“That was the kindest thing you have ever done for me,” Kieran said. “Those were words I needed to hear. And now, I’m going to give you words that you need to hear.”
“What words?”
Kieran took a step closer, his dark gaze intense. “That you are the greatest knight England has ever seen,” he said seriously. “I know you are thinking of hanging up your spurs. I know that Gar’s words were hurtful. And I know that every time Scott or Troy try to tell you to stay out of a battle, it hurts you. I am here to tell you that you should fight to the end, William. They are only thinking of you, that is true, but they are doing it in a selfish way. They do not want to see you injured or killed. They do not want to lose you. But you were born for battle. You were born for nights like this, when a clan chief needs to be taught a lesson that only you can teach him. Your sons love you, but after all these years, they still do not understand you. Do not let them make you anything less than what you are. If you want to fight, then fight. But if you want to rest, then rest. You have earned the right to choose. Do not let others do it for you.”
William wiped at his face, but the tears kept falling. “That is wisdom I have missed desperately,” he muttered. “Paris tries to give me advice, and most of the time it is good advice, but it is not the same. Tell me something, Kieran.”
“Anything.”
“Am I dead right now? Is that why you are here and we can have a conversation?”
Kieran laughed softly. “You are not dead,” he said. “You are merely sleeping. And this will be a dream you will not remember, at least not in detail. But the next time there is a battle, my words will come to you. I’m still with you, William. I have been with you at every battle you’ve ever fought, right by your side, whether you could see me or not.”
That reassurance brought more tears to William’s eye again. “I know,” he said. “I think I’ve always known. I felt you tonight and here you are.”
“I am always here, just out of your line of sight,” Kieran said. “But I cannot stay. I wish I could, but I cannot. I just wanted to speak to you, if only for a brief moment. You have had a difficult time as of late.”
“Difficult, indeed,” William agreed, thinking on Gar, possibly dying back at Gleann na Fola. “Kieran, what about Gar?”
“What about him?”
“Is he going to survive?”
“This, I cannot tell you, but there is every reason to hope.”
“Hope,” William muttered. “Sometimes that is hard to come by.”
“I know,” Kieran said. “But you must have faith. That is what hope is born from.”
William pondered that advice, drawing a tremendous amount of comfort from it. It was as if Kieran had never left, now standing here, carrying on a conversation. It took William back to years past when he had Kieran’s steadying influence around. As he had told the man, he’d missed it terribly.
Even after all these years.
“Thank you,” he finally said. “That means a great deal.”
“I am glad.”
“I could continue this conversation with you all night.”
Kieran’s expression was gentle. “As could I,” he said. “But there is something more I wish to say to you before it ends.”
“What is it?”
“Thank you for keeping every promise you made to me on my deathbed,” Kieran said softly. “You are a man of your word. A man of honor. A friendship like ours will continue in eternity because a bond like ours cannot be broken.”
“Agreed,” William whispered. “But what about Paris?”
Kieran’s features twisted into an annoyed expression. “Him, too, sadly enough,” he said. “The three of us are destined to go through eternity together, I fear.”
“You know that he married your widow.”
“I know.”
“And you are not troubled by it?”
Kieran shrugged. “I was her great love,” he said. “Paris is her great salvation. She was very lonely, William. I cannot be angry that he is taking care of her. Above all else, she must be happy.”
“Good,” William said. “I always wondered what you would think.”
