Noah reached the gates steps ahead of Skye and Keir and pushed past the two guards standing at the open doors. Four others surrounded his family as pleas from Paige and protests from Taran and Finn bounced off the stoic sentries, who waited for further instructions.
His heart twisted at the sight of his family as joy, worry, and relief all warred for supremacy.
Finally, they were here. Taran and Finn had kept their promise even if he had not.
Taran held one end of a stretcher, his face etched with exhaustion and worry. Finn held the other, warily watching the guards with an eye toward their weapons. And Paige—Noah’s heart squeezed at the sight of his mother standing beside the stretcher, one hand resting protectively on the still form beneath the blankets, the other on Brody’s shoulder, who clung to her skirt like a lifeline.
“Welcome,” Skye called out behind him as he folded Paige inside his arms, immensely grateful for her presence. She’d always been able to make sense of chaos and confusion, and he’d missed her calming spirit. He kissed her cheek. “You are well?”
Almost before she’d completed her nod, he ruffled Brody’s hair and turned to Emily. Her face was so pale and translucent he had to swallow a gasp. Her eyes were closed and her head had lolled to the side as if she were... “Em—,” his voice broke as pain knifed through his chest. He ran a knuckle down her cheek, noting the feverish heat of her skin.
“She’s sleeping,” Paige said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “The trip has been quite…brutal…for her. She seldom wakes now.”
Brutal for all of them, he realized, taking a closer look at the fatigue and worry stamped on all their faces and evident in their slumped postures.
“Please. Come inside,” Skye urged, directing two of the guards to take the stretcher.
“Nae.” Taran sent a warning look at the guards. “We’ll see tae gettin’ the lassie settled ourselves.”
“As you wish.” Skye waved the guards away and smiled warmly at Paige and Brody as she took Paige’s arm to guide them inside. “We’ve prepared several chambers in anticipation of your arrival. We’ll get Emily settled immediately, and as comfortable as possible. Both of our healers have been summoned and are waiting to do all they can to help her. It’s clear your journey has been difficult. There will be baths and food and much-needed rest for all of you.”
Noah noted Skye’s compassion for his family and the tenderness she showed his mother and brother, and her concern for Emily endeared her to him even more. He realized without Skye’s help and determination they wouldn’t have had any hope at all.
“Thank you. Both of you,” he said to Taran and Finn, “for getting Emily here. It couldn’t have been easy. Please, let me,” he said, taking the front poles of the stretcher from Taran. “We’llget her settled and once you’ve both rested, we’ve much to talk about.”
“Aye,” Taran agreed, following him and Finn inside. “Much. And quickly. The moonless night approaches. We feared we wouldnae make it in time. I pray ye have good news for us.”
Noah glanced at him, at the strained look on his face. But it was the fear in his eyes that sent a chill through him.
The east wingbuzzed with activity as Noah waited outside Emily’s chamber with Taran and Finn. Both men had rejected anything beyond a drink of water until they knew Emily was settled.
Skye, bless her, had even thought to arrange for someone to stay with Brody, feed him and keep him entertained—which had only taken the mention of the cook’s dog having a new litter of puppies—while the rest of them saw to Emily’s care.
Paige and Skye were inside, while servants hurried past carrying linens and basins of steaming water. Two grim-faced figures in dark robes, likely the healers Skye had summoned, arrived and waited far enough down the corridor that their whispered words could not be heard.
Finally, Skye emerged, and all three men rose as one from the chairs that had been brought for them. Her gaze met Noah’s and held for a moment before moving on. He felt the instant spark that was more than simple understanding and shared concern. The same undercurrent of awareness he felt whenever their eyes met.
“She’s settled comfortably now, though very weak, as you know,” Skye said softly, her gaze moving to Taran and Finn, thenback to Noah. “And she comes and goes from awareness. But she’s fought to get here. That shows strength.”
She glanced at the waiting healers and nodded her acknowledgement to come forward.
“Wait,” Noah cried. “I want to see her first. Ineedto see her, to let her know I?—”
“Go,” Taran said. “I ken she’ll be better just hearin’ yer voice. She’s been worried about ye. Finn and I will wait here. A mere shout away should ye need us.”
“Give us a moment,” Skye instructed the healers before taking Noah’s arm to turn toward the door. Though strengthened by her touch, he paused with his hand on the latch, suddenly afraid of what he might find. Thinking of Emily all these days, wondering how she was, was far different than facing the reality of her condition. The few brief moments with her outside the gate had only served to heighten his fear.
Skye squeezed his arm, her touch warm and steady. “She needs you to be strong,” she whispered, “as I know you will be.”
The trust he found in her gaze calmed him. Strengthened him. He pulled the latch and opened the door.
The chamber was larger than Noah’s, with windows that let in generous afternoon light. It had comfortable furnishings and fresh flowers. Skye’s touches, he realized.
On the wide bed in the center of the room, Emily lay propped against the pillows, her face pale as parchment against the dark fabric.
She looked impossibly small, impossibly fragile.
He approached the bed and settled gently on the side. “Emily,” he whispered, laying his hand on her arm. Her skin was still far too warm, despite the cooling cloths Paige had applied. “Open your eyes, sweeting. Let me see those pretty blues. I’ve missed you. It’s been lonely without you. One of your smiles would do me wonders.”
