“Well, then,” Struan said at last. “If ye have suffered as much as I, beware, lass. Ye might become a monster too, just like me.”
“I will never be like ye.”
He gave a mirthless smile. “Nay? Ye think not? The danger about getting so close to monsters, lass, is that ye might start to become one. Trust me, I know. Ye think that ye will be able to keep yerself clear and free, flying above it all. Well, we’re humans, and humans don’t fly, lass.”
Una felt anger bubbling up inside her, but it was mixed with something else. Mixed with fear and maybe even a little bit of sympathy.
Perhaps I already am a monster.
She turned aside, shaking just a little, but Struan spoke again, stopping her in her tracks.
“Monster or not, my conscience is clear. I owe ye my life.”
That was so surprising, Una turned back, eyes wide.
“What?” she managed.
He shrugged, eyes catching onto hers and lingering. “I have an honor code, believe it or not. I might prefer an honorable death, but that’s besides the point. Ye saved my life, and I owe ye.”
She stared back at him. This had to be a joke. This couldn’t be Struan Dickson standing in front of her, meeting her eye, telling her that heowed her his life? No, that was… that was ridiculous.
Before she had a chance to say anything, Janson came hurrying over.
“We need to leave,” he said, his voice low. “We want to go before the town wakes up. When the time is right, we’ll find a way to let Laird Dickson learn that his son is no longer at the convent—that’ll keep the Abbess and the nuns safe. But while we’re on the road, he must believe that we’re still here. Until we reach Keep Kenneth, we’re vulnerable. We ride fast, no breaks, and we’ll travel through the night. It’s going to be a long journey and a hard one, but once we’re there, we’ll be safe.”
Una nodded, trying her best to wake herself up from her confused reverie. She turned away from Struan, as if turning her back to him would cut through her confusion. She was vaguely aware of a pair of soldiers helping Struan climb a mounting block and swing his leg onto the saddle.
“Be careful,” she found herself saying. “Don’t let him fall. If he dies, we lose our leverage.”
Struan gave a low laugh. “Leverage? I’m afraid that ye have none of that, lassie.”
She chose to ignore him. Janson laid a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched, blinking.
“Steady, lass,” Janson murmured, as if he were soothing a horse. “We’ll be there before ye know it, aye? In the meantime, keep an eye on him. We’ll all watch him.”
“The Abbess says that he’s to be treated fairly and kindly,” Una made herself speak. “She was clear on that. Not like a prisoner. Or at least, notbadly.”
Janson frowned. “Does Thomas know of this? I’m not sure he’ll agree.”
She rolled her eyes. “If the Abbess requests it, he’ll agree, if he knows what’s good for him. As I said, she was very firm. Ye can take it up with her yerself, if ye like.”
Janson gulped. “Nay, thank ye. I’d best not.”
Una glanced over her shoulder to see Struan sitting comfortably in the saddle, as cool and lordly as if he were head of the group himself. He met her eye, and a slow smile spread over his face. He almostbowed, which was impressive considering that he was on the back of a horse.
Ignore him,Una warned herself.Ye don’t want to get too close to the monster, do ye?
Pointedly turning her back on him, she concentrated on mounting her own horse. The creature shifted nervously under her, and she found herself remembering what Struan had said about the horse.
He had better be right,she thought miserably.
It was going to be a long day, and then a long night into the bargain. She wished it was all over, but it was only just beginning.
Chapter 6
We Meet Again
Dawn was breaking when they rode into the courtyard of Keep Kenneth. Una let out a long, slow breath and finally let herself relax.
