Brendan stood beside his wife, and his eyes widened when he saw Struan. Rushing towards him, he knocked the sword abruptly out of Struan’s hand. The weapon went clattering across the cobbles.
“Who let him hold a sword for so long?” he snarled. “This man is dangerous. If Thomas were not off checking on Kyla, he’d agree.”
Before Una could speak up, somebody else did.
“He’s no enemy,” Kai stated, striding up behind them. He looked exhausted, his shoulders slumped, but he still walked tall. He met Una’s eyes and gave a brief nod. “I watched him save my sister. That Dickson captain offered him a chance to return, to redeem himself. I saw it, and I know what I saw. And he refused to take it. He risked his own life for us all when we didn’t even trust him. I consider him an ally.”
Brendan flinched, visibly surprised. He glanced over at Freya, who lifted her eyebrows.
“Well,” Brendan murmured, clearing his throat. “That surprises me. I’ll withhold judgment, I suppose, but I’ll be watching ye, Struan Dickson.”
Struan gave a tired smile. “I’d expect no less.”
His hand tightened in hers, and Una realized with a jolt that he was nervous. He was afraid. He glanced down at her, and when their eyes met, his grip slackened, just a little.
“What happens now?” Una forced herself to ask. Her voice was hoarse, her throat raw as if she’d been screaming at the top of her voice for hours. Maybe she had. “After this victory?—”
“Victory?” Freya interrupted, shaking her head. “Nay, lass, this is no victory. Not yet. Aye, we’ve driven off the Dicksons for now, but they’ll regroup. Laird Dickson will be raging. We have to prepare, all of us. One way or another, this will end.”
Una nodded, swallowing. “I… I would like to go to the convent to see the Abbess. Once the wounded are cared for and the dead buried, that is.”
Brendan glanced at his wife, and she gave a nod.
“Very well,” Brendan answered. “Will ye go together?”
Una glanced up at Struan just as he glanced down. Their eyes met, and a warmth spread through her chest.
This is only the beginning,she thought.I need to learn who Struan Dickson truly is, beneath the layers of cruelty his father instilled in him. I imagine that Struan needs to learn, too. But with time and patience, we'll get there.
If we have time left on this earth, of course.
“Together,” she said firmly.
Struan smiled, a soft, happy smile that Una was still not used to seeing.
“Aye,” he whispered, nodding. “Together.”
Epilogue
Two Days Later
It was clear that war had ravaged the convent and the land around it. Fields were burnt to stubble, houses reduced to wrecks. There were decomposing bodies by the side of the road. Nobody talked much as they rode, not even Kyla. Thomas stuck close by her side, as if terrified that something might happen to her if he looked away. Struan stayed by Una’s side, and that secretly pleased her more than she could say. There’d been no talk of the kiss or what had happened at the short siege of Keep Grahame. Perhaps they’d discuss it later.
As the subdued little convoy passed one pile of bodies, Una saw a pair of nuns come out of the trees, armed with shovels and old blankets. Their faces were covered, but one nun paused, coming towards the road.
Una was leading the way, the rest of them stretched out behind her. They had a substantial guard with them, since the Dickson threat was far from gone. The Dickson army was depleted but not gone, and Laird Dickson could collect as manymen as he liked from his conquered territories. The penalty for refusing a laird’s conscription in Dickson territory was death, no exceptions.
The nun pulled down her face covering, and Una gave a wry smile.
“Sister Rosemary! I’m glad to see ye.”
Behind her, Kyla gave a yelp and made to climb down from her horse.
“Settle yerself, lass,” Sister Rosemary said, laughing and holding out a hand towards Kyla. “I will see ye all back at the convent in an hour or two, just as soon as we lay these folks to rest. I take it that’s where ye are going?”
Una nodded. “Aye. Is the Abbess there?”
“Of course. She’ll be glad to see ye. Where is Senga?”
