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“Did you wish to speak with me?” he asked, his voice low, cutting through her chest, and other parts of her, in a way no other voice had.
Avelina could never be confused with a shy maid and would not be so now. “Aye.”
“What of, my lady?”
He spoke to her much more cordially or, at least, with less hostility than he did her brother.
A fine question, but one she should not answer. Of anything did not seem appropriate.
“Of the cattle,” she heard herself blurt. Cattle. As if Avelina truly wished to speak of cattle.
“Cattle,” he repeated.
“Aye.”
He waited.
She cleared her throat. “I believe you,” she said, sincere. “But also know ’tis impossible for them to have found their way to your land on their own.”
“Agreed, my lady.”
Absurdly, Avelina wanted him to say her name. They were strangers. And enemies. Yet, she wished it anyway. Life was precious, and so, she asked for what she wished. “You may call me by my given name.” Avelina struggled to think of a reason why she would allow such a thing. “We journey together,” she said finally. “Should not we be on familiar terms?”
It was an absurd reason, and they likely both knew it.
“Aye,” he said, surprising her. “We should. Avelina.”
It was as pleasing a sound as she imagined it would be. But Avelina was not yet finished. “Lina,” she said. “’Tis what most call me.” Which was not true. Her family and close friends called her that, but she wanted to hear it from his lips.
“Lina,” he said with a half smile.
If she’d thought him handsome before. . .
“I am Niall. No shortened name to speak of.”
The corners of her lips tugged upward. “Niall.”
Whatever was between them should not be. Avelina was as aware of that fact as she was of the warrior who rode beside her. Yet, she seemed unable to stop herself.
“So, do you believe, Niall—”
He smiled. Blessed be the Virgin Mary, that smile. . .
“Do I believe?”
What had she been saying? Oh, aye, she remembered. “Do you believe someone led them there apurpose?”
“I do.”
“One of our clansmen?”
“Perhaps.”
Avelina thought on that for a moment. “Who else but the owner of the cattle would lead them away from their lands?”
“That is, indeed, a question I hope to answer. If your brother can identify their owner, perhaps we can ask him that very question.”
“Or her?”
