“If she agrees,” Iain continued, more carefully now, “then ye gain the alliance, and ye honor yer word. There is nay conflict in it.”
Duncan’s gaze dropped briefly before returning to him.
“And if she daesnae?”
Iain shrugged slightly, though there was nothing careless in the motion.
“Then ye’ll dae what ye’ve already decided,” he said simply. “Ye’ll stand by her.”
There was no judgment in his voice and no challenge for the simple fact that Iain knew him better than anyone.
“I will nae force her,” Duncan told him, although his friend already knew that.
“I ken,” Iain replied. “Just make sure that whatever choice ye make… it’s one ye can live with.”
Iain held his gaze a moment longer, then gave a small nod. That was enough. Between them, it always was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The summons came quietly. A maid found Elaina in the healer’s chamber.
“Me lady, the laird wishes tae see ye in the courtyard.”
Elaina’s hands stilled over the herbs she had been sorting. She couldn’t quite recognize the feeling that seized her. Anticipation, perhaps, or the lingering weight of everything left unspoken between them that morning.
“Aye,” she said at last, rising.
She brushed her hands clean and followed without further question. She passed through the busy corridors without paying much attention to what was happening around her. The courtyard was alive with movement when she stepped into it several moments later.
Steel met steel in sharp, rhythmic clashes. The air carried the scent of sweat and dust and the low murmur of men training, with the occasional bark of instruction cutting through it all. It was a world far removed from the quiet of the healer’s space. The world was louder, harsher and grounded in a different kind of purpose.
Her eyes found him immediately.
Duncan stood near the far end of the yard, with a sword in hand. Another was resting against a wooden rack beside him. His stance was relaxed, but there was nothing careless in it. As always, his every movement was precise and controlled, as though even stillness required discipline.
He saw her and straightened.
“Elaina.” Her name carried easily across the space.
She crossed the courtyard toward him, aware of the glances that followed her, though she did not acknowledge them. Her focus remained on him alone.
“Ye wished tae see me,” she said as she reached him.
“I did.” There was no hesitation in his tone today. He was all business. “The Council met today and we discussed what happened in the village. It has agreed that ye… shall remain.”
Elaina stilled. She had not expected that. Her gaze searched his face, as though trying to understand what had changed.
“They believe sending ye away now would only place ye in greater danger,” he continued. “And I agree.”
Something in her chest tightened again. She knew it would not be easy to leave this place, to leavehim.She reminded herself that she needed to be strong, stronger than she had ever been before.
“I was nae asking fer permission tae leave,” she said quietly.
“I ken,” he replied. “But I will nae let ye walk intae harm’s way, nae when there is another option.”
Elaina held his gaze, and she could feel the familiar resistance rising within her, but it did not come as easily as it once had.
“Ye cannae keep me here against me will,” she whispered.
