
After she left, Noah paced the room, tension radiating through every muscle as he rethought the situation. “This will not do. At first, I believed it might be a way in, but Paige has already tried bringing in a healer. It didn’t help. Emily needs more. I can’t see how repeating a failed process can help. It only eats up more time.”
Finn’s shrug seemed to reach for the hope they all sought. “Mayhap their healers have knowledge beyond what we’ve experienced in Havenwood. Aiesha is good, and we couldn’t do without her. But isn’t it possibleotherhealers might have…other…remedies? Mayhap they’ll know what troubles Emily and how to treat it?” He glanced from Noah to Taran for confirmation.
“’Twould seem,” Taran sighed heavily, “for now at least, ’tis theonlyoption we have.”
“Is it?” Noah challenged, unable to hide his anger. “Or is this just a delay tactic, a waste of precious time while Emily grows so weak we give up looking for a portal? We allknowthey exist!”
His lengthy stride ate up the distance to the window before he turned back. “Okay,” he conceded, trying to sort his thoughts, “for the sake of argument, let’s say the healers are able to buy Emily some time. Paige was very clear about what Emily needed. Something she calledmodernmedicine. And healers or not, that doesn’t exist here. We need a portal. It’s crucial we keep searching.”
“How do you propose we go about that, laddie, given the circumstances?” Finn pressed.
“Not we.I.” He looked at Taran. “How long will it take you to get back?”
“If I leave immediately, I ken I could be back with Paige, Emily and Brody in…six days? Mayhap seven. If we’ve no more surprises, ’twill take two days goin’, half a day at least tae ready the cart and gather what we’ll need for the journey back, then I’d wager near three comin’. Though ’tis possible Emily’s weakened condition could slow us considerably. And that’s assumin’ we can get through with the cart, undetected.” He glanced between Noah and Finn. “And we dinnae encounter anyOthertrouble.”
Noah turned to Finn. “I should be the one to go get Emily, and I hate to ask it of you, but we all know you’re better suited to help Taran protect our family than I could ever hope to be. I know it’s not your responsibil?—”
“It’s my honor,” Finn interjected, already headed to where he’d left his pack. “But we’ll need the lass to return our weapons.”
“What ye’re suggestin’ leaves ye here, as hostage.” Anxiety thickened Taran’s voice as he faced Noah. “We’ve only Skye’s word on how ’twill go once we return. And naught on what will happen while we’re gone. This could turn out more dangerous than any o’ us ken.”
“Not as dangerous as the three of us leaving with nothing but failure to take back to Emily. Are you ready to tell her and Paige we weren’t willing to try every option?”
Taran laid his hand on Noah’s shoulder, his face worried, but his eyes proud. “Nae. I cannae do that. Though I’m sorry ’tis come tae this.”
Noah shook his head. “Don’t be. I mean to take advantage of the opportunity. Hopefully, I’ll have an update by the time you return.”
“Aye,” Finn handed Taran’s pack to him as he joined them. “Turn the tables on them, laddie. Find out everything ye can about the layout of this place. Keep track of people’s comings and goings. And spend what time ye can manage with Skye. It’s clear the lass favors ye,” he winked. “Find out what she isn’t telling us. And keep pressing for a meeting with her father. There’s obviously far more here than we’ve been allowed tae see. Try to find out as much of that as ye can. The more we learn of the secrets this place keeps, the more the power shifts intoourhands.”
