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Their gazes met, and her lips curved.

However, he marked that she was quieter than usual this evening. She’d barely spoken a word as they climbed the stairs. He wondered if she had something on her mind.

Stepping back, he pulled out some stools for the three of them to sit on by the hearth. A small brick of peat smoldered there, the smoke escaping through a vent in the outer wall.

“So,” Kayla said, taking a large swallow of wine, “What was decided at the war council?”

Darach told her—and found, halfway through, that he was on his feet, pacing, gesturing at an invisible map as he laid it all out. The road. The pits. Tae’s grudging respect when he’d corrected him on the route his brother would take. He heard himself talking faster than usual, felt the old thrill of being listened to, of commanding attention.

When he finished, still faintly breathless from the retelling, he marked the tension in Kayla’s jaw and the furrow of her brow. “Sounds like quite the room to be in,” she murmured. “Too bad I wasn’t there to see it for myself.”

“You should have been,” he answered—and he meant it too.

Kayla studied him for a moment, one eyebrow lifting.

“It’s a good plan though,” Ailsa said then, casting her mentor a quelling look. “Wait for them on open ground. Give ourselves the advantage by laying traps.”

“Alar will scout for us,” Darach added, relieved the conversation had moved on. “He has a stag and can move swiftly. He should be able to let us know how much time we have.” He paused then. “And hopefully, he’ll return with a more detailed account of what we’re dealing with. Numbers, weapons, the morale amongst the ranks.”

“Everything’s ready then?” Ailsa asked.

“Aye.”

“Have you tested the clag-doo yet?” Kayla asked then. The tattooist was studying him intently.

“I didn’t have time until yesterday,” he admitted. “I went out into the hills, found a quiet spot, and shifted.”

Kayla leaned forward. “And?”

Darach hesitated. “The work you did helps … somewhat.”

“Somewhat?”

“Once I shift, I’m far more in control than I was … but the beast fights hard. I had to work hard to change back.”

Kayla frowned. “But you managed?”

“In the end.”

Ailsa’s gaze roamed his face. “You don’t trust it though, do you?”

He shook his head. “Maybe with practice, it’ll get easier.” He hesitated then. “But when the battle comes, I don’t intend to shift unless things go to shit.”

Kayla gave a slow nod at this, although Ailsa visibly tensed.

Silence fell in the alcove then, lengthening as Kayla’s gaze flicked between Darach and Ailsa. Eventually, she raised her cup to her lips and drained the rest of her wine. “Well, on that note, I’m off to my furs.” She rose to her feet and moved to the table before setting down her empty cup. “Thanks for the drink.”

Ailsa didn’t move from where she sat by the fire, her fingers still wrapped around her cup. “Don’t wait up,” she called as Kayla made her way toward the curtain.

The tattooist cast her a look over her shoulder. “I don’t intend to.”

A moment later, she disappeared, the curtain swishing closed behind her.

“That was smoothly done on Kayla’s part,” Darach said when they were alone. It was clear she’d wanted to give them some time alone.

Ailsa laughed. “She’s never been subtle.”

He motioned to her cup, which was nearly empty. “Another wine?”