She stared at him for a long moment, trying to work him out. Was he really trying to help her? She couldn’t believethat. What was the point of all this? What did he hope to achieve?
Maybe he’s lulling us into a false sense of security,she thought.He must know that once he’s within the walls of KeepKenneth, he’s even less likely to escape than he was from the convent.
He met her gaze, almost tauntingly. Not for the first time, Una found herself wondering what was at the back of his eyes. Before Una could reply—and she wasn’t surewhatshe would reply—she heard her name being called. Glancing over, she saw Senga standing at the bottom of the convent steps, waving at her.
“Excuse me,” she said crisply, turning her back on Struan at once. She could feel his gaze burning into her back.
Why is he looking at me? Why does he offer me advice? He did this when we sparred—offering me advice,goodadvice at that. Why can’t he just act like the monster I know he is?
Senga waited for her, forcing a brittle smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Ye are leaving, then,” she said, and it wasn’t a question.
Una bit her lower lip hard.She’s going to be alone.
“Aye, but… but why don’t ye come with us? I’m sure the Abbess would agree. Astrid would want to see ye, I know that. Kyla would be grateful for the company, and?—”
“Nay,” Senga said firmly, shaking her head. “Nay, I must stay here.”
Una paused, frowning. “Why?”
Senga seemed taken aback. “What do ye mean?”
“I mean what I say. Why must ye stay? What is there for ye here?”
The other woman swallowed hard, glancing away. “The Abbess is willing to let me stay.”
On impulse, Una grabbed Senga’s hand.
“Listen to me, please,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “Senga, ye and Kyla were so kind to me. I have no sisters of my own, and my relationship with my brother is a difficult one—we spent so long apart. But I care for ye, truly I do. There’s nothingfor ye here, ye must see that. Come to Keep Kenneth with me. Ye could be a healer, or a librarian, or anything ye want. Ye could marry, if ye wished, I’m sure that Astrid would?—”
Senga yanked her hand back out of Una’s grasp. Red-faced, she shook her head.
“I cannot,” she said firmly. “I know ye mean well, Una, but don’t ask me again. Please. Do ye think the others haven’t already tried to convince me?”
There was a long moment of silence. Una felt as though her heart was sinking into her stomach.
“Whatever ye are waiting for,” she whispered, holding Senga’s gaze, “it’s not coming.”
Something like pain crossed Senga’s face, but she turned away before Una could remark upon it.
“I’ll miss ye,” Senga murmured. “More than ye know. Don’t forget about me, will ye?”
A lump had lodged itself in Una’s throat, and it wouldn’t go away no matter how much she swallowed.
“As if I could forget ye,” she managed, choking. “I never will, Senga, I promise.”
Smiling tightly, Senga pulled her forward into a quick, tight hug.
“Travel safe,” she whispered into Una’s hair. “And don’t trust him, not even for a moment.”
Una’s skin prickled. Before she could respond, commotion broke out behind her. Thomas’ voice pitched above the chatter.
“Ye had better leave her be, if ye know what is good for ye!”
Releasing Senga, Una turned to find the rest of them all clustered together. Struan stood beside the horse he was going to be tied onto, and Kyla stood in front of him, staring up at him with wide, miserable eyes. Thomas had pushed himself between them, nose-to-nose with Struan, and glared at him.
“Thomas, don’t,” Kyla murmured, placing a hand on her husband’s shoulder.
