Grabbing her pack, Ferra draped herself in her warmest cloak, placing a warm scarf around her neck for the harsh ride after the warriors.
A glint of metal caught her eye, and Ferra paused before the table where Kaiden laid his sword, noting a small band placed on a piece of parchment.
Her breath caught as she lifted the small circle of gold, etched with Celtic symbols for love. Kaiden’s familiar scrawl had tears working their way to Ferra’s eyes, and she clenched it in her palm as she read his words.
Ferra, it started.I should have given ye this weeks ago. Ye are mah wife and ye always will be. If I dinna return, move on with yer life and be happy mah lady of the keep.
Ferra pressed her lips to the parchment as the first tear trailed down her cheek. How could Kaiden be both this loving man and the fierce warrior that she just seen off? Folding the parchment, Ferra placed it in her pack before sliding the metal ring onto her trembling finger, finding it to be a perfect fit. She wanted to tell him how perfect it was, because it was.
It was a token of love, at least in her mind.
After gathering herself for the task at hand, Ferra made her way down to the great hall and out of the door without too much of a look in her direction. With the majority of the warriors now on their way to battle, the guards left were few. Kaiden had ensured that there were enough to protect the keep, but the two stationed at the door didn’t give her more than a cursory glance as she slipped through, keeping her head down as she started to the stables.
“Ferra.”
Ferra paused and drew in a breath before she turned to face Shamus. “Aye?” she asked lightly.
His narrowed gaze told her that he knew something was amiss. “Wot are ye doing, lass?”
Ferra lifted her chin. “I cannae let him go out there by himself and get hurt again. I asked ye tae help me stop him, but ye refused, so I am going tae protect him.”
To her surprise, Shamus didn’t laugh at her, but his brows knitted together in concern. “Ye are going after him?”
She nodded. “They will need a healer, and Kaiden...I cannae lose him.”
The older man sighed. “I cannae either, lass. I should have known ye wouldnae let him go like this. I should try tae stop ye. That would be wot Kaiden would want.”
Ferra shifted her pack to the other shoulder. “I dinnae think ye can stop me, Shamus.”
He chuckled. “Neither do I, lass. Neither do I. Take mah horse. He’s ornery, but he’s fast.”
“Ye’re letting me go?” she asked.
“Aye.”
Ferra stepped closer. “Why?”
The old man shook his head. “Because, lass, I dinnae want tae see mah fool son get himself killed on that battlefield. He might kill me for letting ye go after him, but I know ye will protect him.” He reached for her hand, grasping it gently. “Ye must protect him, Ferra.”
She squeezed his hand before pulling him into a fierce embrace. “I will protect him.”
“And ye,” he added.
“Of course.”
Shamus released her. “Then go.”
Ferra gave him one last smile before hurrying to the stable, finding the former laird’s horse waiting patiently in his stall. She wasted no time saddling him, talking in a soothing tone so that the horse could get used to her voice, her touch. Her heart was threatening to beat out of her chest, but she pressed on, leading the horse out of the stable and mounting it.
“Alright then,” she said, patting its neck. “’Tis time tae ride like the wind.”
She would catch up with her husband and steer clear of him until the time was right. Ferra could only hope that the time didn’t mean Kaiden was injured again, and she would be saving his life.
Her hands shook at the thought as she gripped the reins, urging the horse forward to the path that led out of the village. No, times were different now. Kaiden injured now would weigh heavily on her heart, and after the young warrior, she didn’t want to think that it might come to that situation.
The horse picked up speed outside of the village, and Ferra stuck to the trees instead of the path, picking her way through the branches and over fallen trees carefully. She had very little doubt that the warriors were riding at breakneck speed, hoping to find the enemy and catch them unaware.
Which meant they might be further ahead than she had hoped.
