“Now, you know.”
“I do.”
William realized that Kieran was starting to fade a little. The moonlight that illuminated him seemed to be undulating and changing, the brightness going out of it. That told William his time with Kieran had come to a close.
“Are you leaving now?” he asked.
Kieran nodded. “I am,” he said. “But we will see each other again.”
“In this life or in the next?”
“Both.”
William fought down the lump in his throat. “Then I look forward to it, wherever our next encounter may be,” he said. “Thank you, Kieran. For everything, I thank you.”
“I could say the same,” Kieran said. “And I have. Until next we meet, my dear friend.”
William lifted a hand to bid the man farewell. His heart was aching, but it was also fortified by the unexpected appearance of the man he loved as a brother. As he watched, Kieran faded back into the shadows of the trees and disappeared.
The night was lonely once again.
“Papa? Papa, wake up.”
Suddenly, William opened his eye and was back in his tent, in the chair he’d been sitting in. He’d leaned his head back to rest on the chair and he was still here. He looked up to see Troy was standing over him.
“Papa?” Troy said, peering at him. “Are you well?”
It took William a moment to orient himself. He looked around as if he had no idea where he was before realizing that he was in his tent near Bailie Castle.Stillin the tent andstillin the chair he thought he’d climbed out of. Wearily, he rubbed his eye.
“God’s Bones,” he muttered. “I did not realize I’d fallen asleep. I must be more exhausted than I thought.”
“I know,” Troy said. “And I’ll help you to bed, but I had to come and tell you that we just received a missive from Gleann na Fola.”
William stood up wearily. “What missive?”
“From Uncle Paris,” Troy said. “He wanted to tell us that Gar’s fever broke.”
William looked at him in surprise. “He is recovering?”
Troy nodded, a rare smile on his face. “He must be,” he said. “Uncle Paris would not have sent the missive otherwise, I’m sure. But he wanted us to know. My son is going to live, Papa. He’s going tolive!”
William put his arms around Troy, who hugged him in return. They shed tears of joy at that moment, rejoicing in news that was most welcome. It seemed that all things came together at that moment, the way they were supposed to, and there was reason to celebrate. The appearance of Kieran, which William did not remember, was only a foretaste of that faith he’d encouraged William to have. After that, the rest fell into place.
A battle of vengeance.
Justice dispensed.
An unexpected visitor.
And a young knight who would live to see the next day.
It was a grand celebration, indeed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gleann na Fola Castle
Someone was snoringin his ear.
