The last part was totally a lie, but she added her sister into the mix so her father might more readily agree. It wasn’t as if she were going to sneak off into town with the man who would soon be her husband if Gaia was along as a chaperone.
As she hoped, Alastor nodded.
“I do not see why you cannot,” he said. “Which tavern?”
She shook her head. “I do not know,” she said. “But I will send word. And I will be back with the army well before dawn.”
“See that you are,” he said. “We will depart well before sunrise for Berwick, although I’m fairly certain they know of our approach. Any army worth their weight in gold would have scouts combing the area, so I think it is safe to say that we will be met. That being said, your instructions will be to go with the other surgeons and provisions wagons and remain far to the rear of the battle.”
Corisande nodded. “I know,” she said. “I have been here before. But tomorrow… all of you will be very careful, won’t you? You are my family and I love you. I do not want anything to happen to any of you.”
She was looking to her brothers as she spoke, seasoned knights, scarred and filled with the experience of dozens of battles. But it only took one to be fatal and they all knew it.
Especially Corisande. As thrilled as she was about Cole, it was such a sweet moment on the precipice of something brutal and deadly. Her brothers had seen battle, but so had she and she knew how fragile life was. The human body did not react well to being violated by swords and spears.
She didn’t want to lose a beloved brother to something so tragic.
“You needn’t worry,” Ares said, giving her a weak smile. “We have been through this before. It is the Scots you should worry over.”
“I do not care about the Scots. I care about you.”
Ares went to her, kissing her on the cheek before fixing her in the eyes. “And I worry aboutyou,” he said. “And Cole. My eyes will be on him from now on. If he makes a misstep, he will have to answer to me.”
The focus of the conversation shifted back to Cole and Corisande, giving her brother a wry expression.
“Do not be nasty to him,” she said. “He has done nothing to deserve it. You were rude to him a few moments ago and that was not necessary.”
Ares thrust his chin up defiantly at her and turned away as Anteaus took his place. He looked at his sister closely. In fact, she was two years older than he was, her having seen twenty years and three and him having seen twenty years and one. But he didn’t feel like simply a brother at the moment.
He felt like a protective one.
“I know the de Longley family,” he said quietly. “I like them; they are good people. I do not want to see them hurt by Cole, nor do I want to see you hurt by him.”
“I know, Tay.”
“You must make sure he makes it clear about Audrie. There must not be any hard feelings.”
Corisande nodded patiently, patting him on the cheek. “I know, my darling,” she said. “I promise he will make it right. He is a man of honor and he will make it clear to them. Everything will be well; you’ll see.”
Anteaus didn’t seem too sure about that but, to his credit, he didn’t say anything further. As he stepped away, Atlas came to stand in front of her.
The rather emotionless, apathetic de Bourne brother was looking at her appraisingly. Corisande lifted her eyebrows expectantly.
“Well?” she said. “Did you have something to say to me?”
Atlas shrugged. “Cole is passable,” he said. “He’ll do.”
Corisande began to laugh. “God’s Bones,” she said sarcastically. “That is high praise coming from you, Atlas. What glowing words of adulation.”
Atlas fought off a grin as he went to find his cup of wine. With all of the brothers having spoken their minds, Corisande turned to her father.
“May I go now?” she asked. “I want to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow before I go to the tavern.”
Alastor waved her off. “Go,” he said. “And, Cori?”
“Aye, Papa?”
“Tomorrow, you will force Gaia to help you when the battle begins,” he said. “Do not let her shirk her duties. Tending the wounded will do wonders for her character.”
