There had been an assassination attempt on the Laird and everyone knew it now. The first time it had happened, there had been only whispers that hadn’t even reached River, not properly at least, until she had finally asked. They had managed to keep it more or less a secret, and everyone thought the had been in an accident.
Now there was no talk of accident. Now all everyone was talking about was the assassination attempt.
At least no one knew of Archer’s memory loss yet, it seemed. River had heard no mention of it among the servants or the nobles.
That morning, she sat at the edge of her bed for a long moment, staring at the pale light stretching across the stone floors. She thought back to the floor in Archer’s room, how it was stained with blood. She remembered seeing it on the carpet, thick and dark and congealed, a reminder of everything Archer had been through.
She had not slept much after the healers finally forced her from his chambers. Even then, she had remained awake listening for footsteps in the corridor, half-expecting another attack before sunrise, though she knew the halls were filled with twice as many guards now.
As she sat there, a soft knock came at her door and Layla entered without waiting for permission, her curls hastily tied back for once, as if she had had no time this morning to do a proper braid.
“It’s everywhere already,” she said quietly.
River exhaled slowly. “Of course it is.”
“They’re sayin’ the assassin got inside the eastern wing unnoticed.”
River rose immediately, a thought occurring to her that she hadn’t considered before. She had been so preoccupied with Archer and his health that she hadn’t realized the children would be dragged into this as well with all the gossip. She didn’t want them to fear. She didn’t want them to hear about this and worry that something terrible would happen.
“The bairns,” she said. “We should...they shouldnae hear of this.”
Layla nodded once in agreement as fear settled cold and sharp in River’s chest. Arya was observant enough to notice the tension in the castle immediately. Colby would overhear servants talking within minutes if no one intervened. The last thing River wanted was for either of them to start fearing shadows in their own home.
She dressed quickly and crossed the east wing before breakfast was served. It wasn’t like her to get out of bed so early or to visit Finlay in his chambers, but now there she was, doing just that. When she knocked, Finlay answered the door still fastening the cuff of his sleeve, looking mildly surprised to see her so early, but his expression changed immediately when he saw her face.
“What happened? Another attack?”
“Nay, nay,” said River, shaking her head. She couldn’t imagine how there could possibly be a third one so close to the second one, but Finlay seemed ready to grab his sword and throw himself in the middle of whatever fight he was envisioning. “I need ye to do somethin’ for me.”
Finlay folded his arms. “Anythin’.”
“Keep Arya and Colby here today. Daenae let them wander the castle. Daenae let servants gossip in front of them if ye can help it.”
Finlay nodded slowly, understanding her immediately. “Ye daenae want them hearin’ about it.”
River shook her head. “They’ve already seen enough fear.”
River wanted to keep them as far from it as possible. They had experienced too much in their small ages already. They had lost all their innocence when they had witnessed their mother being murdered right in front of their eyes not so long ago. This could be enough to destroy them emotionally, and River didn’t want any mentions of death or attacks around them.
“I’ll keep them occupied,” Finlay promised her. “And ye...be careful.”
“Thank ye, Finlay,” said River with a small smile as she reached for his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Daenae fash about me. I’m nae the target.”
“How can ye be so sure?”
“I would’ve been attacked already if I were,” she said. It didn’t make sense to her that someone would be after her when theyhad only tried to hurt Archer. “And besides, there are so many guards around now. Naethin’ will happen to me.”
“Honestly,” Finlay said dryly, “stayin’ hidden in the eastern wing with two bairns sounds far preferable to whatever madness is happenin’ out there.”
Despite herself, River smiled faintly. “Ye may regret sayin’ that after an hour alone with Colby.”
“I survived three younger brothers. I’ll manage.”
River’s chest eased slightly at that. She trusted Finlay with the children, of course. Not only had he raised her alongside with her governesses, but he was also good with them both. When he wasn’t trying to pretend he was a grumpy old man, he even played with them.
As she turned to leave, Finlay’s voice stopped her.
“River.”
